Skip to main content

Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Venison Tenderloin Recipe

If you like the taste of smoky venison, you're going to love this bacon-wrapped tenderloin recipe

Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Venison Tenderloin Recipe
Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Venison Tenderloin Recipe (Photo courtesy of North American Whitetail Magazine)
Print Recipe

Whether that first taste of your deer comes in camp or at home, there’s no better main ingredient than fresh venison tenderloins. These lean muscles, loosely attached to the interior of the spinal column, aren’t to be confused with the larger backstraps, the main loin muscles along both sides of the top of a deer’s back. Sometimes called “tenders” or “fish,” the tenderloins are much smaller but just as tasty.

Serves: 4
Cook time: 20-30 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound venison tenderloin
  • Milk
  • Montreal steak seasoning
  • Minced (or powder) garlic
  • Bacon
  • Oil

Directions:

  1. Soak venison tenderloin in milk for 30 minutes, then pat dry. Sprinkle with Montreal steak seasoning and garlic to taste.

  2. Heat smoker to 225-250 degrees, then add a handful of your favorite hardwood chips in an unsealed foil pouch.

  3. Smoke venison tenderloins over indirect heat until the meat’s internal temperature reaches 100-110 degrees. Then wrap venison with thinly sliced bacon (held in place with wood toothpicks) and return to the grill to finish cooking.

Note that the venison will hit its ideal internal temperature before the bacon is crisp. So if you prefer crisp bacon, peel it off and cook over direct heat as you “rest” the venison. (Wrapping venison from the start reduces its smoke flavor.)

Editor’s Note: If you don’t have a smoker, try this skillet method without the bacon: Place seasoned tenderloin in a lightly oiled skillet, hot enough to sear the meat. Turn often to avoid overcooking. (An internal temperature of 135-140 degrees is ideal for juicy meat with great flavor.) Let the meat “rest” five minutes, then serve.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Haynes Shelton and Dr. James Kroll find mature buck travel corridors by pairing boots-on-the-ground scouting with topo maps.
Land Management

How to Move Permanent Blinds on Your Hunting Property

Haynes Shelton and Dr. James Kroll find mature buck travel corridors by pairing boots-on-the-ground scouting with topo maps.
Land Management

Using a Low-Till Planter for Food Plots

Haynes Shelton and Dr. James Kroll find mature buck travel corridors by pairing boots-on-the-ground scouting with topo maps.
Land Management

How to Properly Maintain and Fix Your Property's Roads

Haynes Shelton and Dr. James Kroll find mature buck travel corridors by pairing boots-on-the-ground scouting with topo maps.
Land Management

How to Plant Fruit Trees for Whitetail Deer

Haynes Shelton and Dr. James Kroll find mature buck travel corridors by pairing boots-on-the-ground scouting with topo maps.
Land Management

How to Properly Use a PTO Tiller for Food Plots

Haynes Shelton and Dr. James Kroll find mature buck travel corridors by pairing boots-on-the-ground scouting with topo maps.
Land Management

How to Turn Neglected Fields into Food Plots

Haynes Shelton and Dr. James Kroll find mature buck travel corridors by pairing boots-on-the-ground scouting with topo maps.
Whitetail

Wisconsin's STATE RECORD Sheds

Haynes Shelton and Dr. James Kroll find mature buck travel corridors by pairing boots-on-the-ground scouting with topo maps.
Land Management

Picking a Tractor for Managing Deer Land

Haynes Shelton and Dr. James Kroll find mature buck travel corridors by pairing boots-on-the-ground scouting with topo maps.
Gear

New Live Stream with Browning Trail Cameras

Haynes Shelton and Dr. James Kroll find mature buck travel corridors by pairing boots-on-the-ground scouting with topo maps.
Learn

236-inch HISTORIC Non-typical Buck

Haynes Shelton and Dr. James Kroll find mature buck travel corridors by pairing boots-on-the-ground scouting with topo maps.
Whitetail

2023's Biggest Typical by Bow??

Haynes Shelton and Dr. James Kroll find mature buck travel corridors by pairing boots-on-the-ground scouting with topo maps.
Learn

How to Locate a Big Buck's Travel Corridor

North American Whitetail Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the North American Whitetail App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top North American Whitetail stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top North American Whitetail stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use