Twisted Venison Chili

With a venison and Italian sausage base and a twisted kick from a sweet, smoky, spicy mixture of veggies and spices, this chili is bursting with flavor.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins
• Calories: 506 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 pounds ground venison
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 large sweet onion, chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• 2 teaspoons liquid smoke flavoring
• 3 teaspoons minced garlic
• 6 tablespoons chili powder
• 4 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
• 2 (14 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes, chopped
• 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans or bottles Pilsner-style beer
• 1 (16 ounce) can light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (16 ounce) can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 0.25 cup butter
• 0.5 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1.5 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1.5 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 0.25 cup bourbon
• 1.5 pounds bulk mild Italian sausage

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in a skillet. Add venison and cook and stir until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease.

Step 2

Heat remaining tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in a separate skillet. Add sausage and cook and stir until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Combine venison and sausage in a large pot.

Step 3

Melt butter over medium heat in a skillet. Add onion, jalapeno, and garlic and cook and stir until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Carefully transfer mixture to a food processor and lightly blend. Add to meat mixture.

Step 4

Lightly blend tomatoes in a food processor; add to meat mixture. Add chili powder, beef bouillon, liquid smoke, cumin, cayenne, and allspice, stirring after each addition. Stir in beer, kidney beans, tomato sauce, and bourbon.

Step 5

Bring chili mixture to a boil; reduce heat to low and let simmer until thickened and reduced, about 1 hour.