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15 Popular Venison Recipes

Looking to free up space in your freezer? Then try some of our most popular venison recipes.

15 Popular Venison Recipes
Wondering which dishes made our most popular venison recipes list? For starters, the one for these tasty-looking street tacos with Mexican rice and beans. (Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley photo)
Print Recipe

Venison Street Tacos with Mexican Rice and Beans

Wash this venison street tacos recipe down with a good Mexican beer or margarita.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound venison, silver skin removed
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Pinch cayenne pepper
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ cup diced onion
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • Corn tortillas
  • 1-2 tablespoons manteca (pork lard)
  • 1 can Mexican refried beans, warmed
  • Taco fixings: lime wedges, salsa/pico de gallo, guacamole, hot sauce, cheese, etc.

Get the Recipe: Venison Street Tacos with Mexican Rice and Beans Recipe


Braised Venison Shanks with Garlic Recipe

Braised Venison Shanks with Garlic Recipe
Serve this Braised Venison Shanks with Garlic Recipe with a side of mashed potatoes or polenta. (Holly A. Heyser photo)

Braising the venison shanks for over two hours ensures that the meat is flavorful and tender.

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 4 venison shanks
  • 4 heads of garlic, peeled
  • Salt
  • ¾ cup white wine
  • ½ cup chicken stock
  • Lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish

Get the Recipe: Braised Venison Shanks with Garlic Recipe


Venison Recipe: Southern-Style Honey Barbecue Deer Jerky

Southern-Style Honey Barbecue Deer Jerky
This venison jerky recipe has a sweet and smoky flavor. (Photo courtesy of David Draper)

Here's a southern-style venison jerky recipe that's sure to be a favorite.

Ingredients:

  • 3-5 pounds venison roast
  • ⅓ cup honey
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Cure No. 1

Get the Recipe: Venison Recipe: Southern-Style Honey Barbecue Deer Jerky


Slow Cooker Venison Queso Dip Recipe

Slow Cooker Venison Queso Dip Recipe
This Slow Cooker Venison Queso Dip Recipe is great served with tortilla chips. You can also use it to top off loaded nachos or spice up homemade macaroni and cheese. (Jessyca Sortillon photo)

Enjoy this venison queso dip recipe right out of the slow cooker for warm, cheesy goodness in every bite.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground venison (or ground venison chorizo)
  • ⅔ cup water
  • 5 tablespoons Hi Mountain Taco Seasoning
  • 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 pound pepper jack cheese, shredded
  • 1 pound extra sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 (12-ounce) cans evaporated milk
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch (or 6 tablespoons flour)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2-3 tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 2 large jalapeños, seeded and chopped
  • 1 serrano chili pepper, seeded and chopped
  • Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce (or your favorite hot sauce), to taste

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Venison Queso Dip Recipe

Recommended



Best Venison Burger Recipe with Caramelized Onions

Best Venison Burger Recipe with Caramelized Onions
Best Venison Burger Recipe with Caramelized Onions (Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley photo)

While calling this the 'best' venison burger recipe is a matter of opinion, all delicious burgers begin the same: quality meat and an ideal fat-to-protein ratio.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground venison
  • 4 ounces ground fatty pork, such as shoulder
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra
  • Sliced Colby-Jack cheese
  • 2 onions, sliced into 1/8-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Fixings: buns, butter lettuce, sliced tomato, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, etc.

Get the Recipe: Best Venison Burger Recipe with Caramelized Onions


Grilled Venison Steak and Bacon Recipe

Grilled Venison Steak and Bacon Recipe
This recipe for grilled venison steak is downright delicious. (Photo courtesy of MissHomemade.com)

For tender and delicious venison steak, marinate the meat in apple cider and barbecue sauce before wrapping it in bacon and grilling.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds venison tenderloin steak (or backstrap)
  • 1 quart apple cider
  • 1 ½ pounds bacon
  • 3 cups homemade barbecue sauce
  • Vegetable oil

Get the Recipe: Grilled Venison Steak and Bacon Recipe


Elk Venison Patty Melt Sandwich Recipe

Elk Venison Patty Melt Sandwich Recipe
Serve this Elk Venison Patty Melt Sandwich Recipe with a side of fresh cut French fries. (Nevada Foodies photos)

The perfect wild game sandwich accompanied by melted Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, Thousand Island dressing pressed between two toasted and golden brown pieces of rye bread

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground elk (substitute ground venison or antelope)
  • 1/4 pound chorizo (substitute ground sausage)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 8 slices Swiss cheese
  • 8 slices rye bread
  • Mayonnaise (for spread on rye bread)

Get the Recipe: Elk Venison Patty Melt Sandwich Recipe


Tangy Crock-Pot Venison Roast Recipe

Tangy Crock-Pot Venison Roast Recipe
With these simple ingredients you can make a tasty and tangy venison roast to enjoy with family and friends. (Brian Fortenbaugh photo)

Hungry? Of course you are, and this Tangy Crock-Pot Venison Roast Recipe is just what the doctor ordered.

