There’s a chill in the air and the leaves are starting to turn, which means it’s the perfect time to throw together a meal to warm you up during those late-night backyard bonfires. And what better way to get into the fall festivities than with a toasty bowl of chili? So, follow along in this Backyard Life cook as legendary outdoorsman Joe Thomas dishes out his mouthwatering moose chili recipe.
The History Behind Joe’s Moose Chili
Joe says that this recipe is a Thomas family fall favorite for both hunting camp and get-togethers, namely because it’s super easy to whip up and tastes even better. He credits his mother-in-law, Grandma Marlene, for the origin behind this great dish. “The only change I’ve made is she used beef and I like wild game, so I use moose meat,” Thomas says.
The meat used in this batch of chili came from a moose Thomas harvested in Newfoundland, Canada last season. But if you don’t have any moose meat of your own, don’t sweat! You can substitute it with any other wild game you have on hand (such as antelope, deer, and more). However, while subbing the meat is possible, Thomas says there’s nothing quite like moose to make this delicious chili recipe pop. It’s super lean with very little fat—just how he likes it.
Joe Thomas’ Moose Chili Recipe
4
servings2
hours30
minutesJoe Thomas’ moose chili is a hearty wild-game meal to spice up hunting camp—or your next backyard get-together.
Moose chili Ingredients
2 lbs. Ground moose meat (browned and drained)
4 cups Water
1 can Tomato sauce
1 can Spicy chili beans
2 dashes Worchestershire sauce
2 tsps. Salt
2 Bay leaves
2 tsp. Cumin
2-4 tsp. Chili powder
1/4 tsp. Allspice
1-2 tsp. Cinnamon
moose chili cooking Directions
- Place raw moose meat in a pot and cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain excess grease.
- Combine all the ingredients in the pot with the browned moose meat and stir until thoroughly mixed.
- Cover pot and let simmer on low heat for approximately 2 hours. Take the lid off for the last 20 to 30 minutes and stir occasionally to help thicken.
- Place 2 large scoops of chili in a bowl, then garnish with fresh shredded cheese, a small scoop of sour cream, shredded or diced onions, and saltine crackers.
Now you’re ready to go for the colder seasons or your next backyard football party with this easy moose chili recipe. There are tons of recipes you could use with this, but our favorite to recommend is our Easy Snacks: Homemade Potato Chips. Crumble them up on top or use them to dip.
