This slow cooker venison chili recipe is so easy and delicious! With a prep time of less than 20 minutes, it’s the perfect comfort food.

Chili is the ultimate comfort food. Hearty and satisfying, it’s a go-to for cold winter days. It’s also a surprisingly healthy dish. While I love classic chili made with ground beef, this recipe is a great way to incorporate venison into your everyday meals. Another great thing about chili is that it’s pretty versatile – it can be served on its own as a main course, or as a side dish or topping.

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Cooking with Venison

Venison is deer meat. Typically, venison is a very lean red meat. Sometimes, venison and other wild game can be described as “gamey”, but we’re really lucky to have very mild tasting venison from the deer where we live.

If your venison is a little gamey, chili is a great way to mask that strong flavor a bit. Usually ground venison will have some fat added to the grind, so it won’t be too lean. It should be very similar to cooking with ground beef.

Why I Love This Slow Cooker Venison Chili

I love a recipe that requires very little prep time and can just simmer in the slow cooker all day. That way, when you come in the house from a long day of work, there’s nothing left to do except serve it up! This easy slow cooker venison chili is just that – only a few minutes of prep work and the slow cooker does the rest!

I also love that this recipe uses everyday ingredients you most likely have on hand. If you’re short on time or didn’t plan ahead with a trip to the grocery store, this chili is an easy and delicious meal made using a few simple pantry staples.

Ways to Serve Slow Cooker Venison Chili

One of the great things about chili is that it’s a pretty versatile dish. It’s a tasty side dish served with trip tip, or as a topping on hot dogs or baked potatoes. If you’re serving as a main course, it’s delicious topped with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and green onions. Serve with corn bread or sourdough bread and a side salad.

What You Need to Make Slow Cooker Venison Chili

Cast iron skillet or pan – to cook the ground venison

Cutting board & knife – to chop onion

Slow cooker – I recommend a 5 or 6-quart size

Measuring cups and spoons

Can opener

Wooden spoon and spatula

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Venison Chili

Ground venison – you could also sub ground beef

Onion – I prefer yellow onion

Salt & Pepper

Fire roasted diced tomatoes with green chilies

Kidney beans – I use canned, but you could also pre-cook dried beans

Salsa – any kind

Chili seasoning mix – store-bought or homemade. I prefer to make my own

How To Make Homemade Chili Seasoning Mix

Combine the following ingredients. Store in an airtight container.

2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp smoked paprika
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
1.5 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground oregano
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Directions for Slow Cooker Venison Chili

In large cast iron skillet, cook ground venison and onion until done. Drain grease if necessary.

Combine ground venison mixture, diced tomatoes, kidney beans, salsa and seasonings in the slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 4 hours.

I hope you love this recipe as much as I do! If you try it and enjoy it, please leave a comment below and share this recipe!