This hearty & comforting homemade chili recipe has two unexpected ingredients in it- ground venison & smoky, thick cut bacon...
Well, the holidays are over & we have officially entered the dreariness of the winter season. Not that I think that winter is all bad.
I do enjoy the occasional snow day when I can look at the sparkling white stuff from my window while wrapped up in a cozy blanket & sipping on something warm. ;)
It is definitely no secret that this girl hates being cold. I mean, I can count on one hand how many times I have given skiing a go only to find myself parked inside the lodge drinking a hot toddy within an hour. A snow bunny, I am not!
Wintertime is when I want to be snuggled up on the couch under a blanket watching Netflix while enjoying cozy comfort food. And what says comfort better than a bowl of hearty homemade chili?
This chili recipe I am sharing with you all today is not your mama's recipe for homemade chili. I used two unexpected ingredients in this version- ground venison (aka, deer) & smoky, thick-sliced bacon.
Pairing the venison with the bacon definitely helps to cut down on some of the gaminess that is usually associated with the flavor of deer meat.
Now you can totally make this with ground beef instead of the venison if you prefer. I just happen to have a little deer meat in my freezer when my dad shared some that he received from a deer hunter friend of his in the fall.
I do like venison because it is much leaner than traditional ground beef. I don't have to drain any fat from the pan after browning it for this recipe. And that can be a very good thing if you happened to have resolved to eat a little healthier in the new year.
Have you had venison before?
Are you a fan of this leaner game meat too?
If you loved this homemade chili recipe, you might also like my...
Now you can totally make this with ground beef instead of the venison if you prefer. I just happen to have a little deer meat in my freezer when my dad shared some that he received from a deer hunter friend of his in the fall.
I do like venison because it is much leaner than traditional ground beef. I don't have to drain any fat from the pan after browning it for this recipe. And that can be a very good thing if you happened to have resolved to eat a little healthier in the new year.
A few suggestions for this chili recipe:
- If you don't have ground venison readily available to you, feel free to use the same amount of ground beef in place of it. For even more flavor, try a combination of your favorite ground sausage with the venison or beef.
- I am totally team bean when it comes to my chili, but you can omit the black beans in this if you would like. You could also try different beans in this recipe like kidney or pinto.
- Want to kick up the heat level a little in this? Toss in a diced jalapeno when you add in the onion & garlic. Or try adding in more red pepper flakes.
Yield: 6-8
Venison & Bacon Chili
prep time: 20 mins cook time: 45 mins total time: 65 mins
ingredients:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb. ground venison (or beef)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
- 15.5 oz can of diced tomatoes
- 2 cups of water
- 1/4-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (depending on heat preference)
- 1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 6-8 strips of bacon, cooked & chopped (reserve 2-3 strips for topping the chili)
- 15.5 oz can of black beans, drained & rinsed
instructions
In a large pot or dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once heated, add in the ground venison. Season with salt & pepper. Cook until browned, about 8-10 minutes. Add in the onion, & garlic. Cook until softened, stirring frequently, about 3-5 minutes.
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, black beans, & water. Then add in all of the seasonings- the red pepper flakes, cumin, paprika, chili powder, & brown sugar. Stir until combined. Simmer over medium-low heat for 30 minutes or until the chili has thickened. Add in the chopped bacon during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
Ladle into bowls & top with shredded cheese & chopped bacon, if desired.
Enjoy!
Created using The Recipes Generator
Have you had venison before?
Are you a fan of this leaner game meat too?
If you loved this homemade chili recipe, you might also like my...
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