Smoked Venison Chili

Smoked Venison Chili

from themeateater.com
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The secret to making award-winning chili is knowing how to layer spices and concentrate flavors. This recipe relies on good seasoning, smoke, and time. I like to use coarse-ground venison for texture and the MeatEater Sabertooth Slayer Coffee Chili Rub for complexity and richness. Adding beans is...

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp.oil
  • 2 lb.ground venison
  • 1 mediumonion, diced
  • 3hatch chiles, roasted and chopped (or 4 oz. canned green chiles)
  • 4 clovesgarlic, minced
  • 2 cupsvenison or beef stock
  • ¼ cuptomato paste
  • 1 canfire-roasted, diced tomatoes (15 oz.)
  • 1 cancharro beans (15 oz.)
  • 1 tbsp.worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp.smoked or plain sea salt
  • 1 tbsp.meateater sabertooth slayer coffee chili rub
  • 1 tbsp.ancho or red chili powder
  • corn chips, sour cream, shredded cheese, and green onions for serving

Directions

  1. 1

    Prepare your smoker according to the manufacturer’s instructions using your choice of wood or pellets. Set a large Dutch oven inside the smoker and crank the heat to high, around 450 degrees. If you’re using an aluminum foil tray, there is no need to preheat the pan that long.

  2. 2

    Once the smoker has preheated and the cast iron is hot, pour in the oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the ground venison in a single layer and close the lid on the smoker. Cook for 3-5 minutes and then stir. Continue to cook another 3-5 minutes until brown on all sides. Stir in the onion, chiles, and garlic.

  3. 3

    Close the lid on the smoker again and reduce the heat to 250 degrees. It will take time for the temperature to drop. While it does, let the meat absorb smoke for at least an hour. Stir occasionally.

  4. 4

    Pour in the stock, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, charro beans, Worcestershire, salt, coffee chili rub, and chili powder. Stir to fully combine, close the smoker’s lid, and cook for an additional two hours or longer to let the liquids reduce and intensify in flavor.

  5. 5

    **Notes:

  6. 6

    **Substitute the MeatEater Coffee Chili Rub with 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, 1 teaspoon of cumin, and a pinch of ground coffee. Include the additional 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 tablespoon of chili powder called for in the recipe.

  7. 7

    If using a traditional smoker, it will be easiest to brown the venison and veggies in the firebox over direct heat first, and then transfer to the smoking chamber over indirect heat.