Pizza Roll Ups are easy to make using tortillas and cheese sticks, and even more delicious to eat! This is definitely our 10-year-old daughter's favorite Venison Shank Recipe!
Who doesn’t love pizza? It’s a classic comfort food that’s loved by many. But what do you do when you're not motivated to make homemade pizza dough from scratch? Or you live in a small town that doesn't have pizza delivery? Enter the pizza roll up! And all you need are tortillas and cheese sticks – things almost all of us parents have on hand!
Venison Shank Recipe
A venison shank recipe often doesn't get the respect it deserves. Most people trim off the shank meat and toss it into the grind pile. However, there are plenty of great venison recipes that use shanks. The shank is the section of leg between the ankle and the knee. Since it’s a weight-bearing muscle, the shank is naturally tough and stringy. Many hunters debone and grind venison shanks or even leave them in the woods. But like beef and lamb shanks, those from deer, elk, and antelope become tender and flavorful when cooked correctly.
Braising a venison shank slowly at low heat tenderizes the meat and softens connective tissue. The bones, cartilage, and marrow add flavor and natural juices. Slow braises and moist cooking methods transform tough leg sections into a tender, delicious family meal.
Venison Pizza Roll Ups Are A Kid Friendly Recipe
I created this venison shank recipe for our 10-year-old daughter, who loves cooking venison with me in the kitchen. This kid-friendly recipe allows her to jump in and help create something fun and tasty.
I love this venison shank recipe because it uses simple methods, easy-to-find ingredients, and has earned high praise from my daughter. I promise they'll make feeding your family more enjoyable and less stressful.
These pizza roll-ups are great for snacking during play dates, and always a hit at game day parties. They are a much better homemade alternative to store-bought frozen pizza rolls. I used deer shanks, but you could also use that deer roast you have at the bottom of your freezer.
How to Make Pizza Roll Ups
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Season venison shank with salt and black pepper.
3. Heat olive oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven on stovetop burner over medium-high heat. Add shank and fry for about 5 minutes until golden brown all over.
4. Add broth, onion, and garlic, and cover with a lid or tightly with foil, then place in the oven at 350 degrees F, undisturbed, for 3 to 4 hours. The meat should be falling off the bone at this point.
5. Take Dutch oven out, remove lid, and use tongs or forks to shred meat off the shank bone. Discard the bone and any undesirable tendons or fat.
6. Stack 3 tortillas at a time on a plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave for 20 seconds until pliable. Microwave the second batch when you are ready to roll more.
7. Slice the mozzarella sticks in half, lengthwise. Place 2 heaping Tablespoons cooked meat on the bottom ⅓ of each tortilla, then a mozzarella stick half on top of that. Then tightly roll it up.
8. Place the Pizza Roll Ups on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, seam side down. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Bake for 12 minutes at 400 degrees F. Serve immediately with pizza sauce or marinara sauce for dipping.
9. Use any leftover shredded meat to make another quick weeknight meal like tacos or BBQ sandwiches.
Pizza Roll Up Variations
This venison pizza roll up recipe requires only mozzarella cheese sticks, tortillas, and deer meat, but you can get creative. Try adding pizza toppings like peppers, onions, mushrooms, or black olives. Serve them with pizza sauce or marinara for dipping.
My daughter loves these, and I’m confident your kids will enjoy them too!
More Kid Friendly Wild Game & Fish Recipes
If you love this Easy Pizza Roll Ups Recipe you should check out all of my kid-friendly recipes here. I also have recipe ideas for venison steaks, roasts, shanks, deer hearts, deer bacon, and sausage. Here are a few of our family favorites:
- Easy Venison Ravioli Soup
- Deer Burger Soup
- Venison Spaghetti
- Sloppy Joe Mac and Cheese
- Swedish Meatballs
Come Deer Hunting in North Dakota
If you are headed our way for North Dakota deer season, check out the North Dakota Game & Fish Department website. And if you want me to come along with you as your camp cook, photographer, or butcher, you can find out more details here.
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Easy Pizza Roll Ups (Venison Shank Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 whole deer shank (from one leg)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cups venison or beef broth
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and quartered
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 12 small flour tortillas
- 6 mozzarella cheese sticks
- cooking spray
- 1 cup pizza sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Season venison shank with salt and black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven on stovetop burner over medium-high heat. Add shank and fry for about 5 minutes until golden brown all over.
- Add broth, onion, and garlic, and cover with a lid or tightly with foil, then place in the oven at 350 degrees F, undisturbed, for 3 to 4 hours. The meat should be falling off the bone at this point.
- Take Dutch oven out, remove lid, and use tongs or forks to shred meat off the shank bone. Discard the bone and any undesirable tendons or fat.
- Stack 3 tortillas at a time on a plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave for 20 seconds until pliable. Microwave the second batch when you are ready to roll more.
- Slice the mozzarella sticks in half, lengthwise. Place 2 heaping Tablespoons cooked meat on the bottom ⅓ of each tortilla, then a mozzarella stick half on top of that. Then tightly roll it up.
- Place the Pizza Roll Ups on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, seam side down. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Bake for 12 minutes at 400 degrees F. Serve immediately with pizza sauce or marinara sauce for dipping.
- Use any leftover shredded meat to make another quick weeknight meal like tacos or BBQ sandwiches.
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