Ground Venison and Rotini in Garlic Parmesan Sauce

Ground venison is versatile. If you’re processing your own deer, grinding the extra bits and pieces that you don’t cut into roasts and steaks is a good way to keep deer meat on hand for all sorts of easy meals. A good grinder like the MEAT! 1 horsepower will handle all your grinding needs for burger and jerky for years to come. Cold is your friend when grinding meat, particularly if you are doing a large batch. A few tips for getting the best ground venison are to keep your metal parts in the freezer overnight before you grind. Make sure your meat has cooled through before you start. I even partially freeze my meat chunks before grinding on occasion. You can grind straight venison, which is my preference for tacos, soups, and recipes like this, or mix in beef or pork fat for making burgers.

This quick and easy recipe is the perfect way to use your ground venison for a quick and easy family meal. All images by Michael Pendley

This ground venison meal is quick and easy to make. Add in cooked rotini, or whatever pasta you have in the cupboard, and plenty of parmesan cheese, and it will be a family favorite that cooks in under 30 minutes. I like to grate the parmesan fresh, as it tastes better than the plastic tub stuff from the grocery.

A pound of ground venison and a few pantry staples are all you need for this recipe.

Cook the pasta in salted water according to package instructions. Brown the ground venison in a large skillet over medium high heat and then remove it from the pan.

Brown the ground venison in a large skillet.

Turn the heat down to medium. Add oil, if needed, then add garlic and cook, stirring constantly to prevent burning, for one to two minutes. Sprinkle over the flour and cook another two to three minutes, stirring as you go. Add the milk and half and half (you can omit the half and half and use two cups of milk if you like, but the finished sauce won’t be as creamy). Bring to a simmer and return the ground venison to the pan.

Stir in the freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Stir in the cheese, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until sauce starts to thicken. Fold in the cooked pasta, adding a bit of the pasta cooking water if the sauce needs thinning.

Allow the sauce to thicken, then stir in the cooked pasta.

Serve with garlic bread and a salad for a quick and easy meal that will fill everyone up and have them coming back for seconds.