Elk Recipes: Lean Meat
is Healthy and Delicious
The elk recipes below can be used for any wild or domestic meats. Simple recipes that have been tried and tested in home kitchens and dinner tables will be added to this page below. The Wild Game Cuisine cookbook is available for purchase, if desired.
Also, user-submitted recipes are accepted and can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Pat Cassidy
I have hunted, photographed and watched Elk for sixty years and have experimented with all kinds of garments. I do NOT subscribe to any clothing that makes
There is a recipe submission form for you to use below to share recipes. Do you have a favorite big game recipe? Share it!
Those who say they don't like elk or deer meat have usually consumed meat from animals that have not been handled properly in the field. (See field dressing page. Or, the Cooling game meat page.) Or, perhaps the cook left a lot of "silver skin" on it.
We've held our noses while processing stinky old bulls, and then been amazed at the meat's good flavor. Even elk that have been wounded, chased and shot again, can still be tasty and tender, if handled properly.
To Age, or Not to Age?
Aging is not necessary, but it does help to tenderize and even improve the flavor and texture of any elk recipes, as well as beef. Care needs to be taken to keep the temperature right. At or around 32 degrees F or in the lower thirties is best for aging meat.
In 2008 the weather was a little warm when we killed a couple of elk, so we shuffled the packaged meat in and out of the freezer to keep it near freezing during the day and left the packages out in the garage at night when it got cold. Hold the meat at or near freezing for three to five days maximum for the aging period. Keep in mind that it will lose some moisture the longer it is out of sub-zero temperatures.
Briefly, aging is a process that allows bacteria to have their way in a very limited fashion (by the cold) for a short period. During this period the bacteria release enzymes that cut the long proteins. Shorter proteins are more tender.
That said, we don't usually age our elk and deer meat! We do follow recipes and procedures to retain moisture and tenderness. See below.
Remove the Silver Skin and Avoid Fat
For the most part, remove the silver skin (white membrane) from elk meat (and deer) as much as possible. It contributes that "wild" flavor that many people complain about when they think they don't like wild meats. If you take that stuff off and avoid the fat layers, as well, you will fool the naysayers.
Shank of venison is so tough that you might prefer to pressure cook it, or else cook it slow and moist for a long time to tenderize it. Crock pots and pressure cookers do wonders for tough cuts.
Elk Recipes:
We will start with our favorite and some of the most popular venison or elk recipes first:
- Grilled Elk Steak
- Elk Stew
- Elk Chili
- Spice-Crusted Grilled Venison Roast
- Elk Jerky
- Elk Crock Pot Roast
- Elk Pot Roast
- Smoking, Braised and Pulled Meat Recipes
- Corned Elk
- Venison Kabobs
- Elk Green Chile Stew
- Elk Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
- Elk Meatloaf
- Venison Stroganoff Recipe
- Venison Salisbury Steak
- We'll add more elk recipes through the years to come! Please submit yours below.
Wild Game Cuisine: A Collection of Wild Game Recipes
We've found Kristy Crabtree's Wildgame Cuisine, A Collection of Wild Game Recipes to be filled with simple to follow instructions. They are well tested recipes. Whenever we try one we always enjoy the end result.
There is a section on cooking with elk meat, but the book has over a hundred wild game recipes. Kristy is from a hunting household. She successfully crafts recipes that use simple steps with everyday ingredients. You can adapt them all to similar wildgame meats and to your own preferences.
You can order Wildgame Cuisine right here for $22.95, with no extra USPS shipping charge.
Use this Search window to search for recipes on this site:
Wild Game Spices and Rubs
Chef John McGannon has agreed to allow us to sell his WildEats Enterprises® seasoning blends and dry rubs right here! Chef McGannon has prepared wild game for over 35 years in some of the nation's finest dining establishments.
For $30.95 (Free Shipping!), his Wild Eats Gourmet 6 Pack Sack includes the following:
- Juniper & Peppercorn Steak Rub
- San Francisco Seafood Rub
- Controlled Burn Chili Blend
- Ginger Citrus & Pepper Rub
- Lemon Garlic & Sage Rub with Fennel
- WILDEATS Burger Dust
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What Are Your Favorite Big Game Recipes?
