Name: Slow Cooker Bison Chili with Pinto Beans (Chef John-Inspired)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 20 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground bison; 2 cans (15 oz each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed; 1 can (14.5 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes; 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 red bell pepper, chopped; 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional for extra kick); 2 tbsp chili powder; 1 tbsp ground cumin; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional for extra heat); 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper; 1 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 cup beef broth (or water, if you forgot to buy beef broth)

Want to create a Chef John-level dish with all the fun and flavor involved? Dive into this Slow Cooker Bison Chili with Pinto Beans! It's the perfect recipe to show off your culinary skills without breaking a sweat. This chili is packed with the smoky depth of ground bison, savory pinto beans, and a medley of spices that’ll make your taste buds dance. Ready in just 4 hours, it's an easy, set-it-and-forget-it meal that will leave everyone asking for seconds. Top it off with your favorite garnishes, and you'll have a bowl of comfort that’s perfect for any occasion. Get ready to impress with this Chef John-inspired masterpiece. Enjoy your chili adventure!

Chili dish with jalapenos, grated cheese, cilantro and avocado

Jump to recipe

I had so much fun with this prompt, and the dish turned out nothing short of amazing! I wanted a hearty dish, and my daughter loves chili. Plus, I had some ground meat that had to be used up. My husband often criticizes my cooking, saying (quite rightfully) that I don't truly put my heart and soul into it. He’s not wrong—I’m usually trying to juggle five things at once, and my food suffers for it. My husband, who’s actually a pretty good cook, is a huge fan of Chef John. Almost everything he makes is from a Chef John recipe. So, I had to beat him at his own game. And guess what? I did!

My entire family was hit by a terrible virus, and all three kids plus my husband were down for about five days. Miraculously, it skipped me (fingers crossed it stays that way), but this week has left me utterly exhausted. It was Sunday, and the baby was finally napping for the first time in a week. That’s when I realized it was time to start thinking about dinner:

I want some interesting ideas for 1.2 lbs of ground beef (it's actually bison) that would please picky eaters too. I would love ideas that involve baking. Give me 10 ideas (just name of recipe, prep and cook time, and ingredients). I have also not used my slow cooker in a long time so also ok using that

And it delivered:

Here are 10 recipe ideas that use 1.2 lbs of ground beef (bison), which are perfect for picky eaters and involve baking or slow cooking: Baked Recipes Cheesy Bison Meatballs Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Ingredients: Ground bison, breadcrumbs, egg, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, marinara sauce. Bison Stuffed Bell Peppers Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 40 minutes Ingredients: Ground bison, bell peppers, rice, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, shredded cheddar cheese (optional). Bison and Veggie Shepherd’s Pie Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Ground bison, carrots, peas, corn, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, mashed potatoes, salt, pepper. Bison Meatloaf Muffins Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Ground bison, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper. Bison Taco Casserole Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Ground bison, tortilla chips, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, shredded cheese (optional), sour cream (optional). Slow Cooker Recipes Slow Cooker Bison Chili Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 6 hours Ingredients: Ground bison, kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper. Slow Cooker Bison and Potato Stew Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 6-8 hours Ingredients: Ground bison, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, beef broth, tomato paste, thyme, salt, pepper. Slow Cooker Bison Sloppy Joes Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 4 hours Ingredients: Ground bison, tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, onion, garlic powder, salt, pepper, hamburger buns. Slow Cooker Bison and Lentil Soup Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 6-8 hours Ingredients: Ground bison, lentils, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, beef broth, bay leaf, thyme, salt, pepper. Slow Cooker Bison and Bean Enchiladas Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 4 hours Ingredients: Ground bison, black beans, enchilada sauce, corn tortillas, onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, shredded cheese (optional). These recipes should provide a variety of options that are both delicious and appealing to picky eaters.

Oh! Chili! My daughter has been begging me for chili. It was a bit late for a super slow cooking though:

oh, let's do the chili! However it would be great if you could adjust the recipe which would take 5 hours.

Sure! Here's a Slow Cooker Bison Chili recipe adjusted to take about 5 hours: Slow Cooker Bison Chili Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 5 hours Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground bison 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tbsp chili powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 cup beef broth Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions

That looks amazing! I prepared pinto beans a few weeks ago and froze them for days just like that:

I think I only have pinto beans

So it adjusted (I haven't told it that it's home made beans but it can't possibly make a negative difference on the dish):

No problem! Here's the Slow Cooker Bison Chili recipe adjusted to use pinto beans instead: Slow Cooker Bison Chili with Pinto Beans Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 5 hours Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground bison 2 cans (15 oz each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tbsp chili powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 cup beef broth Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions

And now for the fun part- I have made internet-googled-recipe of chili in the past and my husband said it was "nice". I wanted to truly blow his mind this time, and him being such a Chef John enthusiast, I had to try to make a Chef John dish:

can you make it more "Chef John" style?

