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    Home » Recipes » Venison » Venison Meat Sauce

    May 12, 2021 · Updated August 16, 2022

    Venison Meat Sauce

    4.77 from 17 votes
    14 Comments

    · by Amanda Gajdosik

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. This blog generates income via ads.

    A pin to share the recipe for homemade venison spaghetti sauce

    This venison meat sauce is our go-to red sauce for pasta night! Ground venison, crushed tomatoes, and flavorful herbs combine in a simple sauce that’s perfect for pasta. As a bonus, it’s a great filling for things like lasagna or a simple pasta bake!

    A white plate filled with cooked pasta and topped with venison meat sauce and parmesan cheese.

    We’re always looking for recipes that use ground venison in our house. This homemade spaghetti sauce is one of those recipes! Simple ingredients combine to create a supremely flavorful sauce that’s as good on top of pasta as it is as vehicle for garlic bread.

    Ingredients for this recipe

    • Ground Venison – of course you can use ground beef if that’s all you have or you’re not a fan of venison.
    • Onion
    • Garlic – feel free to use more than the recipe calls for. Really “Godfather” it up!
    • Crushed Tomatoes
    • Tomato Paste – this adds such a rich flavor!
    • Kosher Salt – always kosher salt. Always to taste.
    • Sugar – to cut the acid in the tomatoes.
    • Italian Seasoning
    • Dried Oregano
    • Ground Cinnamon – just trust me!
    • Fresh Basil – dried works too.
    • Butter – for some much-needed fat and richness in the sauce.
    All the ingredients for venison red sauce are on a rimmed baking tray.

    This sauce is very similar to the filling of my momma’s lasagna recipe, so you’ll notice a lot of familiar flavors and techniques. The main difference is that the ground venison is really the star of the show here and we aren’t going to mix is with anything like ground pork or Italian sausage. This is all about showcasing the flavors of fresh deer venison!

    How to make ground venison spaghetti sauce

    1. Sauté the onion and garlic. In a bit of olive oil.
    2. Add the ground venison. And cook until browned. Since venison is such a lean meat, you won’t have to drain the fat after this step!
    3. Add the tomatoes. Two large cans of crushed tomatoes and the tomato paste.
    4. Add the spices and seasoning. Classic Italian seasoning, ground cinnamon, and dried oregano. Plus sugar to cut the acid. Stir it all together, now.
    5. Stir in the butter. And enjoy that melty goodness.
    6. Sprinkle with fresh basil. If using dried, feel free to add it in with the other dried seasoning.
    A large pot filled with venison meat sauce.

    Recipe Substitutions

    • This homemade spaghetti sauce recipe can totally be made with beef, if that’s what you have. Just note, you’ll have to drain the fat after browning it!
    • Add extra veggies like carrots or bell peppers in with the onions, if desired.
    • My mom always adds fresh mushrooms to her meat sauce, and you can too! Brown them in a separate pan and stir in with the fresh basil at the end of cooking.
    • If you have homemade or regular tomato sauce you can use it in place of the crushed tomatoes to excellent results!

    Freezing homemade pasta sauce

    Leftover meat sauce can be kept in the fridge for up to four days, or frozen for longer. Put the leftover sauce in a freezer-safe, zip-top bag, write the date on it, and lay flat in the freezer for up to six months.

    Other great ground venison recipes

    • Ground Venison Stroganoff
    • Venison Meatballs (and Meatball Sliders!)
    • Korean-Inspired Venison
    • Cheesy Venison Enchiladas
    Print Recipe
    4.77 from 17 votes

    Venison Meat Sauce

    This venison meat sauce is our go-to red sauce for pasta night! Ground venison, crushed tomatoes, and flavorful herbs combine in a simple sauce that’s perfect for pasta. As a bonus, it’s a great filling for things like lasagna or a simple pasta bake!
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time35 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Venison Meat Sauce, Venison Pasta Sauce, Venison Spaghetti Sauce
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 326kcal
    Author: Amanda Gajdosik

