Crock Pot Venison Stew
Everyone loves a good steaming bowl of stew. It is the ultimate comfort food, especially during the cold winter months. It’s versatility makes it a winning dish for almost everyone. The ingredients can be substituted or omitted based on your own preferences pretty easily. My personal favourite is crock pot venison stew.
All I need is some venison, beef broth, onions, potatoes and carrots and I have a pot of stew simmering away for supper. Cooking it in a crock pot makes it even easier, ensuring a slow, even cooking without the risk of scorching the food. I love cooking in a crock pot because I can do the food prep after breakfast and get everything in the pot and cooking before getting on to my next task.
To make my Crock Pot Venison Stew you will need:
Venison roast
Beef broth
Potatoes
Onion
Celery
Carrots
mushrooms
Garlic
Bay leaves
Salt/pepper
Celery salt
Thyme
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Worcestershire sauce
flour
This crock pot venison stew recipe is based on a full large 8 quart crock pot, as I have a large family and we enjoy leftovers (or at least I enjoy skipping cooking whenever I can). This can of course be made to a smaller scale by cutting the recipe in half. Before I get comments on this post, I do realize that I have both onions and onion powder and then garlic and garlic powder. I add garlic powder and onion powder to EVERYTHING, I just can’t help myself. Of course you can change or omit any seasonings to suit your tastes. I always taste the broth after it has had a couple of hours to get a good flavour and then add anything I feel it needs at that time.
Crock Pot Venison Stew Recipe
Ingredients:
2 lbs venison roast
2 Tbsp bacon grease
1 large sliced onion
¼ cup of sliced celery
1 cup of sliced mushrooms
4 cups cubed potatoes
3 cups cubed carrots
2 cups cubed celery
2 cloves garlic
2 bay leaves
7 cups beef broth
¼ tsp celery salt
¼ tsp thyme
1 Tbsp onion powder
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
¼ cup flour
The first step in making crock pot venison stew is to dice up your venison meat into cubes. I cut them into 1 to 1 ½ inch cubes, but this is just a preference and they can be cut smaller if you like. Then I brown the cubes in bacon grease but oil can be substituted easily. Make sure to salt and pepper your meat while you are cooking. Once browned, transfer the cubes to the crock pot and sauté sliced onion, celery and mushrooms in the same pan until translucent, then add to the crock pot.
Next add 1 inch cubed potatoes, I keep the pieces big since they will be cooking for a long time. Then add carrots, I also keep the carrots in large pieces approximately the same size as the potatoes so they will hold up to the long cooking time. Next is more celery in bigger chunks this time. If there are additional vegetables you want to add, now is the time.
The next step is to cover everything with beef broth. For my stew this took 7 cups of liquid. You can use less, depending on how much it will take to cover everything in your pot. For this batch I didn’t have any beef broth on hand so I used hot water with beef stock mix dissolved in it according to package directions. Then crush and chop garlic and add to the pot. Top with bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, Thyme, garlic powder, onion powder and salt and pepper and give it a good stir. Put the lid on and choose your setting. This stew will take approximately 4 hours on the high setting and 8 hours on the low setting.
Make sure to check on your stew and taste the broth to make sure you are happy with the seasoning before it is finished. Add more seasonings to taste.
About a half hour before your cooking time is up is the time to thicken your broth to turn it from a thin soup broth to a nice thick stew gravy. Many people make a slurry with hot water and flour or cornstarch to add to the pot to thicken but I remove some of the broth from the pot and whisk flour into it. About a ¼ cup of flour to 1 cup of broth is the ratio I use, then return it to the pot to mix in and let it keep cooking. I find that using the broth instead of water keeps the seasoning from getting watered down with the addition.
This crock pot venison stew is sure to be a crowd favourite but also freezes well to put some away for a quick meal another day. A great serving idea is to pair with a crusty bread bowl for a fun and tasty new way to enjoy your meal.