Do you have some favorite recipes using elk or other big game? Share them! If you are copying a recipe from a copyrighted source, just give credit to the source.
There is a high demand for new recipes using game meat. This form makes it simple to share yours. Don't worry, if you make a grammatical or typo error we'll correct it for you before posting it.
For help, click on the little blue question marks.
If you want, you can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [elk roast] would show as elk roast on the Web page containing your recipe.
To see more ground meat recipes:
Contributed Big Game Recipes
Click below to see elk and big game recipe contributions from other visitors to this page...
Elk Recipes Submitted by Visitors
1pkg 6oz spanish rice mix
2 tsp olive oil
1 # elk top round chopped (or ground meat)
1 15oz. black beans rinsed and drained
1 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes …
Binghamton Spiedies Made With Elk Sirloin
Well, "spiedies" are served on French bread, but we weren't interested in the bread. Cut meat into 1 1/2 to 2 inch pieces (larger than bite size). Marinade …
Chicken Fried Elk
Egg
Season Salt
Flour
Olive oil
- Beat 3 to 4 eggs till mixed in shallow bowl
- place 2 to 3 cups flour in another bowl, mix with season salt to …
Contributed Big Game Recipes
Click below to see elk and big game recipe contributions from other visitors to this page...
Chicken Fried Elk
Egg Season Salt Flour Olive oil - Beat 3 to 4 eggs till mixed in shallow bowl - place 2 to 3 cups flour in another bowl, mix with season salt to …Elk Recipes Submitted by Visitors
(This recipe and information is adapted from "Safe Handling of Wild Game" by Susan Brewer, Ph.D. and Charles Stites, M.S., The University of Illinois, …Click here to write your own.
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Forum Topic Discussions:
How often should I use my cow call?, I am new to the sport of bow hunting elk and my question is how often should I use my cow calls?
295 yard kill with a Kimber Montana 325 WSM, by Don from Dallas: My ELk did not even twitch once. He was dead when he hit the ground.
325 WSM is worth considering, Palmer Lake,CO: I believe that the .325 WSM is the ultimate elk caliber...
30-30 for Elk? : I have a 30 30 with 170 grain round nose bullet. Will this work to shoot an elk ?
(More comments about Best Elk Rifle below)
Submissions
Unique Elk Talk by Idaho Steve (Hailey, Id ), In the middle of the night, a herd of elk came traveling through the drainage and right past my tent...
Smelly Elk Areas? by Jimmy (New Mexico), I've come across many areas that just stink of elk, literally. I have heard two somewhat contradictory stories...
DIY Gear List Must Have's! by Craig (Florida) "Here are some of the items I use on my DIY hunts in the CO backcountry..."
Elk and Deer Hunting and Mountain Bikes, by Skip Shepherd (Tucson, AZ)~ At 67 I am thinking a lot about investing in a mountain bike to get back into remote areas...
Solo archery hunting -- tips for calling/set up?, by Idaho Steve (Hailey, ID )~ I hunt by myself a lot...I'd love to hear your thoughts on strategic set-ups when solo hunting and calling.
Non- Lead Bullets for Elk?, by Dave, Elk Hunting Tips.Net (Garrison, MT)~ What do you ballistics guys think about the use of non-lead bullets for elk? According to this story...
Rage Broadheads by Chris, ...my buddy gave me a rage practice tip and when I shot it you could not pick out the broadhead from the field points. I was sold...
Recent Submissions:
Finally filled the freezer..., Colorado Rockies~ "I was bummed when I got to the property and no elk, nor any hoof prints in the snow. ...I pulled each of the elk into shade then started gutting..."
Wounded Veteran Elk hunts, by Joshua FL), I am a disabled veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and have always dreamed of hunting elk. I am posting this to see if anyone would know of any elk hunts free to disabled vets....
First Elk with a Bow, by Ryan H. (Colorado), ...Finally after many years of hunting with a bow "I got er did"!
