Delicious Crockpot Venison Stew Recipe

Crockpot Venison Stew is a delicious low fat soup made from home canned, fresh or frozen venison game meat. Combining potatoes, beans, carrots and tomatoes with a rich broth made from beef, Worcestershire sauce and fresh spices; this is hearty meal that everyone will love.

Venison is an excellent meat to eat because it carries a rich flavor while having a lower fat content than beef and pork. By using venison in soups, you are able to keep the meat tender and flavorful while preserving the nutrients of this quality meat.

We are walking you through everything there is to know about venison and sharing all of our tips for cooking this crockpot venison stew.

What cut of Venison is best for stew?

Similarly to other animals, the best cuts of venison for stew come from the front and back legs. They are considered non-prime cuts because they have a a lean, stringy texture as well as gelatinous membranes that add flavor and heartiness to soups and gravys.

By using these cuts in soups and stews you are able to keep them tender and flavorful due to the long cooking time that these meals require. Our crockpot venison stew can be made with any cut of venison you have on hand, but it is a great recipe to use up those tougher cuts.

How do you cook venison so it is tender?

Due to its lean nature, venison can be a tricky meat to cook tender while infusing flavor. This is why soups and stews are a great option, and cooking them slowly in a crockpot is a great method to use. We recommend cooking on how heat for 6-8 hours for the best results.

Pressure cooking is another method you can use because it locks in nutrients and flavor while tenderizing the meat and retaining moisture throughout the cooking process. We are sharing both methods in this post, so choose whichever you prefer. Crockpot venison stew can be personalized as you like with spices and veggies that you prefer with venison.

More Game Meat Recipes

If you have access to either pheasant or moose meat these are both excellent recipes you must try. Both are delicious and very similar in flavor to this crockpot venison stew recipe.

Is venison healthier than beef?

Venison is considered to be a healthier meat than beef and we are sharing some of the main benefits below.

1. Venison is a very lean meat and you can read all about it in this article SFGate. Venison contains 3 grams of total fat and only 1 of those grams is saturated.
2. For comparison, beef has more than three times as much cholesterol per serving than venison.
3. Fat accounts for only 9 calories per gram of venison.
4. Venison is also slightly higher in Iron than beef.

We think this is one of the best venison stew recipes you will find. It is easy to build flavor and yields tender venison when cooked as directed. Crockpot venison stew is very beginner friendly if you are new to this game meat.

Crockpot venison stew instructions

Utilizing a CrockPot or slow cooker to prepare venison is a great method of cooking. Venison usually requires a substantially longer cook time over beef and pork, it also benefits from long marinades to infuse flavor and lock in moisture. Slow cooker venison stew is a sure way to get a tender cooked venison with loads of delicious flavor from the longer cook time.

1. Prepare the vegetables by cutting into small 1/2 inch chunks.
2. Slice the venison and season lightly with salt and pepper.
3. Place all of the ingredients in the Crockpot, stir and cover with the lid.
4. Set the Crockpot on low and cook for 6-8 hours or high and cook for 4-6 hours.
5. For serving garnish with a dash of vinegar, sour cream and fresh herbs if desired.

Instant Pot venison stew method

The InstantPot is another great method for cooking venison stew. This will cut down on cook time and lock in the flavor and nutrients of this delicious meat while tenderizing and deepening the flavor.

1. Cut all the vegetables into 1/2 inch chunks
2. Add all the ingredients into the Instant Pot
3. Stir everything to distribute the seasonings
4. Cover and set the Instant Pot to slow cooker high heat for 4 hours to or on low setting for 8 hours
5. If you prefer you can use the meat stew function and natural release the valve
6. If using fresh venison sear the meat on the saute function before continuing with the recipe
7. At serving, taste and add vinegar if desired
8. Garnish with sour cream, more fresh oregano or sage leaves

If cooking crockpot venison stew with raw venison

If you are using fresh venison in your stews we recommend searing the meat first. This helps lock in moisture and flavor. Be mindful not to over sear the meat, venison is lean and has a tendency to cook fast which will yield a tough texture.

The beauty of crockpot venison stew is that the meat is less likely to become tough and dry. The meat will slowly cook in the juices which breaks down the protein and builds flavor.

Slow Cooker Function

Set the pressure on high on the slow cooker function and set the time to at least 4 to 6 hours.

The Instant Pot slow cooker function is different from a conventional slow cooker. If you find the meat still needs tenderizing when the slow cooker function is done. Set the pot to manual high heat for 10 minutes to finish the stew. Quick release and serve.

Meat/Stew Function

• For a faster meal use the meat/stew function. This takes only 20 minutes once the pressure is built.
• You can make this stew on manual high pressure for 20 minutes with a natural release.
• The warm function will automatically begin when the function you choose ends. You can be gone as long as you need and your stew will be ready when you are.

What goes good with venison?

Because venison is considered a red meat it is simple to season the same way you would prepare beef. Salt and pepper, fresh herbs and spices, hearty aromatics like garlic and onion all enhance the flavor of venison beautifully.

Both organic apple cider vinegar and sour cream add a little extra flavor zip as a garnish. This stew is great alone but if you have either of these condiments handy try this.

Printable Recipe Card

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