Sink your teeth into this venison steak sandwich, layered with tender venison cube steak, creamy blue cheese mayo, peppery arugula, and thinly sliced onion on toasted ciabatta. This easy venison sandwich recipe comes together in about 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
If you've been searching for an approachable venison steak sandwich recipe, this is one of my favorites. After years of developing wild game recipes for Wild Game & Fish, teaching home cooks, and testing recipes with more than a hundred volunteer recipe testers, I've learned that most people don't need complicated techniques. They simply need recipes that explain why something works. My goal has always been to help hunters, anglers, and home cooks cook their harvest with confidence, not hesitation. Every recipe on this website is developed with busy families in mind because even an ordinary weeknight deserves a meal that brings everyone happily to the dinner table.
This venison cube steak sandwich has earned a permanent place in our dinner rotation. My wife Melissa loves that it comes together quickly after work, while my 11-year-old daughter Lucia is usually reaching for a second sandwich before I've even finished my first.
Why Venison Cube Steak Makes a Great Sandwich
Cube steak is often transformed into a chicken-fried steak for one of our favorite weekend breakfasts. But it can also be used for an exceptional cube steak sandwich recipe.
Venison cube steak has already been tenderized with a mechanical blade tenderizer, which breaks down some of the muscle fibers. That means it cooks remarkably quickly while remaining tender when handled properly. Instead of simmering tougher cuts for hours, you can have dinner on the table in less time than it takes to pick up takeout.
The biggest secret is respecting how lean venison is. Unlike heavily marbled beef, venison doesn't have extra fat to protect it from overcooking. Fortunately, cube steak is thin enough that it develops beautiful browning in just a minute and a half per side. Once those 90 seconds are up, it's time to take the steaks off the grill. Leave them on much longer, and they'll quickly move past juicy medium-rare into dry, overcooked territory. With a cut this thin, those extra seconds matter.
The Blue Cheese Mayo Brings Everything Together
Every memorable steak sandwich on ciabatta needs a sauce that ties every ingredient together, and this one does exactly that.
The blue cheese mayo combines mayonnaise, blue cheese dressing, Dijon mustard, and balsamic vinegar into a creamy spread with just enough tang to complement the venison without overwhelming it.
One reason I use bottled blue cheese dressing instead of crumbled blue cheese is simple: my 11-year-old daughter wrinkles her nose at the stronger aroma of traditional blue cheese, and she's certainly not alone. Plenty of people enjoy the flavor but find the smell a little intimidating. Blue cheese dressing delivers much of that wonderful flavor in a much gentler way. Better yet, chances are there's already an open bottle sitting in your refrigerator door from the last time you made a platter of chicken wings for the big game. It's practical, economical, and one less ingredient to buy.
A Few Helpful Tips That Make All the Difference
The difference between a good venison sandwich and a great one comes from a handful of simple techniques.
- First, pat the cube steaks dry with paper towels before seasoning. Surface moisture prevents proper browning, while dry meat caramelizes beautifully on the grill.
- Next, let the seasoned steaks rest at room temperature while you prepare the sauce. During those few minutes, the kosher salt begins to dissolve into the meat, seasoning it more evenly and helping to produce a juicier steak.
- After grilling, always slice the venison against the grain. If you look closely, you'll see the long muscle fibers running in one direction. Cutting across those fibers shortens them, making every bite noticeably more tender.
- Finally, don't skip letting the steaks rest briefly after grilling. Those few minutes allow the juices to settle back into the meat rather than run onto the cutting board. If people are waiting at the table, letting the steaks rest for 5 minutes is even better.
Steak Sandwich on Ciabatta Is the Perfect Choice
Not every bread is sturdy enough for a juicy venison steak sandwich.
Ciabatta develops crisp, lightly golden edges on the grill while remaining pleasantly chewy inside. Those airy pockets capture just enough of the blue cheese mayonnaise without becoming soggy. Brushing the cut sides with olive oil and sprinkling them with a touch of salt before grilling encourages even browning and adds another subtle layer of flavor.
Together, the toasted bread, warm venison steak, creamy sauce, fresh greens, and crisp onion create the kind of sandwich that demands plenty of napkins.
More Great Venison Steak Recipes
Whether your venison steak came from a successful hunt or a generous friend, this cube steak sandwich is proof that the best meals don’t have to be complicated.
Be sure and check out all of our family favorite venison steak recipes right here.
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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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Venison Cube Steak Sandwiches on Ciabatta with Blue Cheese Mayo
Ingredients
- 1 pound venison cube steaks
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup blue cheese dressing
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 4 ciabatta sandwich rolls, split
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 cups baby arugula (or baby spinach if you prefer a milder flavor)
- 1 small yellow or red onion, halved and sliced thin
Instructions
- Turn all the gas grill burners to high, close the lid, and preheat for about 5 minutes until very hot.
- Meanwhile, pat the venison cube steaks dry with paper towels. Season generously on both sides with kosher salt and black pepper. Let the steaks stand at room temperature while you prepare the sauce.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, blue cheese dressing, Dijon mustard, and balsamic vinegar until smooth. The sauce should be creamy enough to spread easily, yet thick enough to stay inside the sandwich.
- Brush the cut sides of the ciabatta rolls using the 3 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
- Once the grill is hot, scrape the grates clean with a grill brush. Brush both sides of the steaks with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and place them on the grill. Grill for about 1½ minutes per side, keeping the lid closed between flips, until nicely browned but still medium-rare inside. Transfer the steaks to a cutting board and let them rest for 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place the rolls cut side down on the grill and toast until crisp around the edges and lightly golden, about 2 minutes.
- Slice the steaks thinly against the grain. Sprinkle with another light pinch of kosher salt and a few grinds of black pepper while the meat is still warm.
- Spread 1 tablespoon of the blue cheese mayonnaise over both cut sides of each toasted roll. Divide the sliced venison among the rolls, then top with the arugula and thinly sliced onion. Close the sandwiches and serve immediately while the steak is still warm and the rolls are crisp.
Marcy says
These were delicious! Both my husband and kids loved them. Great recipe.
Jeff Benda says
Thanks, Marcy! I'm happy to hear the whole family loved the sandwiches as much as we do.
Monica says
These we great! I used fresh baby spinach instead of arugula and it was a big hit.
Jeff Benda says
Thanks, Monica! Spinach is a great substitution, and I've done it myself when arugula wasn't available. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.