Warm Up with a Bowl of Buffalo Chili

When the weather starts to dip and you’re wondering what’s for dinner, look no further than this no-fuss family meal. There’s a reason chili is such quintessential cold-weather cuisine — it’s quick to make, easy to customize and just warms you right up. Today’s healthy take comes courtesy of our friend Kelly LeVeque.

Grass-fed buffalo is the new skinny beef! Lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol than chicken and higher in protein than beef, buffalo is becoming a new popular substitute. Also known as bison, this meat can replace your conventionally raised beef when making a burger, steak, tasty chili or juicy stuffed bell pepper. 

Consider giving this satisfying chili recipe a shot this fall for a slimmed down take on the cold weather classic.

BUFFALO CHILI

Ingredients

1 ½  Tbsp olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 white onion

2 stalks of celery, diced

1 lb of ground buffalo

2 Tbsp chili Powder

1/2 Tbsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp cayenne

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp salt

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 bell pepper, chopped

2 cups vegetable broth

1 Tbsp green onions, chopped

1 Tbsp greek, goat or sheep yogurt 

Instructions

1. In a large pot sauté garlic, onions and celery in olive oil on medium low heat until onions are translucent.
2. Place buffalo in pot and break up into small pieces with a spoon. Cover meat with Chili powder, oregano, cayenne, cumin salt and pepper. Mix meat with seasonings and cook until evenly brown.
3. Add crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth and chopped bell pepper to the pot and stir. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a low heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Serve with optional toppings of chopped green onions and a dollop of greek, sheep or goat yogurt.

~Kelly LeVeque of Be Well by Kelly

Kelly is a certified holistic nutritionist, wellness expert and health coach based in Los Angeles, California. Guided by a practical and always optimistic approach, Kelly helps clients improve their health, achieve their goals and develop sustainable habits to live a healthy and balanced life. Kelly is extremely passionate about the science of human nutrition and the desire to help clients achieve their personal health goals. Learn more by following her @bewellbykelly!