Venison Hamburger Helper (Ground Venison Recipe)
This homemade Venison Hamburger Helper is one of my favorite easy deer burger recipes for busy weeknights! Made with ground deer meat, tender macaroni, simple pantry seasonings, and a creamy cheddar cheese sauce, it's a one-pot dinner that's ready in about 30 minutes.
Think of the boxed Hamburger Helper we grew up eating, only made from scratch with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. It's hearty, budget-friendly, and a great way to use the ground venison tucked away in your freezer.
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Why this ground venison recipe works
I'm not sure if it was nostalgia or if it really was that good, but I used to get so excited when I see a pot of creamy pasta and meat simmering on the stovetop. Back then it was always ground beef hamburger helper from a box, but fast forward to now, I'm married to a hunter and instead of freezers full of beef, we have elk, deer and bear.
Sticking with what I know, I just had to recreate an even better Hamburger Helper from scratch! I like this version because you can choose your spices and salt, and know exactly what goes into it. It's an easy ground deer meat recipe you can feel good about serving your family. Andddd working through all of that frozen meat before the next season gets here!
This ground meat recipe is super simple to make with standard pantry ingredients, doesn’t take much longer than the boxed version, and it’s cooked all in one pot. Let's make some budget-friendly hamburger helper copycat recipe!
Ingredients for venison hamburger helper
- Ground meat | My favorite wild game meat options for this recipe are deer or elk, but you could use any lean ground meat you have on hand. Yes, even beef!
- Tomato paste | It's easy and gives it that tomato favor without adding any chunky bits for the kids to turn their noses up at. You can also use ketchup, just know it will add a little extra sweetness. In a pinch, tomato sauce would also work.
- Seasonings | You don't need anything fancy to make ground venison taste delicious! I use 1 teaspoon paprika and ½ teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder. These simple pantry spices give the meat plenty of flavor without being overpowering. Finish with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Elbow macaroni | Yes, you can use whatever pasta you'd like. But, today I'm sticking with the traditional Hamburger Helper-esque elbow pasta.
- Broth | My first choice for this recipe is beef broth or venison broth. It's darker, richer and more flavorful. But, chicken or vegetable broth will work, too.
- Sharp cheddar cheese | The original recipe uses powdered cheese that is reconstituted with milk, but we don't have to do that! Buy a block of cheddar (not a bag of shredded cheddar) and grate it. The cheese will melt into a creamy sauce that is full of flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make venison hamburger helper
Start by browning the venison in an extra large skillet or Dutch oven. Once it's browned, stir in the tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and chili powder.
Add in the broth and bring the mixture to a simmer or low boil. Then stir in the uncooked macaroni.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is soaked up. Grate the cheddar while it’s simmering away. Stir in the cheese, and season to taste with salt & black pepper.
Once it's finished cooking, remove the pasta from the stovetop and let it sit for five minutes before serving.
Tips for Cooking with Ground Venison
Ground venison is one of my favorite meats to keep in the freezer because it's so versatile. We use it in everything from pasta dinners to chili, soups, and casseroles. If you're new to cooking with deer meat, here are a few things to know.
How do you make ground venison taste less gamey?
The flavor of venison can vary depending on the animal and how the meat was handled and processed. Proper field care and trimming away excess fat and connective tissue can make a big difference.
For this recipe, the tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and chili powder add plenty of flavor without overpowering the meat. The cheddar cheese sauce brings everything together into a comforting pasta dinner.
Do you need to soak ground deer meat before cooking?
Nope! There's no need to soak ground venison before making this Hamburger Helper. Simply brown the meat in your skillet, add the seasonings, and continue with the recipe.
Can you substitute ground beef for ground venison?
Absolutely! Ground venison works beautifully in recipes that traditionally call for ground beef, including this homemade Hamburger Helper. Just remember that venison is usually much leaner than beef, so you may need a little cooking oil if your meat has no added fat.
Recipe
VENISON HAMBURGER HELPER (GROUND VENISON RECIPE)
Equipment
- large skillet or dutch oven
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground venison deer, elk, or even substitute ground beef
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste or ketchup
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 cup Elbow macaroni uncooked
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 ½ cup cheddar cheese sharp or mild, freshly grated
Instructions
- Start by browning the venison in an extra large skillet or Dutch oven. Once it's browned, stir in the tomato paste, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika and chili powder.Â
- Add in the broth and bring the mixture to a simmer or low boil. Then stir in the uncooked macaroni.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is soaked up. Grate the cheddar while it’s simmering away. Stir in the cheese, and season to taste with salt & black pepper.
