With whitetail deer hunting season upon us, it's time to dust off your favorite venison recipes and add some new recipes into rotation. With its lean and rich flavor, venison is a healthy source of protein. Deer meat has many nutrition benefits, not to mention you know exactly where your meat came from.
Still, some people shy away from venison, citing a gamey taste. That's where a decent recipe is the ideal solution. When cooked correctly, deer meat can make a seriously tasty meal. Choose from your favorite cuts of venison, such as backstrap, roast, shank, or tenderloin, and find a recipe.
You can cook venison in many ways: in a slow cooker, in a Dutch oven, on the BBQ, or while camping. From succulent roasts that melt in your mouth to savory venison stews that are the ultimate comfort food, these 25 of our favorite venison recipes cook up your wild game meat in a wide variety of delicious meals. There really is no limit when you save the best venison recipes close at hand!
Our Favorite Venison Recipes
Venison Meatloaf on a Stick 
Bacon, jalapenos, ground venison, and a tortilla? Sounds like a winning combination to us! If you're not a huge fan of meatloaf, give this recipe a try. It has a unique twist—and it's on a stick!—that will surely leave you reaching out for more.
Venison Steak Bites with Creamy Horseradish
Jennifer Danella
Looking for a super simple dish to serve as a main or appetizer? Look no further than these venison steak bites served with creamy horseradish. Cube 1.5 to 2 pounds of venison backstrap, marinate in an olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, and lemon juice bath for an hour before cooking them with butter in a cast iron skillet.
Sous Vide Venison Steak Recipe
Jennifer Danella
For anyone who ever complains that venison isn't tender enough, serve 'em this sous vide recipe and change their tune. Prep and season your backstrap then vacuum-seal it into a bag. Heat the sous vide bath, insert your bagged venison, and an hour later, you'll be ready for the finishing touch of searing to lock in the tender flavor.
Venison Cowboy Burger
Jennifer Danella for Wide Open Spaces
It's hard to go wrong with a burger, and this venison cowboy burger is no exception. Cook up ta mouth-watering combination of venison, bacon, and pepper jack cheese on a grill before placing it onto a brioche bun with all your favorite toppings.
Venison Backstrap Burrito
Jennifer Danella
Burritos are an easy prep-ahead meal that can be used for grab-and-go lunches or for dinner. Marinate your backstrap overnight for extra flavor, slice, grill, and wrap into a burrito with your favorite toppings. (We're partial to the cilantro rice and jalapenos.)
Classic Instant Pot Venison Roast
The Instant Pot is the Crock Pot's cooler cousin. It makes dinner prep go by quickly and takes care of all of the work for you, which is why we love this recipe: Your sides and your main dish are cooked all at the same time! It's also pretty darn tasty.
Venison Burger Zucchini Boats
Venison and veggies are a balanced meal, but ground venison inside a veggie is a recipe for perfection. Brown your venison in a skillet with onions. Season the combination, fill your zucchini, and bake.
Cast Iron Skillet Chorizo Venison Dip
Wide Open Spaces, Jennifer Danella
This chorizo venison dip is soon to be a family favorite. Who can say no to three different types of cheese? After browning your ground venison, mix in seasoning, cheeses, and Rotel and serve with chips and your favorite toppings.
Venison and Broccoli Stir Fry
Jennifer Danella
Stir Fry is an easy, quick dinner for any night of the week. This tasty option pairs cubed venison with broccoli, onions, and soy sauce, plus some serious seasoning. Serve over rice for a hearty meal.
Venison Taco Dip
Jennifer Danella
Looking for a new game-night favorite? This venison taco dip is a real contender. The cheesy dip is best served warm with some tortilla chips.
Venison and Spinach Puff Pastry Cups
Jennifer Danella
The unexpected combo of puff pastry and deer meat is sure to wow 'em as an appetizer at your next family gathering. Line a mini-muffin tin with pastry and fill the cups with a ground venison, spinach, and cheese. Then bake for just 20 minutes, until puffy and golden brown.
