• SUBSCRIBE
Athlon Outdoors Supersite
Tactical Life Website
Ballistic Website
Personal Defense World Website
Skillsetmag Website
  • Guns
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • AR Pistols
    • AR Rifles
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Lever Action
      • Bolt Action
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Custom Guns
      • Handgun Build
      • Rifle Build
      • Shotgun Build
    • Specialty Guns
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
    • Targets
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
      • 9mm
      • 10mm
    • Rifle Ammo
      • .223
    • Shotgun Ammo
      • 12 Gauge
    • Rimfire Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Gear
    • Apparel
    • Ears & Eyes
      • Ears
      • Eyes
        • Thermal Vision
        • Night Vision
    • Storage
    • Tactical Gear
      • Body Armor
    • Knives
      • Fixed Blade
      • Folding Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Less Lethal
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • Personal Defense
      • Self-Defense
      • Hand to Hand Combat
    • Home Defense
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
      • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
      • Shooting 101
    • Survival
      • First Aid
    • Tactical & LE
    • Pop Culture
      • People
      • Rides
      • History
      • Military Lifestyle
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • VIDEOS
No Result
View All Result
Athlon Outdoors
  • Guns
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • AR Pistols
    • AR Rifles
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Lever Action
      • Bolt Action
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Custom Guns
      • Handgun Build
      • Rifle Build
      • Shotgun Build
    • Specialty Guns
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
    • Targets
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
      • 9mm
      • 10mm
    • Rifle Ammo
      • .223
    • Shotgun Ammo
      • 12 Gauge
    • Rimfire Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Gear
    • Apparel
    • Ears & Eyes
      • Ears
      • Eyes
        • Thermal Vision
        • Night Vision
    • Storage
    • Tactical Gear
      • Body Armor
    • Knives
      • Fixed Blade
      • Folding Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Less Lethal
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • Personal Defense
      • Self-Defense
      • Hand to Hand Combat
    • Home Defense
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
      • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
      • Shooting 101
    • Survival
      • First Aid
    • Tactical & LE
    • Pop Culture
      • People
      • Rides
      • History
      • Military Lifestyle
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • VIDEOS
No Result
View All Result
Athlon Outdoors Super Site
No Result
View All Result
  • TL
  • PDW
  • BM
  • Skillset
 
ENTER TO WIN: FREE GUN FRIDAY ft. Browning, Caldwell & Black Hills!

4 Hunting Recipes That Get the Most Out of Your Wild Game Cookout

ShareTweetPin
Nothing goes better after the hunt than a wild game cookout with family/friends, with fresh meat on the grill.

Nothing goes better after the hunt than a wild game cookout with family/friends, with fresh meat on the grill.

Bri Van ScotterbyBri Van Scotter
July 2, 2021
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The smell of hickory-smoked wood fills the air. The leaves are turning red and orange, and you can practically hear your neighbors cheering every Saturday and Sunday. It’s fall, which means hunting, football, grilling and gatherings—such as a wild game cookout.

With hunting season in full swing, the best way to celebrate your harvest is with family and friends. And we all know that wild game and grilling are a match made in heaven. There is something so amazing about prepping, cooking and sharing your harvest with your closest friends. Above all, everyone wants to hear the story of how the meat they are about to enjoy came to the table.

Of course, preparing wild game is so much more than grilling a backstrap. It’s the most versatile protein there is, not to mention that it packs a bunch of flavor you just can’t get from store-bought meats. And there is something magical about using a grill to cook wild game.

Culinary Tricks

I love to cook wild game on my Camp Chef pellet grill. Being a chef, I will impart extra flavor into a dish any chance I get. So, a grill/smoker combination is a great way to go, and imparting more flavor is one of the biggest tips I can give you when it comes to preparing wild game. It’ll turn even a non-wild-game eater into a believer.

The trick is using different fats. What do I mean? Whenever I cook bacon, for example, it’s a sin to throw out the leftover fat. So, I keep a large glass jar in the refrigerator and dump all the leftover fat into it for use at a later time. Bacon fat really helps to enhance the flavors of wild game. Try using it in place of vegetable oil when cooking your game. I like to brush my wild game with melted bacon fat before placing them on the grill. This gives the meat a wonderful, salty smokiness that is absolutely delectable.

If you’re truly an adventurous foodie, try using beef tallow. When making sausages from wild game, I always throw beef tallow into the mix. It gives it a rich umami flavor and silky texture. And never throw away the caul fat from your harvest. Caul fat, whether from a hog or deer, pairs perfectly with upland game. Try wrapping upland game in caul fat and throwing it on the grill. The caul fat essentially protects the delicate meat from over-cooking. And the rendered fat penetrates the meat, creating super-moist and flavorful birds.

