These easy & healthy venison recipes will help you use up your deer meat. From easy ground meat recipes to gourmet ideas, you’ll find something here!
It can be really hard to find healthy venison recipes. What you’ll find is a lot of outdated dishes that seem to be fried, or covered with sauces to mask the flavor of deer meat.
But, what you’ll find is that with the right recipes, venison is really delicious and isn’t gamey at all. It’s also a great red meat to add to a healthy diet.
KEY INGREDIENTS & KITCHEN TOOLS TO HAVE ON HAND WHEN COOKING WILD GAME
When preparing venison recipes, there are key ingredients that I like to keep in my pantry and fridge so that I can always whip something delicious up when I defrost deer meat from my deep freezer. Here’s what I like to have on hand:
1. Venison: The star of the show, ensuring you have fresh and high-quality cuts is essential. You can also use a variety of game meat for these recipes as well, elk, moose, antelope and so much more!
2. Herbs and Spices: My staples include Italian seasoning, herbs de Provence, curry powder, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, chili powder, kosher salt and black pepper.My cookbook has a whole list!
3. Marinades: A good marinade can tenderize the meat and bring out its natural flavors. Consider using red wine, Worcestershire sauce, or balsamic vinegar as a base for your marinades. I also have an incredibleAll-Purpose Marinadethat is perfect for any cut of meat.
4. Stock or Broth: Stock or broth (chicken, vegetable, or beef broth all work) is the perfect liquid ingredient to have on hand to add to recipes, it helps keep the meat moist and intensifies the overall taste. Check out myHomemade Venison Stockrecipe!
5. Butter or Olive Oil: These fats are perfect for cooking venison as they add richness and prevent it from drying out.
6. Vegetables: Pairing your venison with vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, and garlic cloves, not only adds color to your plate but also complements its earthy flavors. Diced tomatoes and tomato paste are also great ingredients to have on hand for a pop of flavor!
By having these key ingredients on hand, you’ll be well-equipped to create delicious and memorable venison dishes that are sure to be a hit!
Kitchen Tools
There are quite a few kitchen essentials that I always have on hand when cooking with Venison. Whether you are cooking your meat in a smoker, a cast iron skillet, aslow cooker, or bakingpan, it is always important to make sure you have the best quality equipment to help your meat cook evenly and properly. I also recommend a sharp knife for cutting your meat and a good quality cutting board. Lastly, I always have my meat thermometer on hand for making sure my venison reaches the proper internal temp. This also makes for a great gift!
WHY IS VENISON HEALTHY?
Did you know that venison packs, on average, a whopping 35 grams of protein per 4 oz serving with only 4 grams of fat and 180 calories? It’s also really high in iron, making it a great substitute to ground beef because it’s lower in fat and calories.
Another great thing about venison is that most people know where it’s coming from. If you have venison in your freezer, you or a family member or friend most likely sourced the grass-fed, free-range protein. No growth hormones, pesticides in feed – just food from the land. What could be better than that?
Now that we know venison is a great addition to a healthy diet, let’s find you some recipes.
THE BEST HEALTHY VENISON RECIPES
Here are a few of my favorite venison recipes that are great healthy meal ideas. I can’t wait to see which one is your favorite!
Gluten-Free Venison Meatballs (aka the best venison meatballs ever)
These are the perfect blend of venison and ground pork, mixed with almond meal instead of breadcrumbs for these healthy little morsels! Serve them with zoodles for a great, healthy meal.
Gluten-Free Venison Meatloaf
I love this recipe SOO much. You’ll use Almond meal instead of bread crumbs & I use coconut sugar to sweeten the tomato glaze.
Venison Backstrap
The backstrap (or deer loin) is one of the most popular prime cuts of venison. This roasted venison backstrap recipe is easy and delicious, just season, roast in the oven, slice and enjoy.
Healthier Venison Stroganoff
This recipe uses coconut milk and Greek yogurt instead of heavy and sour cream for the gravy. With tender mushroom and the perfect blend of seasonings, serve this over some egg noodles or roasted spaghetti squash for a quick & delicious meal!
Mediterranean Steak Bowls
Roast is typically a heavier meal, but with venison being so lean, it’s much lighter than beef. Serve it with plenty of vegetables for a balanced meal.
Taco Style Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers with Venison
I love these easy guys! An entire meal in a delicious and healthy bell pepper! So many veggies, and lean meat. If you looking for some Taco Tuesday inspo, check out my Ground Venison Tacos.
Garlic & Herb Venison Marinade Recipe – by MeatEater
I love simple marinades for large or tough cuts of venison. Everyone has garlic and herbs tucked in the fridge, so whip them out for this easy recipe.
Whole30/Paleo Venison Burgers with “Special Sauce”
Sweet potato buns, fresh veggies and healthy “special sauce” will make you love healthy burger night.
Instant Pot Venison Roast
Roast is typically a heavier meal, but with venison being so lean, it’s much lighter than beef. Serve it with plenty of vegetables for a balanced meal.
Venison Stir Fry
Make this quick & healthy venison stir fry when you’re running short on time and you want something packed with lean protein and veggies. Just serve over rice and enjoy!
Grilled Venison Loin – by Hank Shaw
Learn how to grill venison well so that it’s juicy and tender. Since it’s so lean, it’s the perfect healthy thing to make outdoors on the grill.
Wholeo30/Paleo Venison Shepherd’s Pie
Venison Shepherd’s Pie combines tender venison, veggies, and mashed potatoes for a simple & impressive dinner.
Gluten-Free & Low Carb Venison Parmesean – by Texas Granola Girl
Lightened-up parmesan is the perfect healthier comfort food option. Made with homemade sauce and that melted mozzarella cheese, YUM, this one is always a hit!
Instant Pot Venison Stew
This rich and tenderstew comes together quickly for the perfect rustic, comforting dinner to use up your harvest.
Venison Burrito Bowls
These venison burrito bowls are loaded with beans, ground venison, homemade salsa, and all the toppings. This recipe deserves a spot in your rotation!
Smoked Venison Tenderloin
ThisSmoked Venison Tenderloin is marinated in a fresh, citrus marinade before spending time in the smoker. It’s tender, flavorful, smokey, juicy, and easy to do.
Ultimate Venison Steak Salad
This is the ultimate venison steak salad recipe. It’s packed with tender deer meat, lots of leafy greens, tomatoes, avocado, walnuts, dried cherries, cheese and a super simple homemade balsamic dressing.
Venison Egg Roll In A Bowl
A healthy, fast, and flavorful way to use up ground deer meat for a light dinner or meal prep idea.
Venison Vegetable Soup
Throw everything in to a pot and simmer until tender, resulting in the most flavorful soup you’ll ever have.
Award Winning Venison Chili
Learn how to make award-winning venison chili with ground deer or elk meat you have in the freezer. Simple, flavorful, and well-balanced.
Ican’t wait to hear which recipe you try first! If you’re looking for more ways to cook juicy, tender, and delicious venison, check out some of my favorite ground venison recipes. Don’t forget to grab a copy of my cookbook,Venison Every Day!
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