Name: Easy Venison Meatballs Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 5 lb ground venison; 1 ½ cups rolled oats; 5 eggs; 12 cloves garlic (chopped.); 1 ½ tbsp salt; black pepper (fresh ground to taste); ⅓ cup onion (dried chopped)

A good venison meatballs recipe is something every hunter needs in their repertoire. They’re easy to make, versatile, and a great way to use ground venison. You can add them to your favorite sauce, make meatball subs, French onion meatballs, Italian wedding soup, and more. I’ve tested this classic venison meatballs recipe at least 50 times, and it’s always a hit with my family!

I have this thing about meatballs. Especially this venison meatballs recipe. First of all, I just love to eat them. And second of all, if I need to make one meals worth of meatballs…well then I may as well make a big batch of Venison Meatballs and cook them camping as well as at home!

These flavorful baked venison meatballs are so tender they will practically melt in your mouth. I love having meatballs in the freezer to quickly make some sweet and sour meatballs, cabbage meatball soup, spaghetti with meatballs or bbq baked meatballs! Make a batch to use in pasta sauce, meatball subs, or serve them as appetizers.

Making deliciously tender meatballs with ground deer meat will soon be one of your favorite venison recipes. These tender meatballs are rich and flavorful, and perfect to use in a variety of meals. If your venison has a gamey taste to it, this recipe is a great way to make any wild game meat more flavorful.

Table of Contents

Cooking Method

Build a large campfire. Allow the flames to completly burn down to glowing red hot embers. Top with a metal fire grate to hold you large cast iron skillet with lid.

Mix all ingredients for the venison meatballs recipe in a big bowl. Use a portion scooper to scoop them out into equal portions. Give them a quick roll between your hands to smooth out the edges.

Cook for about 20 minutes, until cooked through. Remove the amount you want for you meal and set the rest aside for now.

Cool remainder in the pan then bag up in freezer bags, labeling with date, number of meatballs, and that they’re Venison Meatballs!

Key Ingredients

5 lb ground venison
1 ½ cups rolled oats
5 eggs
12 cloves garlic, chopped.
1 ½ tbsp salt
black pepper, fresh ground to taste
⅓ cup onion, dried chopped

Five Venison Cooking Secrets

Venison is such an adaptable meat for dining because there are no limits to the dishes that an imaginative cook can create, and ground venison offers even more alternatives to the list of excellent dinners that can be derived from our beloved hunting activity.

Ground venison is ideal for a variety of meals, including spaghetti, lasagna, meatloaf, and many more.

REMEMBER, IT IS NOT LIKE COOKING BEEF!!!!!

Burgers on the grill: Make sure your burgers are packed properly, very close together. Cook them over a high heat to seal in the juices. Flip them lightly and as little as possible —hopefully just one time. Be careful to avoid overcooking them.

Just realize that cooking ground venison differs from preparing ground beef. The five categories I’ve provided here are applicable to almost any venison recipe you’ll ever want to make.

Fat not only keeps meat moist, but it also helps ground beef or pork hold together in patties or meatloaf. Don’t worry. This is how to alter the preparation processes for the decreased fat level of ground venison.

Burgers on a pan: Continue to compress patties securely and stir them gently and rarely. Instead of adding fat to your hamburgers, cook them in a few teaspoons of oil. Olive oil has a very pleasant flavor; nevertheless, it should not be heated to excessive temperatures. If you don’t want to bother about olive oil’s low smoking point, substitute ordinary cooking oil.

Taco meat or sloppy Joes (also known as “sloppy does”): First, gently oil the pan to prevent the ground venison from sticking during browning. Then, brown the meat as normal. When you’re finished, you won’t need to pour off the excess fat as you would with ground beef. Instead, add a couple teaspoons of olive oil. Then add the spices and mix.

Meatloaf: Follow your normal recipe, but decrease the cooking time somewhat. You may wish to add a little additional moisture in the form of ketchup or barbecue sauce. You may also use other ingredients like as chopped onions and green peppers, which will provide moisture as they break down while cooking. If you want to extend your recipe, use additional egg and breadcrumbs; because venison is so lean, your meatloaf will still be quite meaty.

Spaghetti, lasagna, and other meals made with ground meat: Use your standard recipe with no changes. You’ll just get a somewhat slimmer, tastier version. Venison’s taste stands up nicely in spicy meals that might overpower ground beef.