And this is what it wrote- same ingredients, just the fun with a touch of humor instructions:

Absolutely! Chef John is known for his approachable, friendly style with a touch of humor. Here's the Slow Cooker Bison Chili recipe with a "Chef John" twist: Chef John's Slow Cooker Bison Chili with Pinto Beans Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 5 hours Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground bison 2 cans (15 oz each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tbsp chili powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp smoked paprika (because everything is better smoked) 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1 cup beef broth (or water, if you forgot to buy beef broth) Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, a squeeze of lime (for that extra zing) Instructions: Prep the Ingredients: Chop the onion and mince the garlic. Try not to cry too much—remember, onions just want to be loved. Brown the Bison: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground bison until browned. Break it up with a wooden spoon, because we don’t want meatloaf in our chili. Drain any excess fat if there’s more than a tablespoon. If you’re a rebel, leave it all in. Combine in Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned bison to the slow cooker. Add the pinto beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chopped onion, minced garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and beef broth. Give it a good stir. It should look like a masterpiece already. Mix Well: Stir everything together until well combined. This is where the magic starts. Slow Cook: Cover and cook on the high setting for 5 hours. This gives you just enough time to pretend you’ve been slaving away all day. Serve: Once cooked, serve the chili hot with optional toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, and a squeeze of lime. Chef John says, “A chili without toppings is like a joke without a punchline.” Enjoy: Enjoy your delicious, hearty, and slightly smoky bison chili. Remember, Chef John always says, “Enjoy!” This version brings Chef John's lighthearted, detailed style to your kitchen. Enjoy your cooking!

OK that was absolutely adorable, however it wasn't exactly what I meant. But I loved that! So I explained myself:

I meant taste-wise LOL but the touch of humor is nice too

And it adjusted. This time it dropped the humor which was a bit disappointing:

Got it! Chef John is known for his flavorful and balanced recipes. Here’s a version of Slow Cooker Bison Chili with Pinto Beans that incorporates his taste preferences, focusing on depth of flavor and a bit of a kick. Chef John's Slow Cooker Bison Chili with Pinto Beans Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 5 hours Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground bison 2 cans (15 oz each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (14.5 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional for extra kick) 2 tbsp chili powder 1 tbsp ground cumin 1 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional for extra heat) 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp brown sugar (to balance the acidity) 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (for umami depth) 1 cup beef broth Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime

As I was prompting away, time flew, and I noticed I need to shorten the total time:

Is there a way to make it in 4 hours instead?

And I learned something new:

Sure! To make this chili in 4 hours while maintaining depth of flavor, we can adjust the cooking method slightly. Browning the meat and sautéing the vegetables will help intensify the flavors quickly before slow cooking. Chef John's Quick Slow Cooker Bison Chili with Pinto Beans Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 4 hours Ingredients: 1.2 lbs ground bison 2 cans (15 oz each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (14.5 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional for extra kick) 2 tbsp chili powder 1 tbsp ground cumin 1 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional for extra heat) 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp brown sugar (to balance the acidity) 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (for umami depth) 1 cup beef broth Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime

I really did like the humor it added to the instructions, so I asked for it. Plus I am not into plagiarism so I asked to adjust the name:

please also add the Chef John style and humor to the recipe :-) lastly, it's not actually chef john's recipe, just inspired by him. Can it be reflected in the recipe?

And there it is:

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours

Calories: 350 per serving

Slow Cooker Bison Chili with Pinto Beans (Chef John-Inspired)

Chilion a plate with avocado jalapeno cilantro and grated cheese

Ingredients:

1.2 lbs ground bison
2 cans (15 oz each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (14.5 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional for extra kick)
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika (because everything is better smoked)
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional for extra heat)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp brown sugar (to balance the acidity)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (for umami depth)
1 cup beef broth (or water, if you forgot to buy beef broth)
Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime

Instructions:

Prep the Ingredients:

Chop the onion, bell pepper, and mince the garlic and jalapeño (if using). Try not to cry too much—remember, onions just want to be loved.

Brown the Bison:

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground bison until browned. Break it up with a wooden spoon, because we don’t want meatloaf in our chili. Drain any excess fat if there’s more than a tablespoon. If you’re feeling rebellious, leave it all in. This is a judgment-free zone.

Sauté the Vegetables:

In the same skillet, add a bit of oil if needed and sauté the onion, red bell pepper, garlic, and jalapeño until softened, about 5 minutes. Your kitchen should start to smell amazing.

Combine in Slow Cooker:

Transfer the browned bison and sautéed vegetables to the slow cooker. Add the pinto beans, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, pepper, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth.

Mix Well:

Stir everything together until well combined. This is where the magic starts. Your slow cooker is now a cauldron of deliciousness.

Slow Cook:

Cover and cook on the high setting for 4 hours. This gives you just enough time to pretend you’ve been slaving away all day, while actually catching up on your favorite shows.

Finish and Serve:

Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Remember, tasting is a crucial step—think of it as your reward for all this hard work. Serve the chili hot with optional toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. “A chili without toppings is like a joke without a punchline.”

Enjoy:

Enjoy your rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced chili with a touch of Chef John's signature depth of flavor, now ready in 4 hours! Inspired by Chef John’s style, but with your own unique twist. And as always, “Enjoy!”