Liven up game day with these winning venison recipes. (Shutterstock photo)
February 01, 2021
By Game & Fish Staff
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The way you watch the Super Bowl this year may be a little different due to the pandemic, but that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy delicious food while watching the game. Great food and football always go hand-in-hand. Whether you are having a watch party or hosting a small shindig with your quaranteam, these venison recipes are sure to score a big win.
Venison Sausage Rolls These tasty sausage rolls are a flavorful blend of ground venison, thyme, sage, coriander, nutmeg, and other spices wrapped up in a flaky pastry crust. Once you try them, they may become your new favorite football-viewing snack.
Warm venison sausage rolls from the oven. (David Draper photo) Ingredients:
1 ½ pound ground venison ½ pound ground pork 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon dried sage ½ teaspoon ground coriander ½ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon cayenne Fresh ground black pepper, to taste Puff pastry 1 egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon water, for egg wash Get the Full Recipe
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Venison Lovers Pizza This venison pizza is the perfect shareable appetizer for your Super Bowl party. Follow this recipe and in just 30 minutes, you'll have hot pizza with bubbling cheese. Slice it up and enjoy while watching the game.
A cheesy pizza topped with venison pepperoni and venison sausage. (Hal Shaffer photo) Ingredients:
Dough or pre-made crust for 1 large pizza 1 jar pizza sauce 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 2 cups ground venison sausage ¼ pound sliced venison pepperoni Get the Full Recipe
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Venison Roll Ups with Balsamic Glaze These venison roll ups with balsamic glaze bare a close resemblance to sashimi, but are created for the meat lover. You can drizzle the balsamic glaze over the venison roll ups when plating or pour some glaze in a separate bowl and allow guests to drizzle their own.
Sliced venison loin rolled up with veggies and topped with a balsamic vinegar glaze. (Photo courtesy of Gregg Ritz) Ingredients:
1-2 pounds of venison loin Salt and pepper 1 tablespoon butter 1 green bell pepper 1 red bell pepper 1 onion 1 carrot 1 cup balsamic vinegar Toothpicks Get the Full Recipe
Easy Venison Slider Burgers Here's a recipe for venison sliders that is lean and mean, easy to prepare, and a crowd-pleasing favorite!
Tasty wild game dishes don't have to be difficult to prepare as this Camp Chef Elk Slider Burger recipe proves. (Lynn Burkhead photo) Ingredients :
Ground elk or deer venison (either straight meat or in a 90/10 meat-to-fat ratio) Camp Chef Mango Chipotle Rub Seasoning Slider burger buns Medium cheddar cheese Condiments (ketchup, mayonnaise, etc.) Lettuce, tomato, onion (if desired) Get the Full Recipe
Wisconsin-Style Venison Brats with Hard-Cider Kraut Planning to watch the game from home this Super Bowl Sunday? Make a few of these venison brats. These juicy, flavorful venison brats are cooked and served up Wisconsin-style – simmered in beer, finished on the grill, and served with hard-cider sauerkraut and quality mustard.
Be sure to top these Wisconsin-Style Venison Brats off with a quality mustard. (Photo courtesty of Jack Hennessy) Ingredients:
4 (6-inch) venison brats ½ green cabbage head, core removed 36 ounces preferred beer 36 ounces preferred hard apple cider 1 tablespoon kosher salt 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup malt vinegar 1 medium yellow onion, sliced Get the Full Recipe
Unique Venison Sliders Adventurous eaters on game day will get a kick out of these three unique recipes.
