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A pan and bowl of smoky venison chili with beans and chunky vegetables visible.
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5 from 1 vote

Hearty Venison Chili

This Smoky Bacon & Venison Chili is easy to make, hearty, and full of flavour. It's one of my very favourite campfire meals to make when on the road!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose
Servings: 6 Generous Servings
Calories: 495kcal

Equipment

  • Large Pot or Dutch Oven
  • Blender, Food Processor, or Immersion Blender

Ingredients

  • 3 Red Bell Peppers
  • 2 Poblano Peppers
  • Olive Oil or Nonstick Cooking Spray
  • Salt and Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 cup Beef Broth
  • ½ lb Bacon Chopped
  • 1 Large Onion Peeled and chopped
  • 2 lbs Ground Venison
  • 2 Celery Ribs sliced
  • 5 Garlic Cloves Peeled and pressed/minced
  • 1 Can Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce finely chopped
  • 2 Cans Dark Red Kidney Beans ~15oz each, Drained
  • 1 Can Tomato Sauce 23-30 oz
  • 2 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
  • 1 tablespoon Ground Cumin
  • 2 teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
  • 1 Bay Leaf

Instructions

  • Get a good fire going, set a grate over it.
  • Seed the peppers, cut into large pieces. Toss with a bit of Olive oil (or spray both sides with nonstick spray), sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper.
  • Working in batches, cook pepper pieces over your fire until the peppers are soft and skin is charred.
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool. If you’d like to, gently peel off the pepper skin while still warm - we don’t bother.
  • Once cool enough to handle, chop into smaller pieces. Blend with the beef broth in a food processor or blender, or use an immersion blender to break it down into a chunky sauce. Set aside.
  • Drizzle a little oil in a large pot, add bacon and onion. Cook - stirring often - until bacon is cooked and onions are translucent.
  • Add ground venison to the pot. Using a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to break up the meat, cook until browned all over.
  • Add celery, garlic, and as much of the chopped chipotle peppers as you’d like. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until celery is translucent and chipotles are fragrant.
  • Add beans, tomato sauce, and the spices, stir well to combine.
  • Cover and simmer for 20 minutes (on low heat if using a stovetop).
    If you’d like the chili thicker, take the cover off and let the chili cook until it reaches the desired texture.
    Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Serve hot, and/or cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container. We’ll usually use a large freezer baggie.

Notes

Leftover venison chili will keep for 3 days in the fridge, or several months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 1059mg | Potassium: 1253mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 3703IU | Vitamin C: 118mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 9mg
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