10+ Ground Venison Recipes You’ll Love to Cook and Share

Ground venison is a lean, surprisingly versatile meat that works in all sorts of recipes. If you’re new to cooking game or just want some fresh ideas, you’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy ground venison in tasty dishes.

Ground venison recipes give you simple, delicious options that make the most of this healthy meat.

You can swap ground venison for beef or pork in a lot of meals. It’s great for burgers, tacos, stews—pretty much anywhere you’d use ground meat.

This article’s here to help you prep ground venison in easy ways that fit your taste and style. You’ll probably find a new favorite.

1) Classic Venison Meatloaf

If you want a straightforward way to enjoy ground venison, meatloaf is a classic. It’s hearty and comes together with breadcrumbs, seasonings, and a few extras.

Toss in onions and garlic for more flavor. You can use all venison or mix in a bit of ground beef if you like yours extra moist.

A sweet glaze on top—brown sugar and mustard—adds a little tang. This works for family dinners or meal prep.

Serve it with mashed potatoes or veggies if you want a balanced meal. Cooking at 350°F (175°C) keeps it juicy and evenly done.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground venison (or 1 lb venison and 1 lb ground beef)
• ½ cup diced onion
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup dried breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• ½ tsp spicy brown mustard
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Heat olive oil in a pan, sauté onion and garlic until soft.
3. Mix venison, breadcrumbs, egg, onions, and garlic in a bowl.
4. Shape into a loaf on a baking sheet.
5. Combine brown sugar and mustard, spread on top.
6. Bake for about 1 hour or until cooked through.
7. Let it rest 10 minutes before slicing.

2) Hearty Ground Venison Stew with Red Wine

You can make a rich, comforting stew with ground venison. Throw in vegetables like carrots, onions, and potatoes.

A splash of red wine deepens the flavor and gives the stew a cozy, hearty vibe. Let it simmer so everything softens and the flavors really come together.

Simple herbs like thyme and bay leaves add a nice earthy note. This stew feels special but doesn’t take much effort.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground venison
• 2 cups carrots, diced
• 2 cups potatoes, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 cups beef or chicken broth
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium.
2. Add onion and garlic, cook until soft.
3. Brown the venison until it’s no longer pink.
4. Stir in tomato paste, then pour in red wine to deglaze.
5. Add carrots, potatoes, broth, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
6. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low for 1 to 1.5 hours.
7. Pull out bay leaves before serving.

3) Venison and Bacon Burgers

Venison’s lean, so bacon keeps your burgers juicy and flavorful. You can mix chopped bacon into the ground meat or stuff burgers with cooked bacon and cheese.

Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook the bacon until crispy before you add it to the mix.

Grill or fry the burgers to 160°F (71°C). Top with bacon bourbon jam if you want to get a little fancy.

Bacon adds fat and salt, making the venison extra tender and delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground venison
• 0.5 lb bacon (cook until crisp)
• Salt, pepper, garlic powder
• Cheese (optional)
• Bacon bourbon jam (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook bacon until crispy, then chop or crumble.
2. Mix ground venison with bacon and seasonings.
3. Shape into patties, maybe add cheese inside.
4. Grill or pan-fry to 160°F (71°C).
5. Serve with toppings like bacon bourbon jam.

More tips over at Tidal Fish Forum.

4) Spicy Venison Chili

Spicy venison chili is a fantastic way to use ground venison. You get bold, smoky flavors that pair well with the rich meat.

Add onions, garlic, and bell peppers for more depth. Chili powder and spices give it a nice kick.

Let it simmer so the flavors blend. You can toss in beans if you’re into that sort of thing.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground venison
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 onions, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 can diced tomatoes (14 oz)
• 1 can kidney beans, drained
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium.
2. Add onions and bell pepper, cook until soft.
3. Stir in garlic, cook for a minute.
4. Add ground venison, cook until browned.
5. Mix in chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika.
6. Pour in tomatoes and beans, stir.
7. Simmer on low for 30 minutes.
8. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

5) Ground Venison Tacos

Ground venison makes a lean, tasty taco filling. Cook the meat in a skillet over medium heat until browned and crumbly.

Add onions for extra flavor and cook until they’re soft. Stir in taco seasoning and a splash of water so the spices blend in.

Serve the venison in warm tortillas. Top with veggies, cheese, and a squeeze of lime.

Avocado lime crema is a creamy touch that goes perfectly with the savory meat.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground venison
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp taco seasoning
• 1/4 cup water
• Tortillas
• Optional: cheese, avocado, lime, fresh vegetables

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high.
2. Cook onion for a couple minutes until soft.
3. Add venison, cook about 8 minutes until browned.
4. Stir in taco seasoning and water, simmer 5 minutes.
5. Warm tortillas, fill with venison mixture.
6. Add your favorite toppings and dig in!

