Wild boar chili is a next-level delicious version of a classic meat and bean recipe. It's easy to make on the stovetop with lean ground wild boar, Rotel, and bold spices for an irresistibly flavorful pork chili!

ground wild boar chili with sour cream and lime on top

Chili is the ultimate one-bowl comfort food. More hearty than a soup or chowder (which I also love!), a meaty chili is a surefire dish to satisfy even the biggest of appetites. This hearty ground wild boar chili recipe is leaner than a typical version made with pork, but is far more tasty and enticing. Also try my elk chili recipe

The meat is tender, lightly sweet, a bit grassy, and wholly delicious. It's the kind of flavor that makes you go back again and again for another spoonful... And then back to the pot for another serving!

While the wild boar (AKA feral hog) is the exciting main feature, the rest of the ingredients are basic pantry staples. And like many other classic chilis, it's quite easy to make in one pot on the stovetop. So overall the recipe is very familiar, but with that wonderful protein swap you'll love.

ingredients needed for this ground wild boar recipe

Recipe ingredients

Ground wild boar. Wild boars are indeed free range animals, and therefore do not have any added hormones, antibiotics, or steroids.

Olive oil. Or use your preferred high heat cooking oil, like canola or avocado oil.

Onion. White onion has a more sharp bite. Yellow onion is a bit more mild and sweet. Use whichever variety you like.

Garlic. Freshly minced adds a great earthy pungent flavor.

Chili powder. An essential spice for smoky, savory chili.

Salt. Classic spice that brings all of the other wild boar chili ingredients together.

Oregano. This dried herb is a favorite in comfort food recipes. It mellows the spice without overpowering the other flavors.

Rotel diced tomatoes. Classic canned tomatoes with green chiles. Use your choice of mild, medium, or spicy hot varieties.

Tomato sauce. Canned, preferably low sodium or salt-free.

Kidney beans and pinto beans. My favorite combination for homemade chili. Both are tender and delicious while letting the boar meat really shine.

How to make ground wild boar chili recipe

Heat oil in a medium size pot. I used a heavy bottom pot, its best for chili or any other slow cooked stovetop meal. Add chopped onions and saute for 5 minutes, on medium heat.

a block of ground wild boar and chopped onions in the pot — add ground wild boar and onions to the pot

browned meat with onions — brown them stirring

Add ground boar and brown the meat, breaking the meat, for another 5 minutes. Add the rest of ingredients, bring to boil and then lower the heat. Simmer for 1 hour or longer with the lid closed.Stir couple times during cooking.

Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Try chili and add more seasonings to taste. For me it was ideal proportions but everybody has different taste. Also, if you like the taste of wine in your chili add about ½ cup of red wine after the browning.

canned beans and diced tomatoes in the pot — add beans and tomatoes

adding seasonings to the pot — add seasonings to the pot

Good Toppings for Chili

Warm bowls of homemade chili are great to load with all kinds of goodies! Here are a few ideas to get you going:

Shredded cheese or crumbled cotija
Sour cream or greek yogurt
Diced white onion
Sliced green onions or chives
Sliced jalapenos
Chopped cilantro
Hot sauce

Variations

Use other meat if you like. This recipe can be made the same with ground beef, venison, chicken, or turkey. Choose dark thigh meat chicken or turkey for the most flavor.
Swap Rotel with green chiles for regular canned diced tomatoes.
In this ground wild boar chili recipe we use both kidney and pinto beans. But you can choose to use just one type, or swap one out for black beans.
Don't like chili with beans? Feel free to leave them out for a meat chili without beans.
Make a super spicy chili by adding sliced or chopped jalapeno peppers and/or a pinch of ground cayenne pepper as it cooks.

cooked wild boar chili in the pot — cook your ground wild boar chili

Frequently Asked Questions

What does wild boar taste like?

Boar meat is lean like pork but slightly more red in color, similar to ground beef. The flavor also is somewhere in between the two... It is light and sweet, but also savory with deep umami flavor. Because the boar is wild and eats from open grasslands, there is also a distinct pleasant grassy taste.

Is wild boar healthier than pork?

Yes, wild boar is a very healthy alternative to farm-raised domestic pork. It is a good bit leaner with fewer calories per serving, and has quite a lot of protein.

Is eating wild boar healthy?

Yes, so long as it is sourced from a quality retailer and is cooked properly. Cook the meat thoroughly - until no longer pink - when making this wild boar chili recipe.

Where to buy?

Purchase ground wild boar from a reputable online retailer. Many offer quick direct delivery for frozen packs of meat. It is considered a high-end and more costly meat versus ground domestic pork or beef. But the health benefits and superior taste is well worth it!

Leftovers

Wild boar chili leftovers can be creatively repurposed and here are some ideas for you:

Chili Stuffed Baked Potato: Bake a large potato, slice it open, and fill it with reheated wild boar chili. Top with sour cream, cheese, and green onions.
Cheese chili Fries: Reheat the chili and pour it over a plate of hot, crispy french fries. Add shredded cheese, jalapeños, and sour cream for a delicious treat.
Chili Mac and Cheese: Combine reheated wild boar chili with cooked macaroni and cheese for a hearty, flavorful dish.
Scrambled Eggs with chili: Mix the reheated chili with beaten eggs and cook to make a spicy omelette or scrambled eggs.
Chili Nachos: Layer tortilla chips with reheated chili, shredded cheese, jalapeños, and diced tomatoes. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Storage

Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Allow the chili to cool to room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator to avoid raising the overall temperature in your fridge.
Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the wild boar chili. Place the cooled chili in a freezer-safe airtight container or ziplock freezer bag. Label and date the container. Frozen chili can last up to 3 months.
Reheating. To reheat this ground wild boar recipe, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Wild boar chili

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 lb ground wild boar
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoons dried oregano
1 can Ro-Tel diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, drained

Instructions

Heat oil in a medium size pot. Add chopped onions and saute for 5 minutes, on medium heat.
Add ground boar and brown, breaking the meat, for another 5 minutes.
Add the rest of ingredients, bring to boil and then lower the heat. Simmer for 1 hour with the lid closed.

Notes

Storage instructions:

Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Allow the chili to cool to room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator to avoid raising the overall temperature in your fridge.

Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the wild boar chili. Place the cooled chili in a freezer-safe airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag, leaving some space for expansion. Label and date the container. Frozen chili can last up to 3 months.

Reheating. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.