5 Festive Venison Recipes for Thanksgiving

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With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s time to focus on spending time with your family and friends, relaxing at home … and deciding what food to cook. Each of these recipes has a holiday flare and all feature venison. From main courses to side dish ‘Scotch’ pies, you’ll be sure to find the perfect addition for your Thanksgiving feast in this festive venison collection.

Venison Roast with Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Hank Shaw enjoys hunting, fishing and foraging near Sacramento, California, then creating delicious recipes from his day's work, like this Venison Roast with Cranberry Sauce Recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 to 5 pounds venison roast
• Vegetable oil to coat
• Salt and black pepper
• 2 cups cranberries
• ⅓ cup maple syrup
• Zest of an orange, sliced into strips with pith removed
• ¼ teaspoon cloves
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and chopped
• Salt
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 teaspoon white pepper

Get the Recipe: Venison Roast with Cranberry Sauce Recipe

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Venison Hunter's Pie Recipe

Easy-to-make and great as leftovers, this Venison Hunter's Pie Recipe is a complete meal in every slice.

Ingredients:

• 3 large russet potatoes, peeled
• ½ cup of milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 ounces shredded extra-sharp white cheddar, plus extra
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 ½ pounds ground venison
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh thyme
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups beef broth
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly-cracked pepper
• ½ teaspoon celery seed
• Frozen peas and carrots, to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Get the Recipe: Venison Hunter's Pie Recipe

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Cajun Smoked Venison Neck Recipe

Anyone that has prepared venison neck before will tell you the best way is to smoke the meat and then cook it in wine.

Ingredients:

• 1 deer neck, bone in
• 2 Vidalia onions, roughly chopped
• 3 bell peppers, roughly chopped
• 6-8 stalks celery, roughly chopped
• 4 portobello mushrooms, roughly chopped
• 1 fresh whole garlic (6 bulbs)
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• Fresh basil chiffonade
• 3 cups beef stock or demi glaze
• 1 cup red wine
• 1 ring smoked kielbasa sausage

Dry Rub Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons blackened steak seasoning
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon Zatarain’s Pro Boil (available online)

Get the Recipe: Cajun Smoked Venison Neck Recipe

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Venison 'Scotch' Pies Recipe

These "Scotch" pies are filled with ground venison and gravy, making them the perfect handheld treat.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground venison (including 20 percent pork/beef fat)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup room temperature brown gravy (homemade or store bought)
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons finely minced fresh sage
• 1-2 tablespoons butter

Hot Water Crust Pastry:

• 200 grams (.44 pound) lard (try to find minimally processed lard)
• 1 cup water
• 500 grams (1.10 pounds) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten

Special Equipment:

• 12-cavity nonstick muffin pan
• Glass cup with a sharp rim, roughly the same diameter as muffin cavity
• Small funnel

Get the Recipe: Venison 'Scotch' Pies Recipe

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Venison Mincemeat Pie Recipe

A recipe for homemade mincemeat pie made with ground venison, fruit, spices and brandy.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups ground cooked venison
• 3 cups chopped tart apples
• 1 cup chopped suet (can substitute pork back fat)
• ¾ cup seedless raisins
• ¾ cup currants
• ¾ to 1 cup stock
• ½ cup chopped dried apricots (optional)
• 4 tablespoons apple or beach plum jelly
• 2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
• 1 ½ cups light brown sugar, tightly packed
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• ½ teaspoon ginger
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg (or mace)
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• ¼ cup cider
• Brandy, to taste
• Bear fat pie crust

Get the Recipe: Venison Mincemeat Pie Recipe