Hairy Bikers’ Venison Casserole, made with ground venison, sausage, pasta, cheeses, and vegetables in a rich tomato sauce, serves 6. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to prepare and bake, offering a hearty and flavorful meal.
More Hairy Bikers Recipe:
- Hairy Bikers Chicken Casserole Slow Cooker
- Hairy Bikers French Chicken Casserole
- Hairy Bikers Sausage Casserole
🧡 Why You’ll Love This Venison Casserole Recipe:
- Rich, Gamey Flavor: Ground venison offers a unique, rich flavor that’s a delightful change from regular beef or pork.
- Unique Twist on Classic Casserole: Using venison and sausage adds an interesting twist to the traditional casserole, making it a standout dish.
- Nutritious Greens: The addition of leafy greens like spinach or chard adds nutritional value and a pop of color.
- Depth of Flavor: The use of red wine and tomato paste in the sauce creates a rich and deep flavor profile.
- Perfect for Game Season: It’s an excellent way to utilize venison during hunting season or for those who enjoy game meats.
- Comfort Food: It’s the epitome of comfort food, with its warm, cheesy, and meaty
❓ What Is Hairy Bikers Venison Casserole Recipe?
Hairy Bikers Venison Casserole is a savory baked dish combining ground venison, sausage, pasta, and leafy greens, layered with ricotta, mozzarella, and pecorino cheeses in a rich tomato sauce. It’s a hearty, flavorful meal perfect for a comforting dinner.
🧀 Hairy Bikers Venison Casserole Ingredients
- 1 pound rigatoni, ziti, penne or paccheri pasta
- Salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground venison
- 1/2 pound sausage
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup red wine
- A 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 pound chopped leafy greens (spinach, lambsquarters, chard, etc.)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 pound grated mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated pecorino cheese
🍲 How To Make Hairy Bikers Venison Casserole
- Get a 9×13 baking dish ready and heat the oven to 375°F.
- In a big sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground deer meat and stir it around a lot to make it brown. Add salt while it’s cooking.
- Add the meat that doesn’t have a casing now and brown it too. Before cooking cased sausage, cut it into pieces and set them aside for a moment.
- Add the chopped onion and cook, turning often, until it gets soft. Add the garlic and stir it in. Cook for one or two minutes, then add the tomato paste and stir it in again. Give this some time to cook.
- Mix the wine, oregano, and red pepper flakes in well. As the wine and tomato paste mix, everything will get thicker.
- After a minute or two, add the crushed tomatoes. Add this to the cooked pasta and veggies, then turn off the heat.
- Fill the baking dish with about half of the mix. Spread about half of the ricotta on top, then cover it with about half of the mozzarella and pecorino.
- Mix in the rest of the meat, and then sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. Spend 35 minutes in the oven at 375°F.
💭 Recipe Tips:
- Pasta Choice: Choose a pasta like rigatoni or penne that holds sauce well. Cook it al dente since it will continue to cook in the oven.
- Onion and Garlic: Sauté the onion until translucent before adding garlic. Garlic burns easily, so add it later and cook it just until aromatic.
- Tomato Paste: Let the tomato paste cook for a few minutes after adding it. This process, known as caramelizing, deepens the flavor.
- Deglazing with Wine: Use a good quality red wine for deglazing. The acidity and flavor of the wine add depth to the casserole.
- Layering the Casserole: Ensure even layers of pasta, meat sauce, and cheeses for a well-balanced dish.
🥙 What To Serve Venison Casserole?
Serve Venison Casserole with a crisp green salad, garlic bread, or steamed vegetables like green beans or broccoli for a heartier meal, pair it with roasted potatoes or a simple arugula salad dressed with lemon and olive oil.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Venison Casserole?
- Refrigerator Storage: Place the leftover Venison Casserole in an airtight container or cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer Storage: For longer preservation, wrap the casserole tightly in freezer-safe wrap or place it in a freezer-safe container it can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
🥵 How To Reheat Leftovers Venison Casserole?
- Oven Reheating: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) place leftovers Venison Casserole in an oven-safe dish, and cover it with foil to prevent drying out heat for about 20-30 minutes or until thoroughly warmed.
- Microwave Reheating: For a quicker method, place a serving of leftovers casserole on a microwave-safe plate cover it with a microwave-safe lid or vented plastic wrap heat on medium power for 2-4 minutes, stirring halfway through, until heated through.
FAQ’S
Can I substitute another meat for venison in the casserole?
Yes, if venison is unavailable, you can substitute it with beef, lamb, or even ground turkey each will give a different flavor profile to the casserole.
How do I ensure the venison doesn’t become tough when cooking?
Since venison is lean, it’s important not to overcook it browning it quickly on high heat and then cooking it gently in the casserole helps keep it tender.
Can the Venison Casserole be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the casserole in advance and refrigerate it before baking you might need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time if you’re putting it in the oven cold.
How can I thicken the sauce if it’s too runny in Venison Casserole?
If the sauce is too thin, you can thicken it with a bit of flour or cornstarch mixed with water, or let it simmer a bit longer to reduce.
What kind of wine pairs well with Venison Casserole?
A robust red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, or Shiraz pairs beautifully with the rich flavors of the venison and the hearty nature of the casserole.
Try More Hairy Bikers Recipe:
- Hairy Bikers Chicken Stew And Dumplings
- Hairy Bikers Roasted Vegetable Lasagne
- Hairy Bikers Beef Casserole Recipe
Hairy Bikers Venison Casserole Nutrition Fact
Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 585 kcal
- Total Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sodium: 500-700mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 40g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
- Sugars: 7g
- Protein: 35g
- Calcium: 250mg
- Iron: 4mg
- Potassium: 500mg
Hairy Bikers Venison Casserole
Description
Hairy Bikers’ Venison Casserole, made with ground venison, sausage, pasta, cheeses, and vegetables in a rich tomato sauce, serves 6. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to prepare and bake, offering a hearty and flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Get a 9×13 baking dish ready and heat the oven to 375°F.
- In a big sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground deer meat and stir it around a lot to make it brown. Add salt while it’s cooking.
- Add the meat that doesn’t have a casing now and brown it too. Before cooking cased sausage, cut it into pieces and set them aside for a moment.
- Add the chopped onion and cook, turning often, until it gets soft. Add the garlic and stir it in. Cook for one or two minutes, then add the tomato paste and stir it in again. Give this some time to cook.
- Mix the wine, oregano, and red pepper flakes in well. As the wine and tomato paste mix, everything will get thicker.
- After a minute or two, add the crushed tomatoes. Add this to the cooked pasta and veggies, then turn off the heat.
- Fill the baking dish with about half of the mix. Spread about half of the ricotta on top, then cover it with about half of the mozzarella and pecorino.
- Mix in the rest of the meat, and then sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. Spend 35 minutes in the oven at 375°F.
Notes
- Pasta Choice: Choose a pasta like rigatoni or penne that holds sauce well. Cook it al dente since it will continue to cook in the oven.
- Onion and Garlic: Sauté the onion until translucent before adding garlic. Garlic burns easily, so add it later and cook it just until aromatic.
- Tomato Paste: Let the tomato paste cook for a few minutes after adding it. This process, known as caramelizing, deepens the flavor.
- Deglazing with Wine: Use a good quality red wine for deglazing. The acidity and flavor of the wine add depth to the casserole.
- Layering the Casserole: Ensure even layers of pasta, meat sauce, and cheeses for a well-balanced dish.