It’s deer hunting season, that means good times and good eats! If you’re a hunter, you understand the gratification that comes with eating venison you killed yourself. If you’re lucky enough to have a generous deer hunter in your life, deer hunting season is just as delicious. Venison is a healthy meat—a good source of protein, nutrients, and generally leaner than beef, pork, or lamb. Plus, it’s delicious!
With the help of this venison cooking guide, your venison dishes will be right on target! We will start by discussing venison nutrition. Then we will dive into venison cooking tips that will help you select the right cut of venison, remove unwanted gamey flavor, and prepare flavorful venison dishes. Next up, venison recipe inspo! Our list of popular venison recipes will show you just how versatile this lean and flavorful meat is. Even if you have the best hunting season of your life and a freezer full of deer meat, you will want to enjoy it all thanks to this venison cooking guide.
Venison Nutrition: Is Venison Healthy?
Yes, venison is healthy! It’s a good source of protein and generally leaner than beef, pork, or lamb. Venison also contains essential nutrients including iron, zinc, and B vitamins. If you’re looking for a heart-healthy protein, venison is a great choice with its low cholesterol and low saturated fat content. Plus, wild game such as venison are raised in a natural environment free from hormones and antibiotics.
Choosing the Right Cut of Venison
Venison is versatile, but every cut doesn’t work for every dish. Choosing the right cut of venison is the first step to making something delicious. What are the different cuts of venison and their ideal uses?
- Loin/Backstrap: lean and tender, best used for filets and chops
- Tenderloin: the most tender cut, this delicacy is best seasoned simply and seared/grilled
- Shoulder: Tougher than loin but full of flavor. Good for roasts and braising.
- Shanks: Tougher cut with a rich, gamey flavor. Cut into small pieces for stew and slow cooker recipes.
- Neck: slow cooked/braised for shredded meat recipes like tacos, pasta sauces, sandwiches, or soup
- Shoulder/Chuck: roast, burgers, sausage, jerky
- Ribs: Rich, gamey flavor. Bones can be used to add flavor to sauces or stews and meat can be ground for sausage or burgers.
- Hindquarter/Round: Relatively tender with a gamier flavor than other steak cuts. Best for larger steaks, high quality ground meat, kabobs, braising.
You can drop off your kill with a licensed deer processor or cut and trim venison yourself. If you plan on taking matters into your own hands and need some guidance, check out this guide to butchering a deer.
How to Remove Gamey Flavor from Venison
Gamey is a term used to describe the taste of meat from wild animals like deer. Gamey flavor is stronger than the taste of farm-raised meat. It’s earthy, musky, and varies depending on the animal’s age and diet. Gamey flavor is not necessarily bad, it’s just a matter of preference. Some people enjoy the gamey flavor of venison, while others don’t. If you fall into the latter category, enjoying venison recipes is not off the table. You can remove gamey flavor from venison and make it taste more like farm-raised meat. Check out these techniques to remove gamey flavor from venison.
- Soak in Brine or Vinegar: Combine 1 quart of water with 1 tablespoon of salt or 1 cup of vinegar and soak meat in the solution overnight in the refrigerator. Rinse the meat with cold water before cooking.
- Marinate: Venison can be marinated for up to 3 days. Marinating venison infuses it with flavors that overshadow gamey flavors. We will discuss venison marinades more later.
- Slow Cooking: The purpose of slow cooking is to give the meat plenty of time to soak in the flavors of the liquid it’s being cooked in. Like marinating, this process overshadows the gamey flavor.
- Use in Strongly Flavored Dishes: It’s common sense that gamey flavor will stand out more in a bland dish than a dish with strong flavor. Try venison recipes like gumbo, Mexican-inspired dishes, and stews, use vibrant sauces and flavorful seasonings such as a Cajun blend with a heavy hand.
Use a Venison Marinade for Tenderness and Flavor
Marinating venison tenderizes the meat and infuses it with flavor. Use a pre-made venison marinade or make your own to elevate your venison dishes. You should marinate your venison for at least 30 minutes, but the longer the better. Venison can be marinated for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator for more tender and flavorful results.
