Best Bison Chili Recipe

This bison chili is your favorite chili recipe made with bison. It’s easy to make, has a simple ingredient list, and perfectly balances the flavor of the bison.

If you love a good chili recipe, this one is an adaptation of our 30 Minute Chili Recipe & Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe.

How to Make Bison Chili

Step 1:

Cook the onion, green bell pepper, garlic and jalapeños in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook until the onions are translucent and the peppers are tender.

NOTE: If you like your chili less spicy leave out the jalapeños or only add 1. This recipe is a medium level of spice with both added (not super spicy, but has a little fiery kick as an aftertaste).

Step 2:

Add the ground bison to the skillet. Crumble the bison into small pieces and add the seasonings. Continue cooking until the bison is browned.

TIP: Instead of making this recipe with 2 pounds ground bison, you can use 1 pound of bison and 1 pound of lean ground meat. This is a great alternative if you aren’t sure if you’ll love full bison flavor or you want to add some beef flavor.

Step 3:

Add the diced tomatoes and crushed tomatoes, stirring to combine. Pour in the beef stock until your chili reaches its desired thickness. You probably won’t need to add much, I usually end up adding only a splash.

Step 4:

Reduce the heat of the skillet to medium low. Simmer your chili for 20 – 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow it to cool for 5 minutes to thicken before serving.

Optional: garnish with classic chili toppings like: cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado, red onion or chips.

Popular Additions & Substitutions:

Adding beef:

Instead of using 2 pounds of bison, use 1 pound of bison and 1 pound of lean ground beef for a mix of flavor.

Adding bourbon:

Bourbon Bison Chili is a popular twist! Add 1 oz bourbon to this recipe before you simmer it for a fun change in taste.

Doubling the recipe:

This recipe makes 6 servings, but we usually double it. This is such a tasty recipe that you’ll want seconds & leftovers.

How to Make Bison Chili in a Crockpot:

Crockpot Bison Chili is easy to make and is an amazing way to let the flavors of this recipe simmer together.

Here’s how to adapt this recipe for your crockpot:

1. Cook the onion, garlic and peppers in a skillet.
2. Add the bison and seasonings and cook until browned.
3. Transfer vegetables and bison to your crockpot. Add remaining ingredients.
4. Simmer on low for 7 – 8 hours or high for 3 – 4 hours.

This bison chili is a crowd-pleasing favorite. And if you’ve never cooked with bison before, this recipe is the perfect place to start! It’s easy to make with a simple ingredient list.

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