Recipe and photos courtesy of Kristy Crabtree
There are so many options when it comes to ground game meat like these baked Deer Enchilada Meatballs. I’ve made this enchilada dish with ground elk and now with a couple of pounds of ground venison. Simple to make and quick to cook! Enjoy them with sliced avocado and a dollop of sour cream.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
• 2 lbs ground venison
• 1 tsp ancho chile powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp Mexican oregano
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ¾ cup shredded Mexican style 4 cheese blend
• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 avocado, sliced
• sour cream
Red Enchilada Sauce
Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the vegetable oil. Whisk in the flour and all seasoning ingredients creating a paste like base. Slowly pour in the broth whisking the sauce until smooth. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat. (Note: you can make this sauce a day ahead and simply refrigerate overnight.)
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp flour
• 2 tbsp dark chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp mexican oregano
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 2 cups vegetable (or) chicken broth
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the ground venison, ancho chile powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, garlic powder and kosher salt. Using your hands, form 10-12 individual meatballs and set aside on a plate or baking sheet.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Set a 12-14 inch cast iron skillet in the oven to preheat before baking, about 10 minutes.
- Carefully place the meatballs in the skillet and drizzle the tops with olive oil. Bake for 20 minutes. Pour the enchilada sauce over the meatballs and top with shredded cheese, chopped green onions and cilantro. Continue baking for 15 minutes until hot and bubbling.
- Serve with sour cream and sliced avocado.
