# What to do with ground venison? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [September 17, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837 "2021-09-17T19:12:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/1 "2021-09-17T19:12:30Z")
A friend gave us some ground venison. I could make burgers out of it, but is there anything more interesting I could do? I don’t want to make sausages, and turning into meat loaf seems like a waste. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/2 "2021-09-17T19:14:43Z")
Louisiana Cajun-style dirty rice. Would be amazing. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/3 "2021-09-17T19:15:28Z")
Ground venison makes delicious chili. I’d pair it with pinto beans, unless you’re making it Texas-style. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/4 "2021-09-17T19:27:18Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > turning into meat loaf seems like a waste. why a waste? I’ve had some delicious ‘bambi’ meatloaf before, as well as ostrich and emu meatloaf. Makes better loaf than burger in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/5 "2021-09-17T19:27:37Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Ground venison makes delicious chili. This guy gets it. > [@terentii](#): > > I’d pair it with pinto beans, BEANS? Get that guy! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/6 "2021-09-17T19:31:03Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > > [@terentii](#): > > > > Ground venison makes delicious chili. > > This guy gets it. > > > [@terentii](#): > > > > **I’d pair it with pinto beans,** > > BEANS? Get that guy! - You have just summoned The Great and Terrible @silenus. May James Beard have mercy on your sole. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/7 "2021-09-17T19:31:13Z")
I also had delicious reindeer stew on the Arctic Circle in Finland. I see most recipes call for chunks of meat, but ground venison works just as well. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/8 "2021-09-17T19:32:19Z")
I didn’t care for the hamburger, I thought it was ‘gamey’ . I liked the steaks and loins. Disguising it in chili and such only makes gamey chili. But I do remember making burgers and adding various seasonings, garlic powder, and A-1 sauce, with onions, cheese, and ketchup or BBQ sauce, they weren’t too bad. (just my opinion)…if you want to make meat loaf, go ahead, it makes a fine meatloaf as long as you like the taste of venison. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/9 "2021-09-17T19:34:26Z")
I _did_ say “unless you’re making it Texas-style.” It’s up to the chef, though I’d probably serve the beans separately in any case. Black beans might be good too. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/10 "2021-09-17T19:39:47Z")
Just a thought, but Wisconsin has the largest deer herd in the US, outside of Pennsylvania, and it makes some really good venison sausage/salami. I’d give it a go if I had the right spices and a link-stuffer. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/11 "2021-09-17T19:43:28Z")
I sense…a disturbance in the Force. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/12 "2021-09-17T19:45:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I sense…a disturbance in the Force. - …as if millions of beans suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/13 "2021-09-17T19:48:51Z")
Back in the day, my kids were pretty fond of bambiburgers. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/14 "2021-09-17T19:48:51Z")
Beans are _not_ a “silent food”! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/15 "2021-09-17T20:03:54Z")
Things I’ve done with ground venison: Stew Bambi tacos/burritos Venison [bibimbap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibimbap) If you haven’t cooked with venison before be aware it is a VERY lean meat. I always add some fat/oil to it when I cook. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/16 "2021-09-17T20:11:14Z")
Venison does make a very good Texas-style chili. As noted, add fat. Bacon grease if you’ve got it. Personally, if I were to make Bambiburgers with it the patties would be no more than 50% venison. Too lean otherwise. Fat is where the flavor is! Of course, the **best** chili is made with _Alces alces_. But you work with what you have. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/17 "2021-09-17T20:34:31Z")
Venison is very lean meat. Unless about 20% beef suet was added when it was ground it can seem very dry. It is very good in meals where you don’t want that added fat and it would be drained off anyway. Things as already mentioned like chili or spagetti. If you are wanting to make burgers or something like that it will be too dry. Tasty, but lean. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/18 "2021-09-17T20:35:15Z")
I get a lot of ground venison, and thinking about it, I’ve always used it to make chili 🌶 ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/19 "2021-09-17T20:45:37Z")
Properly cleaned and prepared venison should not be gamey at all. Some people, maybe most, do not know how to properly handle wild meat. Deer have little lymph glands or whatever, we call them greenies, that if handled too much when butchering the animal will greatly increase the gamey flavor. You do not grind up that shit. As will leaving the hide on too long, you need to get the carcass cooled down as soon as possible, Even in camp, you should get the hide off and hang it up to cool. I see people driving around with an animal in the back of the truck, hide still on, for hours or until they get home. More than a couple hours is too long. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837/20 "2021-09-17T20:53:59Z")
Have you thought of making lasagna or stuffed shells? Both are quite good when made with venison. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-ground-venison/950837.md?page=2)