Venison Spaghetti Bread (A Family Favorite!)

Last Updated on May 12, 2025 by Allison Lancaster

This Venison Spaghetti Bread is deliciously comforting. Since I first made this, it has become a family favorite. I’m always looking for ways to stretch the grocery budget without compromising flavor or quality, so when I made this recipe, I made sure there’s the same care poured into it while still keeping practicality in mind. It’s an easy weeknight dinner that’s so good, it feels like a treat but won’t break the bank.

Between the buttery toasted bread, the cozy spaghetti, and the gooey melted cheese, this dish is a comfort food trifecta. It’s also a great way to use up pantry staples in a creative way and will have your family ask for it again and again. If you want to add a fun twist to your spaghetti recipe or want something satisfying that you’ve never tried before, this Venison Spaghetti Bread is one you shouldn’t miss.

What is Venison?

What makes this recipe extra special is the use of venison. Venison is deer meat, as well as that of animals similar to it, like caribou, moose, or elk. It’s a lean, dark, and flavorful meat we always stock up on during hunting season.

If you’ve never tried venison in a pasta dish, this Venison Spaghetti Bread is an excellent entry point, as well as my Venison Lasagna and Venison Meatloaf. We love how venison is able to soak up all the richness of the spaghetti sauce while adding a uniquely savory depth that sets this recipe apart from the usual ground beef options. You can use ground beef, ground turkey or any ground meat of your choice in this recipe.

Why You’ll Enjoy This Venison Spaghetti Bread

• Family-Friendly & Kid-Approved: Thanks to the cheesy, buttery, and saucy layers in this dish, this Venison Spaghetti Bread has become a household favorite. It’s fun way to serve pasta and bread for a weeknight meal. My kids, who tend to be picky, absolutely approve of this dish!
• Perfect for Meal Stretching: You can feed a crowd with just a pound of venison and a few pantry staples. This recipe makes eight hearty servings.
• Venison Makes It Special: Using venison that’s leaner than ground beef and richer in flavor adds a gourmet twist to this classic comfort food.
• Simple & Straightforward: The quick cooking time and minimal prep make this dish ideal for busy weeknights.
• Customizable: Don’t worry if you don’t have venison, this recipe is a customizable one. You can simply swap ingredients to fit what you have on hand, whether it’s beef, turkey, or even plant-based meat.

Ingredients to Make Venison Spaghetti Bread

• Lean ground venison – Venison is lower in fat than traditional ground beef. It offers a cleaner flavor and higher protein content. If the venison you’re using is particularly lean, add a tablespoon of olive oil during browning to prevent it from drying out.
• Marinara sauce or tomato sauce – You can either use your favorite store-bought sauce or homemade if you prefer. The sauce brings moisture and deep flavor to both the meat and the pasta layers, resulting in a flavorful spaghetti sauce.
• Sub rolls, cut in half lengthwise – These will be the sturdy base for your spaghetti bread. Choose bakery-fresh rolls for best results. They should be crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.
• Butter, melted – Butter adds a rich and irresistible flavor to the toasted bread base. It also helps crisp up the rolls while baking beautifully.
• Garlic powder – Simple but powerful, garlic powder infuses the rolls with savory depth and complements the sauce and cheese.
• Spaghetti – Classic spaghetti noodles provide the texture and familiarity of traditional pasta night while being compact enough to fit in a sandwich-style dish. I personally like using spaghetti because it holds nicely when topped into the toasted bread. Feel free to use a different type of pasta if you’d like.
• Mozzarella cheese, grated – Because it melts beautifully, adding mozzarella cheese makes this Venison Spaghetti Bread creamy while having that satisfying stretch.
• Parsley for garnish, optional – Adding a sprinkle of fresh parsley brightens up the final dish with a pop of color and freshness.

