Best Venison Chili (2024)

Published: Nov 5, 2021 · Modified: Jun 6, 2022 by Modern Farmhouse Eats · This post may contain affiliate links

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Easy, hearty and crazy delicious venison beer chili is the perfect cozy dinner for a cold night! Venison chili is made using ground venison and can be cooked on the stove or in the crockpot. Serve with your favorite chili toppings and Easy Buttery Beer Bread!

Easy Venison Chili Recipe.

This recipe may be easy, but it certainly isn't lacking flavor!! Just the right mix of spices, lots of ground venison and just enough beans - my perfect chili!

All you need is 15 minutes of hands-on cook time! Brown the meat and sauté onion and peppers, then add the remaining ingredients.

Let the chili simmer on the stove for 30-40 minutes, or cook low and slow in the crockpot - the choice is yours! So easy and so delicious!

Ingredients.

Olive oil.
Onion.
Bell pepper.
Ground venison.
Fresh garlic.
Tomato paste.
Light beer.
Beef broth.
Tomato sauce.
Diced tomatoes.
Crushed tomatoes.
Chili beans.
Kidney beans.
Pinto beans.
Chili seasoning (homemade blend in recipe card).

How to Make Venison Chili.

Making venison chili is incredibly easy, which is part of the reason why I love it! There's minimal prep and hands-on cook time needed, and a lot of the ingredients are from a can, keeping things nice and simple.

The key is to let the chili simmer for at least 30 minutes to allow the spices to mingle together, creating amazing flavor!

Here's how you do it!

Cook the venison, onions and peppers. Heat a large skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook diced onion and bell pepper for a few minutes then add the ground venison. Cook until the venison is nicely browned and no longer pink.
Mix in tomatoes and spices. Add the garlic and tomato paste - let cook for another minute. Then mix in lots of tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and all the chili seasoning!
Add the Beans. Gently mix in the 3 cans of beans - I recommend chili beans, kidney beans and pinto beans.
Simmer the chili. Simmer the chili for about 30-40 minutes on the stove, or let the chili cook in the crock pot on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
Serve! Serve with your favorite chili toppings, such as sour cream, green onion, and cheddar cheese!

P.S. Don't forget to make my Easy Buttery Beer Bread to serve with the Venison Beer Chili!

How do you cook deer meat so it doesn't taste gamey?

Venison chili is a great venison recipe for those who don't like the gamey taste of venison. The beer, broth and spices in the chili help to remove gamey flavor, while simultaneity infusing the ground venison with all the delicious flavors of the chili.

What is the best way to cook ground venison?

Ground venison can be used in a variety of different recipes. You can use ground venison just as you would ground beef. My two favorite ways to cook ground venison: venison chili and venison burgers.

How to make Crock Pot Venison Chili.

Venison chili is a great recipe to make in the crock pot!

Brown the venison, onion and bell pepper in a large skillet, as directed in the recipe card.
Transfer the meat and vegetables to the crock pot. Add the remaining ingredients, mix, cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
Serve with your favorite toppings, such as sour cream, shredded cheese, and green onion!

Frequently Asked Questions.

Is there a substitute for beer?

Yes! I recommend using chicken broth as a substitute for beer, or you can use more beef broth for a richer flavor.

Can I use different beans?

Yes! I feel as though 3 cans of beans is just the right amount, but feel free to use any combination!

Can I leave out the beans?

If you don't like beans, you can certainly omit them, but the chili won't be as hearty and filling. To make up for that, I recommend adding another pound of ground venison, ground beef or ground pork!

What's the best secret ingredient for chili?

My favorite secret chili ingredient is beer! Beer adds a little sweet and malty flavor to the chili enhancing the chilis overall flavor and texture. Keep in mind that the type of beer you use matters. The darker the beer, the more richness it will add to the chili.

What spices are good on deer meat?

There are a lot of spices that pair well with deer meat. When it comes to making venison chili, I recommend the following spices: chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, nutmeg, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne.

Can you mix venison with ground beef?

Yes! Ground beef pairs nicely with ground venison. Since venison is so lean, mixing it with ground beef adds fat and flavor. To make venison chili with both ground venison and ground beef, use 50/50 ratio of ground venison and ground beef.

Storage and reheating.

How to store venison chili.

Venison chili leftovers are the best! It stores really well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Can you freeze deer chili?

Yes, you can freeze deer chili in an airtight container up to 6 months; however, the texture will change slightly from the beans. Thaw in the fridge.

How to reheat venison chili.

Reheat venison chili on the stove in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring frequently so it doesn't burn. The reheat time varies depending on how much chili you're reheating.

Alternatively, you can reheat single portions in the microwave.

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