In honor of the reminder about mountain lion (and wolf) hunting season surpassing the end of the 2025 season on February 28th, we are sharing a pretty cool recipe. If you’re looking to take cooking to the next level, this mountain lion backstrap pizza might just do it. The unique recipe was originally found on montana-wild.com and posted by Travis Boughton, and it turns one of Montana’s most talked-about big game species into a surprisingly delicious, grill-fired pizza.
The key is treating the backstrap like a quality steak — seasoning it well, grilling it properly, and pairing it with bold, fresh toppings. Cooked on a Traeger-style grill, this recipe blends smoky wild game flavor with classic pizza ingredients for a meal that’s guaranteed to spark conversation.
Ingredients
- Favorite steak seasoning
- 1 mountain lion backstrap
- Balsamic vinaigrette
- Pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- Pasta sauce
- Mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil
- 1 can olives
- Artichoke hearts in olive oil (Costco recommended)
- 14” pizza pan
Directions
- Slowly thaw the mountain lion backstrap in the refrigerator.
- Trim and clean the meat, rinse, and pat dry.
- Season generously with steak seasoning and splash with balsamic vinaigrette.
- Marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
- Preheat grill to 350°F.
- Place backstrap on grill and cook 5–6 minutes per side, flipping onto fresh grill space each time.
- Monitor closely — cook times vary by thickness.
- Ensure internal temperature reaches at least 150°F to avoid trichinosis.
- Remove from grill once meat has a golden tan color and let rest.
- Increase grill temperature to 450°F.
- Spray pizza pan with non-stick spray.
- Roll out dough and par-bake for 5–6 minutes.
- Remove crust and add:
- Pasta sauce
- Mozzarella cheese
- Sliced tomatoes
- Olives
- Artichoke hearts
- Sliced mountain lion backstrap
- Return pizza to grill on high heat until crust is crisp and golden and cheese is fully melted.
- Remove, slice, sprinkle with fresh basil, and serve.
The result is a smoky mountain lion pizza that’s as unique as it is memorable. And yes — telling your guests they’re eating mountain lion is half the fun.
Feature photo via MT-WILD.com