Spruce Tips: The First Foraged Flavor of SpringMarch 27, 2025Spruce tips are one of the first wild flavors to appear after the snow melts. Learn how to forage them, what they taste like, and how to use them at home. […]
Chaga Hunting Around McGinnis Creek: A Very Cold, Very Canadian AdventureMarch 24, 2025I went chaga hunting around McGinnis Creek, armed with snowshoes, a saw, and a thermos of tea. Between faceplants and squirrel arguments, I found a few golden treasures growing on birch trees. This solo foraging trip reminded me why I love the bush—even when it's -12°C and the snow tries to eat your boots. […]
Coming Soon: The Forager’s Notebook (Yes, I Wrote a Book and No, It’s Not a Plant ID Guide)March 21, 2025The Forager’s Notebook is coming soon—and no, it’s not a plant ID guide. It’s a journal for recording your wild finds, tracking seasonal growth, and making sense of your foraging life one mushroom at a time. With 135 entry pages and 20 wild food recipes, it’s the perfect companion for anyone who loves wandering the woods and wondering what’s edible. Funny, practical, and made by a fellow homesteader who’s been there (and sometimes gotten stung). […]
Bartering and Trade on a Homestead: What Skills and Items Are Valuable?March 16, 2025Bartering is a way of life on a homestead, where skills and goods hold more value than cash. From fixing small engines to trading eggs for firewood, knowing what’s worth swapping can save you money and build strong community ties. Here’s how to make fair trades and get the best deals. […]
Casio G-Shock DW-5600BB-1: The Homestead Hero WatchMarch 13, 2025The Casio G-Shock DW-5600BB-1 isn’t just a watch—it’s a homesteading workhorse. From chopping firewood to fixing fences, fishing, and even surviving inside a deer during hunting season (yes, really), this watch has taken a beating and kept perfect time. With shock resistance, 200m water resistance, a bright backlight, and a rugged design, it’s built for the toughest jobs. If you need a reliable, no-nonsense watch that thrives in mud, rain, and hard work, this G-Shock is the one. […]
Best Crops for Small-Space HomesteadingMarch 10, 2025Gardening in Northwestern Ontario’s short season? No problem! With the right crops and smart space-saving tricks, you can grow a thriving homestead garden—even in a tiny yard. From fast-growing greens to vertical beans and space-efficient root veggies, discover the best crops to maximize your harvest in a limited space. Get ready for big yields from small plots! […]
Foraged vs. Store-Bought: How Wild Food Compares NutritionallyIn CookingMarch 1, 2025Wild food is rugged, nutrient-dense, and full of surprises, while store-bought food is convenient and predictable. But which one is better for you? From tiny but powerful wild blueberries to bitter dandelion greens packed with vitamins, this post breaks down the real nutritional differences between foraged and store-bought foods. Whether you’re picking mushrooms in the woods or grabbing spinach at the store, you’ll learn what’s truly the better choice—and have a few laughs along the way! […]
How To Make Money Selling Canned GoodsFebruary 24, 2025Ever wondered if you could turn your love of canning into a profitable side hustle? Selling homemade canned goods can be a great way to make extra income—but before you start slinging jars of jam, there are some important things to know. From food safety laws to pricing strategies and where to sell, this guide covers everything you need to get started. Plus, I’ll share some hard-earned tips (and mistakes) from my own experience in the world of homestead canning sales! […]
Why You Should Be Cooking with Cast IronIn CookingFebruary 22, 2025I used to think cast iron was too much work—too heavy, too high-maintenance. Then I gave it a shot, and now I’ll never go back to flimsy nonstick pans. Cast iron lasts forever, gets better with use, and works on any heat source—even a campfire. It sears meat like a pro, bakes the crispiest cornbread, and won’t flake toxic chemicals into your food. If you’re not cooking with cast iron yet, you’re seriously missing out. Here’s why you need one! […]
Why You Should Keep a Homestead Journal (And How Mine Saved My Bacon More Than Once)February 21, 2025I used to think I’d remember everything about my homestead—until I didn’t. Enter the homestead journal: part planner, part disaster log, and 100% lifesaver. From tracking planting dates to recording the time a raccoon outsmarted me (again), this little book has saved me more times than I can count. Whether you want to avoid past mistakes, plan ahead, or just document the chaos, a homestead journal is a must. Future you will thank you—probably while shaking their head at past you’s choices. […]