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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers & Snacks

    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites

    Updated Aug 23, 2021

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    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites

    This post was generously sponsored by my husband. 🙂 Another successful deer hunting season in the books!

    If you are looking for a hearty and meaty appetizer, try these Bacon Wrapped Venison bites. First, we marinated lean venison backstrap in our signature homemade game marinade. Then we did what any self-respecting Southerner would do...we wrapped them in hickory smoked bacon and basted them with barbecue sauce. Fast, easy, and mouth-watering!

    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites | Buy This Cook That

    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites

    The other day on Facebook, I saw a meme that read "There is a deer stand in my family tree." THIS has been my life for the last few months. Even before deer hunting season started here in Tennessee, my husband has been building hunting blinds, shopping for new gear, and getting ready to fill our freezer with venison meat.

    Now that hunting season is officially over (YAY!), I get to spend more time with my hubby. And I am spending more time in the kitchen cooking up all of his hard work. I mean, if you can call freezing your butt off in the woods hard work. (Hunters everywhere are rolling their eyes at me.) But hey, I'll sit right here in my warm + cozy kitchen eating these delish Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites all day long.

    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites | Buy This Cook That

    While you can certainly prepare these bacon wrapped appetizer bites from beef, there is nothing quite like the taste and texture of a lean venison backstrap. Some people refer to the backstrap as the filet mignon of deer, and it is my husband's favorite cut.

    As you can see, it is EXTREMELY lean with very little fat. However it is typically very tender and takes well to simple seasonings and cooking methods. Me? I love it wrapped with bacon to add fat and keep the deer meat juicy.

    And, well, bacon makes everything taste better.

    Ingredients needed for Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites:

    • Venison backstrap
    • Olive oil
    • Soy sauce
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Balsamic vinegar
    • Garlic
    • Mustard
    • Black Pepper
    • Hickory-smoked bacon
    • Barbecue sauce (optional)
    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites | Buy This Cook That

    First whisk together an easy and savory homemade marinade. This is a great all-purpose marinade for venison and beef. You can throw it together in a second with equal parts olive oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Toss in crushed garlic, a squirt of mustard, and black pepper and you are good to go.

    Does the marinade the gamey flavor of venison? Well that depends. The taste and level of wild flavor in venison is directly related on their diet. Many deer do not have that strong flavor at all, especially if they have fed on corn.

    TIP: Wild flavor is more common with fattier pieces of venison. This backstrap = zero fat. So in this case, our game marinade is more for taste and tenderizing, nothing more.

    Next step?  Rinse the backstrap in cold water and pat it dry with paper towels. Then, cut it into bite-sized cubes. Mine are about an inch. This venison is so tender it cut like warm butter.

    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites | Buy This Cook That

    Add the prepared pieces of deer meat into the marinade. I like to use my hands to toss them to make sure each and every bite gets coated with the tasty marinade. Into the fridge for at least an hour, and you are ready to assemble.

    TIP: There is no need to marinate these bites longer than two hours. You want the marinade to complement the natural venison flavor, not overwhelm it.

    How to Make Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites:

    1. Whisk together the marinade. (See bottom of this post for complete recipe.)
    2. Rinse the venison and pat dry. Cut into inch sized pieces.
    3. Toss the venison chunks into the marinade, coating all pieces. Cover and chill for at least one hour.
    4. Drain the marinade from the venison, and pat the excess marinade.
    5. Wrap each piece of venison meat with half a strip of bacon. Secure with toothpicks.
    6. Bake for 10 minutes in a pre-heated oven.
    7. Remove from oven and baste with thin barbecue sauce.
    8. Broil and baste, turning frequently until the bacon is crispy and browned.
    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites | Buy This Cook That

    Next, drain marinade off of the venison and pat off any excess marinade. You don't want them soaking wet, because that will cause them to "steam" in the oven and the bacon won't get as crisp. I pour mine into a colander and let them drain, then soak up any excess with paper towels.

    Wrap each piece of deer meat with half a strip of thick-cut hickory smoked bacon. I love the flavor of traditional hickory smoked bacon. It pairs well with the venison flavor and savory marinade.

    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites | Buy This Cook That

    Like this recipe? Check these out:

    Spicy Three Bean Venison Chili

    Diablo Skillet Loaded Fries

    Beer Battered Bratwurst Corn Dogs

    Homemade Bacon Jam

    Southern-Style Venison Stew

    Arrange the Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites in an even layer on a broiler pan. For the best airflow and even cooking, I like to use a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet.

    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites | Buy This Cook That

    While the bites are baking (about 1o minutes in a HOT 450 degree oven), whisk together your favorite barbecue sauce with a little water. You can put it on thick if you'd like, but this step is to add just a little sweetness to balance out the flavors. Plus the simple bbq basting gives the Bacon Wrapped Venison a gorgeous color.

    Turn the broiler on and baste + broil and turn the venison bites until the bacon is crisp and brown. Watch them carefully and turn frequently...broilers can go from zero to nuclear in a matter of seconds.

