Venison Shanks: A Versatile Cut for Endless Wild Game Meals
The shank of a wild game animal is packed with tender, flavorful meat—if cooked correctly. You can sear and braise for hours to achieve the perfect texture, or save time by searing and then pressure cooking for instant results using an Instant Pot. The Instant Pot is a kitchen must-have for speeding up the cooking of tough cuts like venison shanks and neck meat, without sacrificing flavor or tenderness.
Understanding the Shank and Pressure Cooking
The shank is the lower portion of a game animal’s leg, located just below the knee or hock, and it contains a lot of connective tissue and sinew. While this makes the cut naturally tough, it also means it’s packed with flavor. Pressure cooking is a perfect technique for shank meat because the high, consistent heat breaks down the sinew and collagen quickly, turning it into tender, shreddable meat while intensifying the rich, savory flavors that make wild game so special.
Shank and neck meat offer endless possibilities for wild game meals. The shreddable meat is perfect for Italian dishes, Mexican dishes like tacos and enchiladas, simple pulled meat sandwiches, and more.
For this recipe, I used two boneless mule deer shanks, generously seasoned with salt, pepper, and granulated garlic powder. I added olive oil to the Instant Pot and seared the shanks on Saute mode for 15 minutes. Then I added chopped onions, minced garlic, chopped carrots and celery, a can of crushed tomatoes, and 1 cup of dry red wine. After securing the lid, I pressure cooked for 70-75 minutes, allowing the steam to release naturally.
The result was incredibly tender meat that shredded effortlessly with a fork. I seasoned with a pinch of salt to taste and served the meat, vegetables, and rich sauce over creamy cooked polenta, finishing with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a comforting, hearty meal.
While serving tender venison shanks over creamy polenta is a classic choice, it also pairs beautifully with other comforting bases. Try it over buttery mashed potatoes or a bed of wide egg noodles to soak up the rich, savory sauce. Each option highlights the shreddable meat and hearty vegetables, making the dish versatile for weeknight dinners or special gatherings.
Simple Ingredients for Venison Shanks and other Venison Recipes
When I cook wild game, I like to keep the ingredients simple to let the true flavor of the meat shine. Basic seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic, and fresh aromatics enhance the natural richness without overpowering it. At the same time, these recipes are flexible—feel free to add herbs, spices, or sauces to suit your personal flavor preferences. This approach allows the bold taste of the venison or elk to take center stage while giving you the freedom to make each dish your own.
Season venison shanks generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Heat olive oil in the Instant Pot on Saute mode. Sear shanks 15 minutes, turning to brown evenly.
Add chopped onions, garlic, carrots, celery, crushed tomatoes and red wine. Secure lid. Pressure cook for 75 minutes, allowing natural steam release.
Remove shanks; shred meat with a fork. Adjust seasoning with a pinch of salt.
Serve shredded venison, vegetables, and sauce over creamy polenta, mashed potatoes, or wide egg noodles.
Finish with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Other Venison Recipes to Try
If you enjoy this venison shank recipe, there are plenty of other ways to get creative with wild game. Try hearty dishes like venison meatballs with gnocchi, tender seared venison eye-of-round, savory venison meat pies, or flavorful ground venison rollups. Each recipe showcases the rich, lean taste of venison in different styles and textures, offering inspiration for weeknight dinners, special occasions, or holiday meals.
Ingredients
- 2-4 boneless deer shanks, (these are mule deer shanks)
- 1-2 tsp kosher salt
- 1-2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp granulated garlic powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- pinch of salt, to taste
- polenta or mashed potatoes, for serving
- grated Parmesan cheese, for finishing
Instructions
- Season venison shanks generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Heat olive oil in the Instant Pot on Saute mode. Sear shanks 15 minutes, turning to brown evenly.
- Add chopped onions, garlic, carrots, celery, crushed tomatoes and red wine. Secure lid. Pressure cook for 75 minutes, allowing natural steam release.
- Remove shanks; shred meat with a fork. Adjust seasoning with a pinch of salt.
- Serve shredded venison, vegetables, and sauce over creamy polenta, mashed potatoes, or wide egg noodles.
- Finish with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- The shank is a tough cut with lots of sinew; pressure cooking breaks it down into tender, shreddable meat.
- Venison shanks are versatile—use shredded meat for tacos, enchiladas, pulled sandwiches, or Italian-style dishes.
- Keep seasonings simple to let the natural flavor of wild game shine, but feel free to add herbs or spices to suit your taste.
- Polenta, mashed potatoes, or noodles all work beautifully as a base to soak up the rich sauce.
Celebrating Wild Game at the Table
My wild game recipes are meant to inspire home cooks and hunters alike, offering new ways to prepare and enjoy the game you’ve harvested. Each dish is more than just a meal—it tells a story about the animal that was hunted, the time and care it took to bring it to the table, and the appreciation we hold for the meat we’re fortunate to enjoy. By experimenting with flavors, techniques, and seasonal ingredients, these recipes help honor the animal while encouraging creativity in the kitchen, turning every meal into a meaningful and memorable experience.