We all love deer meat. Since The Deer Hunter and I’ve been married it’s been a large part of our diet—even before the girls had teeth to eat it 🙂
Chitter without a doubt likes fried deer meat the best. Chatter and I are happy to eat it any way as long as we get to eat it. My brother Paul loves the deer roast even going so far as to say if he ever has to have a last meal that would be it. Austin is more like Chatter and me and likes it just about any way it can be cooked. The Deer Hunter prefers grilled deer loin.
Or I should say grilled back strap. The cut of meat is commonly called tenderloin or loin in our area but isn’t technically the tenderloin. I say whatever you call it, it’s mighty good.
The Deer Hunter most often cooks our deer meat unless I’m using a jar of our canned meat. He is a great cook, but doesn’t really measure. He prefers to eye-ball it as he says and sometimes does something totally different like adding an ingredient or leaving one out depending on the way he feels in the moment.
Here’s the recipe for how he makes grilled meat. I made him let me measure so I could share the exact ingredients.
Deer Loin Marinade (makes enough for 1/2 back strap or small loin)
- 1 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt (sometimes he leaves the salt out)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 heaping tablespoon honey
Mix well; marinate meat at least 5-6 hours. Cook to your desired doneness basting loin through out cooking with marinade. Discard any left over marinade.
Last night’s video: We Haven’t Got Our Seed Taters, Another Raised Bed Licked Out, & Granny Makes the Best Green Beans.
Tipper
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True Story: My eldest grandson was about 3 and visiting his maternal grandparents. His grandfather was a member of the American Legion and they were having a steak fry. Tyler was holding his grandfather’s hand and looked up at him and said, “What are we eating?” Grandpa said, “It’s a steak fry, beef steak.” Tyler replied, “Grandpa, I only eat venison.”
Yes, we do eat a lot of venison. We now have Grandpa, sons and grandsons hunting on our land. We all love our venison…..loin is prime!!!! Grilled is the best! The picture looks delicious!!!!!
Mmmm deer meat is delicious. We canned some and omg it is soooo good. Fix some potatoes and greenbeans with a pan of Cornbread. (I’m getting hungry)
My mouth is watering! The first time I had deer meat was a hamburger my uncle made it was the best I’d ever had -he then told me it was venison thinking I would be grossed out, but no way! I just love it especially the tenderloin. a good stew made with canned deer meat is ever so good Have a beautiful day Tipper, it’s snowing and blowing hard here in central NY ️
It’s no wonder Matt leaves out the salt. Worcestershire sauce has 65 mg of salt per teaspoon. A cup is 48 teaspoons. That’s 3120 mg of salt.
I put Worcestershire sauce in my jerky marinade and don’t add any salt. It works out perfect, or so I am told. I am afraid to eat it though, not because of the salt but because of my gout. I don’t eat red meat, wild game, shellfish and many other foods that others enjoy. Poor pitiful me! Pour me another glass of whine! That’s whine, not wine, my gout doesn’t allow me to drink wine either even if I would.
My Mother measured a cup with an old melmack (sp) coffee cup. I had to follow her around with my measuring cups, etc., to get recipes correct as she had learned how to cook from her Mother and they knew the consistency of dry ingredients to wet. I will never be as good a cook as my Mother, she was just a fantastic old-timey cook. So I am glad you followed Matt around and gave us the recipe for his marinade because it sounds wonderful and I am going to try it on a pork loin.
My Daddy had some peach trees that Mother had planted and even in NE MS an early freeze would kill them out every time. I’ve seen that Kudzu growing down south and it will cover up a house or trees in no time. You are wise to get those big trees cut out that have taken over more space around your house and the garden area for the corn. They can grow up so very fast if not kept cleared.
Dee, my wife “barefoot” cooked a lot of things, especially her cornbread. It was some of the best I ever ate. She did not measure a lot of things when cooking and would say “I know when it is like I want it.” Lord, how I miss her!
Tipper – like you all, I grew up on deer meat (and fish) and we ate it cooked in every which way one can cook meat. I can’t recall when I last had any but remember how delicious it was. Matt’s marinade looks like it could work with other meats as well – thanks for letting Tipper share this Matt. Have a wonderful week!
Well, that photo of the backstrap has this old has-been hunter drooling. Lordy, I used to love that stuff!
Hey, has -been hunter, even though you said deer was my favorite animal, if you would ask me real nice, I would let you come and sit on my back deck and shoot you a deer. I might even load it for you if it would fit in the front end bucket on my tractor. If you had stayed in SC, and hadn’t became a snowbird and moved to Florida you might of been able to shoot one in your backyard. For the ones that don’t know, Gene is an email friend of mine, he knows I am teasing/ picking on him for a little bit of fun.
Gene- if you lived close to me I could get you all the back strap you wanted!
Looks delicious! We love venison. That marinade would be good on any meat.
That sounds delicious. My late husband could cook deer/venison. I don’t know where the phrase came from but when our boys were little one of us would say (with a delicious simple meal in front of us) “wonder what the rich folks are eating!” That marinade sounds similar to what he used but I don’t think he had a recipe either. You can’t beat it! People who said they didn’t like venison would rave when he cooked it, usually on the grill.
Hi Sallie! I remember many a good home-cooked meal of beans and cornbread. My dad would always sit down, smack his lips and wonder out-loud “Wonder what the rich folks are eating for supper?!” I always thought those simple meals were the best. I hadn’t thought about him saying that in a good while.
