Award-Winning Venison Chili

Rating

4.8 stars ( reviews)

Keywords

chili, venison, deer, deer meat, beans, chili beans

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced 
• 2 green bell peppers, diced
• 1 lb. ground venison
• 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. paprika
• ½ tsp. cinnamon (optional)
• 1 and ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. pepper
• 3 Tbsp. tomato paste 
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 orange, juiced 
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 and 1/2 cups venison or beef stock*
• 28 oz. diced tomatoes, drained 
• 15 oz. black beans, drained and rinsed 
• 15 oz. kidney beans, drained and rinsed 

Categories

• Main Dish

Cuisine

• Mexican American

Reviews

• Joe Perez on 2022-06-28 (5 stars):
  I loved it and so did the family!!
• Jill Norman on 2021-11-16 (5 stars):
  This is delicious! I must say… I’d never heard of adding things like juice from an orange or cinnamon to chili but this is so good. Everything came together perfectly and there is ZREO game taste left in the meat! Definitely saving this for my new go to deer chili recipe! Thanks from Arkansas!
• Becky on 2021-12-08 (5 stars):
  This recipe is fantastic!! My son preferred this to the traditional ground beef recipe I made last time. I didn't drain the tomatoes and used a Stag beer instead of broth. I added extra cinnamon. The game taste was completely gone! Thank you for sharing.
• Rachel on 2021-12-10 (5 stars):
  SO GOOD. I know how intense church chilli cook offs can be so when I saw that I knew it was worth a shot. It did not disappoint!! My husband called his mom and said "this is the best deer chilli I've ever had." Enough said.
• Maria LeBreton on 2021-12-13 (5 stars):
  Our 16 Year Old Grandson shot his first Deer in Texas Hill Country this year, we had the Meat processes and shipped (close to 50 lb most of it in ground Meat) my German Recipes had nothing for ground Venison to take the Gamey taste out so I needed to due something else with it. Your Recipe sounded good because of the Juice added to it WOW my Husband and Grandsons could not believe it was Venison 5 Stars for us
• Charlotte C on 2021-12-17 (5 stars):
  This chili absolutelyyyyy deserves an award. Such amazing flavor and I love that it really highlights the venison. The fresh squeezed Orange is an amazing addition and game changer! Recipe will be in our regular rotation from now on!
• SG on 2021-12-29 (5 stars):
  This was delicious! I did a cup of beef broth and 1/4 cup water because I didn’t want to open a new broth container. Turned out awesome! If I were to take a star away it would be for the annoying number of ads on this page 🙈. Otherwise, I have loved all of the venison recipes I’ve tried of yours so far. Thank you!
• Ashley Leah Mahanama on 2021-12-31 (5 stars):
  Yum; we made this for our New Year’s Eve dinner and followed the recipe exactly. Lovely flavors with the citrus and cinnamon. Happy 2022!
• Leigh-Ann on 2022-01-04 (5 stars):
  I have 1 lb leftover venison taco meet from your recipe (I doubled that recipe and only used half for tacos). How can I use that leftover taco meat in this Chili recipe? Would I pick up where I add tomato since spices were in the taco meat?
• Leigh-Ann on 2022-02-02 (5 stars):
  Turned out delicious!!
• Rose on 2022-01-07 (5 stars):
  Just made this tonight, it was soooo good! We got the venison from a family friend. My son was skeptical but he loves it. Made it exactly according to the recipe except I puréed the onions/peppers (used poblanos because I prefer the flavor) after sautéing and also puréed the tomatoes because my kid is picky about texture. I don’t think it changed the flavor though it probably wasn’t as photogenic as yours! Thanks for a delicious dinner!
• Roscoe on 2022-01-08 (5 stars):
  Great chili. I mean great! I made no changes, because it’s perfect.
• Ralph Wood on 2022-01-22 (5 stars):
  This is a great recipe and I followed it closely with one little tweak: I added a small can of (mild) fire-roasted chipotle peppers, These added just a touch of smoke and zing without being too spicy.
• Lindsay on 2022-01-31 (5 stars):
  This chili is UNREAL. Also used Miss Allie's marinade for venison stew chunks. I subtracted the kidney beans and jalepenos doubled the chipotles, and added some umami paste and palm sugar and a pound of ground sirloin to give it depth. Served over smashed baked potato, topped the bowls with sour cream, scallions, smoked cheddar and peppered bacon. Clean bowls all around!!!
• Fiberscope.Net on 2022-02-04 (5 stars):
  Thanks for the recipe!
• Frances on 2022-02-28 (5 stars):