Ingredients:

  • 2 to 3 pounds venison roast
  • 1 (1-ounce) dry packet Au Jus mix
  • 1 (1-ounce) dry packet ranch dressing mix
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cups water
  • 1-2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 small bag peeled baby carrots
  • 8 ounces fresh sliced portobello mushrooms (or mushrooms of your choosing)
  • 1 small jar pepperoncini with stems removed

Get the Recipe: Tangy Crock-Pot Venison Roast Recipe


Chicken-Fried Venison Backstrap Recipe

Chicken-Fried Venison Backstrap Recipe
Chicken-Fried Venison Backstrap Recipe (Photo courtesy of Chef Derek St. Romain)

This recipe for chicken-fried backstrap is one of the best we've ever tasted.

Ingredients:

  • 1 venison backstrap, sliced 1 ½-inch thick
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups half & half or buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons blackened redfish seasoning
  • 4 cups Italian breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • ¼ cup olive oil

Get the Recipe: Chicken-Fried Venison Backstrap Recipe


Venison Swedish Meatballs Recipe

Venison Swedish Meatballs Recipe
Venison Swedish Meatballs Recipe (Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley photo)

Try out this Venison Swedish Meatballs Recipe with toothpicks for a party appetizer that will "wow" your guests, or serve with pasta or spaghetti squash for a full-on, satisfying entrée.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground venison
  • ¼ cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ½ tablespoons finely chopped parsley
  • ¼ cup minced onion
  • 5 cloves minced garlic
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • Pinch ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth, warmed
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground mustard
  • ½ cup heavy cream

Get the Recipe: Venison Swedish Meatballs Recipe


Venison Roast Recipe: Simple, Easy, Delicious

Venison Roast Recipe: Simple, Easy, Delicious
Venison roasts are often labeled tough and boring, which usually leads them to the meat grinder. With the right recipe, these overlooked cuts of venison can be tender and very good table fare. (Photo courtesy of MissHomemade.com)

Make the most of your deer harvest by slow cooking your venison's toughest cuts.

Ingredients:

Get the Recipe: Venison Roast Recipe: Simple, Easy, Delicious





Black Bean and Venison Chili Recipe

Black Bean and Venison Chili Recipe
Using a slow cooker can help to soften even the toughest of venison cuts. (Photo courtesy of Scott & Tiffany Haugen)

Free up your freezer space with this one-pot venison recipe, the perfect comfort food for a chilly day.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound venison, ground or small cubes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon coriander
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Get the Recipe: Black Bean and Venison Chili Recipe


Venison Hunter's Pie Recipe

Venison Hunter's Pie Recipe
Ground venison, mashed potatoes, gravy, cheddar cheese and veggies baked into a meat pie fit for a hunter. (Photo courtesy of Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley)

Easy-to-make and great as leftovers, this Venison Hunter's Pie Recipe is a complete meal in every slice.

Ingredients:

  • 3 large russet potatoes, peeled
  • ½ cup of milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 ounces extra sharp white cheddar, shredded plus extra
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 ½ pounds ground venison
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 4 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoon of all-purpose flour
  • 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
  • ½ teaspoon celery seed
  • Frozen peas and carrots, to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Get the Recipe: Venison Hunter's Pie Recipe


Venison Bratwurst Recipe from Scratch

Venison Bratwurst Recipe from Scratch
Venison bratwurst on the grill. (Jeff Phillips photo)

This venison bratwurst is perfect for any tailgate or home grill.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds ground venison
  • 2 pounds ground pork butt (fatty meat for flavor)
  • 1 large onion, minced
  • ½ teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground sage
  • ½ teaspoon marjoram
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated black pepper
  • ⅔ cup dark beer
  • Casings

Get the Recipe: Venison Bratwurst Recipe from Scratch


Venison Backstrap with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms Recipe

Venison Backstrap with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms Recipe
Venison Backstrap with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms Recipe (Holly A. Heyser photo)

The caramelized onions adds a rich and sweet flavor to the venison backstrap.

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, divided
  • 3 onions, peeled and sliced from root to tip
  • Salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons honey (optional)
  • 1 pound venison (elk, deer, etc.) backstrap, preferably in one piece
  • ½ pound fresh mushrooms, sliced (ideally hen of the woods a.k.a. maitake)
  • 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
  • Dandelion leaves, for garnish (optional)

Get the Recipe: Venison Backstrap with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms Recipe

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