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Venison Chili (Because Chili con Bambi sounds funny.)

April 16, 2012 12 Comments

Handsome Hubby likes to go hunting.  Deer hunting in particular.  That means I need to learn how to cook Bambi venison.
Venison is definitely not something that is super common on America’s dinner tables, but it has a lot of health benefits.  It is super high in protein and iron and is pretty low in fat, saturated fats in particular.  It is also an awesome source of B vitamins, including B12, B6 and riboflavin (all good stuff that we tend to not get enough of in our diets.)  So Yay!  for the health benefits but Boo! for trying to coax a lot of flavor out of it (in my opinion.)
Fat imparts flavor to most meat, but in venison, fat imparts that game-y flavor that most of us don’t care for.  So when HH gets a deer, I am always happy when he has the butcher make up a lot of ground venison.
I make spaghetti sauces and Venison Chili.
venison, chili, recipe, deer meat, beans, sour cream, cheese, cilantro, chips

(You can also substitute ground turkey in this recipe, which I think is equally bland as far as flavor goes.)
This recipe really is pretty easy to throw together.  It’s also very forgiving.  Alter the amounts, add or take away ingredients… whatever floats your boat.

Basic Recipe
1 large yellow onion
2 lbs ground venison
2 cloves minced garlic
2 handfuls dried oregano
1 chili brick
1 bottle of beer
6 cans of beans (your choice)
2 cups of salsa
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Dice a large yellow onion and saute in a large stock pot with a little olive oil.  While the onion is sauteing, add in the ground venison and 2 cloves of minced garlic.  Mix it all together and brown the meat.  This helps to really impart some flavor to the venison.

ground venison, chili recipe, onions, skillet
While the venison is browning, take a big handful of dried oregano and rub it between your palms so that it breaks down and crumbles into a powder.  Heck, add two big handfuls if you feel like it.
chili recipe, spices, herbs, venison

Next, grab yourself a chili brick.  You can get these in the deli/refrigerated section at the grocery store.  At our store they are near the hot dogs and the cream cheese.  (But my store is kind of odd.) If you don’t see it, ask.  I swear by this brand, but I am sure there are others out there.

venison, chili, recipe,

Plop it right into the meat and onion mixture.  Next, pour most of a bottle of beer into the chili.  (I get the last sip in the bottle.  It’s tradition.)  You can also pour the whole bottle in if you don’t have a similar tradition. (The alcohol cooks off, but you can also use non-alcoholic beer if you’d prefer.)

beer, Sam Adams, cooking, chili recipe

Yes, yes, I know that true chili doesn’t have beans in it.  However, we like it that way, so I add in several cans of drained pinto beans.  (I also added in 2 cans of canary beans this time.) You can add whatever kind of beans you would like.  I add in a whole, undrained can of diced tomatoes too.

Once I get it simmering, I dump in a whole jar of my favorite salsa.  I do make my own, but I happen to love the chipotle flavor of this one.

chipotle salsa, venison chili recipe

Then I add in a big chunk of chopped cilantro.  In this case I used one of my pre-chopped frozen portions of cilantro.

recipe, cilantro, frozen herbs, beans, simmer, venison chili

At this point I add salt to taste, put a diffuser under the pot, lower the heat to a simmer and walk away for several hours.  (OK, stir every once in a while.)
Done.

Serve up and add whatever toppings you like.

venison, chili, recipe, beans, sour cream, cheese, cilantro, chips

I love cheese, sour cream, chopped cilantro, diced tomatoes, onions and avocados on mine.  Oh! And crushed tortilla chips.  It’s a good thing that the venison and the beans are so low in fat, because I make up for it with the dairy and the chips I pile on top! Yum!

What do you put on your chili?

Filed Under: Main Dish, recipes

Comments

  1. Keetha Broyles says

    April 16, 2012 at 1:04 PM

    Fisherhubby likes to deer hunt too – – – but when he brought home all the butchered meat, he didn’t LIKE IT AT ALL.

    The only part we like is the back strap or tenderloin.

    Hardly worth getting a deer.

    So this is my new rule: NO MORE VENISON.

    I mean, if the hunter HIMSELF isn’t gonna eat the stuff, I’m NOT GOING TO slave away over it in the kitchen!

    Nope.

    Next time he gets a deer it’s going to be GIVEN AWAY to some family that says “we LOVE venison!”

    BTW – Chili con Bambi is pretty hilarious. You may get PETA types upset, but you made me choke and laugh.

    Reply
  2. Kali at The Vintage Milk House says

    April 16, 2012 at 1:17 PM

    Looks good! But with an avid Hubby Hunter I say when it goes to the butcher just get it all into jerky sticks. They are great snacks, great gifts..ect. Otherwise the only trick is to marinate and season the crap out of it!!! 🙂 Good job though, chill looks awesome! And I load my chili up too (& my chill has TONS of beans too!)

    Reply
  3. Kelli says

    April 16, 2012 at 1:35 PM

    This looks really yummy! No beans in chili…I always put bean in??? I didn’t know that true chili didn’t have beans. I love cheese and sour cream on top of my chili too…with a side of chips.

    Reply
  4. GirlRural.com says

    April 16, 2012 at 2:05 PM

    This looks VERY good. We usually add hominy to all of our chili recipes.

    Reply
  5. April S. says

    April 16, 2012 at 4:56 PM

    Thanks for sharing! All meat gets its flavor from what the animal eats, adrenaline and other hormones, and how it is processed. It makes a difference how good the kill was (gut shot or animal running can make for very gamey meat). Deer taken from areas high in corn/grasses are tastier (thick grass-fed beef) than those taken in areas where they browse more shrubs/pines/etc. A great processor makes a big difference. Vacuum sealed is better than the old paper wrapped. Trim as much tendon/fat off as you can. All those little things can help greatly with the taste – people who come to my house don’t usually even realize its not beef they are eating.

    Reply
  6. Connie Weiss says

    April 16, 2012 at 8:51 PM

    I love beans in my chili. Bambi is optional.

    Reply
  7. jennykate77 says

    April 17, 2012 at 4:25 PM

    The recipe sounds DELISH!!! The pics are making me hungry. Thanks for that. 😉

    Reply
  8. MiMi says

    April 17, 2012 at 4:47 PM

    That looks SO good!
    Minus the manicure. HAHAHA. Just kiddin’!

    Reply
  9. Emmy says

    April 17, 2012 at 8:53 PM

    I don’t think I have ever eaten Bambi 😉 I have had cow’s tongue but not venison- weird. Recipe looks awesome!

    Reply
  10. Jessie says

    January 9, 2015 at 7:50 AM

    I’ve cooked deer for years. We love it in everything at our house. I make my chili and put the deer in raw, it soaks up the flavor of whatever it is cooked in. I got the tip from a woman that was cooking it before I was born. Best chili ever!!

    Reply
  11. Kevin says

    October 19, 2017 at 11:57 AM

    made this today. followed the recipe exactly except I added red and green bell pepper and I STARTED By dicing bacon and browning it first. Than you For shar

    Reply

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