Colorado Bison Chili Recipes

BISON CHILI FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Rinse beans. Combine with 3 quarts of cold water in a large pot. Soak 8 hours to overnight.
• Drain beans and return to the pot. Add 3 quarts fresh water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered until tender, 1 to 2 hours. Drain and set aside.
• Heat vegetable oil in a 4-quart stockpot over medium heat. Add onion and stir until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, stir for a minute, then add bison and cook until browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir tomatoes and liquid into stockpot.
• Combine red pepper flakes, cumin, oregano, chili powder, sea salt, white pepper, and paprika in a small container and stir to mix. Add to the stockpot and stir through. Add 1 cup water and stir gently while bringing water to a boil, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour.
• Taste bison mixture and adjust seasoning as desired. Add beans and mix through. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon masa flour on top and gently stir in to achieve a medium-thick consistency. Cover and simmer chili over low heat for 1 hour.
• Uncover chili, stir, and add another tablespoon masa flour. Continue simmering, uncovered, over low heat to desired consistency, 60 to 90 minutes. Cover the pot or add a teaspoon of masa flour to control consistency.

COLORADO BUFFALO CHILI

Steps:

• Brown the buffalo in a skillet over medium heat; season with 1/2 teaspoon cumin and 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste. Drain excess grease.
• Combine the buffalo, tomatoes with green chiles, tomato soup, kidney beans, chili beans, onion, garlic, Anaheim chile pepper, poblano chile pepper, chili powder, red pepper flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low overnight or 8 hours.

BISON CHILI

Steps:

• In a large kettle or Dutch oven, brown meat in oil; drain. Add onion and green pepper; saute for 5 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until the meat is tender.

HEALTHY BISON CHILI

Steps:

• Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the bison and cook until browned, taking care not to break the meat into very small pieces, about 10 minutes. Transfer the bison to a plate using a slotted spoon and set aside. Drain the liquid in the bottom of the pot and discard.
• Keep the pot over medium-high heat and add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil, the poblano peppers and onions. Cook until softened and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the chili powder, coriander, cumin, salt, cayenne pepper and garlic. Cook and stir until the spices are fragrant and toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes with the juices, and bring to a simmer while scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pan, about 2 minutes.
• Return the bison to the pot and add the black beans, kidney beans, hominy and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat, cover and simmer until thickened, about 45 minutes. Season with salt. Serve with the sour cream, cheese, cilantro, onions, lime and avocado, if desired.

SLOW COOKER BISON CHILI

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir ground bison in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Place cooked bison in a slow cooker. Add chili beans, diced tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, cumin, chili seasoning, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and paprika; mix to combine. Cook on Low, 6 to 8 hours.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
• Drain the macaroni and add to the chili in the slow cooker for the last 20 minutes of cooking.

COLORADO BISON CHILI

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in crock-pot and cook on low for 7 hours.
• Serve with fresh cilantro, sour cream, diced red onion and shredded cheddar cheese.