Published: by Annie Weisz · This post may contain affiliate links.
A freezer packed with pounds of ground venison is a beautiful thing. However, if you find yourself in a culinary rut and need some fresh meal inspiration, explore this diverse collection of recipes designed specifically for ground venison!
In this list, you'll find my bestground venison recipesfor every meal of the day. If you've been repeatedly preparing the same recipes, you'll be astonished by the versatility of ground venison showcased in this list of recipes!
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Jump to:
- A Note on Fat:
- Weeknight Dinners:
- Burgers and Sandwiches:
- Breakfast:
- Something Extraordinary:
- What is Ground Venison?
- Recap:
- Ground Venison FAQ's:
- Comments
A Note on Fat:
Venison most commonly refers to deer meat but can also include other wild game animals such as elk, moose, pronghorn (antelope), etc. You can use any ground red wild game meat you have on hand for these recipes. Most of these recipes were written for ground meat without added fat.
I often usepork lardin my recipes to cook with because it adds the animal fat richness that pure ground venison is lacking. However, you may choose to use your favorite cooking fats and potentially less of them depending on how much fat is in your ground venison. If your meat came from a processor, it likely has 10-20% fat added in unless you requested otherwise. No matter the fat content of your ground meat, you're sure to find your new favorite ground venison recipes in this list!
Weeknight Dinners:
A package of ground venison is the perfect base for any family dinner. While I enjoy full days in the kitchen on the weekends, sometimes you need an easy recipe for busy weeknights. See below for a few of our family favorites!
Instant Pot Venison Spanish Rice
Instant Pot Venison Spanish Rice is the perfect weeknight meal. With just a few basic ingredients and the magic of pressure cooking, you'll have a hearty and easy meal that comes together in a breeze! Top it with some cheddar cheese and sour cream, and you're sure to have a meal the whole family will love.
Instant Pot Venison Spanish Rice Recipe
Ground Elk Quesadillas
Flavorful, saucy meat filling sandwiched between generous layers of gooey cheese and crispy tortillas. You'll never go back to your boring old quesadilla again!
Ground Elk Quesadillas Recipe
Easy Ground Wild Game Tacos
Ground venison tacos are always a family favorite. This recipe includes a homemade chili powder-based seasoning mixture and a few extra secret ingredients that help keep the meat moist.
Ground Wild Game Tacos Recipe
Ground Venison Bulgogi Tacos
These delicious Asian fusion tacos are a delicious twist on classic ground venison tacos. The fresh toppings are a delicious complement to the super flavorful meat. Top them with a little sriracha mayo to add a little spice!
Ground Venison Bulgogi Tacos Recipe
Venison Sausage and Gnocchi Soup
This sausage and gnocchi soup is creamy, delicious, a little bit spicy, and so comforting on a cold winter day! It's the perfect use for the venison Italian sausage you have sitting in your freezer!
Venison Sausage and Gnocchi Soup Recipe
Burgers and Sandwiches:
A classic burger is always a satisfying meal for lunch or dinner. Here, you'll find some creative variations of the traditional burger, as well as a couple of alternative sandwich ideas!
Venison Mushroom Swiss Burgers
Step up your burger game with these super tasty mushroom swiss burgers. Flavorful, juicy grilled venison burgers topped with perfectly caramelized mushrooms and onions coated in a blanket of gooey melted Swiss cheese. What's not to love?
Venison Mushroom Swiss Burgers Recipe
Juicy Grilled Elk Burgers
Juicy burgers are just a few steps away with this delicious recipe. Worcestershire sauce adds extra savory flavor to the ground meat. Topped with classic cheddar cheese, these burgers are a must-try dish for your next backyard barbecue!
Juicy Grilled Elk Burgers Recipe
Venison Sloppy Joes
Once you try homemade sloppy joe sauce, you'll never go back to the cans again! This recipe is full of flavor with a hint of smokiness. It's a wild game meal the whole family will love!
Ground Venison Sloppy Joes Recipe
Grilled Elk Burger Sliders with Bacon
These mini bacon cheeseburgers are juicy, flavorful, and so fun to eat! They cook quickly and are the perfect summer meal!
Grilled Elk Burger Sliders with Bacon Recipe
Venison Burger Sliders
These little burgers are full of flavor, cook up quickly, and are so much fun to eat! The perfect use for ground venison.
Venison Burger Sliders Recipe
Venison Meatball Sub Sandwich
Tender venison meatballs simmered in marinara sauce with melted provolone cheese on top of a toasted hoagie roll. Easy to make and perfect for any night of the week!
Venison Meatball Sub Sandwich Recipe
Breakfast:
Ground venison for breakfast? Yes, really! Ground deer meat makes excellent breakfast sausage. Try it out in the recipes below!
Maple-Glazed Venison Breakfast Sausage Bites
These little venison breakfast bites are the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and a little bit spicy. They're a great addition to a brunch spread or as a fun weekend breakfast treat.
Maple-Glazed Venison Breakfast Sausage Bites Recipe
Breakfast Strata with Antelope Sausage (Overnight Breakfast Casserole)
Breakfast strata is a classic choice for holiday or weekend mornings. It can be prepped and refrigerated overnight and baked in the morning for a delicious special breakfast or as part of a brunch spread.
Breakfast Strata with Antelope Sausage Recipe
Venison Biscuits and Gravy
Venison biscuits and gravy with homemade everything. My favorite breakfast sausage recipe meets creamy gravy over fluffy buttermilk biscuits. A little bit indulgent but so very satisfying.
