If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on some freshly ground venison, you’ll want to know how to cook it properly to bring out its best flavors. As an avid hunter and cooking enthusiast, I’ve experimented extensively with cooking ground venison and have discovered some foolproof techniques for preparing it.
In this article, I’ll share everything I’ve learned over the years about how to cook ground venison to perfection. You’ll find tips on seasoning timing, temperature and more so you can comfortably cook up delicious venison burgers, meatballs, tacos, and any other ground meat recipes. Let’s get started!
A Quick Intro to Ground Venison
First, what exactly is ground venison? It’s simply meat from deer that has been finely chopped or ground, just like ground beef or pork. The process of grinding allows more surface area for delicious browning when cooked.
Venison is much leaner than commercial ground beef, so it can dry out if overcooked. The flavor is richer and more intense than beef. When handled properly in the kitchen, ground venison makes for tender, juicy, and seriously tasty meals.
I like to use venison from younger deer, usually 1-2 years old, for the most tender results when grinding. Any deer works though!
Tips for Cooking Ground Venison to Perfection
Follow these tips and you’ll be cooking up restaurant-worthy venison dishes in your own kitchen in no time:
1. Partially freeze the meat before grinding
- This makes it easier to grind and gives a more uniform texture.
2. Use proper ground venison ratios
- For burgers, meatloaf, etc., mix in 15-25% pork fat when grinding to prevent dryness.
3. Season generously before cooking
- Venison benefits from assertive seasoning. Use garlic, pepper, salt, herbs, Worcestershire, etc.
4. Cook quickly over high heat
- Keep the interior moist by searing the outside to lock in juices.
5. Cook to proper internal temperature
- Cook to 155-160°F for venison to eliminate bacteria but prevent overcooking.
6. Let meat rest before serving
- 5 minutes of resting allows juices to reabsorb for tender, juicy meat.
Grilling Juicy Venison Burgers
Burgers are a go-to way to enjoy ground venison. Getting them juicy and flavorful requires using a hot grill and the right technique:
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Mix in 15-20% pork or beef fat into the venison before forming patties for moisture.
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Make indentations with your thumb on the tops of the patties to prevent puffing up.
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Grill over high heat for 2-3 minutes per side, until 165°F internally.
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Melt cheese on the patties in the last 1-2 minutes if desired.
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Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving on buns with favorite toppings.
Pan-Fried Venison Meatballs
Meatballs are another fantastic way to use ground venison. Here is an easy pan-frying method:
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In a bowl, combine 1 pound venison, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, 2 tbsp parsley, salt, and pepper.
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Form into 1-2 inch balls and place on a plate.
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Heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook meatballs 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and 160°F internally.
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Transfer meatballs to a serving dish and top with your favorite sauce. Enjoy!
Oven-Baked Venison Meatloaf
For hearty meatloaf packed with flavor:
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Mix 1 lb ground venison with 1/2 lb ground pork, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, ketchup, Worcestershire, and seasonings.
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Form into a loaf shape and place in a baking dish. Spread ketchup on top.
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Bake at 350°F for 50-60 minutes until 165°F internally.
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Let rest 10 minutes, then slice and serve.
Delectable Venison Tacos
Spice up Taco Tuesday with this venison filling:
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Cook 1 lb ground venison in a skillet over medium-high heat with taco seasoning until browned, 5-7 minutes.
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Add salsa, tomato, onion, cilantro, and lime juice. Cook 2-3 more minutes.
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Serve the mixture in warmed tortillas or taco shells topped with cheese, lettuce, guacamole, etc.
Venison Chili
Warm up with hearty venison chili:
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In a pot, cook 1 lb venison, onion, chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic until venison is browned.
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Add broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, corn, and beer. Simmer 30 minutes.
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Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with cheddar, sour cream, and green onion.
Easy Venison Bolognese
This rich meat sauce is perfect for pasta:
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Sauté 1 lb ground venison, onion, carrot, garlic, milk, and nutmeg until venison is cooked through.
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Add wine, tomato paste, broth, and herbs. Simmer 30-40 minutes until thickened.
