Did you know that we have a very popular but elusive menu item? That’s right, bison chili makes a special appearance on our menu a few times a year! It mostly happens when big snowflakes are falling and the wizards in the kitchen decide they want to put a special treat on the menu to keep our customers warm and happy. We also find this particular recipe to be very popular for caterings.
So, you can either be very lucky and come into one of our restaurants on the days we make bison chili… we do try to announce it on our Facebook page. Or, you can now make our very own recipe at home! Maybe it’s the holiday season that has us feeling generous, but we have decided to share the recipe with you here on the blog. And shhh, here’s another secret. It’s EASY!
So rush over to the grocery store and pick up a pound of ground bison. It’s quite possible that it is the only ingredient you don’t have on hand. This recipe takes less than an hour to put together and be hot off the stove and impressing your friends and family. We think it’s perfect for low key family dinners, football Sundays, and large parties – the recipe is easily doubled, tripled or more depending on how many you need to feed! Give it a try and let us know how it goes. But we still expect to see you visiting us in the restaurant!
| Prep Time | 20 minutes |
| Cook Time | 30 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
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- 1 lb ground bison
- 1 medium Yellow Onion
- 3 cans diced tomatoes
- 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 can pinto beans drained and rinsed
- 2 cups water
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 Tbsp ground cumin
- 2.5 tsp garlic powder
- 2.5 tsp Kosher salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- .5 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup hot sauce we use Louisiana hot sauce
- 2 chipotle peppers with adobo sauce minced
Ingredients
Chili Ingredients
Bison Marinade
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- Mix together all of the spices for the bison marinade. Massage the spices into the meat in a bowl or baking dish.
- Working slowly, add the hot sauce to the bison meat and massage until it is fully incorporated.
- Add the minced chipotle peppers with adobo sauce to the bison and massage until evenly incorporated.
- Use a large, heavy bottomed stock pot to heat the olive oil on medium heat.
- Add the chopped onions and cook until turning translucent and beginning to caramelize on the bottom of the pot.
- Now add the marinated bison meat to the onions and cook, stirring constantly, until the meat is brown and cooked through.
- Once the meat is cooked, add in the tomatoes, and cook to incorporate with the meat for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the tomatoes are incorporated, add the water and beans.
- Lower the temperature and let the chili simmer for approximately 30 minutes, until it thickens.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed prior to serving.
- Garnish with your favorite toppings. We like cheddar cheese, sour cream, and sliced green onions, but the chili just as tasty on it's own!
Did you know that lots of people mistake bison for buffalo? Don't make the mistake of calling this recipe "buffalo chili." The American bison is a different species than buffalo, which are found in Africa and Asia. So, when you are ordering a "buffalo burger" or other popular dishes, you are actually eating bison. The beautiful animals that we associate with the American West are part of their own species. Impress your friends with this new knowledge next time someone orders "buffalo" at a restaurant. Of course, it is always called bison at Tocabe.