Yum yum. Looks really good. The part about things in or out on a thought reminds me of the two codgers making chili. When asked about their recipe, one said, “Our recipe is so secret even we don’t know what’s in it.”
Tipper, have you ever heard “unthoughted”. I seem to remember having heard it a few times long ago. Wonder if it is in DSME.
Ron-It is in the 2nd edition. I will share the details this week 🙂
My son-in-law discovered a pile of deer carcasses down by the creek that had the back straps removed and the rest of the meat was left for the coyotes. We put up cameras trying to catch the poachers who had us fired up for more than one reason. Don’t reckon I’ve ever had back straps but they say it is some fine eatin’.
The Deer Hunter’s recipes are always so good that I’m going to try this one next!
I’ve had deer meat in the past a neighbor friend gave me. I remember her telling me to marinate it over night before cooking it. It’s been over 45 years so I don’t remember what was in the marinade. She said it would take the wild taste out of the meat, so I did what she said. It cooked up nice, but that first bite all I could think of was Bambi running through the meadow. It was really hard to swallow, but my taste buds kicked in and it actually tasted good. I remember enjoying the rest of the meal, after Bambi left me head…lol…silly, I know. I didn’t have a father, or close family members that hunted, so I never had access to deer meat. I had ate squirrel meat before because my Aunt Betty’s husband hunted squirrel, but I never tasted deer meat until I had just turned 20. I will say Matt can sure cook up a delicious looking tenderloin. Just looking at that picture of meat makes me wish I had a slice.
I have never had deer meat of any kind that I know of. It does look delicious whenever you all fix it in any form.
Any leftovers? If there are, I am heading your way…..lol. Looks delicious and I LOVE deer meat. It is so lean and so good and healthy. My Papa used to say (about my Grandma) she is working me like a white mouth mule. Naturally, I asked as a child what a white mouth mule was. Well, our mule. PEG, was a dark brown with brown hair around her mouth. But some mules had white or light colored hair around their mouth, hence, the white mouth mule description. Love and prayers to Granny and Little Mamas and all of you too.
In Northern Michigan, venison and fish are huge and traditional parts of our diets. Your photo alone had my mouth watering while drinking my morning coffee. I had previously saved Matt’s marinade recipe and cannot wait to make it once I get more deer meat. Last night I had Walleye for supper, and all I can do is give thanks to God for the incredible foods He has provided. Lately I’ve been hungry for chili made with ground venison. There is no better or healthier meat than deer.
Matt’s deer meat always looks so delicious on all your cooking videos and in the picture above. I love deer meat anyway you make it. I love to fry burgers and eat just like a hamburger; I love to fry deer steak with peppers and onions and serve with fried potatoes; and I love to fry deer meat and make a gravy out of the oil in the skillet and serve hot open-faced deer meat sandwiches with mashed potatoes; and of course, grilling deer meat is always great too. Loved your video last night. It’s always fun watching you guys work together. I can’t wait to see your new garden and the barn- raising. Hope everyone has a super Monday and a great week ahead.
My family and I love deer meat too. Our children grew up eating it. One time my wife bought a beef roast at the grocery store and cooked it for Sunday dinner. Our youngest son John wouldn’t eat it and when asked why he replied, Daddy, it don’t taste right, I like the meat that we eat. That boy had eaten a lot of deer!
Matt’s marinade sounds good! I believe it would take the “gamey” taste out of the deer. I rarely get venison anymore but when I do my favorite is the back strap. Yummy!
Blessings!!
All I have to say is YUMMY! That tenderloin looks-well- tender and juicy and simply delicious! Your man is a definite keeper! He’s a helper, builder, master gardener (a guy I went to school with claims he’s such with a degree and all-I say he’s a real big talker,) mechanic, engineer, and fine meat chef of wild game!!!! It’s too much for a woman who’s dreamed of such a feller, but never seen one til now!!! Y’all are indeed a lucky bunch that eats better than most folks! You’re truly blessed and have been a real blessing to us all by letting us share in your daily life and chores. Prayers for all your special ladies and babies right now!!! I’m excited for you all very much!!!
Deer loin in the grill is my favorite too but I like it in stew and chili and pretty much anything. Our family enjoys deer hunting very much and although we’ve never had the canned deer meat, we’ve tried it every other way. Perhaps I ask my husband to watch the canning video and see if we might try that next deer season but first comes turkey then fishing. Like your family, at least one family member likes it all. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I will try it for sure!
Was wondering why you would pour out the left ever marinade. I heat it up and use it like steak sauce
Bill in Blue Ridge
Bill-that would be yummy! We just wouldn’t want to save it for later without reheating in case the raw meat bacteria got in the marinade 🙂
I love deer meat too but rarely get any. This marinade sounds wonderful. I think I’ll try it with a pork tenderloin. Thanks for sharing!
Kelley, I was thinking the same thing. I’ve had similar marinades for pork roasts but with apple cider, but I’m also going to try Matt’s recipe next time I buy a pork roast. Yum!
Tipper, your deer meat sounds great the way Matt prepares it! Matt calls himself the mule in one of your videos. My husband has an old saying when I ask him to do work for me,( Don’t mind the old mule just keep loading the wagon!) Have you ever heard of that old saying? I have watched your you tube videos for 3 years now and we both enjoy them very much. God Bless your whole family. Kay and Bud from Ohio.
Kay-I have 🙂 So glad you enjoy what we do! Thank you 🙂
Looks so good.