Venison Million Dollar Pasta

If you are looking for the ultimate comfort food to make use of your wild game harvest, The Hunt Kitchen has delivered the perfect solution. Their Venison Million Dollar Pasta takes a classic, crowd-pleasing cheesy casserole and elevates it with rich, flavorful ground venison.

Layered with tender pasta, an incredibly creamy cheese filling, a savory venison meat sauce, and finished with a golden bubbled topping, this dish truly tastes like a million bucks. It is the perfect weeknight family dinner or a hearty meal to share after a long weekend outdoors.

Ingredients

• Venison Meat Sauce: Ground venison, olive oil, chopped onions and garlic, your favorite marinara or pasta sauce, and Italian seasonings (to taste).
• Pasta: 1 pound of your favorite short pasta (such as penne, rigatoni, or rotini), cooked al dente.
• The “Million Dollar” Cream Filling: Cream cheese (softened), sour cream or ricotta, and a handful of cottage cheese mixed with fresh herbs.
• The Cheese Topping: Shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese for that perfect cheese pull.

How to Make It

1. Prep the Pasta: Boil your chosen pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Brown the Venison: In a large skillet, heat a splash of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and garlic, then brown the ground venison until cooked through. Pour in your favorite pasta sauce and let it simmer for a few minutes so the flavors meld.
3. Mix the Cream Layer: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream (or ricotta/cottage cheese), and a pinch of seasoning until smooth and thoroughly combined.
4. Layer the Casserole: In a greased baking dish, start laying down your ingredients. Spread a layer of pasta, followed by the rich cream mixture, a generous layer of the venison meat sauce, and a handful of mozzarella. Repeat the layers if your baking dish allows.
5. Bake to Golden Perfection: Top the entire dish with a final, heavy layer of shredded mozzarella and parmesan. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 20–25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and beautifully golden brown on top.

Let it cool for a few minutes before slicing, and serve hot. For the exact measurements and additional wild game cooking inspiration, be sure to check out the full breakdown on The Hunt Kitchen’s website via the link in their social bio!