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

Ledenorth Carolina 1
Ledenorth Carolina 1

North Carolina to Hold First Elk Hunt in Decades

On July 7, North Carolina’s governor signed legislation authorizing two elk hunting permits to be issued in 2027—the first since the animal was reintroduced 25 years ago. Elk vanished from The Tarheel State nearly 200 years ago, but today biologists estimate the state is home to roughly 250.

4 Tasks All Hunters Should Complete Now for the Upcoming Season

Each year, hunters know when opening day is, but few of us are truly ready for it. This year that changes. Here is your guide!

New for 2026: Federal Fit Firearms Covers

Federal Ammunition is shipping two series of firearm covers, the Federal Fit Coil Rifle Cover and Federal Fit Quick Strike Muzzle/Scope Cover. Each is available in medium, large, and extra-large.

Anti-Hunting Oregon Voter Petition Fails To Make Ballot

The proposed petition in Oregon that would ban all hunting and fishing, as well as ranching and more, failed both its signature checks to get on the November ballot, according to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office.

Hardware Review: Hornady 338 ARC

Looking for a cartridge that's easy to suppress, but still hits hard? Check out the 338 ARC, from Hornady. Jeff Johnston gives a thorough review of the cartridge here.

New for 2026: Steelhead Outdoors Stackable Vertical Door Handgun Locker

Steelhead Outdoors engineered a stackable Vertical Door Handgun Locker similar to storage systems used by law-enforcement agencies.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.