  I made this last night and it is absolutely incredible. My boyfriend and I agreed that it is the best chili we have ever had. I added extra paprika because we really like paprika, but didn't change anything else. We didn't have any stout beer on hand, so I just used stock, but I am planning to try the beer next time because it sounds delicious. This recipe is absolutely incredible! Thank you!
• Jo on 2022-05-22 (3 stars):
  Impossible to even read or print the recipe due to the 300 pop up ads between every single line of the text. So no, can’t comment on the actual dish, sorry. Just that the amount of ads is ridiculous and ruins the readability. Never seen anything like this before, but would recommend to fix your page BC it looks nice otherwise
• Joyce on 2023-12-29 (1 stars):
  I see no reply to your question about translating this recipe to a Shepherd's Pie, but I will comment with a resounding NO! You can certainly make a Shepherd's pie with ground venison, but Shepherd's pie has an entirely different flavor profile. It involves savory herbs and veggies like carrots and peas, and maybe some green beans, but certainly some onions. Shepherd's pie is not spicy, like this recipe is! I hope you made a great chili from your gifted venison, or maybe a great shepherd's pie. If you made a dish with this chili, topped with mashed potatoes, PLEASE share! I'd love to hear how it turned out! You may have invented a whole new dish!
• Lisa Voorheis on 2023-04-16 (5 stars):
  I made this recipe yesterday for my sister and we loved it. I left out the green peppers they’re not something I care for and I used stew meat instead of ground. We loved it!
• Ashley on 2023-04-26 (5 stars):
  This has been a life saver! I have had some tribals making venison taste good (I never cooked or ate it until I got married to my avid hunter husband) and this recipe totally eliminates the gamey flavor. It is east and really yummy, easy to reheat leftovers.
• Bill on 2023-06-12 (5 stars):
  I have made this Recipe following it exactly. This recipe is bursting with flavor. I lost your web site and finally found it again. My critics rave about this venison chili, I'm making it again today.
• Aaron on 2023-06-18 (5 stars):
  So for a slow cooker, does one just saute the same and toss it all in?
• Bill on 2023-07-17 (5 stars):
  This is the second time I made your chili. My wife and I just love it, I used Guinness beer the second time and we both liked it. Going to give some to my hunting buddies and see if they have the same feelings on this recipe. Will follow up with a report. Keep up with the great Recipes.PS. I omitted the cinnamon.
• Maria Eberle on 2023-08-03 (5 stars):
  This was a fabulous recipe! I feed the homeless 4 to 5 times a week. A friend went hunting last year and hadn't eaten all of the meat and was preparing to go up north soon to hunt for more. He donated 55 to 75 lbs of deer meat to me. I made your recipe! The only thing for me that I will change is adding only half the amount of cinnamon. I liked it but it seemed to be a bit much for my taste. The homeless loved it! Many had never had venison before so this was quite a treat. Thx so much...oh...I forgot. I didn't have an orange but I used lemon and I was just as good. Yummy!!
• Tara on 2023-09-10 (5 stars):
  I made this last fall and it was a hit. I recently had to go very low carb. I was wondering what changes I could make to qualify for my diet without really changing the flavor profile.
• Trey on 2023-09-19 (5 stars):
  Fantastic venison chili! We added a bit of orange and lime zest as well just to add that extra kick! Also 2 jalapenos instead of the extra green pepper. At the end we added a half cup of red Bordeaux wine to see what would happen. Absolutely fantastic! Thank you for sharing.
• Josh on 2023-11-16 (5 stars):
  Do you think adding fire roasted green chilis to the chili would be good? We’re making this for thanksgiving next week (we’ve followed the exact recipe before). We plan on doubling the recipe for a larger group but I’m thinking of doing 2 tbsp of chili powder and 2 tbsp of ancho chili powder plus the fire roasted green chilis.
• Joyce on 2023-12-29 (5 stars):
  How did this work out? I've added ancho chilis in adobo, but the roasted green chilis sound SO good!
• Sandra on 2023-12-02 (5 stars):
  WOW 🤩 Fantastic, my husband & I both enjoyed it! I made a triple batch, only had one lime, left out beans. We are taking it to our Christmas 🎄 luncheon with corn chips, sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, chopped onions, jalapeño slices, & corn muffins. I’m sure it will be enjoyed!
• Brittany Jackson on 2023-12-04 (5 stars):