Why I Love This Easy Venison Meatballs Recipe

Easy: These venison meatballs are exactly that: simple! They come together fast and make an excellent weeknight dish.

Versatile: This venison meatballs recipe may be tailored to your preferences and the meal you intend to serve with them. See below for some recipe variations.

Delicious: Venison is a lean meat with very little fat, but you wouldn’t know it with this dish! These meatballs are juicy, soft, and have an incredible taste. You will never need another meatball recipe!

The 3 Best Ways Of Getting Fresh Venison

Local Butcher Shop

Your neighborhood butcher shop can sometimes have some unusual offerings. Usually, these rarer offerings are seasonal. Venison may be one of the seasonal options that the shop offers. Go in or call and ask the butcher if they ever get in venison. If they don’t, consider asking them to carry it when they can. Venison can be easily frozen, and your local butcher may be open to finding you some if you’re willing to buy in bulk. Small, local shops are more likely to be able to help you find what you need, and if they can’t get it for you, they might be able to point you to someone who can.

Farms, Ranches and Farmer’s Markets

Local farms, ranches or farmers markets are also sources of venison. Some farms and ranches raise deer for slaughter or preform meat processing for hunters, so you may be able to find what you’re after. If they don’t provide people with venison, ask if they know someone who will.

Farmers markets are going to be the best place to get fresh vegetables and fruits, but they can also be a useful source of information. Ask around to see if the vendors know of anyone who sells venison and try to find out how to get the proper contact information.

Meat Suppliers

If all else fails, make some calls and do some research on the Web. There are a number of meat suppliers like Lobel’s of New York, Creekstone Farms and Omaha Steaks that sell a number of different types and cuts of meat. You should be able to find one that supplies venison. See if you can get some meat delivered right to your door or sent to a butcher shop near you. In some cases you’ll have to buy a certain amount of meat, but if you have a decent sized freezer, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Campfire Cooking Tools

Kitchen Twine
Mixing Bowl
Cast Iron Skillet
Grill Grate
Knives
Campfire Cooking Utensils
Campfire Serving Utensils
Campfire Fork or Tongs
Fire Proof Cooking Gloves
Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Foil Paper Non Stick

FAQ For the Easy Venison Meatballs Recipe

Q: What is the best way to handle venison when making a venison meatballs recipe?

A: When working with venison, it’s vital to handle it gently to avoid compacting the meat, which can make the meatballs dense and tough. Mix the ingredients just until they come together, and then stop mixing. Also, make sure to keep the venison cold, as this will help prevent it from becoming too soft or mushy.

Q: Can I use farm-raised venison for this venison meatballs recipe, or does it have to be wild game?

A: You can use either farm-raised or wild game venison for this venison meatballs recipe. However, keep in mind that farm-raised venison may have a milder flavor and a softer texture than wild game venison. If using farm-raised venison, you may want to adjust the amount of seasonings and spices in the recipe to taste.

Q: How do I prevent the meatballs from falling apart when cooking this venison meatballs recipe?

A: To prevent the meatballs from falling apart, make sure to not overmix the ingredients when forming the balls. Also, use a gentle touch when shaping the meatballs, and try not to squeeze them too tightly. Finally, make sure to cook the meatballs over medium-low heat, as high heat can cause them to break apart.

Q: Can I make this venison meatballs recipe ahead of time and freeze them?

A: Yes, you can make the venison meatballs recipe ahead of time and freeze them for later use. Simply form the meatballs as instructed, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and freeze until solid. Then, transfer the frozen meatballs to an airtight container or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, simply thaw the desired number of meatballs and cook as instructed.

Q: What is the best way to serve this venison meatballs recipe?

A: The venison meatballs recipe is versatile and can be served in a variety of ways. Some ideas include serving them as an appetizer with a tangy sauce, adding them to a hearty pasta dish, or using them as a topping for a salad or sub sandwich. You can also serve them as a main course with your favorite sides, such as mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables.

Other Venison Recipes to Try

Easy Campfire Goulash Recipes With Ground Venison

Campfire Tater Tot Casserole Recipe for Ground Venison

Easy Campfire Red Pepper Soup Ground Venison Recipe