Comfort food can be an easy bison chili cooked on the woodstove. This is my favorite kind of chili in the winter months. Cast iron cooking on the woodstove is my preferred method of cooking chili hands down! I do make chili even in the summer, just in a slow cooker as the woodstove heat is too unbearable to use.
Did you know cooking with cast-iron actually gives you extra iron in your food? Using cast iron on the woodstove enables heat to retain in the pot too. This chili can be made with ground beef, turkey, or chicken but I love bison for my ground meat in this chili recipe. If you haven’t seen my Lodge visit video, you should check it on YouTube.
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Kidney Beans for Bison Chili
There are two choices for using kidney beans in chili. One is to use dry beans, soak and cook. That will be a whole new post on how to cook kidney beans.
The other method we are using today will be using canned organic kidney beans. The beans are cooked and ready to use in making bison chili. We do not rinse the beans, but we do drain the liquid and either freeze it or today, we decided to put in the compost tumbler.
What Can I use instead of Kidney Beans in Chili?
It is best to only use one to two types of beans in chili. My favorite bean in chili is kidney beans. But, there are other beans you can use, such as garbanzo beans, pinto beans, white kidney beans (aka cannellini beans), or black beans.
What Types of Peppers to Use for Chili?
There are many types of peppers to use for chili. The heat intensity you like will determine the types of peppers to use. I always use green bell pepper and hot pepper. I grow and dry peppers all year long. My African Gray loves dried hot peppers. Hmm, another post on that?
I usually put all my hot dried peppers in one container. It really doesn’t matter which one is which. Well, except the ghost pepper, I keep that whole so I know which one that is!
If using fresh hot peppers, go with a little less, you can always kick up the heat later by adding chili powder or Tabasco sauce while eating. I make my chili with just a little heat and Ray will add a hot sauce if he wants more heat.
What Type of Onions for Making Chili?
The onion in the chili is diced very small as are the peppers. Yellow onions work well with this chili. I will use fermented red onions if I am out of yellow onions. Dried minced and onion powder will work too in this recipe. I know plenty of people that don’t have onions in their pantry and use dried herbs and spices.
What Spices to Use for Bison Chili
Spices can be fun to experiment with and everyone has their likes and dislikes when it comes to chili. . Chili powder just because it reminds me of my mother. Chili is the first dish she taught me to make when I was nine years old.
Here are a few of the spices that I have tried. Garam Masala is a favorite spice for chili, take a read at my post How to Make and Use Garam Masala is used and how many spices go into making it.
Cumin, cinnamon, paprika, oregano leaves, pepper flakes, and even taco seasonings have been used. Different heritages use their family spices they were usually raised with.
Bison Chili Video Tutorial
Ingredients for Bison Chili
- 1 to 1-1/2 pounds of ground bison
- 1 tablespoon of Ghee
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
- 1 medium bell pepper (diced)
- I hot pepper of your choice
- 1 container of tomato sauce Prego 67 ounces
- 4 cans of organic kidney beans (15.5 ounces each)
- 1 can of diced tomatoes (15.5 ounces)
- 1 can of tomato paste (6 ounces)
- Salt, pepper, and chili pepper to taste
- Optional cheddar cheese, scallions, and sour cream
Print Bison Chili Recipe
Instructions for Cooking Bison Chili
- Melt the Ghee in a cast iron pot
- Fry the meat, onions, garlic, and peppers together until lightly browned in the Ghee
- Drain the fat if needed (I do not drain bison since there is very little grease)
- Drain the kidney beans and save the liquid for the worm or compost bin
- Add the beans, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce
- On the woodstove cook on low fire for several hours, stirring occasionally
Cornbread, Biscuits, or Rolls for Bison Chili
Cornbread is a favorite in our home to eat with chili. But, on the other hand, so are buttermilk rolls. If you need the recipe for Buttermilk Wheat Bread Rolls, check out that post, there is a printable recipe too! If I am in a hurry, I will throw together Homemade Flaky Biscuits for Two which also has a free printable recipe at that blog post too!
FAQ on Chili Making
What is the best bean to use in chili?
Kidney beans are the traditional bean and are considered the best bean for chili.
Do you drain the beans for chili?
I drain the beans and save the bean juice for soups and stews or add them to the compost bin.
What spices do you put in chili?
Garam Masala, paprika, garlic powder, chili pepper, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, onion powder
Can you cook chili too long?
Yes, if you cook chili too long, the beans cook down and everything will turn to mush.
Can you freeze chili in mason jars?
Yes, ensure the chili is cool and the mason jars are meant for the freezer
Chili Hot Dogs
We always use the leftover chili for chili hot dogs either for lunch or dinner the next day. When we were growing up, my mother would stretch the leftover chili by adding it to egg noodles. My post, Egg Noodle for Beginners will help you to make homemade egg noodles yourself!
Don’t forget to add sour cream and cheese to your chili dogs. Ray loves fermented onion on top of it all! Check out my blog and video tutorial, How to Make Fermented Onions, we can never keep enough in the house!
In Conclusion
Chili is a great comfort, anytime food in our home. Cooking chili in cast iron is awesome too! Have you ever wanted to visit a foundry, I have a Lodge Foundry link you may enjoy as much as I did, be sure and check it out.
Chili is such a comfort food in our home and has been since I was a child. Cooking on a wood stove in a cast iron pot brings a whole new level of flavor to the chili. Especially when cooked in my open fireplace or outside in an open pit.
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