    The final result should look like this:

    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites | Buy This Cook That

    Tips on cooking Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites:

    • Pat the venison dry before marinating and again before wrapping in bacon.
    • Marinate for no longer than 2 hours.
    • Wrap the bacon tightly for best results.
    • For even cooking and browning, cook the bites on a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet.
    • Make sure your oven is pre-heated and hot. If your oven cooks "cool", adjust the temperature.
    • Baste with thin barbecue sauce during the broiling portion for gorgeous color and taste.
    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites | Buy This Cook That

    Warning: You may want to make a double or triple batch of these delicious Bacon Wrapped Venison bites. They never last long around my house.

    Love this post? Sign up for the Buy This Cook That Newsletter for a weekly email of new content. You can also follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram for our latest + greatest ideas!

    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites | Buy This Cook That

    Bacon Wrapped Venison Bites

    Savory, marinated bites of venison meat wrapped in hickory smoked bacon, broiled to perfection, and based with bbq sauce. These meaty bites are a great party appetizer for anyone with a big appetite. 
    4.37 from 65 votes
    Print Recipe Email Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Marinating Time 1 hr
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24 bites
    Calories 65 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1.5 pounds venison
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup soy sauce
    • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 3 cloves garlic pressed or finely minced
    • 1 teaspoon mustard any kind
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ cup barbecue sauce
    • 2 tablespoons water optional

    Instructions
     

    • In a bowl large enough to hold the venision, whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Add the crushed garlic, mustard, and black pepper. Set aside.
    • Rinse the venison backstrap and pat dry. Cut evenly into 1 inch sized pieces. 
    • Place the venison chunks into the prepared marinade. Toss with your hands to coat all pieces. Cover and refrigerate for 1 - 2 hours.
    • Preheat oven to 450 degrees. If your oven runs "cool", adjust to 475. 
    • Drain the marinade from the venison completely. Pat with paper towels to remove excess marinade.
    • Wrap each piece of venison with half a strip of thick cut bacon. Wrap tightly, securing with a toothpick.
    • Arrange the bacon wrapped bites seam side down onto a broiler pan or wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet. 
    • Bake for 10 - 12 minutes at 450. Remove from the oven and turn on the broiler. 
    • Stir together the barbecue sauce and water to a thin consistency. Using a brush, baste the bacon wrapped venison. Broil and baste the bites, turning FREQUENTLY, until the bacon is browned. 

    Notes

    Due to variations in ovens, size of meat, and broilers, the cooking time will vary. Adjust as needed. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1pieceCalories: 65kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 6gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 211mgPotassium: 129mgFiber: 0gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 1.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

    1. Tami Koontz

      May 06, 2020 at 12:11 pm

      5 stars
      Made this recipe last night and it was delicious! I’m always looking for new ways to cook deer meat and this is my favorite. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Teri

        May 08, 2020 at 9:51 am

        I am so happy that you loved it. Thanks for taking the time to leave us feedback. I know what it is like to have a freezer full of venison and wanting new recipes for it. We've got a yummy deer stew recipe you should check out, too. https://buythiscookthat.com/venison-stew/

        Reply
    2. Vikki

      July 04, 2020 at 9:40 am

      Can this be done with any deer meat? I have chops and steaks but no back strap.. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Teri

        July 07, 2020 at 4:08 pm

        Yes. The texture may turn out slightly different based on how tough (or tender) the venison is, but it will work.

        Reply
    3. Lori Charalampous

      November 15, 2020 at 3:03 pm

      Can these be grilled??

      Reply
      • Teri

        November 15, 2020 at 3:36 pm

        Yes. Just watch for flare ups. Shouldn't take long to grill (depending on the size you cut the venison).

        Reply
    4. Mema

      December 21, 2020 at 10:58 am

      Can these be fried?

      Reply
      • Teri

        December 26, 2020 at 3:39 pm

        I've never made them fried, but I bet you can drop them in the deep fryer or cook them up in a cast iron skillet until the bacon is nice and crisp.

        Reply
    5. Celeste

      February 12, 2021 at 6:17 pm

      Any particular type of bacon? It's not listed. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Teri

        February 17, 2021 at 8:23 pm

        I used Wright Brand Hickory Smoked bacon, but you can use your favorite brand of bacon.

        Reply
    6. Ari

      August 23, 2021 at 5:33 pm

      5 stars
      I used on venison and chicken. Toss is my new go to marinaide! Thanks for the great recipe!!

      Reply
      • Teri

        August 26, 2021 at 10:00 am

        Yay! Glad you like it.

        Reply
    7. Beck & Bulow

      December 28, 2021 at 6:16 am

      5 stars
      Very tasty. My only two comments are these; I’d go lighter on the Worcester (maybe by half) and sear the meat with salt and pepper before it goes in the IP and please visit us: https://www.beckandbulow.com

      Reply
    8. Melody

      December 29, 2022 at 9:43 am

      I made these last night and they were delicious! My husband, the hunter, said this is a recipe to keep and use again. We are always looking for new ways to use our venison. We only ate about half the bites and plan on reheating the rest for tonight. Any recommendations on reheating them?

      Reply
      • Teri

        January 03, 2023 at 12:30 pm

        Thank you so much for trying our recipe - and for leaving us your feedback. Your husband sounds like a smart guy. 🙂

        To reheat, you could always pop them in microwave, but the bacon would be soggy. I would try reheating in the air fryer for a few minutes, or in the oven. You do run the risk of drying them out a little...especially since deer has so little fat. But...the bacon should help a little.

        Reply

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