- Once it's finished cooking, remove the pasta from the stovetop and let it sit for five minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Substitutions and variations
- Give this ground venison recipe your own twist! Add diced onion, jalapeños, adjust the seasonings, double or reduce the amount of meat.
- Make it veggie-ful. While browning the meat, add chopped bell peppers, black olives, or even cubed sweet potatoes. During the last five minutes of cooking, stir in fresh spinach leaves.
- If you want to switch it up, change up the cheese! I really like a spicy pepper jack. Or leave this delicious recipe as is, but garnish it with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
- You can use ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken instead of venison if that’s more your thing.
- Stir in ½ cup of sour cream just before serving to make the sauce a little tangier.
- Substituting other noodles, like bowtie or egg noodles, will make the cooking time vary slightly and you may need to adjust the liquid. I've only made it with macaroni, so I can't make a recommendation for this.
What to serve with deer meat hamburger helper
- I think it's pretty stand-alone, but it would go great with a side salad or veggie. Try serving it with one of my Seasonal Salads from the Garden, Strawberry Preserves Salad, or a Greek salad, or simple sliced cucumber salad.
- Sourdough Baguettes are the perfect side dish bread for any pasta recipe.
More Easy Ground Venison Recipes
If you're looking for more ways to use the ground venison burger in your freezer, here are a few family favorites venison burger recipes!
- Venison Goulash – Another easy pasta dinner made with ground venison, tomato sauce, and pantry seasonings.
- Venison Chili – A hearty, comforting dinner that's especially good when the weather turns cold.
- Pizza Pasta Bake – A cheesy, family-friendly pasta bake that works with ground beef or venison.
- Venison Breakfast Casserole - It's full of protein from cheese, eggs, milk and wild turkey sausage. Makes a great leftover, too!
- Venison meatballs - Serve them with spaghetti, BBQ style or even in a soup such as Italian Wedding Soup or Creamy Meatball Soup!
I can't wait for you to make this recipe! If you get time, please leave a comment and rating.
Happy cooking!
-Meg
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with venison hamburger helper:
Wondering how much onion, didn't see it in the list of ingredients, otherwise a great ,easy ,delicious recipe
Hi Charles! I wrote this recipe for families with picky eaters (like my kids!) and didn't include chopped onion. It would really be a delicious addition, though! I would add 1/2 of a yellow onion, diced. Heat the skillet and add a little oil, then give the onion a 2-3 minute head start with browning before adding the ground venison. Thanks for leaving a kind and helpful review! Have a wonderful day!
-Meg
This recipe is such a great one-dish meal that is so quick and easy to make! With a large family and afterschool activities, I am always looking for easy meals that are liked by all. It was a GREAT hit!! This recipe has room for variations as well! Thanks so much!!
This recipe is my go too for when I don't have dinner planned. The best part is the whole family loves it!
This meal is amazing! I have never cooked with deer meat before and it was a huge hit! I added a bit more tomato paste and minced garlic to the deer meat when I was cooking it.
I bet that added tomato paste made it really good! If you don't have picky eaters, diced peppers and onions are a really tasty addition, too! Thank you so much for leaving a review!
- Meg
This is delicious, a hit with the whole family, and easy to make - a win! I use a whole pound of pasta & just add more broth to compensate. Thank you for a creative venison option!
I'm so glad your family loved it! We always add the full pound of pasta, too. And now that our kids are getting older, I usually just go ahead and double the recipe. It's crazy how much they can eat now!! Thank you for leaving a review and rating. Have a great day!
This was absolutely delicious! I used sharp white cheddar and extra sharp cheddar, added 5 cloves of garlic, an jalapeno and a bell pepper! I can't wait to change it up with different cheeses. I have a new staple!
Yum! My husband would LOVE your spicy variation! These days I'm keeping it simple (picky kiddos), but I'm so glad it was a hit at your house, too! Thanks for leaving the comment and rating! I really appreciate it.
Enjoy!
Meg
My kids love this! Sometimes I add onions and peppers, but usually we make it as is. So good!