Venison Meatballs & Gnocchi (One-Skillet)
This venison meatballs and gnocchi recipe is hearty Italian-inspired comfort food made in one skillet. An easy wild game dinner using ground venison and pantry staples.
Servings: 1
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground venison
- 1 cup shelf-stable gnocchi (uncooked)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cups tomato sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 4 fresh mozzarella slices
- grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh Italian parsley, chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground venison, breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat. Roll into bite-size meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown meatballs on all sides, working in batches if needed.
- Add tomato sauce and uncooked gnocchi directly to the skillet with the meatballs.
- Reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until gnocchi is tender and meatballs are cooked through.
- Top with mozzarella slices and parmesan. Cover briefly until cheese melts.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Mix gently. Overworking ground venison can make meatballs dense and tough. Use your hands and stop mixing as soon as everything is combined.
- Keep the meat cold. Cold meat holds together better and helps the meatballs stay tender while browning.
- Don’t skip the egg and breadcrumbs. These act as binders and help retain moisture in lean wild game.
- Uniform size matters. Roll meatballs evenly so they cook at the same rate. Bite-size works best for one-skillet meals.
- Brown for flavor, not doneness. You’re building flavor in the skillet—the meatballs will finish cooking in the sauce.
- Add fat if needed. If your venison is very lean, a tablespoon or two of olive oil in the mixture helps prevent dryness.
- This venison meatballs and gnocchi recipe also works perfectly with ground elk, making it an easy, interchangeable wild game dinner.