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Top down shot of a bowl of bison chili with sour cream, green onion, shredded cheese and a slice of jalapeno with a spoon sticking out.

Bison Chili

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  • Author: Erin Jensen
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours
  • Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner/Entree
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Our epic Bison Chili recipe is a flavor-packed bowl of comfort food that is perfect for those chilly months of fall and winter!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 sweet yellow onion, diced
  • 1 jalapeño, diced with seeds and membranes removed
  • 4 slices of bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 pounds ground bison
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • (2) 15oz cans fire roasted tomatoes
  • (1) 6oz can tomato paste (save can to fill with water to add)
  • (1) 15oz can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • (1) 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 pint baby bella mushrooms
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 23 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • optional toppings: sour cream, chopped green onions, shredded cheese, bacon bits

Instructions

  1. Cook Down Bacon: Bring a large dutch oven to a medium-high heat, add olive oil, and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Add garlic, onion, jalapeño, and bacon pieces to cook down for about 2-3 minutes or until fat has rendered.
  2. Bison: Add ground bison, salt and pepper to the large pot. Break apart the meat and move around until browned.
  3. Simmer: Add the rest of the chili ingredients + add 6oz water (use the tomato paste can) and give it all a mix. Cover and simmer for 2 hours.
  4. Taste + Serve: Taste, adjust any flavors per your personal preference, and serve any way you want!

Notes

  • Storage: keep leftover chili in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Serving Suggestion: option to add your favorite chili toppings and serve with some gluten-free cornbread or cornbread muffins!
  • Slow Cooker: This could easily be transferred to a slow cooker after Step 2 when the bison is cooked. Transfer that along with all other ingredients to a crock pot and cook on low for 4-6 hours. 
  • Dairy-Free: feel free to use a dairy-free sour cream and dairy-free shredded cheese for toppings.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6 ounces
  • Calories: 293
  • Sugar: 6.6 g
  • Sodium: 851.5 mg
  • Fat: 10.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26.6 g
  • Protein: 23 g
  • Cholesterol: 47.8 mg