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Toss with cooked pasta and top with parmesan. Bellissimo!
Handling and Storing Ground Venison
Properly handling venison is important for safety:
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Always thaw frozen ground venison in the fridge, allowing 12-24 hours. Don’t thaw on the counter.
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Cook venison patties/meatballs to 160°F minimum internal temperature. 165°F for meatloaf.
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Refrigerate any leftovers within 2 hours and use within 3-4 days. Freeze for longer storage.
INGREDIENTS AND KITCHEN TOOLS
Really, the things you need for this recipe are so simple that I bet you already have most of them. I really think you should use the ingredients I used to make my own taco seasoning; it makes a huge difference and tastes much better than store-bought. And trust me on the citrus! I can’t wait for you to try these!.
Olive or avocado oil
You’ll need simple kitchen tools for this delicious meal. Grab yourself a large skillet or cast iron skillet. It’s always important to have good mixing tools on hand as well as measuring cups and spoons.
Step 1: Begin by heating a large pan over medium heat on the stove. Put oil in the pan. When the oil is hot, add the onion and cook for three to four minutes, until the onion is clear.
Step 2: Then, add the ground venison and cook until browned, about 6-8 minutes.
Step 3: Next, add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. After cooking for two more minutes, stir the food well and deglaze the pan with orange juice, lime juice, and apple cider vinegar.
Step 4: Then, add the water and turn the heat to medium-low. Allow the meat to simmer for 5-10 minutes until the desired texture and moisture level are reached.
Step 5: You can serve it in burritos, nachos, corn tortillas, flour tortillas, lettuce wraps, taco shells, or any other way you like!
NOTES:
- This recipe can be used with any red meat, including ground beef, elk, antelope, moose, bison, lamb, and so on.
- If you’re thawing frozen venison, dry it with a paper towel or a paper down and throw away any old blood before cooking. This helps the meat to taste fresh and not “gamey”.
- Topping ideas: jalapeños, shredded lettuce, cilantro, sour cream, sour cream, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese, fresh lime juice, guacamole, salsa, pepper jack cheese, sour cream Please add any of your favorite toppings; the choices are endless.
IF there are any leftovers, they will store perfectly in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Warm up the venison taco meat that you have left over and serve it on nachos, over a salad, or in your favorite taco shell or burrito.
But another thing people often say when they have a lot of ground deer meat is that it doesn’t taste like beef. And they’re right. If you cook venison like you cook beef, you’re going to be disappointed with the results. However….
This is one of the BEST ways to use up ground deer meat
Seriously. The taco seasoning flavors not only make the deer meat taste better, they also change its flavor into something meaty but bright, which makes the best taco meat I’ve ever had. And I don’t say that lightly!.
How to cook ground venison & make awesome venison tacos. Cast iron cooking.
FAQ
Do you add anything to ground venison?
How do you make ground venison taste better?
What is the best way to prepare venison?
Can ground venison be eaten rare?
How do you season ground venison?
One example is cooking 100 percent ground venison in coconut oil for my Thai venison lettuce cups. If you plan to season the meat for sausage or chorizo, you will want to do this after the first grind. Mixing the spices in with the ground meat helps to make the meat bind for stuffing.
Can you cook ground venison?
Venison is such a versatile meat for cooking, there’s no end to the recipes a creative cook can come up with, and ground venison adds even more options to the list of delicious meals that can be sourced from our favorite hunting pastime. Just remember, cooking ground venison is different than cooking ground beef.
How do you brown ground venison?
How to brown ground venison? Ground venison does not contain a lot of fat, so that browning ground venison can be tricky. I like to add 1-2 Tbsp. of olive oil to the pan before browning, to give it a little fat content to cook with. From there, I let the meat brown until there is just a bit of pink remaining.
What can I make with ground venison?
Spaghetti Sauce made with Ground Venison – This savory homemade spaghetti sauce made with ground venison is a great all-purpose sauce to have on hand all year round. One batch makes over 2 quarts! Venison Goulash Recipe – This ground venison goulash recipe is full of flavor and super simple – perfect for a weeknight dinner!