Venison Chili with a Unique Spin

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 2 pounds ground venison
• 1 ½ pounds bulk mild Italian sausage
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 large sweet onion, chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• 3 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 (14 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes, chopped
• 6 tablespoons chili powder
• 4 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
• 2 teaspoons liquid smoke flavoring
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 ½ teaspoons cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans or bottles Pilsner-style beer
• 1 (16 ounce) can light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (16 ounce) can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• ¼ cup bourbon

Step 1

Lightly heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the venison and cook it, breaking it up with a spoon, until it’s nicely browned and crumbly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off the grease and set the meat aside. In another skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and cook the sausage the same way until browned and crumbly. Drain that, too, then combine the venison and sausage in a large pot.

Step 2

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Toss in the onion, jalapeño, and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they’re soft and fragrant, around 5 to 7 minutes. Carefully transfer this mixture to a food processor and pulse it just a little to blend. Add that to your meat mixture.

Step 3

Put the tomatoes into the food processor and give them a quick blend as well before adding them to the pot. Sprinkle in the chili powder, beef bouillon, liquid smoke, cumin, cayenne, and allspice, stirring after you add each spice to make sure everything’s well mixed. Then pour in the beer, kidney beans, tomato sauce, and bourbon, giving it all a good stir.

Step 4

Bring the whole chili to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer uncovered. Give it about an hour to thicken up and for the flavors to really come together. Stir occasionally, and once it’s nice and rich, it’s ready to enjoy!