Recipe: Venison Hawaiian Meatballs

by
posted on February 13, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
recipe-venison-hawaiian-meatballs_lead.jpg

Sweet and tangy sauce with pineapple chunks conjures up images of a Hawaiian dinner. Add meatballs, and you have the perfect accompaniment for a plate of rice. If you want to get creative, use a cocktail skewer to serve a meatball and pineapple chunk, dripping in sauce, as an appetizer.

Any venison will work for this recipe with the breadcrumbs, egg and milk. Many hunters add ground pork for moisture, so meatballs do not crumble. The breadcrumbs will help hold the milk's moisture, binding the meat together with the egg as it cooks.

If you have a favorite barbecue sauce, add a cup to the sauce for a unique flavor. If you want a thick sauce, use cornstarch and chicken broth to add to the sauce while simmering. A loose sauce works well with rice, as it is absorbed with every forkful.

Sauce Ingredients
• two 14 oz. cans tomato sauce
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• one 14 oz. can pineapple chunks with juice
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 Tbsp ginger, crushed
• 2 Tbsp hot sauce
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• salt and pepper
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dry mustard

Directions
1. In a medium saucepan, combine all sauce ingredients, bring to a slow boil, then reduce the heat to simmer until the meatballs are browning in the pan.

Venison Hawaiian Meatball Sauce


Meatball Ingredients

• 1½ lbs. ground venison
• 4 pieces of bacon, diced fine
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup milk
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, crushed
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 green bell pepper, cubed
• 1 medium onion, cubed
• rice for serving

Directions
1. Combine the ground venison, bacon, breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, onion, garlic, ginger, salt and pepper, and blend well. Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs, rolled firmly in the palm of your hand.

2. Heat oil to medium-high in a large Camp Chef Dutch oven. Add venison meatballs and brown on all sides. Cook the meatballs for 4 to 6 minutes and add the onion and green pepper.

3. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and bring to a simmer. Cook with the lid off for 30 minutes, and the sauce will thicken on its own.

4. Serve over rice or eat meatballs and pineapple chunks as an appetizer.

For more delicious wild-game recipes, click here.

Latest

LEDE Snake Slayer
LEDE Snake Slayer

New for 2026: Bond Arms Snake Slayer

The Bond Arms Snake Slayer has earned its reputation as one of the most trusted and versatile defensive firearms for outdoor use, favored my backpackers and other outdoorsman looking for lightweight snake defense.

#SundayGunday: Dead Air Sandman X

Dead Air Silencers of Heber, Utah, launched Sandman suppressors 10 years ago. Now, after a decade on the market, the company has released the Sandman X. It’s a professional-grade can ready for heavy-duty use that leverages Dead Air’s decades of experience to optimize sound, balance backpressure and eliminate muzzle flash. For more information, check out this exclusive video.

10 Illuminating Facts About This Age of the Trophy Whitetail

So, here we are in the off-season. Whatever any of us saw from our stands last fall, it is interesting (and to some extent helpful) to know how things are trending with the whitetail herd. So, here are 10 illuminating facts about this age of the trophy whitetail.

NWTF Receives Winchester Legend Award

The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) received the highly coveted Winchester Legend Award during its 50th Convention and Sport Show in February.

Member's Hunt: Grandpa’s Bow

Have you ever tried to explain field dressing over Facetime? Larry Partika attempts just that in this month's featured Member's Hunt. 

First Look: Armageddon Gear Suppressor Caddy

Suppressors aren't cheap, disposable, or easy to replace so how you carry them matters. With that in mind, Armageddon Gear built what it couldn't find anywhere else on the market: a durable solution for storing and transporting cans.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.