How to Make Venison Spaghetti Bread

1. Prep the Oven and Pans: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Then, line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
2. Cook the Venison: Using a large skillet, crumble and brown the venison over medium heat. Once it’s fully cooked, drain any excess moisture and stir in 2 cups of the spaghetti sauce.
3. Toast the Rolls: Meanwhile, using a serrated knife, slice the Hoagie rolls in half. Place the sub rolls cut side up on the prepared large cookie sheets. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter and garlic powder together.
4. Brush each sliced roll generously with the garlic butter mixture. Bake for 10 minutes with the butter side up, or just until they’re lightly browned.
5. Boil the Pasta: While the rolls bake, cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, return to the pot, and stir in the remaining spaghetti sauce. While the garlic bread boats are baking, cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente.
6. Assemble: Layer a generous spoonful of spaghetti sauce, a pile of cooked spaghetti, and a handful of shredded mozzarella cheese on your toasted garlic bread shell.
7. Final Bake: Next, return the assembled spaghetti boats to the oven and bake for another 8–10 minutes, or just until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
8. Garnish & Serve: Once baked, sprinkle your Venison Spaghetti Bread with chopped parsley if desired. And finally, serve warm and enjoy!

How to Serve Venison Spaghetti Bread

Venison Spaghetti Bread is hearty enough to stand alone as a main course, but you can turn it into a full meal by serving it with:

• A crisp green salad with Italian dressing,
• Roasted vegetables like zucchini or bell peppers,
• A side of marinara sauce for dipping;
• Pickles or pepperoncini for a tangy contrast

Serve it immediately, preferably with napkins nearby. These Venison Spaghetti Breads are delightfully messy in the best way!

How to Store Leftovers

In case you have any leftovers, here’s how to keep your Venison Spaghetti Bread tasting great:

• Refrigerator: Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. If you have leftover spaghetti and toasted garlic bread, store them separately in another airtight container.
• Reheat: For best results, reheat leftover Venison Spaghetti Breads in the oven at 350°F until warmed through to prevent the bread from getting soggy. Alternatively, microwave reheating works too. However, the bread may soften.
• Freezing: Although it’s not ideal due to the bread texture changing, you can freeze assembled Venison Spaghetti Bread. Wrap each bread separately tightly in foil and store for up to 2 months. Pop it straight to the oven from the freezer should you want to have it again.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

This Venison Spaghetti Bread is a great combination of creativity and comfort food. On busy days when you only have less than an hour to get dinner through, this delicious recipe is guaranteed to satisfy your whole family. Let me know in the comments how yours turn out if you give this recipe a try. Happy cooking!

Continue to Content

Venison Spaghetti Bread Recipe

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

This Venison Spaghetti Bread is deliciously comforting. Since I first made this, it has become a family favorite. I’m always looking for ways to stretch the grocery budget without compromising flavor or quality, so when I made this recipe, I made sure there’s the same care poured into it while still keeping practicality in mind. It’s an easy weeknight dinner that’s so good, it feels like a treat but won’t break the bank.

Print

Ingredients

• 1-pound lean ground venison
• 2 jars (24 ounces each) spaghetti sauce
• 4 sub rolls, cut in half lengthwise
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 8 ounces spaghetti
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
• Parsley for garnish, optional

Instructions

1.   Preheat the oven to 400F. Cover a large baking sheet (or two small baking sheets) with parchment paper; set aside.

2.  Crumble the ground venison into a medium skillet then cook over medium heat until fully browned. Drain off the excess fat.

3. Add 2 cups of the spaghetti sauce to the ground venison and simmer the mixture on low while you complete the next steps of the recipe, stirring often.

4. Place the sub rolls cut side up on the prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and garlic powder. Brush the garlic butter onto the cut side of each sub roll.

5. Bake the sub rolls at 400F for 10 minutes or until they begin to brown on top.

6.  While the sub rolls are baking, boil the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Drain off the water and return the spaghetti to the pot. Add the remaining spaghetti sauce and stir well.

7.  Top a sub roll with the meat sauce, a heap of spaghetti, and finish with mozzarella cheese. Repeat with each sub roll.

8. Bake the spaghetti bread at 400F for 8-10 minutes until the cheese is melted.

9. Top the spaghetti bread with fresh parsley for garnish if desired.

Notes

In case of leftovers, store in an airtight container and consume within 3 days.

Choose bread with a firm exterior such as Hoagie rolls and French bread. This way, you're guaranteed a Venison Spaghetti Bread that doesn't get soggy easily and won't fall apart due to the moisture from the meat sauce and spaghetti.

You can substitute any ground meat for venison in this recipe.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 511Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 829mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 34g