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Venison Meatloaf

No matter what the weather, comfort food is always on the menu. We love making easy, tasty, comfort food that the whole family can enjoy. This venison meatloaf is just the ticket.

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Venison Meatloaf with ketchup sauce on mashed potatoes on circle white plate

What is Venison?

Venison is the name for meat from a deer. The word comes from the Latin word venari, which means “to hunt.” Venison can be hunted or farm-raised, but regardless of its origins, it’s a delicious and healthy alternative to other meats like beef or pork.

There are many different cuts of venison, including the tenderloin, roast, and ground venison. Ground venison is perfect for making meatloaf, as it’s already been trimmed of fat and cut into small pieces.

Venison Meatloaf with ketchup sauce on mashed potatoes on circle white plate

Ground Venison Recipes

Venison is very similar to ground beef in texture, but it usually has less fat. It can burn, or be overcooked quite easily because of this. But, don’t let that scare you away from making this tasty venison meatloaf. The secret is to watch the time, and take it out as soon as the thermometer reads 160 degrees F.

It will continue to cook a bit after removal from the oven, so don’t worry about it being underdone. It’s actually better to be a bit underdone for more flavor and juiciness. We love ground venison recipes in our house and we eat it much more often than beef.

Where do you get deer meat for dinner?

Venison is deer meat. If you are fortunate enough to have a hunter in your family, venison may be plentiful. However, if you don’t have a hunter, you can try bartering with friends who DO hunt.

Some butcher shops are even starting to carry venison. Call around and see if you can find a source for deer meat near you.

venison meatloaf with mashed potatoes on a white plate

Meatloaf Toppings

Different palates like different toppings. We love a simple ketchup glaze, while others prefer BBQ sauce or even brown gravy.

Here a few popular ways to top your venison meatloaf:

  • brown gravy
  • sawmill gravy
  • melting cheddar cheese on top, during final 10 minutes of cooking
  • BBQ sauce on top, during final 10 minutes of cooking

What Goes With Meatloaf?

Vegetables are a natural pairing with meatloaf. Carrots, green beans, and even mashed potatoes all go well with this comfort food classic.

If you want to get a little fancier, try adding roasted brussels sprouts or roasted sweet potatoes as a side dish.

Try one of these delicious side dishes with your venison meatloaf:

  • Roasted brussels sprouts
  • Baked sweet potatoes
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Green beans
  • Roasted asparagus
  • Baked sweet potato fries
  • Honey-glazed carrots
  • Roasted red potatoes
overhead view of Venison Meatloaf with ketchup sauce on mashed potatoes on circle white plate

What is the best meatloaf pan?

There are all sorts of different pans on the market that claim to be the best for meatloaf. We’ve tried a few of them and have found that the best pan for meatloaf is actually a simple glass loaf pan.

You don’t need any special features, just a plain old glass pan. This will help the meatloaf cook evenly and brown nicely on the outside.

Now that you know all about venison meatloaf, it’s time to get cooking! This is a delicious, easy recipe that the whole family will love.

A twist on traditional ground beef, this venison meatloaf is sure to become a family favorite. It’s easy to make, and so delicious. So pull out your meatloaf pan and give it a try tonight!

Need some other dinner ideas?

Venison Meatloaf Ingredients

  • Ground venison
  • Canned tomatoes with green chilis
  • Onion
  • Eggs
  • Oatmeal, uncooked
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Black pepper
  • Salt
  • Garlic powder

How to Make Venison Meatloaf

  1. Preheat oven.
  2. Combine venison, tomatoes with green chilis, chopped onion, eggs, oatmeal, Parmesan cheese, pepper, salt, and garlic powder in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
  3. Shape mixture into greased loaf pan.
  4. Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center registers 160°F.
  5. Let stand a few minutes before serving.

Are you ready for an easy, delicious dinner that is perfect for even weeknights? You need to try this venison meatloaf this week!

Venison Meatloaf with ketchup sauce on mashed potatoes

Venison Meatloaf

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 2 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 12 minutes

No matter what the weather, comfort food is always on the menu. We love making easy, tasty, comfort food that the whole family can enjoy. This venison meatloaf is just the ticket.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground venison
  • 10 ounce can tomatoes with green chilis drained
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup old fashioned oats, uncooked
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

    1. Heat oven to 350°F.
    2. Combine venison, tomatoes with green chilis, chopped onion, eggs, oatmeal, parmesan cheese, pepper, salt, and garlic powder in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.

    3. Shape mixture into greased 8” x 4” loaf pan.

    4. Place upper oven rack in 350°F oven.

    5. Bake 60 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center registers 160°F.

    6. Let stand 10 minutes.
    7. Cut into slices and enjoy.

Notes

You can substitute ground beef or ground turkey for venison, if you'd like.

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