Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

hunter's sweet 'n spicy chili

(2 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Leah O'Connell
Erie, PA

My husband and I have argued for years which chili recipe is the best, his or mine. We have come up with a wonderful, scrumptious and amazingly tantalizing chili compromise! What is the secret? His favorite BBQ sauce and my original chili recipe made with a wonderful venison/ground beef mixture. It's HOT, it's SWEET, and it's oh, sooo yummy! Our eight children agree... it's the best. We serve it on the first day of buck season as our hunters arrive home, with a side of cornbread and a room filled with family! It doesn't get any sweeter than this... a memory to savor for generations to come.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

This venison chili is a great recipe for someone that's new to cooking venison. Using venison and beef takes away the gamey flavor some people find from venison. The combination of savory and sweet with a punch of spice makes this the perfect chili. We loved the addition of corn and BBQ sauce. They add a bit of sweetness. Overall, this is a flavorful chili recipe. If you have leftovers, we highly recommend you try Leah's suggestion over bowtie pasta. It was delicious and a great way to reinvent leftovers.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(2 ratings)
yield 8 -10
prep time 20 Min
cook time 1 Hr 30 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For hunter's sweet 'n spicy chili

  • 2 lb
    venison/ground beef mixture (equal parts of each)
  • 1 lg
    onion, chopped
  • 1 lg
    green pepper
  • 1 can
    crushed tomatoes, 28 oz.
  • 1 can
    stewed tomatoes, 14.5 oz.
  • 1 can
    tomato sauce, 15 oz.
  • 1 can
    corn, drained well, 15 oz.
  • 1 can
    black beans, rinsed and drained, 15 oz.
  • 1 can
    chili seasoned red kidney beans, not drained, 16 oz.
  • 1/8 c
    Sweet Baby Ray's Original BBQ Sauce
  • 1/8 c
    sugar, granulated
  • 1 tsp
    cumin, ground
  • 1/2 tsp
    each of garlic powder, parsley, and salt
  • 1/4 tsp
    each of black pepper and cayenne pepper
  • about 1/4 tsp
    each of oregano, Italian seasoning, and basil
  • 1/2 Tbsp
    chili powder

How To Make hunter's sweet 'n spicy chili

  • Sauteeing ground venison.
    1
    Saute ground beef/venison until almost all pink is gone. Pour off fat.
  • Adding in the bell peppers and onions.
    2
    Add the bell peppers and onions.
  • Cooking the onions and peppers until soft.
    3
    Sauté until slightly soft, but not transparent.
  • Adding the tomato sauce to the chili.
    4
    Then the crushed tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, and tomato sauce.
  • Adding the corn and beans.
    5
    Next, add the corn and beans.
  • Adding barbecue sauce and spices to the pot.
    6
    Then add the BBQ sauce and seasonings.
  • Covering the chili to simmer.
    7
    Cook covered for at least one hour. Taste, then adjust spices as needed.
  • Chili simmering on the stove.
    8
    Uncover and cook for another 30 min – 1 hour.
  • Cornbread in a cast iron skillet.
    9
    Serve with homemade buttered cornbread.
  • Leftover chili served over bowtie pasta.
    10
    What to do with leftovers? Serve over cooked bowtie pasta and top with cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream. You will never go back to your old chili recipe!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT