Side Dishes That Go With Venison (25+ Delicious Choices)
Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Allison Lancaster
Do you ever wonder what side dish works the best when it comes to a particular meat, such as deer meat? We eat venison often and over the years, I have found the best side dishes that go with venison.
Pairing your venison steaks, venison tenderloin, or venison sausages with the perfect side dish not only completes the venison meal, but it’ll also makes a great impression on the family and dinner guests!
With its low-fat content and high protein levels, cooking venison is not only delicious, but it is a healthier food choice. Read on further as I share my top choice of delicious side dishes that you can enjoy with your venison dishes. Whether you love vegetables or salads, there’s something here for everyone!
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When it comes to pairing side dishes with venison, you’ll want to complement the rich and robust flavor of this lean and gamey meat with sides that add depth and contrast to the meal.
One classic choice is roasted root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes. Roasting these vegetables with a drizzle of olive oil, fresh herbs, and a touch of honey or maple syrup can bring out their natural sweetness and earthy flavors, creating a delightful contrast to the venison’s intensity.
Venison Entrees To Pair With Side Dishes
16 Easy Side Dishes For Venison
1. Autumn Salad with Butternut Squash, Turkey, and Kale
If you are searching for the ideal recipe to serve with venison, this Apple Butternut Squash Casserole with Bacon Pecan Topping will certainly deliver. Only 15 minutes of prep are required and it is full of flavor – perfect as an accompaniment for just about any fall dinner!
2. Carrot Orange Salad with Feta
This fresh & delectable carrot and orange salad is an easy and healthy vegetarian salad, perfect for venison, as a side dish, or as an entire meal itself!
This delicious Orange and Carrot Salad with Feta and Almonds can be enjoyed all year long, for an enjoyable spring meal.
3. Cucumber Carrot and Radish Salad
This crisp cucumber carrot and radish salad drizzled with lemon dressing is deliciously crunchy yet fresh and light – the ideal combination for picnics and cookouts.
If you’re in search of an amazing summer side salad, look no further! With just four ingredients needed and just minutes needed to put it together, this cucumber carrot and radish salad makes an impressive side.
Sliced cucumber and radish, grated carrots, and diced red onion combine in an easy lemon dressing for a delicious and nutritious salad that pairs perfectly with venison and other game dishes. Bold yet subtle in flavor – an excellent addition to your table!
4. Easy Instant Pot Pinto Beans (No Soak & Vegan)
These Simple Instant Pot Pinto Beans are versatile and delicious. Enjoy them as part of a rice dish, on baked potatoes, or as the foundation for homemade refried beans!
Mexican-style pinto beans will quickly become your new go-to bean recipe! Their bold yet subtle flavors are perfect for pressure-cooking dried beans for faster and simpler preparation.
One of the great aspects of this recipe is that there’s no need to soak the beans beforehand. Soaking can take up so much time, with uncertain results; by using an Instant Pot instead, all the guesswork has been taken out of cooking with dried beans.
5. Italian Carrot Salad Recipe
This Italian Carrot Salad Recipe is legendary! You just need 25 minutes to make this delicious carrot side dish with a red wine vinaigrette.
The best Italian food consists of just a few simple ingredients. Isn’t that a great recipe for life, too? This Italian Carrot Salad features crisp-tender carrots, a red wine vinaigrette, and basil coming together to make magic.
6. Lentil and Cauliflower Dill Salad
Healthy lentil recipe with cauliflower and a serious dill flavor punch. A delicious make-ahead meal that’s a perfect meal prep for a week of lunches.
7. Roasted Asparagus with Buttered Shallots and Garlic Scapes
Simple yet delicious side dish using only six ingredients! These asparagus are packed with flavor and beautifully complimented by shallots and garlic scapes for added depth of flavor.
These perfectly seasoned, beautifully buttered biscuits are enhanced by sweet shallots and garlic scapes for an impressive presentation. Asparagus can be prepared in several ways; I prefer either oven roasting it or sauteing in my skillet.
8. Roasted Beet Hummus (with White Beans)
Roasted Beet Hummus with White Beans is an ultra thick and creamy vegan hummus with nourishing beets, beans, and a spicy Thai chili kick!
9. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Asiago Cheese
These Brussels Sprouts with Asiago Cheese cook at high temperature to achieve a beautiful golden caramelization and bring out their distinct nutty flavor.
Freshly grated Asiago cheese adds the perfect amount of nuttiness, while melting into a creamy garnish and providing just enough salty flavor – and best of all, this side dish comes together in less than 30 minutes start-to-finish!
Traditional Thanksgiving meals require days to plan, prepare, and execute; so finding an easy side dish such as roasting Brussels sprouts in the oven is a huge win!
10. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar glaze is a tasty side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any day. Ready in just 25 mins.
Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts are the best vegetable side dish there is. Seriously. They get beautifully crispy on the outside, while the insides are tender and soft.
