Amazing homemade venison meatloaf recipe. Learn how to make a venison meatloaf that is tender and juicy on the inside with a sweet and tangy glaze that adds a ton of flavor.
The Ultimate Venison Meatloaf Recipe: A Delicious and Easy Dinner for Busy Families
When it comes to feeding my wife and our 9-year-old daughter, there’s nothing more satisfying than a hearty, homemade meal that’s easy to prepare. This venison meatloaf recipe is for all of you parents who are looking for something to feed your kids in between school, piano lessons, and hockey practice. It’s packed with flavor, simple to make, and perfect for busy weeknights or special family dinners. If you’re wondering how to make venison meatloaf that everyone will love, you’re in the right place.
Why Venison Meatloaf?
Venison is an excellent choice for home cooks who have a deer or elk hunter in the house. Whether you butcher the animal yourself or have it done for you, you always end up with packages of ground venison. When combined with the right ingredients, it creates a meatloaf that’s moist, flavorful, and absolutely delicious.
This recipe pairs the lean ground venison with ground pork for the extra fat content to make it nice and juicy. The savory glaze on top takes the dish to a new level of tastiness!
How to Make Venison Meatloaf
Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees F. While the oven heats, dice your onion and mince your garlic. In a small pan, sauté the onions in butter over medium-low heat for about five minutes until tender. Add the minced garlic and cook for another two minutes. Remove the pan from heat and let the mixture cool completely.
Step 2: Combine the Meatloaf Ingredients
Line a 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, add the ground venison, ground pork, sautéed onion and garlic, and the remaining meatloaf ingredients. Use your hands or a sturdy spoon to mix everything together until fully combined.
Step 3: Shape and Bake
Transfer the meat mixture to the prepared loaf pan. Gently press the meat down, shaping it evenly for a uniform bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 40 minutes.
Step 4: Prepare the Glaze
While the meatloaf bakes, mix the glaze ingredients in a small bowl. Combine the ketchup, white wine vinegar, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder until smooth.
Step 5: Glaze and Finish Baking
After the meatloaf has baked for 40 minutes, remove it from the oven. Spread the glaze evenly over the top of the meatloaf. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 150 degrees F. Use an instant-read meat thermometer for accuracy.
Step 6: Rest and Serve
Let the meatloaf rest for 10 minutes before slicing. This step ensures the juices redistribute, making every bite tender and flavorful. Serve the meatloaf with creamy mashed potatoes and your favorite vegetable. Drizzle a little of the baking juices over each plate for added flavor.
Tips For Success
- Don’t Skip the Pork: Ground venison is very lean, so adding ground pork helps keep the meatloaf moist and flavorful.
- Use a Meat Thermometer: Checking the internal temperature ensures your meatloaf is perfectly cooked and safe to eat.
- Chop the onion finely: Our 9-year-old daughter loves big chunks of onion, but most kids don't appreciate them. To make sure your little ones want to eat what you put on their plate, dice the onions as finely as possible
- Make It Ahead: You can prepare this venison meatloaf mixture and glaze a day in advance. Just cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.
Pairing Suggestions
For a complete meal, serve this venison meatloaf with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus or green beans, or a simple salad. A side of crusty bread is also a great addition to soak up the delicious pan juices.
A Meatloaf The Whole Family Will Love
If you’re looking for a way to use ground venison that’s both kid-friendly and satisfying for adults, this recipe is it. It’s an easy-to-follow dish that delivers great results right in your own kitchen. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to share the meat you went out and harvested yourself with those you love.
More Kid Friendly Recipes
My best kid-friendly dinner ideas have all been tested and approved by our 9-year-old daughter. You can trust your family will love them too. They'll have everyone leaving the dinner table happy and with full bellies.
Serve my Venison Swedish Meatballs over mashed potatoes, whip up a pot of Deer Burger Soup with Mixed Vegetables, or check out our daughter's favorite Tater Tot Venison Casserole.
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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Venison Meatloaf Recipe
Ingredients
Venison Meatloaf
- 1 ½ pounds ground venison
- 8 ounces ground pork
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 Tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup Italian style Panko breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup half and half
- 3 Tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Meatloaf Glaze
- ⅔ cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a small pan, sauté onions in butter over medium low heat for about 5 minutes until tender. Add garlic and sauté another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let them cool completely.
- Line a 9-inch x 5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, add all of the meatloaf ingredients, including the cooked onion and garlic, and mix well to combine.
- Add meat mixture to the loaf pan, gently press meat down and shape evenly. Bake meatloaf at 375 degrees F for 40 minutes.
- In a small bowl, mix all of the glaze ingredients. After the meatloaf has been in the oven for 40 minutes, take it out of the oven and spread the glaze over the meatloaf. Return it to the oven and bake an additional 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 150 degrees F using an instant read meat thermometer.
- Rest meatloaf for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with mashed potatoes and your favorite vegetable. Drizzle each plate with the baking juices from the pan. Serve immediately.
