Venison Sloppy Joes
These Venison Sloppy Joes are a delicious twist on a timeless, kid-friendly food! Made with venison instead of beef, this recipe offers a tasty leaner version without sacrificing the nostalgic, meaty, and MESSY goodness we’ve all grown to love! Inspired by Paula Deen Magazine.
Ah, the sloppy joe sandwich. It brings back fond childhood memories for so many of us, so naturally, I wanted to share the experience with my kids. That said, I’m excited to introduce my take on classic sloppy joes, a better-for-you version that pays homage to Paula Deen’s recipe!
For this recipe, I swapped out the traditional ground beef with lean, flavorful venison. It’s not just tasty but also a healthy choice, as venison is naturally lower in fat and calories than beef. You’re left with homemade venison sloppy joe meat that doesn’t compromise the flavor or nutrition.
The best part? You can serve the meat on buns, in lettuce wraps, or If you’re feeling festive, you can use it to make these Halloween-themed “Monster Joes.”
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick and easy family favorite. This super simple recipe makes a great weeknight meal. It’s simple to prepare in a matter of minutes and VERY kid-friendly.
- Venison is delicious and nutritious. This underrated game meat infuses flavor and is a lean nutrient-dense choice, as venison is naturally lower in fat and calories than beef.
- Delicious way to prepare game meat. Suppose your family is skeptical of eating venison. In that case, this recipe is a great way to introduce it to the dinner table because who can resist a sloppy joe?
- Made from scratch. Forget those pre-mixed spice packets or, canned “manwich”. This homemade sloppy joe recipe is a world apart regarding taste and quality.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Ground venison. If you aren’t acquainted with a big game hunter, you can typically purchase ground venison at specialty meat markets and butchers and through specialized online meat suppliers. You can also check your local farmers’ market. You can also sub with ground bison or lean ground beef (I’ve used 92-93% lean beef for this recipe).
- Onion. Yellow or red onion adds a baseline of savory, slightly caramelized flavor and a subtle crunch to contrast the juicy meat.
- Celery. This also contributes to the rich, savory flavor and provides a tender-crisp textural contrast.
- Green bell pepper. Green bell pepper is best here for a slightly sweet, vegetal-savory element, but if you want to sneak in extra nutrition with red, orange, and yellow peppers, go for it!
- Garlic. I used fresh minced garlic cloves, but jarred minced garlic is okay here if that’s what you have.
- Tomato sauce. This is the base of the sauce. It helps bind and coat the ingredients.
- Tomato paste. It helps thicken the sauce and intensifies the rich, tomatoey flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce. This enhances the umami-rich, slightly tangy, and savory notes.
- Brown sugar. The sweetness balances the acidity of the tomato sauce and the savory elements. If you prefer natural sweeteners, substitute coconut sugar.
- Yellow mustard. A small amount of yellow mustard helps achieve a complex, well-rounded overall flavor. You can also use Dijon here for a slightly different taste.
- Salt and pepper. Preferably sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
- Buns for serving. My family loves sloppy joes on toasted brioche buns. See below for more serving ideas.
How to make sloppy joes with venison
Step 1: Brown venison with vegetables. Spray a large skillet with olive oil spray, and cook the ground venison, onion, peppers, celery, and garlic over medium heat until the meat is browned. Drain and return the skillet to the stove.
Step 2: Add sauce ingredients and simmer. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper to the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce is thickened, stirring often.
Serve warm on hamburger buns.
Recipe tips
- Do grease the skillet. Spraying the skillet with non-stick cooking spray may not be necessary for traditional beef sloppy joes. However, venison is very lean, so you need that extra moisture. I like using olive oil spray here.
- Be patient during simmering. It can take up to 20 minutes for the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken, so don’t rush it!
- Embrace the mess. As the name suggests, sloppy joes are meant to be messy, so embrace it and savor every sloppy, flavorful bite. Just be sure to have a stack of napkins handy!
Variations
- Mix in ground beef or pork. If you find pure venison too lean, add a small amount of ground pork or beef for added moisture, fat, and flavor.
- Ground meat alternatives. If you love everything about this recipe besides the venison, feel free to substitute lean ground beef or ground bison.
- Add a spicy kick. Add a touch of fiery flavor by adding a pinch of cayenne, red pepper flakes, or hot sauce to suit your threshold for heat.
- Melty cheese topping. Consider melting a slice of your favorite cheese over the meat mixture for an extra gooey sloppy joe sandwich.
How to serve sloppy joes
This venison sloppy joe recipe is over-the-to delicious on toasted brioche buns, King’s Hawaiian Rolls, or even slider rolls. For a low-carb alternative, serve the meat mixture in lettuce wraps or low-carb tortillas.
As for what to serve with sloppy joes, I like setting out various cool, crunchy garnishes like pickled cucumbers, coleslaw, sliced jalapeños, or banana peppers.
Searching for sides for sloppy joes? Fries, sweet potato wedges, potato salad, and a simple green salad are always a good idea.
Storing & freezing
Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezing: To freeze, portion the meat into meal-sized freezer-safe containers and keep stored in the freezer for 2-3 months.
FAQ
Yes! In fact, the filling often tastes even better the next day, so it’s perfect to prepare and keep stored in the fridge for an easy weeknight dinner.
The sky’s the limit here, but you can use the meat mixture as a topping for tacos, nachos, or baked potatoes. Or, use it as the meat component in Shepard’s Pie.
While there are similarities in taste, venison is often described as having more grassy tones and a slightly gamey flavor profile. That said, venison and beef are similar enough that the two can be used interchangeably in sloppy joes and other dishes.
More game recipes
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Venison Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground venison can sub with bison or lean ground beef, or use a blend *see notes
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- ½ cup finely chopped celery
- ½ cup finely chopped green pepper
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 3 8oz cans tomato sauce
- 1 6oz can tomato paste
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar or coconut sugar for natural sweetness
- 2 tsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt
- Hamburger buns
Instructions
- In a large skillet sprayed with olive oil, combine ground venison, onion, green pepper, celery, and garlic.
- Cook over medium heat until the meat is lightly browned and crumbly.
- Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar (or coconut sugar), mustard, pepper and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Serve with hamburger buns or in a lettuce wrap.
Notes
- Do grease the skillet. Spraying the skillet with non-stick cooking spray may not be necessary for traditional beef sloppy joes. However, venison is very lean, so you need that extra moisture. I like using olive oil spray here.
- Mix in ground beef or pork. If you find pure venison too lean, add a small amount of ground pork or beef (you can also do 1/2 and 1/2) for added moisture, fat, and flavor.
Nutrition
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Sounds wonderful. I am not especially fond of bread..but wrapping this in a lettuce leaf makes it sound irresistible!!
Thanks Marsha, that’s how I love to eat it, too!