Ground Bison Chili Recipe
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Jump to RecipeThis ground bison chili recipe is a hearty, satisfying, and simple meal made with lean ground bison meat, peppers, onions, and wonderful spices. It’s great way to try something different by taking a classic chili recipe and giving it a twist!
Start by browning the bison meat, softening in the vegetables, adding tomatoes and beans, and simmering the dish with warm spices. A great cozy meal to enjoy any time of year.
Want more tasty game meat recipes? Try our bison meatballs, elk bolognese, or bison pasta!
I picked up some great ground bison in our Misfits Market box recently, and couldn’t want to make some great modern recipes with it! I started with chili, which works perfectly with bison. Bison is a lean meat, and tastes wonderful simmered with classic chili ingredients.
I’ve made dozens of batches of chili over the years, and the recipe below I find to be the best in terms of spice! It’s fairly mild heat-wise, but has a great mix of chili powder, cumin, paprika, and a few great additions.
I love serving this up with Greek yogurt cornbread for a hearty meal.
Why This Recipe Works
- It’s simple to make, hearty, and a great meal any time of year.
- Customize your spice – add more or less cayenne pepper to meet your heat level.
- It’s versatile – I have great suggestions below for vegetables or beans you can swap in, or add in your favorite veggies!
- A great way to use up ground bison, and do something a little different!
- It’s a crowd-pleaser, and great to make for game day, potlucks, or cooking for a crowd.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Bison meat – I used a ground bison meat I got from Misfits Market.
- Bell Peppers – use can use a mix of different colored peppers or even a frozen blend if you have some on hand.
- Onion and Garlic – for a great savory flavor.
- Beans – I used a mix of dark red kidney beans and black beans. I tend to use no-salt-added or low sodium beans in my recipes.
- Diced tomatoes – I used a regular diced tomato, but you can use fire roasted, petite diced, or even crushed tomatoes.
- Tomato paste – for a deep, rich, tomato flavor in my chili.
- Spices – I like using a blend of chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, cocoa powder, and a little cayenne pepper for heat.
Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!
How To Make This Recipe
Step 1: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the ground bison meat and brown until cooked through.
Step 2: Add the chopped onion and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned.
Step 3: To the bison and onions, add the spices: chili powder, cumin, oregano, cocoa powder, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Heat for an additional 2 minutes and stir.
Step 4: Add the no-salt-added diced tomatoes with their juices, the tomato paste, and salt. Stir well to combine.
Step 5: Add in the chicken stock, bell peppers, and beans to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes until vegetables have softened.
Step 6: Add in diced chilis for extra heat if desired, stir and serve hot!
Recipe FAQs
Ground bison meat can be leaner and have a deeper gamier flavor than beef, giving it a richness to chili. Bison is a great and leaner alternative to beef.
This chili would be medium/low spicy, depending on your preferences. If you want a hotter chili, then you can add more cayenne pepper. For a milder chili, omit the cayenne entirely.
I like chopped green onions, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, or sliced jalapenos – any toppings you would use on regular beef chili work well with bison chili.
Expert Tips
- Browning the ground bison first gives the chili a deeper flavor than adding the bison to the chili directly.
- This recipe can easily be gluten free – just ensure any canned ingredients (like tomatoes, beans, or spices) are certified gluten free before enjoying.
- Serve this chili with cilantro cornbread, Greek yogurt coleslaw, or sour cream cucumber salad.
More Hearty Dinner Ideas
- The Best Brisket Burger Recipe
- Ground Elk Meatloaf Recipe
- Chipotle Chicken Fajita Recipe
- Southwest Grain Bowl
- Pasta Alla Siciliana with Burrata
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Ground Bison Chili
Equipment
- Large Pot
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb ground bison
- 1 large sweet onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ¼ pinch cayenne pepper
- 28 ounces no-salt-added diced tomatoes with juice
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 28 ounces beans I used kidney beans and black beans
- 2 large bell peppers diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the ground bison meat and brown until cooked through.
- Step 2: Add the chopped onion and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned.
- Step 3: To the bison and onions, add the spices: chili powder, cumin, oregano, cocoa powder, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Heat for an additional 2 minutes and stir.
- Step 4: Add the no-salt-added diced tomatoes with their juices, the tomato paste, and salt. Stir well to combine.
- Step 5: Add in the chicken stock, bell peppers, and beans to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes until vegetables have softened.
- Step 6: Add in diced chilis for extra heat if desired, stir and serve hot!
Notes
- Browning the ground bison first gives the chili a deeper flavor than adding the bison to the chili directly.
- This recipe can easily be gluten free – just ensure any canned ingredients (like tomatoes, beans, or spices) are certified gluten free before enjoying.
- Serve this chili with cilantro cornbread, Greek yogurt coleslaw, or sour cream cucumber salad.
Nutrition
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