How to Make a Venison Marinade
Elements of a good venison marinade include acid, oil, herbs, spices, and other flavorful ingredients. Acids break down tough fibers to make the meat more tender and a tangy flavor that complements the rich flavor of venison. Popular acids to use in a venison marinade include vinegar, lemon juice, and wine. Oils keep the venison moist and act as a vehicle for other flavors to soak in. Herbs, seasoning and seasoning blends, and other flavorful marinade ingredients such as Worcestershire and soy sauce can be added based on your taste preferences and the dish you are preparing.
Pre-Made Venison Marinade
A good pre-made marinade is a great shortcut and a sure-fire way to get delicious flavor every time. However, all pre-made venison marinades are not created equal. Many marinades contain artificial flavors and unhealthy amounts of sodium and artificial sweeteners. Venison is naturally delicious and is best enhanced by other natural ingredients. Look for a marinade made with natural ingredients like real herbs and spices, fruit juice, and natural sweeteners like brown sugar. If you opt for a pre-made marinade, go for something versatile that works with a wide range of venison recipes.
Slow Cooker Venison Recipes
Slow cooking is the perfect method for turning tougher cuts of venison such as the shoulder, shank, and neck into something tender and delicious. Slow cooking allows flavors to meld together and infuse the meat. These slow cooker venison recipes are hearty, tasty, and easy for beginners.
- Venison Stew: Combine your favorite vegetables with cubed venison for the ultimate cold weather comfort food.
- Venison Pot Roast: Serve over grits or mashed potatoes for extra flare.
- Venison Barbacoa Tacos: A new take on a delicious Mexican dish typically made with beef.
Ground Venison Recipes
Ground venison is a popular way to process and store deer meat if you have a large quantity. Ground venison is versatile and can be used in any recipe that calls for ground beef, pork, or turkey. Check out these popular ground venison recipes.
- Venison Burgers: An All-American classic with a twist. Pro tip: burgers should be made with at least 10% fat, but overly fatty deer meat can taste waxy. Add pork or beef fat into your venison blend for best results.
- Venison Chili: A delicious way to warm up during a chilly hunting season. Try out this venison chili recipe or simply substitute venison into your favorite chili recipe.
- Venison Lasagna: Everyone loves Italian food! This venison lasagna is a crowd favorite that’s ideal for feeding big groups.
How to Grill Venison
For venison steaks on the grill, you’ll be using the best cuts such as tenderloin and filet, so you don’t have to do much to make them delicious. Marinate using a simple recipe or a classic pre-made marinade with smoky and salty flavor. Then all you need to do is grill your venison steak on an actual grill or a cast iron skillet until it has reached your desired temperature (venison cooking temperatures are the same as beef). Check out this guide to venison temperatures to find your sweet spot.
How to Make Venison Jerky
Venison jerky is a delicious and nutritious snack that can be stored for months. Plus, it’s a convenient snack to take on hunting trips! To make venison jerky, slice a lean cut into ¼ inch strips, tenderize with meat mallet, marinate, pat dry, and rub with a seasoning blend. Venison jerky can be made with a dehydrator or cooked low (around 170 degrees) and slow in the oven or a smoker.
The Secret to Delicious Venison
At Crockett Creek, we know our meats, and venison is no exception. After perfecting our wide range of jerky flavors, including venison jerky, we consider ourselves flavor experts as well. That’s why we decided to bring the delicious flavors of Crockett Creek to your kitchen and created Crockett Creek Original Marinade and Blazin’ Cajun Spice Mix. These flavorful recipes are made with all-natural ingredients that you can feel good about eating and serving your family.
Our Original Marinade has a smoky, sweet, salty flavor that complements venison perfectly (it’s also great for vegetables, chicken, fish, pork, and beef). Blazin’ Cajun Spice Mix packs a powerful punch of flavor with a special blend of mild Cajun spices that elevate any recipe. Step up your game this deer season with Crockett Creek!
Crockett Creek is a family-owned company with deep southern roots. Our spice mix, marinade, and jerky are made in Knoxville, Tennessee by folks who know their way around a kitchen and a deer blind. We pride ourselves on creating healthy, all-natural products free of preservatives, chemicals, and artificial flavors. Visit our website to shop and learn more. Good luck this deer hunting season!