First Elk!, by Tater (Sheridan, Arkansas) I took the advice I received from this website and was successful…I wanted to Thank You and Your Forum and the folks that share on here for the knowledge and information that helped me find an elk I was quite happy with.
Any success in Unit 14?, by: Dave (MI), "I'm planning on doing a DIY in Unit 14 for 2012..."
Bugle in Herd bulls, by Swiltbank (Az) The key to calling in a herd bull is to get into his bedding grounds and threaten his herd. Start off sounding like…
Best Rifle Caliber?, by Buglemup (Superior, MT), "I've been reading what people have been writing about rifle calibers and here is what 16 years of guiding elk has taught me."
7mm Remington Magnum, by Dean (Helena, MT. USA) I use my Liberty Ruger M77, 7mm Rem. Mag. for antelope, deer, elk... Comment: "What do you guys think about the idea of hunting elk with a 270? I also know a guy who kills elk with a 243."
338 Marlin Express, "Light, fast shooting, hard hitting, manageable recoil, and for a lever gun - very accurate."
Guns I like for Elk, by Mountain Walker (Kootenays east B.C. Canada),"I think the gun you shoot Elk with should be one you shoot a lot with... "
.35 Remington, by Bill Smith "...my .35 Rem appears to have dropped a medium deer flawlessly, but I now have serious doubts as to its capability to take an elk."
Where to hunt in Az unit 3B?, by Cliffjumper (Tucson, Az) ~ I got a late bull muzzle loader hunt in Arizona unit 3b. Does anyone know how to hunt bulls in the late season?...
First time elk hunter hunting Arizona unit 6A , by Rob Marchio (Omaha, Ne)~ I'm a first time elk hunter hunting Arizona's unit 6A. I'm planning on staying in the Pine Grove campground...
Help needed for 1st DIY Hunt w/Son, by Patrick (Parker, CO), "I was looking for some advice on my 1st DIY hunt for 2014 in CO with my 13 yr old son. I have countless hrs going over stats, topo maps & Google Earth"
Elk Hunting Colorado in 2013, By William (Midland, TX) "I am planning an elk hunt next year in Colorado and I wanted to know if hunting Gunnison National Forest..."
Unit 60 Elk 4th Rifle Season Nov 13-17 Either Sex 2013, By Chester "...Any general advice about the unit would be appreciated!"
Elk Hunting Idaho Unit 8 8A 11, This is my first year seriously trying to track down some elk. Is there anyone that has hunted in any of these units and can give me some friendly advice? Mitchell, Moscow Idaho
Elk Hunting Pocatello by Cameron (Pocatello) Where is the best place to elk hunt around Pocatello, Idaho? I'm a student at ISU and I'm looking for somewhere around here to hunt next season.
How is the elk hunting in unit 30A in Idaho?, by Terry (Richland Center, WI) Has anyone archery elk hunted in unit 30A in Idaho? What can you tell me about the area?
Hunting in Western Montana, by Mike A. (Alabama)
I did not draw a tag for Missouri breaks where I have hunted in the past. Having to start over and try western Montana.
New Mexico Unit 49, by Silas (Los Alamos, NM)
If anyone has tips on areas to start scouting, I'd really appreciate it.
First Elk Hunt First Elk Hunt, by Big "R" (NM)
I finally got drawn for a late elk hunt in Unit 28, north of Road 506 and south of the boundary line of the Lincoln National Forest...
Cow elk in Nevada's unit 222:
"Any good places known in unit 222?"
Northeast Nevada Early Elk hunt, by John (Carson City,NV)
"Any suggestions on what areas I may see some signs of elk?"
Retired USMC MSgt Needs Advice, by Ken Wing USMCRET (Bealeton, Va)
Popcorn VenisonPopcorn Venison with Maple Syrup?
Elk or Venison Steaks Grilled to Perfection Here's how to turn them into steakhouse steaks!
Spice-Crusted Grilled Venison Roast Recipe This Spice-Crusted, Grilled Venison Roast recipe works great for any red meat roasts, including elk, deer or beef roast...
Corned Elk Recipe You can easily make corned venison and elk, moose or corned beef from these instructions...
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