  I've had such a hard time using all the deer that my husband brought home, I don't love the taste especially compared to beef. BUT I LOVED THIS RECIPE!! I am going to try some of your others.
• Noemi on 2023-12-11 (5 stars):
  It was fantastic! Fragrant and delicious. It will become a staple in our house for sure. Made minor tweaks based on our palate (half cinnamon and half lime juice), and used a Dutch oven so there was no need for added stock. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
• Joyce on 2023-12-29 (5 stars):
  I'm not a hunter, but I am always grateful for a gift of Venison. I just made a pot of chili using 1/2 ground venison, plus some ground beef and chorizo. It tastes a bit gamey, which I don't object to, but since the venison was gifted to me, I have some concerns about freshness (I received it frozen). I ate a small bowl tonight, and if I get sick tomorrow, I guess I'll know it was bad! Is there any other way to tell whether venison is fresh, or when frozen, is still fresh enough to eat? I haven't had Venison in a few years, so maybe my taste for fresh venison is "off".
• Christina Haley on 2024-01-03 (5 stars):
  It was the best chili ever!!! Looking forward to eating it soon.
• Regina on 2024-01-14 (5 stars):
  Great , I made this every one loved it.
• Lisa on 2024-01-15 (5 stars):
  This is hands down the best chili I’ve ever made
• Dianne on 2024-01-23 (5 stars):
  Best deer chili I ever had.
• Kim on 2024-02-12 (5 stars):
  This chili is amazing. We had to substitute shishito peppers for green peppers (diet restriction), and used half chopped mexican tomatoes (Dei Fratelli) to add a little more heat, and it was perfect. I want to eat this for every meal.
• Susie on 2024-02-18 (5 stars):
  The best chili I have ever eaten I used ground moose meat Pinto and black beans Red and yellow bell peppers I will make this again and again. It has a bit of spice to it, which we like The cinnamon a delicious and surprisingly good ingredient in chili Thank you so much!
• Tiffany Pajic on 2024-02-25 (5 stars):
  My go to chili recipe- the acid is a brilliant solution to the woerd texture ground venison can take on- never have any issues with texture anymore! (Eliminates all user error with cooking!!
• Gaby Ysteboe on 2024-03-19 (5 stars):
  I used this recipe today and got 2nd place at my church chili cook-off! I added an extra tbsp of worcestershire sauce and 2 extra tbsps of chili powder. I also diced and then pulled my venison. Id say this recipe is a winner!!
• Leah on 2024-03-26 (5 stars):
  Like OMG!!!!!! I don't like gamey taste and this was perfect!!!! I didn't have Worcestershire sauce, so that was eliminated, and I only had diced tomatoes with green chiles. Otherwise I followed the recipe. Definitely my new go-to recipe!
• samuel street on 2024-09-08 (1 stars):
  The cinnamon is terrible. I am being laughed at without mercy. Will most likely not be invited to the next football potluck. Not sure why it’s included in the recipe. Extremely upsetting
• Diane on 2024-09-09 (5 stars):
  Great recipe! Made the chili exactly as written, and it was a huge hit! We've been getting supplied with venison from a good friend that is now an empty nester so my family is new to the "eating venison game". They have liked everything that I've made -- ALWAYS using your recipes, so I was not surprised that this would be great. I will try using beer next time....since Fall is approaching quickly, and this is a great fall comfort food!
• Cathy Davison on 2024-09-20 (5 stars):
  Wow!!! Chili is simmering and corn bread in the oven. Very, very, very good recipe.
• Judy on 2024-10-15 (5 stars):
  So pleased to have found you, I am in England and we run shoot featuring Pheasant and Partridge but also deer. I do all the catering and use all the game I can so am always on the hunt for new recipes. I came across your venison chilli, which went down a storm yesterday on are rather damp British day. My only tweak was adding minced chorizo for an extra depth and richness. Delicious chilli, perfectly balanced with spices, thank you.
• Hunter on 2024-11-12 (5 stars):
  Just won my first place in a work chili competition!! Thank you for the great recipe!
• Melissa on 2024-11-18 (5 stars):
  Made this for my family and everyone loved it! Nobody could tell it was deer.
• Alexandra Palm on 2024-12-21 (5 stars):