To get you started on your next wild-game gathering, I’ve included a few of my favorite recipes. These are some classics with a twist that will leave your guests begging you to host the next potluck. Hope you enjoy them!

SMOKED VENISON BURGER WITH BACON BEER CHEESE FONDUE

For the Cheese:

  • ¾ cup beer of choice
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 8 oz. Swiss cheese
  • 4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 Tbsp. flour
  • 6 pieces of bacon, cooked and chopped

In a sauce pot, add the beer and chopped garlic. Next, add the Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese and flour in a large bowl, and use your hands to coat the cheese with flour. Then, on medium-high heat, bring the beer and garlic to a boil.

Once the beer and garlic have come to a boil, add the flour covered cheese to the pot.
Once the beer and garlic have come to a boil, add the flour covered cheese to the pot.

Once it’s boiling, add the cheese and flour mixture and stir constantly until the cheese is melted and everything is well combined. Then add the chopped bacon to the cheese mixture, and top the burgers with the cheese while its hot.

For the spicy mayo:

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 4 Tbsp. Sriracha
  • 2 Tbsp. pickled jalapenos, chopped

In a small bowl, combine all of the ingredients and then mix well. Keep in the refrigerator until serving.

For the burgers:

  • 6 venison patties
  • 3 Tbsp. bacon fat, melted
  • Lettuce
  • Tomato, sliced
  • Red onion, sliced
  • Pretzel buns

Initially, set your grill or smoker to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Use hickory pellets to smoke. Use a pastry brush to coat each side of the venison patties with the melted bacon fat, then season with salt and pepper. Place the seasoned patties on the grill and cook them until done as desired.

Prepare your pretzel buns to receive the burgers.
Prepare your pretzel buns to receive the burgers.

Before adding the burger, spread the spicy mayo on both sides of the pretzel buns. After that, place the cooked venison patty on the bottom half of the pretzel bun. Then top the patty with the bacon beer cheese fondue. Add the lettuce and tomato, then the top half of the pretzel bun.

Top the wild game burgers with the cheese while it is hot.
Top the wild game burgers with the cheese while it is hot.
Finally, add your lettuce, tomato and onion and your wild game cookout is off to a great start.
Finally, add your lettuce, tomato and onion and your wild game cookout is off to a great start.

SMOKED ELK QUESO

Ingredients:

  • ½ pound elk, ground
  • 1 Tbsp. taco seasoning
  • 1¼ cups half and half
  • ¾ pound American cheese
  • 4 oz. mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • ½ tsp. nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • Pico de gallo
  • Jalapenos
  • Sour cream

Initially, add the ground elk in a cast-iron skillet. After that, place the skillet on a grill set to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the meat has cooked, add the taco seasoning and  ¼ cup of water. Stir well to combine. Close the smoker/grill and continue to cook until the water has evaporated.

Add your ground elk to your cast-iron skillet.
Add your ground elk to your cast-iron skillet.

Once the elk is cooked, remove the elk from the pan and set it aside in a bowl. In a pot on medium-high heat, add the half and half. Once the half and half comes to a boil, turn the heat to low and add both of the cheeses. Whisk well to combine.

Once the cheese has fully melted, add the chili powder, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. Then add the ground elk. Finally, serve from the cast-iron skillet and top with pico de gallo, jalapenos and sour cream. Serve with tortilla chips.

Remove the burger, melt the cheese and add the burger and other ingredients on top of the cheese.
Remove the burger, melt the cheese and add the burger and other ingredients on top of the cheese.
Your dip will be the hit of the wild game cookout.
Your dip will be the hit of the wild game cookout.

WHOLE SMOKED SNAPPER WITH SPICY PESTO

For the snapper:

  • 1 whole snapper, gutted and scaled (you can use trout as well)
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, whole
  • Parsley, small bunch

Oil the grates of a grill/smoker well. Lightly score the skin of the fish. This will help give the fish a delicious smoky flavor.

Season the whole snapper with salt and pepper on the outside and then lightly brush it all over with olive oil. Place the sliced lemon, garlic and parsley in the belly of the fish.

Then place each whole fish on the grill when it’s at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Use hickory pellets if smoking.

Place the seasoned Snapper, with lemon, garlic and parsley onto the grill at 375 degrees.
Place the seasoned Snapper, with lemon, garlic and parsley onto the grill at 375 degrees.

