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There is no easier, hearty and delicious meal than this crock pot venison chili recipe. It is a dump and go deer chili that is bursting with flavor and loved by the whole family.

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Easy Crock Pot Venison Chili

While you can also make this venison chili on the stove top, I love to slow cook it to bring out even more flavor.

The melding of spicy chili powder, salty sweet tomatoes and mild ground venison is a perfect combination. I’m sure it will be your new favorite deer chili recipe!

Venison Chili Ingredients

• 1 lb. Ground Venison
• 1 Clove Garlic, Minced 
• 1 Small Onion, Chopped
• 1 tsp. Salt
• 2-2 1/2 tsp. Chili Powder (More if you prefer hotter chili)
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce 
• 1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
• 2- 16 oz Cans Tomato Sauce
• 3- 16 oz Cans Dark Red Kidney Beans (Drained and Rinsed)
• 1 Large Can Stewed Tomatoes
• 1 4 oz Can Green Diced Chilis (Optional)

How to Make Crock Pot Venison Chili

First, brown the ground venison and chopped onion in a skillet until cooked thoroughly. This brings out a richer flavor.

In the last minute of cooking, add your minced garlic to the meat and cook 1-2 minutes.

Drain the ground venison, if you have any fat. Venison is such a lean meat, so you may not have much to drain. If you prefer the extra flavor, you can leave it as well.

Place your meat mixture into the crock pot (or large soup pot depending on your preferred cooking method).

Add the remaining ingredients to the crock pot or soup pot and stir well.

Crock Pot: Cook on low 8-10 hours or high 3-4 hours.

Stove Top: Simmer on low 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Serve this delicious venison chili topped with cheddar cheese, if desired, and a classic cornbread or saltine crackers.

Recipe Notes

This crock pot venison chili recipe produces a mild heat. If you prefer a more spicy chili, I recommend adding a can of diced chilis or another tsp of chili powder.

Can You Put Raw Ground Meat in Crock Pot for Chili?

The major convenience of a crock pot chili is that you have very little prep. So, many people want to avoid the step of browning ground meat before putting it in the crock pot.

While it is not 100% necessary to pre-cook your meat, it will produce the best flavor. Browning ground meat before adding it to your crock pot chili gives it a richer flavor that is lost when the meat is simply heated in the slow cooker.

In my opinion, it’s a 5 minute step that is well worth the effort!

Can You Freeze Chili?

Yes! You can freeze chili.

This deer chili recipe produces a full crock pot of chili. Which is fantastic if you love to eat leftovers for several days. However, even better if you freeze a portion for future quick dinners!

To freeze chili, simply place in a freezer bag and squeeze out all the air. Level the chili so that it is flattened and place it flat in a freezer. This takes up the least amount of space.

You can also freeze chili in mason jars or other air tight containers (ensuring you leave a gap at the top for expansion).

Freeze for 3-6 months. Thaw in the fridge fully before reheating on the stovetop.

More Venison Recipes

Our family uses venison for 99% of our red meat recipes. I hope that you enjoy this crock pot venison chili, as well as some of our other favorite venison recipes as well!

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today!

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~Sarah