Venison Enchiladas (That Taste Just Like Takeout!)

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This venison enchiladas recipe is one of my family’s favorite venison recipes. The first time I made it for my husband, he swore it tasted just like our favorite Mexican restaurant! Since this enchilada recipe uses canned venison, it’s super quick to prepare–even on a busy weeknight!

This is truly a recipe for everyone! The spices and sauce help cover up the “gamey” taste that venison can sometimes have. Since this enchilada recipe requires canned venison, it naturally takes on the texture of shredded beef, without all the fuss! If you don’t have canned venison, you can easily swap it for browned ground venison. You can also choose whether your family prefers flour or corn tortillas. My family loves the crisp smooth texture of flour tortillas, but corn tortillas make equally scrumptious enchiladas!

These savory enchiladas are delicious served with a side of refried beans or Spanish rice. Don’t forget the hot sauce and the sour cream! Of course, you can choose to sprinkle with your choice of fresh toppings, like diced tomatoes or green onions. The best part about these enchiladas is that they cook up in almost no time at all!

Venison Enchiladas Ingredients

Before we begin, let’s talk about all the ingredients we will need. In order to save time, I have opted for store-bought ingredients. Of course, you can choose to go all out and prepare your own ingredients from scratch if you choose.

Venison

Why venison? First of all, it is a naturally lean and healthy protein choice. Secondly, it is the natural choice for any hunter or huntress! If you cannot find any venison in your local store (and are not inclined to hunting), feel free to use beef instead. Just be sure to drain the meat after browning.

I prefer to use canned venison for this recipe, because after cooking it in the sauce it transforms into the texture of shredded beef. It soaks up all the savory, Tex-Mex flavor of the spices and sauce and practically melts in your mouth. Of course, you can substitute ground venison. You will need to brown the venison in a pan or skillet before using.

If you’d like to try canning your own venison, I recommend checking out my post on How to Can Venison. It’s really simple and will provide your family with all the canned venison you need to make this recipe and others time and time again.

Chopped Green Chiles and Onions

Onions are optional, but they add another layer of flavor to the enchiladas. You can use white, yellow, or red onions. Just be sure to chop them fine and saute until soft and somewhat caramelized during the first step. I also use canned mild green chiles. If your family doesn’t mind the heat, you can go for a spicier option instead.

Seasoning

To make these enchiladas more flavorful, you can use any combination of seasonings you like for Tex-Mex or tacos. I prefer to use a little bit of salt and pepper, as well as some cumin and adobo. You could also use chili powder and a little bit of cayenne if you would like to spice it up a bit!

Tortillas

Either flour or corn tortillas will work excellent for venison enchiladas. It is more of a matter of preference. I usually choose smaller tortillas like those used for soft tacos.

Enchilada Sauce

You could use any store-bought red enchilada sauce. My family likes mild Ortega, but any brand would work. If you have the time, I recommend making your own sauce. It really ups the flavor to a new level! If you are interested in making your own red enchilada sauce, check out this recipe! Enchilada Sauce Recipe by Cookie and Kate

Cheese

Any kind of your favorite shredded cheese will work with this recipe. My family prefers colby jack. You could use any taco or Mexican blend as well.

Toppings and Sides

While totally optional, adding toppings can really boost the flavors of these venison enchiladas! Diced fresh tomatoes, sour cream, chopped green onions, and hot sauce are all great options! My family likes these served with a side of Spanish rice and refried beans.

Venison Enchiladas Recipe

Have You Tried This Venison Enchiladas Recipe?

Leave a comment below! I’d love to hear how you and your family liked this recipe. If you have any other comments or suggestions, I’d love to hear those too! Thank you!