    Equipment

    • Large Dutch Oven

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 large white onion diced
    • Kosher salt to taste
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 pounds ground venison
    • 56 ounces crushed tomatoes from 2-28 ounce cans
    • 6 ounces tomato paste
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
    • ½ tsp. dried oregano
    • ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
    • ½ cup salted butter
    • ½ cup fresh basil leaves torn

    Instructions

    • Place a large Dutch oven over medium heat and drizzle in the olive oil. Add the onions and sprinkle with kosher salt, stirring to coat. Cook the onions until they begin to become soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more.
    • Add the ground venison and more kosher salt, to taste. Cook the venison until well browned.
    • Add the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste to the pot. Then stir in the sugar, Italian seasoning, dried oregano, and cinnamon. Finally, stir in the butter and cook until it is completely melted.
    • Taste the sauce and season with additional kosher salt, if necessary. Stir in fresh basil leaves.
    • Serve sauce with your favorite pasta and big slices of garlic bread.

    Notes

    • Leftover sauce can be kept in the refrigerator for up to four days or frozen for up to six months.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1scoop | Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 494mg | Potassium: 971mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 957IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 6mg

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    Comments

    1. Linda M says

      June 26, 2021 at 11:17 pm

      5 stars
      This is one of the Best Venison meat sauces and my husband has made a few, but this is over all his favorite. Thank you

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        June 27, 2021 at 11:12 pm

        Linda that thrills me to hear! Thank you so much for making my recipe 🙂

        Reply
    2. Emily says

      November 09, 2021 at 10:40 pm

      5 stars
      This is now my go-to spaghetti sauce recipe. It was so easy to make and the flavor was incredible. I also love that it made so much! My husband and I had enough for seconds, leftovers, and I even got to freeze some. Great way to use our ground venison. This recipe is an all-around win!

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        November 11, 2021 at 2:21 pm

        Love to hear that, Emily! Thank you so much for making and enjoying my recipe! Be sure to check out the other great ground venison recipes I have, too 🙂

        Reply
    3. Sandra says

      November 28, 2021 at 11:47 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious. Great recipe.

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        November 29, 2021 at 5:41 pm

        Thanks for making my recipe, Sandra! <3

        Reply
    4. Maxine says

      July 01, 2022 at 4:23 am

      I really want it make this but I don't have a Dutch oven. Will this still work with out using one?

      Reply
      • Amanda Gajdosik says

        July 04, 2022 at 8:55 pm

        Yes Maxine, you'll simply want to use a large enough skillet or pot that can accommodate the ingredients.

        Reply
    5. Wes says

      July 10, 2022 at 3:24 pm

      I have my dutch oven cooking up a batch of this as we speak!

      Finna add the tomato paste and sauce!

      Now, I stayed true to the posted recipe, but added 🫑, 🍄, and 🫒!

      Thank you for posting this recipe!

      wes
      Suffolk,VA

      Reply
      • Amanda Gajdosik says

        July 12, 2022 at 2:19 pm

        OOoooh I love mushrooms in a meat sauce! Hope you loved it!

        Reply
    6. Angela says

      October 10, 2022 at 4:44 pm

      What does the cinnamon do? This is the only thing I am skeptical about.

      Reply
      • Amanda Gajdosik says

        October 10, 2022 at 8:29 pm

        Hi Angela, I know it seems weird, but it works! It's what my mom has done my entire life (it's a Greek thing) and it adds just tiniest bit of warmth and depth. It doesn't make it sweet, it doesn't make it a dessert, it just adds another layer of flavor that will intrigue your tastebuds. If you're skeptical, you're welcome to leave it out, but I highly recommend it 🙂

        Reply
    7. Dianne says

      January 30, 2023 at 12:26 am

      5 stars
      Delicious sauce. Thank you

      Reply
      • Amanda Gajdosik says

        January 30, 2023 at 3:19 pm

        You're so welcome, Dianne! So happy you enjoyed it 🙂

        Reply

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