Bison Chili is a healthy chili recipe for an easy weeknight dinner in 30 minutes! This tasty recipe is made with ground bison, tomatoes, chili beans, and spices. Such a delicious and satisfying easy dinner! Yum!
Looking for a healthy chili recipe for your family? Get a tasty meal on the table fast with this easy dinner option. Our Bison Chili Recipe has all the satisfying, classic chili flavors you love but it's made with a healthy twist by using lean ground bison instead of ground beef. We're always looking to add that healthy twist to our Easy Weeknight Dinner recipes. If you feel the same way, be sure to try out our other ground bison recipes, like our tasty Bison Pasta!
This tasty recipe is based on our classic chili recipe and was an instant hit around here! It's so good!
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Here's What You Need
Notes on Ingredients
Ground Bison - Sealed packages of ground bison meat are commonly found in your local grocery store's packaged meat refrigerator case, right next to the ground beef.
Salt - Salting the meat and adjusting seasonings at every step of the cooking process is essential to building the layers of flavor important to any dish. It is important to note that bison is a sweeter tasting meat when compared to beef, which is more savory in taste. So the seasonings need to be adjusted accordingly. For this recipe, this means balancing some of that sweetness with a little extra salt!
How to Make It
Step 1: First, sauté 1 lb of ground bison meat in 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Break the meat up into pieces and season with 1 teaspoon of salt as it cooks. Once browned and seasoned, the bison should be tasty. Add more salt if necessary.
Step 2: Stir in onions, celery, and garlic.
Step 3: Add diced tomatoes, chili beans, and seasonings. Stir until combined.
Step 4: Cover and simmer for 20 Minutes. Then Enjoy!
Tasty Tip
Chili Add-Ins: This Bison Chili Recipe produces a mild flavored chili. For spicy chili, try any of these Add-Ins:
- An extra Teaspoon of Chili Powder.
- Ground Red Pepper.
- Crushed Red Pepper.
- Sriracha.
- Diced Green Chili Pepper, Canned or Fresh.
- Diced Jalapeño, Canned or Fresh.
Common Questions
Bison and beef are similar in taste, making bison an easy substitution choice in recipes containing beef. Bison meat tastes sweeter and less savory than beef.
Bison may be a healthier choice than beef because it is the leaner meat. When comparing bison and beef, bison is lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol. Bison is higher in protein than beef.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Bison Chili with your favorite toppings and sides!
- Sprinkled with cheese.
- Topped with sour cream.
- Or with some avocado.
- Scooped up on tortilla chips.
- Spooned over hot dogs!
- Or over nachos.
- Over macaroni.
- Or on baked potatoes!
- With cornbread.
Meal Prep/Storage Suggestions
Bison Chili is a great recipe to make ahead or to use as a meal prep option! Make your weeknights easier by making this recipe ahead of time on the weekend!
Store Bison Chili in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Bison Chili also freezes well for 2-6 months in these handy food storage containers.
More Easy Weeknight Dinners
Other Ground Bison Recipes
- Best-Ever Bison Burger - by Mekinze Gore over on Delish.com.
- Baked Bison Meatballs - by Megan over at Stetted.com.
There you have it! Ground Bison Chili is a delicious a healthy chili recipe that can be made in 4 easy steps in just 30 minutes. It's as simple as that! We hope you enjoy this delicious and satisfying Easy Weeknight Dinner! Try it and let us know how you like it. We'd love to hear from you!
xo ~ Seanna
Watch How to Make It
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Ground Bison Chili
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 quarts 1x
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
A healthy chili recipe for and easy weeknight dinner in 30 minutes! This tasty recipe is made with ground bison, tomatoes, chili beans, and spices. Yum!
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Bison
- 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Medium Onion, Diced
- 2 Stalks Celery, Diced
- 1 Clove Garlic, Minced
- 1 - 28 oz Can Diced Tomatoes, with Juice
- 2 - 16 oz Cans Hot Chili Beans
- 2 Teaspoons Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Chili Powder
- ¼ Teaspoon Ground Cumin
- ¼ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
Instructions
Saute Ground Bison. First, Saute 1 lb of ground bison meat in 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Break the meat up into pieces and season with 1 teaspoon of salt as it cooks. Once browned and seasoned, the bison should be tasty. Add more salt if necessary.
Add Fresh Vegetables. Stir in onions, celery, and garlic.
Add Canned Tomatoes, Beans, and Seasonings. Add diced tomatoes, chili beans, and seasonings. Stir until combined.
Simmer. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Then Enjoy!
Notes
Tasty Tip. Taste and adjust seasonings while you cook. Salting the meat and adjusting seasonings at every step of the cooking process is essential to building the layers of flavor important to any dish.
Adjust Seasonings. It is important to note that bison is a sweeter tasting meat when compared to beef, which is more savory in taste. So the seasonings need to be adjusted accordingly. For this recipe, this means balancing some of that sweetness with a little extra salt!
Chili Add-Ins: This Bison Chili Recipe produces a mild flavored chili. For spicy chili, try any of these Add-Ins: An extra Teaspoon of Chili Powder, Ground Red Pepper, Crushed Red Pepper, Sriracha, Diced Green Chili Pepper, Canned or Fresh, Diced Jalapeño, or Canned or Fresh.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Soup and Chili
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cup
- Calories: 201
- Sugar: 5.8 g
- Sodium: 1285.2 mg
- Fat: 10.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.5 g
- Protein: 11.9 g
- Cholesterol: 29.7 mg
Keywords: Ground Bison, Chili, Healthy Chili, Easy Weeknight Dinner
Evonne Simoff
Love this! It’s fast, it’s easy, it’s healthy. Winning combination. I added a little extra spice like Seanna recommended and I also added some diced carrots because I needed to use them up.
★★★★★
Seanna
Awesome to hear Evonne! So happy you like it. Carrots are a great addition.
Ashlee
I found your recipe after searching google for a bison chili recipe. This recipe was great! There was so much flavor and I loved the added red chili flakes. I didn't change a thing and wont the next time I prepare this recipe. Thank you, it feels good to have a satisfying recipe to add to my rotation!
★★★★★
Seanna
Thanks so much Ashlee. I'm so glad you like it!
Russ Borrows
Loved this chili, and the fact that it was a healthy option!
★★★★★
Seanna
Thank you! Love these Easy Weeknight Dinners!