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A white bowl filled with the ingredients for all-purpose venison marinade.

All-Purpose Venison Marinade

This simple all-purpose venison marinade is the only marinade you need to know! It's easy and delicious perfect for the pickiest eater or proudest hunter!
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 5 minutes
marinade time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course main dish, meat
Cuisine American
Servings 6 steaks
Calories 88 kcal

Equipment

  • mason jar or glass bowl

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup lemon juice about ½ large lemon
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the meat by removing any connective tissue or silver skin. Slice it to desired pieces or leave whole. If leaving in large pieces, poke several holes in the meat using a fork to allow the marinade to penetrate.
  • Peel and mince the garlic. If using fresh herbs, finely chop. Combine all ingredients but the meat in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Let the meat marinate for 30 minutes or up to 8 hours in the refrigerator.

Notes

Substitutions

This is a very basic marinade, but don't be afraid to get creative with it!
  • soy - Adding a tablespoon of soy sauce to the marinade will give the steak a rich umami taste with rich saltiness and a slight sugary hint. One thing to be aware of is that soy can cause the meat to blacken or burn during cooking, so keep an eye on it!
  • coconut aminos - Personally, this is my favorite addition to steak marinades. Not only is it the same umami flavor of soy sauce while being gluten-free, but it is even sweeter. Again, it is going to blacken or burn faster, so pay attention if you add 1-2 tablespoons.
  • orange juice - Pour up to three tablespoons of freshly squeezed orange juice into the marinade and take your steak's flavor to a whole new level!

Variations

I almost didn't include this section, simply because I wanted to keep this basic all-purpose venison marinade as basic as possible. But where's the fun in that?
  • Spicy - add chili pepper flakes or paste to the marinade. A little goes a long way, but it is so worth it!
  • Garden Herbs - add thinly sliced fresh green onions, parsley, oregano, chives or cilantro
  • Kid friendly - a dash of ketchup or tomato paste will make this marinade sweeter and more mild for kiddos and picky eaters!

What temperature to cook a venison steak

  • Rare: 125- to 130 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Medium Rare: 135 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Medium: 135-145 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Medium Well: 145-160 degrees Fahrenheit (anything above 145 degrees is NOT recommended for cooking venison)

Storage

Mix this marinade up and keep it in the refrigerator for up to one month! I like to store it in a glass mason jar. Sometimes I make it in double batches during grilling seasoning so that I don't have to continually mix it up.

Nutrition

Calories: 88kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 0.3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 419mgPotassium: 28mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 52IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.2mg
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