Asian Venison Lettuce Cups
Jennifer Danella
Asian lettuce cups offer a tasty bite, no matter what they're filled with. Here, ground venison mixes with soy, hoisin, peanut butter, and sriracha hits a little differently. Add in water chestnuts and green onions, and serve in lettuce wraps for a crunchy, tasty treat.
Venison Chili Crunch Bowls
Deb Lindsey for the Washington Post via Getty Images
Chili jumps top of mind when you think of comforting, cold weather food. This recipe puts a crunchy spin on the wintry classic by topping it with salty corn chips.
Hibachi-Style Garlic Venison Steak and Shrimp with Fried Rice
Jennifer Danella
Hungry for a cozy meal with veggies and plenty of protein? This venison steak and shrimp with fried rice will remind you of your favorite hibachi restaurant, without requiring you to leave the house. It can be made with venison tenderloin or backstrap and is mixed with shrimp.
Mushroom- and Provolone-Stuffed Venison Backstrap
Jennifer Danella
While butterflying venison backstrap may seem like a task for a pro, we promise it's easier than it looks. Stuff your meat with complimentary flavors such as mushrooms, shallots, bacon, and provolone, and you and your guests won't be disappointed with the result.
Venison and Zucchini Egg-Noodle Bake
Venison and zucchini go hand in hand with flavors that complement one another. When mixed with egg noodles, cheese, and some killer seasonings, they make for a filling meal.
Greek-Inspired Venison Kabobs
eyecrave productions via Getty Images
Grilling and game meat go hand in hand, and this Greek-inspired venison kabob combo may become your hunting camping trip capstone meal. If you have the time and patience, mix up the marinade ahead and let your backstrap sit overnight for a faster assembly when cooking time comes around.
Easy Campfire Venison Goulash Recipe
Jennifer Danella
Another go-to recipe for camping, you'll also want to give this goulash a try at home over the stovetop. Combine all your ingredients in a Dutch oven and let it cook away. Add cheese and melt toward the end. Serve immediately with some French crusty bread.
Lazy Venison Lasagna
Jennifer Danella
If you think assembling lasagna takes too much time, then you have to try this lazy venison lasagna, which offers the same flavors without the tedious layering. Take ground venison and Italian sausage and cook them together over the stove. Once browned, add in all your other ingredients for a magnificent one-pot meal. Garnish with parsley, basil, or parmesan, and enjoy!
Cajun Venison Alfredo
Alfredo is a creamy favorite already, but this cajun twist ups the ante. Mix together poblano peppers, marinated venison, tomatoes, onion, and cheese for a melty combination to top over noodles for a hearty meal.
Venison Heart Bulgogi
Korean food fusion has made its way into American kitchens in many different forms. Naturally, we have to throw an exotic venison dish into the mix. Plus, it's a great way to use the venison heart, so no part of the deer goes to waste.
Cranberry Venison Meatballs
Jennifer Danella
These slow-cooking meatballs make a festive addition to a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal but really are quite delectable for any gathering. Give yourself plenty of prep time, because they have to sit in the slow cooker for three hours.
Pan-Seared Venison with Coal-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Andrew Zimmern
This recipe is such a creative way to cook and serve a venison dish with complimentary flavors coming from the most unlikely of sources. The venison is sliced and mixed with garlic, salt, pepper, and juniper berries, grilled, and served with sweet potatoes and a fresh pepper relish—a surprising but delightful flavor combination!
Venison Roast with Cranberry Sauce
Petersen's Hunting
Another creative recipe is this venison pot roast with a homemade cranberry sauce. The trick is to take your time and let the roast cook slowly in a pan in the oven. Trust us: It will be worth the wait. Serve over mashed potatoes, drizzled with the savory cranberry sauce.
Three-Cheese Venison Burger Pasta
Delishably
What do you do when half your family wants burgers and the other half craves pasta? Combine the two, and you have a dynamite dish to please them all. This cheesy, burger-y bake uses either rotini or penne pasta for a simple one-dish meal.
READ MORE: How Long Is Deer Meat Good in the Freezer?