  This chili recipe turned out so well! It was so delicious and very easy to make. 10/10 rating for this recipe. Changes I made: 1)Used 1 orange bell pepper and 1 big jalapeño instead of 2 bell peppers. 2)I didn’t have chili seasoning so I used 3 TBSP of Trader Joe’s Taco Seasoning ( TJ taco seasoning is not as cumin forward as McCormick in my opinion) 3) omitted the cumin (bc I used the taco seasoning) 4) I added the last sip of a red blend wine since I had no Worcestershire 5) I only had 15 oz diced tomatoes. I added the can and did not drain the tomatoes. 6) I used two 15 oz cans of Kidney beans. No black beans. 7) I added ALOT more salt (like a lot maybe 2 tbsp worth of seasoning salt.) I think if you season the venison with salt pepper garlic and onion powder during the sauté step that would really boost the recipe, I will try this next time. The cinnamon, lime and orange really give this a unique (unique good not unique bad) and delicious flavor.
• Candy Brown on 2025-01-06 (5 stars):
  This is one of the best chili’s I’ve ever rated in my 54 years. Thanks for sharing
• Carol on 2025-01-09 (5 stars):
  I made this on a very cold day here in Michigan and we enjoyed it for 2 days! Husband is a bow hunter and always venison in freezer. I followed your recipe to a T! Did use your suggestion about subbing a beer for beef broth - delicious. Thank you for sharing your recipe!- Carol
• Tom H on 2025-01-23 (5 stars):
  Made for first time tonight. Really good flavor. My wife doesn’t like spice so left out chili powder but really didn’t need it as full of flavor . Used half Guinness beer , half beef broth instead of all beef broth and that added more flavor as well. Used all kidney beans ( no black beans). Really happy with results !
• Justin W on 2025-02-19 (5 stars):
  Best chili I've ever made. I didn't have limes or lemons so I used 3 oranges and it turned out fantastic.
• Janet on 2025-05-02 (5 stars):
  This chili recipe is amazing!!!!! It really stands out and doesn’t taste like most chili recipes do since the seasoning is very different. I have passed this recipe onto quite a few people who have tasted it and requested it. Yum!
• Jill B on 2025-05-03 (5 stars):
  I love making this chili, it turns out perfect every time and the flavor is incredible. This recipe has made me very comfortable cooking venison. Thank you Miss Allie for improving our kitchen!!
• Uyen Vo on 2025-07-03 (5 stars):
  This chili was so easy to make and tastes delicious!! I didn't have orange juice but had a lemon so I used it and added about 1 T sugar to balance out sourness. Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
• Chris on 2025-07-27 (5 stars):
  This is an OUTSTANDING recipe. I do not like bell peppers so I excluded them and did add a habanero pepper and ghost pepper during the simmer as I like heat. I also added a half lb of ground beef because of the peppers. Very complex flavor and I am having leftovers tonight served differently than how I served it last night. The comments about cinnamon are varied, as you've said it's really subtle and I liked it. Thank you!
• Judy Conway on 2025-09-25 (5 stars):
  Oh my, this is the best best chili I have ever had. Thank you so much for the recipe I couldn’t follow it to a ‘T’ but it still turned out delicious . I thought I pulled venison from the freezer but it was lamb and bison(turns out they work well together) and I didn’t have hot chili seasoning so I used extra paprika and cayenne. It really is delicious !
• Dee on 2025-11-04 (5 stars):
  My husband and myself made this last year a couple times. The first time though was different because instead of ground meat we put the liver and heart in it. It was fantastic, the kiddos and myself loved it when we wouldn’t usually eat the heart and liver!
• Jessica Mondragon on 2025-11-07 (5 stars):
  Ok, I’m sold. The orange juice and lime juice and cinnamon had me scared but wow! Tastes great! Thank you! I doubled the recipe and added 1.5 cups of beef broth and 1.5 cups of lager.
• Andrew on 2025-12-12 (1 stars):
  This is actually disgusting. I had to throw the whole thing out cause it tasted like sucking on an orange/lime with every bite. I followed the recipe perfectly as well. I’m convinced the people who have left positive reviews for this have never had real chili
• cathy on 2025-12-16 (5 stars):
  used roast chopped very fine and chili was delish
• Shelly Mol on 2025-12-30 (5 stars):
  This was so good. You would never know it’s Venison. I left out cinnamon but other than that made as is! I will make this again!
• Lauren on 2026-01-14 (5 stars):
  Agree 100% and my family said same thing- this is the best chili you’ve ever made!! Finally a keeper!!!
• Debi on 2026-01-19 (5 stars):
  This was delicious! Loved the combination of the spices and other ingredients. I added a little hot red pepper to my serving! Served with homemade cornbread. Saving it to make again. Thanks for posting!