For the pesto:

  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 serrano pepper, chopped
  • ¼ cup pine nuts
  • 5 Tbsp. parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup basil, fresh
  • ½ cup mint, fresh
  • ¼ cup cilantro, fresh
  • Olive oil, ½ cup to start
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Place the garlic clove and serrano pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Run the machine until the garlic and pepper are finely chopped. Then add the pine nuts, parmesan cheese, basil, mint and cilantro. Add about ¼ cup of the olive oil. Then put the lid back on and run the machine. While the machine is running, add the rest of the olive oil to form an emulsion. Add more olive oil if needed to get a thicker or smoother texture.

Serve the whole fish straight from the grill or smoker and top it with the spicy herbed pesto so that the residual heat warms up the sauce.

Pull the Snapper off the grill and place it on a plate with garnishes.
Pull the Snapper off the grill and place it on a plate with garnishes.
Finally, add the pesto to your Snapper, to round out your wild game cookout.
Finally, add the pesto to your Snapper, to round out your wild game cookout.

SMOKED ORANGE COCKTAIL

Ingredients:

  • 4 oranges, sliced in half
  • 1 oz. bourbon
  • 2 oz. Droptine Apple Persimmon Moonshine
  • 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
  • Cinnamon stick

Place the sliced oranges on the grill and smoke them until they have nice grill marks on their flesh. Then squeeze the juice from all of the oranges.

To mix the cocktail, add 2 ounces of the smoked orange juice, 1 ounce of bourbon, 2 ounces of moonshine and 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a shaker cup. Fill it with ice and shake it until it’s chilled. Finally, pour the contents into a cocktail glass and serve with a cinnamon stick.

Add the libations to your wild game cookout with this smoked orange cocktail.
Add the libations to your wild game cookout with this smoked orange cocktail.

This article is from Ballistic magazine, Fall 2018 issue. Subscriptions are available at OutdoorGroupStore.com.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

MOST POPULAR

13 Best Snub-Nose Revolvers for Concealed Carry [2023]

13 Best Snub-Nose Revolvers for Concealed Carry [2023]

Taurus Home Defender revolver in .410.

KA-BOOM: Here Comes the Taurus Judge Home Defender!

300 Blackout vs 308, rifles, ammunition

300 Blackout vs 308 Win: Which Round Reigns Supreme in AR-15s?

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

TRENDING

Smith & Wesson, M&P Pistol, smith & wesson m&p

Smith & Wesson Offers Consumers Three Free Magazines With Purchase Of New M&P Pistol

S.O. Tech Cobra SIS Vest lead

S.O. Tech’s LAPD-Approved Cobra SIS Vest

LG-646, LG-646 lasergrip, bersa LG-646

Crimson Trace Releases LG-646 Lasergrip For Bersa Thunder CC Pistol

Traditions Pursuit G4 Ultralight 50 cal muzzleloader review, hunting

Traditions Pursuit G4 Ultralight: A Lightweight .50-Caliber Muzzleloader

BROWSE BY BRAND

Skillset-Logo_yellow-153x47png
Ballistic_LOGO-217x47
CH-Logo_blue-153x47
T-L-SS-stack life-47x140
PDW_CCH_LOGO-300x101
PDW-2022-Sidebyside-logo 160x30-blk
GOW LOGO x101
AF_LOGO-184x47

SPOTLIGHT

The Self Defense Company Peacemaker CCW Jacket.

The Peacemaker CCW Jacket from the Self Defense Company

I’m not normally a fan of Winter, but I do like the Fall. Specifically because Fall makes concealed carry...

RELATED POSTS

Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle in American Sniper.

Reel Shooters: The Best Movie Snipers & a Few of the Worst

...

The Tisas Model 1911A1 Aviator

Tisas 1911A1 Aviator: Bringing Back the ‘Feel’ of the Original

...

The September/October 2023 Issue of Tactical Life Magazine.

Tactical Life September/October 2023: Tactical Reload

...

Load More

TRENDING

Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Pistol left profile

Gun Review: Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Pistol

When the polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol revolution began, most companies were caught flat-footed. Smith & Wesson held a dominant position in...

Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle in American Sniper.

Reel Shooters: The Best Movie Snipers & a Few of the Worst

Fans of action and war movies would be forgiven for thinking that trained snipers carry their rifles disassembled in an...

13 Best Snub-Nose Revolvers for Concealed Carry [2023]

13 Best Snub-Nose Revolvers for Concealed Carry [2023]

Compact, ultra-reliable and ever-ready for close-range self-defense!