Venison Biscuits and Gravy Recipe
Something Extraordinary:
These are the recipes to turn to when you're looking to elevate your culinary game, make a lasting impression, or simply savor an exceptional meal.
Venison and Wild Mushroom Hand Pies with Stout Beer
Venison hand pies (pasties) are the perfect handheld meal. These delicious little things are made of flavorful venison and mushroom filling with stout beer gravy wrapped in a flaky Irish cheddar crust.
Venison and Wild Mushroom Hand Pies Recipe
Elk French Onion Meatballs
Everything you love about French onion soup but with meatballs! Creamy caramelized onion gravy surrounds tender elk meatballs, topped on a piece of cheesy toast. There are so many savory flavors thatcome together to make a delicious hearty meal.
Elk French Onion Meatballs Recipe
Venison Dumpling Soup
These little venison dumplings are packed with flavor! Served in a warm, savory broth, this meal is so comforting and delicious!
Venison Dumpling Soup Recipe
Venison Bolognese Pasta Sauce
An Italian classic with a wild game twist. This flavorful pasta sauce is the perfect match for earthy ground venison. You'll never go back to regular spaghetti sauce!
Venison Bolognese Recipe
Ground Antelope Kofta with Yogurt Sauce
A Middle Eastern classic with a wild game twist. These kofta are full of flavor and can be eaten in many different ways!
Ground Antelope Kofta Recipe
Stout Mac and Cheese with Italian Sausage
Grown-up cheeseburger mac with a wild game twist. Cheesy goodness mixed with rich stout beer draped over chewy cavatappi noodles (fancier, curlier version of classic elbow macaroni) mixed with spicy Italian sausage and topped with crunchy panko. This dish takes the perfect comfort food to the next level.
Stout Mac and Cheese with Italian Sausage Recipe
Venison Shepherd's Pie (Hunter's Pie)
Layers of golden potatoes atop tender ground venison in a savory tomato sauce. Simple ingredients come together to make a dish packed with rich flavor. Indulge a little with this elevated spin on a classic comfort dish.
Venison Shepherd's Pie Recipe
What is Ground Venison?
Ground venison is a type of meat that is derived from wild game animals. Venison most commonly refers to deer meat but also encompasses a wider range of animals like elk, moose, pronghorn (antelope), etc.
Here's a summary of key points about ground venison:
- Flavor Profile: Ground venison has a robust, earthy flavor. People often describe it as having a slightly sweet and sometimes "gamey" taste, which can vary depending on the animal's diet and age.
- Versatile: You can use ground venison in various recipes, including tacos, burgers, meatballs, soups, and more, showcasing its high versatility. It can be a flavorful substitute for ground beef or ground pork in many dishes.
- Cooking Considerations:When cooking ground venison, it's essential to handle it with care due to its low fat content. Adding fat can enhance the flavor and prevent the meat from drying out.
- Nutrition:People know venison for its exceptional leanness and low-fat content when compared to other meats like beef and pork. It is an excellent source of protein and is also packed with nutrients like iron, zinc, and B vitamins.
Recap:
In summary, ground venison is a lean and flavorful meat wild game meat sourced from several wild animals, valued for its nutritional benefits and versatility in cooking. It provides a distinctive taste and also suits various dishes.
You can eat it for every meal of the day from hearty biscuits and gravy for breakfast to meatball subs for lunch to shepherd's pie for dinner. No matter how you choose to cook it, you'll never run out of ground venison recipe ideas with this list!
If you make any of these recipes, please leave a star rating at the bottom of the recipe post! This provides helpful feedback to me and fellow readers. And if you want more delicious, wild game recipes you cansubscribe to my newsletterand follow along onInstagram andPinterest!
Ground Venison FAQ's:
What should I mix with ground venison?
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to add anything to your ground venison. Pure ground venison cooks up great with a little cooking fat like pork lard. However, many people like to add fattier cuts of meat or pure animal fat to their ground venison to enhance the taste and spread their venison out into more meals. Pork shoulder, pork fatback, beef chuck roast, beef fat, and bacon ends are all popular choices. If you're going to add fat to your ground venison, 10-20% by weight is usually sufficient.
How should ground venison be cooked?
You can cook ground venison similarly to ground beef, but exercise caution due to its low fat content. With very little fat, it can overcook quickly. Cooking ground venison in high moisture dishes like sloppy joes or sausage and gnocchi soup keeps the meat from drying out. You should cook ground venison to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
Does ground venison taste like ground beef?
Ground venison has a similar meaty taste to ground beef but is leaner, earthier, and somewhat sweeter.
How do you make ground venison taste better?
Venison's robust flavor can be an acquired taste; those accustomed to beef and pork may not always appreciate it. However, adding fat from pork or beef can help enhance the taste of venison. Using it in heavily spiced dishes or mixing it with other ingredients can also help mellow out the flavor of venison.
What seasoning is good on deer meat?
You can cook venison with a wide variety of ingredients, making it a very versatile meat. You can use venison in various ways, from preparing classic steaks with garlic and thyme to incorporating Middle Eastern flavors in kofta, Italian sausage, tacos, and more.
What takes the gamey taste out of venison?
Some refer to the taste of venison as being "gamey." This refers to the stronger, earthy flavor that often accompanies wild game meats. Thawing venison in a paper towel-lined bowl helps remove myoglobin (the red liquid that comes out of meat when it thaws). This can help remove some of the off flavors found in wild game meat. Additionally, cooling meat as quickly as possible and keeping it cool during processing can help keep off-flavors to a minimum.
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