These unique venison slider recipes combine to make an awesome entrée, where no bite is boring. (Chelsie Walters photo) Jalapeño Cream Cheese Venison Sliders
Spicy jalapeño and sweet honey team up in this fun venison slider recipe.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground venison 1 small white or yellow onion, thinly sliced 6 tablespoons cream cheese 1 large jalapeño, thinly sliced Honey 6 slider buns 4 tablespoons butter Salt and pepper, to taste Get the Full Recipe
BBQ Fritos Venison Sliders
This BBQ Fritos Venison Sliders Recipe makes the perfect backyard barbecue appetizer or game day.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground venison 1 small red onion, sliced into rings ½ cup honey BBQ sauce, plus some extra 1 (9.25-ounce) bag Fritos 6 slices white cheddar cheese 6 slider buns 2 tablespoons butter Salt and pepper, to taste Get the Full Recipe
Peanut Butter Bacon Venison Sliders
Unexpected and delicious, creamy peanut butter is the condiment you never knew you needed in a burger.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground venison 6 tablespoons creamy peanut butter 6 slices bacon 6 slices white cheddar cheese 6 slider buns 2 tablespoons butter Get the Full Recipe
Slow Cooker Venison Queso Dip Serve this venison queso dip with plenty of tortilla chips. (Jessyca Sortillon photo) Serve your party guests what they really want – venison queso dip! This slow cooker recipe for venison queso dip is the ultimate appetizer for game day or any get-together. It's made with taco-seasoned ground venison and, wait for it ... REAL cheese!
Ingredients:
1 pound ground venison (or ground venison chorizo) 5 tablespoons Hi Mountain Taco Seasoning ⅔ cup water 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 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) Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce (or your favorite hot sauce), to taste Get the Full Recipe
Smoked Venison Summer Sausage Serve this venison summer sausage with sharp cheddar cheese and crackers. (Photo courtesy of Traeger) This recipe for Smoked Venison Summer Sausage is just what you need to spice up that game-day charcuterie platter.
Ingredients:
3 pounds ground venison 3 tablespoons Morton Salt Tender Quick ½ cup water 3 teaspoons mustard seeds 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder Get the Full Recipe
Slow Cooker Bacon-Wrapped Venison This venison recipe is simple to make and so worth the wait. (Hannah Walton photo) Everyone will love this appetizer! Strips of venison backstrap are wrapped in bacon, topped with garlic and brown sugar and then slow cooked to perfection.
Ingredients:
2-3 pounds venison backstrap, cut into 3/4-inch strips 2 packages bacon, pork or venison 1 tablespoon canola oil Salt and pepper, to taste 4 garlic cloves, minced ⅓ cup light brown sugar Toothpicks or kitchen string Get the Full Recipe
Venison Mac and Cheese Balls These fried venison macaroni and cheese balls make a great Super Bowl appetizer. (Shutterstock photo) That's right … venison and mac and cheese, all balled up into the ideal, bite-sized party appetizer!
Ingredients:
4 cups mac and cheese (favorite recipe, out of the box, leftovers, whatever you choose!) 2 cups grilled and cubed venison tenderloin 1 ½ cups breadcrumbs 1 egg 1 tablespoon milk Vegetable oil (for frying) Get the Full Recipe
Bacon-Wrapped Venison Jalapeño Poppers Fresh jalapeños are stuffed with seasoned venison, spiced up cream cheese, and melty Monterrey Jack, then they’re wrapped in bacon and cooked until crispy. (Emilie Baile photo) These Bacon-Wrapped Venison Jalapeño Poppers are super tasty.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground venison 1 ½ teaspoons granulated garlic, divided ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 3 green onions or scallions, sliced ½ teaspoon onion powder 1 ½ cup shredded Monterrey Jack Cheese 12 fresh jalapeños, halved, seeded and deveined 12-24 slices bacon, regular or thin sliced Get the Full Recipe
Quick 'N Easy Venison Meatballs These savory venison meatballs are easy to make and perfect for a party. (Photo courtesy of Chef Derek St. Romain) If you need a great dish for the game, this recipe for venison meatballs is sure to please.
