Kent Rollins’ healthy bison chili is packed with protein, rich in flavor, and steeped in history.

Kent Rollins’ healthy bison chili is packed with protein, rich in flavor, and steeped in history.

The star of the outdoor channel’s “Cowboy in the Pot” program has spent decades studying cowboy food preservation techniques. But her recipe for rich, spicy bison chili is even older. This protein-rich dish was once prized by cowboys during their wilderness adventures.
As Rollins noted in an interview with Fox News Digital, bison is one of the “healthiest meats” modern chefs can use in their cooking.
America’s “cast iron cowboy” explains why the traditional skillet remains an essential kitchen tool.
“When the weather gets cooler, I start craving hot peppers,” Rollins said. “But these aren’t regular hot peppers; these are chili peppers.”
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Kent Rollins, a New Mexico cowboy, holds a bowl of homemade bison chili. (Photo by Shannon Rollins)
He then marinated Ro-Tel tomatoes with green bell peppers, tomato sauce, jalapeños, adobo sauce, and his homemade chili sauce. He also added walnuts.
“Beans can provide an additional source of protein, but bison meat is also rich in protein and energy,” Rollins said.
Rollins told Fox News Digital that the bison used in this chili dish is “one of the healthiest meats out there.” (Shannon Rollins)
Rollins said this over a hundred years ago while herding cattle. Cowboys almost never ate the longhorn steers brought to market. But if they saw one, they’d shoot it, cook it up into a delicious stew, and feed it to the workers who toiled from dawn to dusk.
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“It’s classic cowboy food from the Wild West,” Rollins said. “It’s always been here.”
In recent years, bison meat has become the source of a trend he calls “a major trend” because “it’s high in protein and very good for the body.”
Rollins ate a bowl of his own chili sauce, which he made, as usual, in a cast-iron skillet. He believes using a cast-iron skillet not only reflects cowboy traditions but also enhances the flavor of the dish. (Shannon Rollins)
Rollins said finding bison meat in local stores is easier than many people think. “Bison meat can be found in almost any grocery store, regardless of size,” he said.
Alternatively, farmers and online suppliers can deliver directly to your door.
Bison meat is often more expensive, largely due to limited supply. The Washington Institute for Environmental Research and Education notes that higher production and processing costs, small-scale livestock farming, and the “unique challenges of raising and transporting bison compared to traditional beef” also contribute to its high price.
However, he said, “Strong and consistent consumer demand has kept wholesale prices stable over the past four years.” (Colorado National Bison Association)
Modern Farmer magazine notes, “The bison epidemic is returning to grocery stores and restaurants, and is slowly but surely making a comeback across the vast plains of the United States.”
Rollins continues to use cast iron for cooking. He believes it not only honors cowboy traditions but also enhances the flavor of his dishes.
“Cooking in a cast iron pot always produces the best flavor,” he said, especially when cooking chili or roast beef.
“It retains heat very well, so it really saves money. You can turn off the stove and simmer it in a cast-iron pot over low heat all day.”
He said, “You can make any dish I’ve ever made in my life, at home, outside, on the roof, in the shed.” “It’s all very simple.” “It’s incredibly easy.”
Peter Burke is the Lifestyle Editor at Fox News Digital. He covers a wide range of lifestyle topics, with a particular focus on food and drink.