10 .22 Pocket Pistols for Last-Ditch Self-Defense.

Best .22 Pistols for Self-Defense [2023]

When it comes to concealed carry, the clear defensive options are typically .380 ACP, 9mm, .45 ACP, 10mm, etc. However,...

MOST POPULAR

The Mossberg MC2sc semi-auto pistol.

12 Best Micro-Compact Handguns for Concealed Carry [2022]

A thick veil of fog stood forever in front of me as I cruised down the highway at 6:30 in...

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

Law enforcement in the United States is in constant evolution and that includes various police sidearms. These days, law enforcement...

U.S. Secret Service adopts Glock G47

FIRST LOOK: Glock Just Very Quietly Unveiled the New Glock 47 Pistol

Tuesday afternoon we broke news that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection selected three Glock 9mm pistols as its new standard...

All the best new handguns seen at SHOT Show 2023.

21 Best New Handguns [2023]

The NSSF SHOT Show is the premier event to get your hands on new gear. It gives us a first...

VIDEO SERIES: AT THE READY | SEASON 2

MORE VIDEOS

The Self Defense Company Peacemaker CCW Jacket.

The Peacemaker CCW Jacket from the Self Defense Company

The Streamlight SpeedLocker.

The Streamlight SpeedLocker Portable Locking Storage Container

HANDGUNS

The Pedersoli Howdah.

The Pedersoli Howdah: Recreating the Howdah’s Legacy

The SK Customs Morelos.

SK Customs Morelos 1911 Heralds Generalissimo Jose Morelos

The Tisas Model 1911A1 Aviator

Tisas 1911A1 Aviator: Bringing Back the ‘Feel’ of the Original

The Sig Sauer P226 Zev.

The Sig Sauer P226 Zev Reviewed: Is It the Best P226 Ever?

The Girsan High Power Negotiator.

The Girsan Negotiator Series Gets a High Power Addition in 9mm

Taurus Home Defender revolver in .410.

KA-BOOM: Here Comes the Taurus Judge Home Defender!

RIFLES - click to see all

The limited edition RISE Armament Topo Watchman rifle.

UPDATED: New RISE Armament Topo Watchman Limited-Edition

The MDC “Trench Art” Classic AK-47 Rifle.

MDC “Trench Art” Classic AK-47 is Back with Limited Availability

Davidson's Ruger American Predator

Ready to Pounce: Ruger American Predator From Davidson’s

The Exclusive HKMR762A1 from Davidson's.

Davidson’s HK MR762A1 in 7.62mm Brings Exclusive Battle Rifle

AMMO - click to see all

Ammo Storage, Survival Ammo, long term ammo storage, Prepper

Best Methods for Long-Term Ammo Storage

6 .410 Ammo Options for Home and Personal Defense.

.410 Ammo for Home Defense [2023]

.44 Magnum dirty harry

Your Guide to the .44 Magnum Cartridge

The Escort PS Youth 20-gauge shotgun.

The Escort PS Youth Shotgun is Now Available in .410 Bore

The 2022 Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous event.

Rendezvous Roundup: Guns & Gear at Athlon’s Signature Event

fbi ammo testing protocol

Understanding FBI Ammo Testing Standards

Magazines Available Now! Subscribe today for Home Delivery!
FREE NEWSLETTERS! Subscribe!
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • CORPORATE
  • ADVERTISE
  • EDIT DESK
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • AR Pistols
    • AR Rifles
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Lever Action
      • Bolt Action
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Custom Guns
      • Handgun Build
      • Rifle Build
      • Shotgun Build
    • Specialty Guns
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
    • Targets
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
      • 9mm
      • 10mm
    • Rifle Ammo
      • .223
    • Shotgun Ammo
      • 12 Gauge
    • Rimfire Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Gear
    • Apparel
    • Ears & Eyes
      • Ears
      • Eyes
    • Storage
    • Tactical Gear
      • Body Armor
    • Knives
      • Fixed Blade
      • Folding Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Less Lethal
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • Concealed Carry
    • Personal Defense
      • Self-Defense
      • Hand to Hand Combat
    • Home Defense
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
      • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
      • Shooting 101
    • Survival
      • First Aid
    • Tactical & LE
    • Pop Culture
      • People
      • Rides
      • History
      • Military Lifestyle
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • VIDEOS

© 2023 Athlon Outdoors - Premium Firearm product and industry news, reviews and magazines" .