One of the most popular recipe on this blog is my Venison Meatloaf recipe. I hear from hundreds of readers who just LOVE my venison meatloaf. I love it too! And I had to share this Hearty & Delicious Venison Stew recipe with you!
Venison is sometimes a difficult meat to work with. Especially when you have picky eaters. But I have found a few tricks to take the gamey-ness taste right out of the meat. I knew I needed to share my favorite hearty and delicious Venison Stew with you too.
We have been promised a share in some venison by a friend this season. So I am praying extra hard he shoots something! We are on the last of the venison in our freezer! BOO!!!
The slow cooker is my friend when it comes to making this stew. I just recently discovered Slow Cooker Liners which make clean up AMAZINGLY EASY!!!! (I mean really… where have these been all my life!) The slow cooker really helps to break down the venison meat. Low and slow makes yummy and tender.
This venison stew is perfect for a cold winter night. It makes a lot. But it just gets better every day. So perfect leftovers. Serve with a side of crispy garlic bread and life couldn’t be more perfect.


- 3 lbs Venison Meat, diced into 1-1 1/2 inch pieces
- 5 medium Potatoes, diced into 1 inch pieces
- 3 Carrots, diced into 1 inch pieces
- 4 stalks of Celery, diced into 1 inch pieces
- 1 large Onion, diced
- 2 tbsp Garlic, finely diced
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp ground Pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp Beef Base (I use Better Than Bouillon, beef bouillon can be substituted)
- 2 cans Diet Coke or Coke
- 1/4 cup or 1 packet Brown Gravy Mix
- salt and pepper to taste
- Line slow cooker with disposable liner or spray with cooking spray.
- Place all ingredients into slow cooker and mix with large wooden spoon.
- Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
- Serve.
Happy Eating!
Keikilani
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It’s all about a hearty stew or soup this time of year. So satisfying & cozy!
I really love stew, especially in the winter when it is cold outside. This looks really good!
Believe it or not, I have never tasted venison. This recipe looks good though.
That is a wonderful winter night meal. I can’t wait to try this.
I have never had venison before. This looks amazing, nice and hearty!
This sounds so good! I could really do with some of this on a cold day in. My family loves venison!
So craving stew now. I am drooling over how thick and hearty this looks.
This looks yummy. I love a good stew.
Yum! So good for cold nights after work. My husband would love this.
This would make for a great weeknight dinner that I know my whole family will love.
’tis the season to cook up what the boys are hunting. I saw that recipe loved by many for years when I was married (big hunters they were).
We eat a lot of deer. We hunt often and always have venison in our freezer. I want to try your version of venison stew. Thanks for sharing.
I’ll have to try this recipe with beef. Stews are the perfect dinner for cold winter nights.
I love stew on a cold night. This looks so delicious and filling and I don’t even like venison!!
I tried venison when I was a kid, it was yummy! I like the idea of making a stew! Perfect for winter!
A super warm stew for the winter! I can almost smell the spices! I have not had venison in a long time!
Living in Colorado we tend to get a lot of venison but I don’t think I’ve ever made a stew with it before. I’m definitely going to be giving your recipe a try.
We just moved to the country and are getting offers of vension from the neighbors. I’ll have to accept and try this!
You need to take them up on the offer of Venison! It really is a great meat.
I lived in Switzerland for a number of years and there were months that were called Wild Game season.
That certainly looks like a nice hearty meal. Perfect for a chilly winter evening!
The venison stew looks so delicious. It seems like it would be a great meal on a cold winter day.
Hello! I have been looking for a venison stew recipe, this one looks great! I wonder if you can suggest an alternative to adding coke or diet coke to this recipe – perhaps if I understood what purpose the soda serves, I could figure out how to substitute accordingly? Thanks!
Hi Lauren! The coke is to help tenderize the meat as well give a slight sweet taste to the stew. You can substitute water for the coke or use wine for another depth of flavor.
Thanks so much! I actually used beer (it worked great!) the first time I made this, and am making it again right now with red wine.
That is brilliant, Lauren! Let me know how it goes with the wine. I am sure it will taste amazing!
If the coke was used to help tenderize the meat would it be a good idea then too marinate venison stew chunks in the Coca-Cola overnight? And then add it all to the crock pot the next day? Also do you think it would taste even yummier to maybe use a root beer like a spice to root beer or A&W Root Beer?
I think it’s a ton of fun to experiment with different sodas! And marinating overnight will just make the meat even more tender and flavorful.
What cut of meat did you use?
I use a large cut. Like a roast and cut into chunks.
Can you substitute anything for the diet Coke ? I was just wondering I have e never used it in a recipe before
Hi Selina!
You can absolutely substitute another liquid. Wine or Beef Stock would be very tasty options. The dt Coke gives it a unique flavor, a touch a sweetness and helps to tenderize the meat.
How much beef bouillon do you use as substitute to the beef base?
I would exchange it for equal amounts.
Cant wait to make this just went groceey shopping. If I substitute beef base with bouillon cubes, how many cubes would I use ? Thank you !!
This looks wonderful! I’ll be making it for the Wild Game Dinner at our church tomorrow night! I’m a little nervous about the coke though! Hope it goes well!
I’ve made this twice now and it’s been delicious both times. I’m not a big rule-player when it comes to recipes and was a bit apprehensive at using 2 cans of coke, so I just used one and a cans equivalent of water. The venison was tender and delicious. I’m sure 2 would be fine, but we will probably stick to 1.
When I made it last night, I had forgotten to buy brown gravy, but I did have an old packet of Club House Beef Stew, so I tossed that in. . Still delicious.
This recipe is forgiving and adaptable. We will be making it again, for sure!
I am so glad you are enjoying this recipe! I am also not a rule-player with recipes! It’s so much fun playing with ingredients and seeing what works for you.
I should have also mentioned that I made it in my instant pot in 25 minutes! Ain’t nobody got time for crock-potting! ?
(Back at your blog because I’m making this again tonight, but this time with ground venison!)
25 Minutes?!?! Girl, I need an instant pot! Love it!
It was just as delicious with ground venison! If you do get an Instant Pot, make this first! The only suggestion I would have is to use red potatoes (I use the mini ones cut in half) as they hold up better in pressure. Thanks again for posting!!! 😀
Oooo!!! Good to know Marie! Thanks for the suggestions!
Does this recipe make enough to feed four firemen?
I think so! It fed my family of 8 with leftovers.
Should the ingredients be submerged? Think I put in too many veggies. In crockpots now
You can always add more water or beef broth to thin out the stew to your desired consistency.
Can I use chicken gravy & bullion’s instead of beef and it tast right? My daughter eats venison but nothing beef!
I have never tried it with chicken gravy & bullion’s but I bet it would be pretty good. I expect it won’t be quite as dark of a gravy though.