More taco tips here.

6) Venison Meatballs with Herbs

You can make tasty venison meatballs with fresh herbs like parsley. Mixing in ground pork or Italian sausage keeps them moist and tender.

Season with garlic, salt, and pepper for the best flavor. Bake them in the oven for easy cleanup.

Panko breadcrumbs and eggs help the meatballs hold their shape. These are great with sauce or just as they are.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground venison
• ½ pound ground pork or Italian sausage
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Combine venison, pork, parsley, breadcrumbs, eggs, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
3. Mix gently.
4. Shape into 1 ½-inch meatballs, place on a lined baking sheet.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked through.

7) Deer Meat and Gravy Over Mashed Potatoes

This one’s simple and comforting. Brown ground venison, then make a gravy with broth and a little cornstarch.

Serve the savory gravy over mashed potatoes for a cozy, filling meal. It’s perfect on chilly evenings or when you just want something easy.

Add garlic powder or other spices if you want. This dish goes well with steamed veggies or a fresh salad.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground deer meat
• 2 cups venison or beef broth
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Mashed potatoes (your preferred amount)

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown the venison in a pan over medium.
2. Mix 1 cup broth with cornstarch until smooth.
3. Add the broth mixture and remaining broth to the pan.
4. Stir and cook until the gravy thickens.
5. Serve hot over mashed potatoes.

8) Venison Sloppy Joes

Venison Sloppy Joes put a new spin on the classic. Ground venison brings a leaner, richer flavor than beef.

You can mix in a little ground beef for extra juiciness if you want. Cook the venison with onions and garlic, then stir in a homemade sauce that’s way better than the canned stuff.

Serve it on toasted buns—messy, but so good. If you want more ideas, check out this venison sloppy joe recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground venison
• 1/3 pound ground beef (optional)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Hamburger buns

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown venison and ground beef in a skillet over medium until cooked through.
2. Add onion and garlic, cook until soft.
3. Stir in ketchup, Worcestershire, mustard, and brown sugar.
4. Simmer for 10 minutes so the flavors come together.
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Serve hot on toasted buns.

9) Venison Shepherd’s Pie

Venison Shepherd’s Pie is such a cozy way to use up ground venison. You cook the meat with onions and carrots, then top everything with creamy mashed potatoes.

It’s a straightforward, comforting recipe. If you’re short on time, just toss in some frozen mixed veggies.

This dish is great for family meals or when you want something warm and filling. I mean, who doesn’t love a pie topped with golden potatoes?

Cook the venison and veggies until they’re soft. Spread that mixture in a baking dish, pile on the mashed potatoes, and bake until the top turns golden brown.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground venison
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 cups mashed potatoes
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Melt butter in a pan and cook onion and carrots until soft.
3. Add ground venison and cook until browned. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Stir in frozen vegetables and cook for 5 more minutes.
5. Transfer meat mixture to a baking dish and spread mashed potatoes on top.
6. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden.

10) Venison Lasagna

Venison lasagna puts a fun spin on the classic Italian favorite. Instead of beef, you get that rich, slightly wild flavor from ground venison—surprisingly not too heavy.

You’ll layer lasagna noodles with a savory venison meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and plenty of gooey cheese. This one’s a winner for family dinners or when you want to impress someone.

If you’ve got a good meat sauce ready, the rest comes together pretty easily. It takes about an hour in the oven to get all bubbly and golden on top.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground venison
• 10 lasagna noodles, cooked
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 3 cups tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat some olive oil in a pan. Toss in the onion and garlic, and sauté until they’re soft and fragrant.

2. Add the ground venison. Cook until it’s nicely browned.

3. Stir in Italian seasoning, a bit of sugar, and the tomato sauce. Let it all simmer for about 15 minutes.

4. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

5. Spread a layer of the meat sauce into a baking dish.

6. Lay down some noodles, then spoon on ricotta and sprinkle mozzarella.

7. Keep layering—meat sauce, noodles, ricotta, mozzarella—until you run out, ending with mozzarella and a good handful of Parmesan on top.

8. Cover the dish with foil. Bake for 40 minutes.

9. Take off the foil and bake for another 10 minutes. The cheese should turn golden and bubbly.

10. Let it rest for 10 minutes before you dig in.

If you’re craving a rich, cozy meal, give this a go with ground venison. You might want to check out more ideas at venison lasagna recipes.