Venison is a unique type of meat that many people love to enjoy. But what vegetable goes best with venison?
In addition, asparagus and broccoli arguably go well with different cuts of venison and are fun to experiment with.
The key is to understand which vegetables go well with certain cuts of venison and how they are prepared. After reading, you will have a better idea of how you might prepare your next venison meal.
Table of Contents
- Vegetables to Pair with Venison
- Best Vegetable Meals to Make with Venison
- Getting Creative with Vegetables and Venison
Vegetables to Pair with Venison
Pairing venison with certain vegetables can make or break the meal. This is why it is important to know which ones pair the best so you do not waste any food.
Depending on your taste buds, sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, baked beans, and mushrooms are all excellent choices of vegetables to pair with venison.
It is also a fun excuse to try new things in the kitchen, so do not be intimidated by the process. If you are up to the challenge, your taste buds will hopefully be saying thank you.
Related: How Long Is Canned Venison Good For?
Potatoes
Venison is a great chunk of meat to use in roasts or cut into steaks. One of the most common vegetable sides for any meat happens to be in the form of a potato.
So you have loaded baked, mashed, scalloped, and new potatoes (small red ones).
You can never go wrong with mashed or the small red ones used in roasts. For a bonus, make gravy with the juices from the roast or one from scratch to top off the meal.
Sweet Potato
In addition to how versatile potatoes are, you have the sweet potato. These can be baked, mashed, or cut into large fries. It deserves its own category based on the flavor profile alone.
If preparing a filet or roast, the salty and sweet combination of venison and sweet potato is an excellent duo.
If you want to take it a step further, try adding some honey or brown sugar to your sweet potato to unlock its full potential.
Carrots
When I think of backstraps or filet medallions, I think about carrots pairing well. Something about a warm and buttery handful of cut carrots, whether in a stew or stovetop, makes a perfect combination.
If the sweet potato was a little too sweet for you, try the carrots instead. They are a little easier to drown in butter or gravy and still offer a slightly sweet flavor profile.
Beans
No venison meal would be complete without adding beans to the plate. More specifically, the vegetables in mind here are baked beans.
There are plenty of quick options to choose from that are already available in canned form.
However, the most popular options are BBQ, original, and mesquite smoked. A bonus would be cutting up leftover venison and adding it to the beans.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a hit or miss for many people to include as a vegetable. However, they can quickly be a fan favorite if prepared correctly.
When paired with a backstrap or roast, it completes the flavor profile of savory and buttery. You can sauté, fry, or bake them. The best ones would be baked stuffed mushrooms, which may be a great experiment to try.
Asparagus
If you are grilling venison steaks, another great option for a vegetable is asparagus. These are best when grilled, but you can steam or bake them too.
In my opinion, wrapping them in bacon is best on the grill. If you do not like asparagus that much, it is easier to eat when grilled and wrapped in bacon.
See also: Is It Safe To Eat Raw Venison?
Broccoli
Raw or steamed broccoli might not cut it for most venison dishes. However, a fan favorite is to bake them in the oven and cover them with cheese.
At that point, it is borderline to a casserole, which is not bad either.
Simply bake in the oven until tender and then smother on the cheese. You could also make your own cheese sauce, which would be a creamy addition.
Best Vegetable Meals to Make with Venison
If you have the time to experiment with vegetables or make side dishes, they can be a rewarding addition to your meals. Some popular meals include traditional favorites and different twists from other countries.
If you want to find other great recipes, the University of Illinois offers a lot of great venison and vegetable recipes!
Stew
In case you have not already tried it, venison stew is a must-have addition to your meals. You can mix and match various vegetables to fit your needs. Common vegetables for this dish include:
- Carrots
- Celery
- Onions
- Potatoes
Bourguignon
Bourguignon is considered a beef stew, but with the use of wine sauce. It is a French dish, but with an American twist. This is a very delicious meal that typically includes:
- Carrots
- Roasted new potatoes
- Mushrooms
- Dark red wine
Marsala
Venison Marsala is a twist on the other popular chicken Marsala dish.
There is a buttery mushroom sauce made with Marsala wine poured over the top of venison, typically served with mashed potatoes and green beans. Vegetables include:
- Mushrooms
- Green beans or asparagus
- Mashed potatoes or roasted new potatoes
Getting Creative with Vegetables and Venison
It is important to remember not to stress over the perfect combination of vegetables and venison.
Different venison dishes require certain vegetables, with the exception of what you have available in your kitchen. Everyone will have their preferences and opinions on what tastes best.
The fun part is trying out new ways to complement your venison to help it reach its full potential.
And now that you know which vegetables go best with venison, read up on which types of cheese go best with venison…I promise your guests and family will thank you!
