If you love a good saucy sandwich, then you will absolutely love this ultimate venison sloppy joes recipe!
Perfectly seasoned deer meat covered in a BBQ-like sauce is known for its messiness, tangy and sweet flavor topped with a soft toasted bun. This popular comfort food is the most satisfying and delicious meal.
This time of year, much of my day in the kitchen is usually spent testing and perfecting wild game recipes. From venison burgers to moose roasts, I make it all.
I actually make a lot of hamburger-style recipes, because, let’s face it, who doesn’t like a good cast iron burger? One of my recent favorites is a bacon elk burger, that is out of this world.
But enough of that, let us get on to our loose meat, sloppy joe recipe!
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Venison sloppy joe ingredients
- Butter. I like to use salted butter for maximum flavor, but if you are in a pinch, you can also use a dash of olive oil.
- Ground venison. This recipe calls for just a pound of ground venison with no pork fat mixed in. If you do have pork fat mixed in, don’t use any butter.
- Fresh vegetables. You will need some minced garlic cloves, half of a green bell pepper, and half of a medium onion for this recipe.
- 1/3 cup of water. The water is needed to get the right consistency. You may need a little more depending on how you like your sauce.
- Tomato paste. While we are only using a touch of tomato paste, its an absolute must!
- Sauces. You will need ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Brown sugar. This adds a bit of sweetness to the sauce.
- Spices. Believe it or not, just a little salt, pepper, and chili powder is all you’ll need. Of course, if you have a certain spice that catches your eye, feel free to throw it in!
Venison sloppy joe recipe instructions
1. Cook the ground venison.
Grab a large skillet and melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the ground venison and minced garlic to the skillet. Using a wooden spoon, break up the large chunks of meat and cook until browned.
Top tip. Make sure the meat is fully cooked before you add the sauces. If the sauces are added before the meat is cooked, it will be hard to tell when the meat is truly done.
Top tip #2. You wouldn’t normally need to add butter when browning meat, but venison is so lean it helps keep the meat juicy.
2. Add the veggies.
Once the venison is browned, add the diced bell pepper and onion to the skillet. Stir occasionally until the onions start to soften.
3. Make the sauce.
Add the remaining ingredients. Pour in the ketchup, water, tomato paste, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and pepper into the skillet. Continue to stir and mix the ingredients together until well combined.
4. Let the meat simmer.
Reduce the heat to low and let the sloppy joes simmer for about 10 minutes. Make sure to continue stirring occasionally so that the ingredients don’t burn to the bottom of the skillet.
5. Ready to serve.
Once the sauce has thickened up nicely, it’s time to plate up the dish. This is my favorite step in the process, and all that’s left is to enjoy!
Toast your hamburger buns and enjoy your delicious sloppy joes!
Venison Sloppy Joe Sides
Don’t get me wrong, sloppy joes are indeed great on their own, with their deliciously seasoned ground deer meat and tangy tomato sauce.
However, when you add a side of golden, crispy french fries and a refreshing coleslaw it takes the meal to a whole new level of satisfaction.
Venison Sloppy Joe Tips
- After you have the perfect sloppy joe mixture, the second most important part is to toast your favorite bun. I think toasting is the perfect way to add a bit of crunch to the saucy sandwich.
- Keep a close eye on the skillet while it is simmering. You don’t want the sauce to reduce to much, which could make it dry.
- For a spicier taste, add crushed red peppers, cumin, or even a pinch of smoked paprika.
- Additionally, while I do think fresh garlic is the best way to get the most flavor out of our meat, you can use a few dashes of garlic powder if needed.
What does a sloppy joe taste like?
A sloppy joe has a savory, sweet flavor from the homemade sauce. The sweetness from the brown sugar and ketchup balances the tangy and savory elements.
They are actually somewhat similar to my venison sliders.
Are venison sloppy joes easy to make?
Sloppy joes are a very quick recipe taking only a few minutes in the kitchen to serve up. It’s always my go-to when I need to get out the door quickly and would like to enjoy a filling meal beforehand.
And if you are in a real hurry, you can always just use barbecue sauce and ketchup in place of the sauce ingredients.
Can sloppy joes be made in a slow cooker?
Yes. Simply add the ground meat, onion, and bell pepper to a crockpot. Once cooked, add the rest of the ingredients and let it simmer to allow the flavors to mix.
Can I make these with ground beef?
Yes, follow the same instructions; however, you won’t need to use the butter, and you’ll want to drain the grease out of the skillet before sauteeing the vegetables.
What should I cook this homemade venison recipe in?
I prefer to make this in a cast iron skillet, however, any deep skillet or pan will work.
Storing Suggestions
If you enjoy meal prepping or simply find yourself with more sloppy joe meat than you know what to do with, I would recommend freezing for later use. Store in freezer-safe ziplock bags and freeze for up to 3 months.
You can also keep the venison sloppy joes in the fridge for 3-4 days if freezing isn’t your cup of tea. Just be sure to seal tightly for optimal shelf life.
Enjoy Your Homemade Sloppy Joes
While this recipe has been years in the making, it’s not far from my original recipe; ground venison definitely makes for some of the best sloppy joes, in my opinion.
I always look forward to making this nutritious meal for my family, and I hope you experience the same delight.
If you’re new to the blog, let us know how you liked the recipe in the comment section below! And be sure to check out some of my latest recipes. I’m sure you will find one that will pique your interest!
- Hearty Moose Stew Recipe With Ground Moose
- The Best Venison Pasta Recipe
- How To Cook A Perfectly Tender Moose Roast With Gravy
- How To Make The Best Chicken Wings | Boil & Broil
The Ultimate Venison Sloppy Joes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 1 pound of ground venison
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 1/2 of a bell pepper diced
- 1/2 of an onion diced
- 3/4 cup of ketchup
- 1/3 cup of water
- 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon of mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper
Instructions
- To start, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Next, add the ground venison and minced garlic to the skillet. Using a wooden spoon, break up the large chunks of meat and cook until browned.
- Add the diced bell pepper and onion to the skillet, stirring occasionally, until the onions start to soften.
- Now, it's time to add in the remaining ingredients! Pour in the ketchup, water, tomato paste, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Continue to stir and mix the ingredients together until well combined.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the sloppy joes simmer for about 10 minutes. Make sure to continue stirring occasionally so that the ingredients don't burn to the bottom of the skillet.
- Once the sauce has thickened up nicely, it's time to dish it out!
- Serve hot on toasted buns.
This recipe was so good!!! Just got my first two deer in 2023 and now of course have a ton of venison that I need to use. We’ll be eating it for months lol. I’ll definitely be coming back to this one! Great for winter too since it’s definitely cozy comfort food vibes. So easy and reminds me of childhood, just healthier because everything is homemade and what meat is healthier than meat you harvested yourself from a trusted source! Gonna look through the rest of the site for more version ideas! Thank you so much. <3
Wonderful! I am so happy to hear!