Ingredients:
2 pounds ground venison 1 pound spicy venison Italian sausage 1 medium onion, chopped fine 3 tablespoons chopped parsley 3 eggs lightly beaten 3 tablespoons olive oil ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese ½ cup shredded Gruyére cheese 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs Gravy:
3 ounces honey bourbon 2 cups beef broth ½ cup heavy cream 1 can cream of mushroom soup Get the Full Recipe
Sweet & Sour Venison Meatballs You only need a few ingredients and they will stay warm in a slow cooker. (Photo courtesy of Shaun Davies) Serve these sweet & sour venison meatballs as a tasty party appetizer on game day. Prepare and freeze the meatballs the night before and then throw them in a slow cooker with some other ingredients for a sweet and tangy snack during the game.
Ingredients:
2 pounds ground venison 1 (12-ounce) jar chili sauce 1½ cups grape jelly 2 teaspoons chopped parsley 2 teaspoons onion powder Get the Full Recipe
Easy Venison Taco Dip This dip can be served hot or cold depending on when you prepare it and when you are planning on serving it. (Allie Doran photo) With its tasty layers of Greek yogurt cream, chili-lime spiced ground venison, pepper jack cheese and fresh veggies, this Easy Venison Taco Dip Recipe is a must-have on game day.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil 1 small yellow onion, finely diced (about 1 cup) 1 pound ground venison 1 teaspoon chili powder ½ teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon salt, divided ¼ teaspoon black pepper Juice of 1 lime, divided 2 cups plain Greek yogurt 8 ounces softened cream cheese (it mixes easier when soft) ½ cup salsa 2 cups shredded or finely chopped lettuce 2 Roma tomatoes, diced 1 ½ cups shredded pepper jack cheese 1 jalapeño, sliced (optional) Chips or veggies for serving Get the Full Recipe
Venison Cheeseburger Bites (Photo courtesy of PetersensHunting.com) If you're tired of the same old jalapeño and cream cheese poppers, here's a completely different take on the popular party appetizer. Easy to make, and incredibly delicious, these mini cheeseburgers, wrapped in bacon, make the perfect one-bite-fits-all snack.
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Venison 'White Castle' Burgers Just like White Castle’s legendary sliders, these venison burgers are steamed over a bed of onions. (Jessyca Sortillon photo) You know those irresistible little burgers from White Castle with the mini onions? With this recipe and a CanCooker, you can make your own venison version at home.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground venison burger ½ pound ground beef chuck (80/20) ⅓ cup plain bread crumbs 1 egg, slightly beaten 2 cups + 2 tablespoons water, divided 1 ½ tablespoons CanCooker Onion Pepper Seasoning 1 small white or yellow onion, finely diced 16 small dinner rolls, each sliced in half American cheese slices (optional) Sliced dill pickles (optional) Get the Full Recipe
Smoked Venison Chili Everyone is going to want a hearty helping of this smoked venison chili, so be sure to break out the big ladle when serving it. (Photo courtesy of Traeger) Party quests can enjoy this smoky venison chili by the bowl, scooped onto hot dogs, or mixed into queso.
Ingredients:
Olive oil 1 large onion, chopped finely 1-2 pounds ground venison or other wild game 4 garlic cloves, crushed 2 large cans diced tomatoes 2 cans red kidney beans 2 cans white beans 1 can black beans 3 tablespoons chili powder, or more to taste 3 tablespoons ground cumin, or more to taste 4 tablespoons brown sugar 2 teaspoons oregano 1 teaspoon black pepper ½ cup ketchup Chili flakes, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste Get the Full Recipe
Venison Sushi Impress your Super Bowl party guests with this venison-inspired sushi recipe from Gregg Ritz , host of Hunt Masters
This unique sushi recipe is best when made with thin slices of tender venison loin. (Photo courtesy of Shaun Davies) Ingredients:
2 cups sushi rice 2 cups water (plus extra for rinsing rice) 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon kosher salt 6 thinly-sliced strips, seasoned and seared venison loin Minced scallions or fresh jalapeño peppers Soy sauce, optional Get the Full Recipe
