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A bowl of southwestern bison chili topped with shredded cheddar cheese and avocado sitting next to a spoon.

Southwestern Bison Chili

A rich, cozy bison chili made with ground bison, two kinds of beans, Rotel, and pantry spices. Ready in about 30 minutes on the stove, or let it cook all day in the slow cooker.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

  • Dutch oven
  • Slow cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • ½ medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 lb ground bison
  • 32 oz tomato sauce
  • 1 15 to 16 oz can chili beans, with their sauce
  • 1 15 oz can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 10 oz can Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chilies), with juices
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • Shredded cheddar cheese and avocado for topping (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Heat the avocado oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Add the ground bison, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until no pink remains, 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Add the tomato sauce, chili beans with their sauce, kidney beans, and Rotel with its juices. Stir to combine.
  • Stir in the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
  • Bring to a gentle simmer, then cover and cook on low for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or up to a couple of hours for deeper flavor. Serve with your favorite toppings.

Slow Cooker

  • Heat the avocado oil in a skillet over medium heat and brown the ground bison until no pink remains, 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Add the browned bison, diced onion, tomato sauce, chili beans with their sauce, kidney beans, Rotel, and all the seasonings to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
  • Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.

Notes

  • Meat swap: Any ground meat works 1:1. Drain the grease if using 80/20 ground beef.
  • No Rotel? Use one 4 oz can diced green chilies plus one 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes.
  • No tomato sauce? Whisk two 6 oz cans tomato paste with 2 cups water.
  • Storage: Refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 203kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 18gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 1591mgPotassium: 778mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1450IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 4mg

*nutrition information is an approximate

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