Venison Chili (Slow cooker, Instant pot or Campfire)

This Venison Chili recipe is wonderful if you’re new to wild game cooking.  It’s easy, delicious, and forgiving.  It’s a staple in our home in the cooler months, and I’m sure you will love it too. This recipe has instructions how to cook in multiple ways, including in the slow cooker or on the campfire! 

I Love Fall

It is absolutely my favorite season.

I look forward all year to that special morning when I step outside and the air has changed.  Almost overnight the pressure has shifted and summer’s humidity has become crisp and cool.  The light filters through the trees differently, throwing shadows where there weren’t any before.  On that wonderful morning, even the smell of the world is different.

It’s Not Just the Weather That I Look Forward To

To me, Fall means

• hiking
• bonfires
• s’mores
• scarves
• boots
• being outside-football
• beautiful leaves
• pumpkins
• mountain trips
• hunting
• and of course…..chili

Chili is Serious Business

Around our house, chili is not something to be taken lightly.  We experiment, add “secret” ingredients, and even have a family chili cook-off every year.

We like chili.

So since the first pot of the season was made on our trip to the mountains last weekend, I thought I would share one of our favorite recipes. This is great to throw together in the morning and enjoy when you get home from work!

This recipe is really simple to make but is full of flavor, it is the best Venison Chili recipe by far! We love using venison in it for a warm and comforting meal! This chili is full of onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and beans. The mushrooms in the chili add an umami flavor that I think pairs beautifully with the flavor of the deer meat. If you do not hunt, you can use any type of ground meat that you’d like! This recipe is really versatile, and I love that I can use whatever type of meat I have on hand. (Although I usually have a plethora of venison!) 

This recipe is perfect for dinner or to use as meal prep for a busy week. But my favorite way of all is to cook this chili over a fire while camping. A big pot of chili is the perfect warm meal on a chilly fall day. 

Venison Chili Ingredients

• Cooking oil – I use lard or vegetable oil, but you can substitute avocado or olive oil 
• Yellow onion – diced yellow onion, or you can use white onion if that is what you have on hand. 
• Red bell pepper – one red pepper diced 
• Ground venison – Any ground meat will work! Game meat such as elk meat, or meats found at the store such as ground beef, or ground turkey are all great options. 
• Mushrooms – fresh mushrooms diced. You can use white mushrooms, baby bellas, or whatever you prefer. 
• Diced tomatoes – canned diced tomatoes. 
• Red kidney beans – Kidney beans are our favorite type of chili beans 
• Chili magic beans – Canned chili magic beans are pinto beans with a blend of tomato paste and seasoning that gives a depth of flavor and goes perfectly with chili. 
• Chili seasoning – This is a blend that usually contains ingredients such as chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and paprika. You can easily find a chili blend at your local grocery stores. 
• Optional: If you like it a little spicy add jalapeno peppers or your favorite hot sauce (we like Frank’s-the hubs puts that **** on everything!), or a dash of cayenne pepper. 
• Toppings: To serve add your favorite chili toppings such as cheese, sour cream or pickled jalapeños. 

Directions for slow cooker venison chili 

• First, Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add chopped onion and bell peppers and cook until soft. 
• Next add mushrooms and ground meat.
• Cook until meat is no longer pink, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
• Drain any excess grease out of the meat and then pour the mixture into a crock pot
• Add in the remaining ingredients to the meat mixture. Add the can of tomatoes & their juice, beans, and seasoning. Stir everything to combine. 
• Cover with the lid and cook on low for 4-6 hours. 
• Enjoy!!

Other methods to cook venison chili

Stovetop directions

To cook the chili on the stovetop use a large dutch oven or large pot. Follow the instructions to soften the vegetables and brown meat inside the pot and then add in the tomatoes, beans and seasoning. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes to an hour. 

Pressure cooker directions 

To make instant pot venison chili, use the sauté setting of the instant pot to soften vegetables and brown the meat. Then add in the rest of the ingredients and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes with a natural release.  

Campfire directions

This is a great recipe to make when you are camping! You can make the chili in a Dutch oven over the fire. There is just something so warm and comforting about enjoying a bowl of chili around of the campfire! 

Serving Suggestions

I love chili because there are so many different ways that you can serve it! Here are just a few of my favorites: 

• Top with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, pickled jalapeños, green onions, or whatever your little heart desires
• spread over a baked potato
• eat with cheesy toast or cornbread

How to store venison chili

To store, add the leftover chili to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. This is also a really great recipe to freeze and eat later! Add to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat just add to a saucepan to thaw and warm through. 

More deer meat recipes

How to cook venison neck roast – Venison neck roast is a part of the animal that is often discarded, but I’ve found that when cooked properly, it actually provides a good deal of delicious meat. You can serve it with roasted veggies or make a delicious sandwich or tacos.  

Venison lettuce wraps – This is a delicious and healthy meal that can be thrown together in a pinch. It’s the perfect easy weeknight dinner using ground venison. It has flavors of ginger and lemongrass and is so delicious! 

Venison sausage – this recipe is my favorite way to use up all the parts of our deer harvest. The homemade sausage has a seasoning blend added for a delicious flavor that can be used in many different dishes for breakfast, lunch or dinner! 

What are some ways that you celebrate this wonderful season??
Share in the comments section below!

Try More of Our Favorite Venison Recipes