The Best Venison Stew

Perfectly cooked to make this simple venison stew recipe a family favorite.  

This delicious stew is chocked full of sliced carrots and diced celery.  

Intensely flavored venison simmered with vegetables creates a low fat, scratch-made meal.  

What is Venison?

The word venison describes the meat of a game animal such as whitetail deer, elk, moose, reindeer and other types of deer or antelope.  As long as the meat of a game animal is consumed, which includes the internal organs, venison has individual cuts such as ribs, roast, and sirloin.  

Where to Buy Venison?

If you do not have access to fresh venison meat but want to try this venison stew recipe, check out The Spruce Eats for different options to purchase this tasty meat.  

How to Make Venison Stew

Instant Pot Venison Stew:

Gather your ingredients.

Dice venison, carrots and celery into small pieces. Start with the Instant Pot, press the sauté button with the normal highlighted.  Melt the butter in the pan.  

Once the butter is melted, add the venison and brown for 6 minutes stirring to prevent burning the meat.  Now it is time to toss in the celery, salt and pepper. Continue sautéing for 5 more minutes.

Next, add the carrots, beef broth and 2 cups water.  Give everything a quick stir.

Place the lid on the Instant Pot and press cancel.  After that, press slow cook and the more setting which sets your timer for 4 hours.

When the 4 hours is up check for doneness of the venison.  If the meat is not tender enough for you, cook longer.  

How to Thicken Venison Stew

In the meantime, mix the cornstarch with ½ cup cold water.  Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the hot liquid and stir to combine.  

Press the cancel button, then hit the sauté – more button.  Stir as the stew heats to a boil. If the deer stew is not thick enough for your liking just mix up some more cornstarch/water and add to the stew.  

Serve over bread, mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, rice or anything else of your choosing.   

Crockpot Venison Stew

Dice venison, carrots and celery into small pieces.

Start with sautéing the venison in a pan on the stove over medium heat.  Melt the butter in the pan.  Once the butter is melted, add the venison and brown for 5 minutes stirring to prevent burning the meat.  

Adjust the temperature and the sautéing time if needed. Now it is time to toss in the celery, salt and pepper. Continue sautéing for 2-3 more minutes.

Transfer contents of the pan into the crockpot. Next, add the carrots, beef broth and 2 cups water. Give everything a quick stir.

Place the lid on the crockpot.  After that, set the crockpot on high.  Check for doneness of the venison after 4 hours.  If the meat is not tender enough for you, cook longer.  

How to Thicken Venison Stew

In the meantime, mix the cornstarch with ½ cup cold water.  Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the hot liquid and stir to combine.  After 10 minutes if the deer stew is not thick enough for your liking just mix up some more cornstarch/water and add to the stew.  

Venison Stew Stove Top

Dice venison, carrots and celery into small pieces. Start with sautéing the venison in a medium stockpot on the stove over medium heat.  

Melt the butter in the pan.  Once the butter is melted, add the venison and brown for 5 minutes stirring to prevent burning the meat.  Adjust the temperature and the sautéing time if needed.

Now it is time to toss in the celery, salt and pepper. Continue sautéing for 2-3 more minutes. Next, add the carrots, beef broth and 2 cups water.  Give everything a quick stir.

Cover the stockpot, turn the burner down so the liquid is just simmering and slowly cook for about 1 hour.  Check for doneness of the venison.  If the meat is not tender enough for you, cook longer.  

How to Thicken Venison Stew

In the meantime, mix the cornstarch with ½ cup cold water.  Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the hot liquid and stir to combine.  After simmering for 10 minutes if the deer stew is not thick enough for your liking just mix up some more cornstarch/water and add to the stew.  

Venison Stew Slow Cooker

Dice venison, carrots and celery into small pieces. Start with sautéing the venison in the slow cooker pan on the stove over medium heat.  

Melt the butter in the pan.  Once the butter is melted, add the venison and brown for 5 minutes stirring to prevent burning the meat.  Adjust the temperature and the sautéing time if needed.

Now it is time to toss in the celery, salt and pepper. Continue sautéing for 2-3 more minutes. Next, add the carrots, beef broth and 2 cups water.  Give everything a quick stir.

Return the pan to the base and set the temperature to high. Cover the pan, simmer and slowly cook for about 4-8 hours.  Check for doneness of the venison.  If the meat is not tender enough for you, cook longer.  

How to Thicken Venison Stew

In the meantime, mix the cornstarch with ½ cup cold water.  Return the pan to the stove on medium heat.  Bring the stew to a low boil.  

Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the hot liquid and stir to combine.  After simmering for about 2 minutes if the deer stew is not thick enough for your liking just mix up some more cornstarch/water and add to the stew.  

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If you enjoy eating game meat, you may enjoy the following recipes: Venison Tips and Noodles and the Strawberry Peach Smoothie.