11. Roasted Carrots and Brussels Sprouts
Quick and easy to make, these garlic butter roasted carrots and Brussels sprouts are the perfect accompaniment to any meal. Roasting vegetables is one of my favorite ways to cook them. Super simple and the method really helps to enhance the natural flavors.
Carrots and Brussels sprouts work so together! Both have earthy qualities to them and the natural sweetness of the carrots helps to balance out any bitterness from the sprouts.
12. Roasted Cauliflower Nuggets
Perfect for kids and adults alike, these crispy, savory roasted cauliflower nuggets are as tasty as can be, with lots of possible flavor twists to try!
How amazing is roasted cauliflower? Turns out the boring, soggy vegetable of my childhood has a wild side! These cauliflower nuggets are one of my favorite ways to prepare it.
13. Shaved Asparagus Salad (Asparagus, Goat Cheese and Walnuts)
This raw shaved asparagus salad is creamy and fresh with delicious bold flavors, made easily using everyday ingredients – an irresistibly delicious side dish!
Fresh asparagus, creamy goat’s cheese, crunchy walnuts and zesty lemon are sure to delight any diner with this asparagus shaved salad! What could possibly go wrong?!
This refreshing summer side salad dish can be easily assembled using only fresh ingredients. The raw asparagus ribbons look stunning on your plate while goat cheese adds rich depth of flavor.
14. Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apple and Pomegranate
Thinly sliced Brussels sprouts, apples, red cabbage and pomegranates combine with a light yogurt dressing for an unforgettable salad of shaved Brussel sprouts.
Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad-This vibrant salad features thinly shaved Brussels sprouts, apples, colorful red cabbage and pomegranates in a light yogurt dressing for an attractive presentation. Top it off with Parmesan cheese for extra nutty and savory flavor!
Brussels sprouts are an adaptable vegetable that makes an impressive side dish option. Delicious when roasted, sauteed, shredded or raw – Brussels sprouts offer infinite ways of enjoyment!
15. Spring Salad with Asparagus and Peas
Spring Salad with Asparagus and Peas is made with fresh and crisp spring vegetables and tossed with a fragrant lemon thyme vinaigrette. When asparagus season arrives, this salad is on the top of my list to make.
16. Vegan Fall Salad With Butternut Squash
This delicious and healthy vegan fall salad with butternut squash is perfect for a seasonal lunch. A colorful salad packed with vitamins.
You can either serve this as a main dish or a starter according to quantities.
17. Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
Slow Cooker Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole will quickly become a family favorite. With only a few ingredients, this Cracker Barrel copycat recipe is perfect for taking to brunches and making for sleepovers!
18. Stewed Apples
Do you love the taste of cinnamon apples? Making delicious stewed apples doesn’t have to be difficult. This easy slow cooker recipe will let you enjoy that delicious flavor without all the work!
19. Easy Deviled Eggs Recipe
This Easy Deviled Eggs Recipe is the perfect side dish for Easter, as a holiday staple, or just your usual weeknight dinner. Deviled eggs are a traditional Southern recipe that the entire family will love. With just a few ingredients, you too can have delicious deviled eggs!
20. Easy No Knead Dinner Rolls
There is nothing better than a soft and buttery dinner roll that just came out of the oven. These homemade No Knead Dinner Rolls are easy to make and perfect to add to almost any meal! This recipe will show you how you can make dinner rolls in under an hour.
21. The Best Bacon Green Beans Recipe
This classic bacon green beans recipe is simple and quick. Toss the fresh green beans with bacon, salt, and black pepper to create an amazing side dish that goes well with everything.
What Sauce Goes With Venison?
Since venison is a lean meat, it means that you can pair it with rich sauces without making the entire dish over-indulgent. Here are some of my favorite sauces to pair with this game meat:
- Red wine reduction or red wine sauce
- Juniper berry sauce
- Cranberry sauce
- Blackberry sauce or blueberry sauce
- Peppercorn sauce
- Mushroom sauce
- Rosemary and garlic sauce
- Currant sauce
- Mustard sauce
- Herb-infused oil or compound butter
- Peanut sauces
- Fruit sauces
- Cream cheese sauce
Potato Side Dishes For Venison
Potato side dishes (regular or sweet potatoes) pair wonderfully with venison because they provide a hearty and starchy complement to the lean and flavorful meat. Here are some potato dishes for venison:
- Mashed potatoes or loaded smashed potatoes
- Roasted potatoes
- Scalloped potatoes
- Potato gratin
- Potato salad
- Potato croquettes
- Hasselback potatoes
- Potato wedges
- Potato soup
- Potato pancakes or potato fritters
- Potato and bacon hash
- French fries
Healthy Side Dishes For Venison
Pair your deer steak with fresh green salads, green beans, wild rice, steamed and roasted root vegetables, quinoa, cauliflower mash, sauteed mushrooms, fresh herbs, fruity salsa, or creamy sauces for a truly delicious meal.
