I didn’t grow up in a family of hunters and the idea of eating venison (deer) was a little outside of my comfort zone. I’m not really sure what part of eating venison was the issue for me, since I’ve always been a proud omnivore it wasn’t an opposition to eating meat… Nor did I have a strong moral conflict with hunting, when done responsibly and compassionately.
It was just different from what I was used to and I think so many people fear the unknown, I was no different. Not long after I started dating my husband (in 2000) he got his first deer of the season. At first I avoided the whole-cute-deer-that’s-now-dead hanging in a tree completely, but since I understood that he didn’t kill for sport, it wasn’t done with anger and aggression, this deer would be used as food.
And to me a deer killed swiftly and used to nourish your body is better than suffering needlessly on the side of the road after dancing with a fast moving automobile.
And I was raised to never turn my nose up at food that’s offered to me, you ALWAYS politely try what’s served to you. You can politely say you don’t like something after tasting it and giving it an honest try.
The first venison I ate was Venison Jerky and, well, I LOVE jerky and venison jerky was so good – it was undeniable! After that my hubby had me try his grandmothers breaded venison steaks (just like a traditional breaded Austrian Weiner Schnitzel, only made with venison instead of pork or veal) and again, there’s no denying that it tasted AMAZING.
Click HERE for my Grain Free Breaded Venison Recipe
Over the years I’ve transitioned away from just venison jerky and breaded deer steak to using a variety of cuts of venison in my kitchen – even using the bones for bone broth! (we also butcher our own deer so we have complete control over the cuts of meat and how it’s packaged) However, a Venison Neck Roast has become our favorite!
It’s just as it sounds, it’s the section of meat/bones in-between the head and shoulders. So you only get one per deer, on a good year we’ll have 4 neck roasts at then end of hunting season. Nothing scary or strange, just another hunk of meat at the end of the day.
Obviously the neck is a part of the deer’s body that is used a lot – it’s muscular and has fat marbled through the meat – which means it will be best when cooked for a long time with moist heat – you Crock Pot is the perfect way to cook a Venison Neck Roast. Just stick your neck roast in your crock pot, season it up and and some water – cover and let it cook all-day-long. It’s seriously that easy. No need to baste or anything special.
At the end of the day (8-10 hours on high) the meat will be fork tender and you’ll have some amazing broth in the bottom of your crock pot to drizzle over your meat.
We just love to eat it as is, with a side of risotto and a green veggie. and have leftovers in tacos/fajitas/lettuce wraps. And don’t forget – after you take your roast out of the crock pot, leave all those yummy bits & juice in your crock pot, toss back in the bones, onion/celery/carrot and more water and let it simmer for a couple days on low to make amazing venison bone broth!
Ingredients
- 1 Venison Neck Roast approx. 4 pounds
- 2 tablespoons Garlic
- 1 large Onion sliced or chopped
- 2 tablespoons Sea Salt
- 2 teaspoons Black Pepper
- 2 cups Water, filtered
Instructions
- Combine everything together in your crock pot and cook on HIGH for 8-10 hours
- Enjoy!
I was wondering if the neck isn’t fully thawed, can I still put it in the crockpot? And how long would it take to cook it? Also can this be cooked on low?
Yes you can use a frozen neck roast. The timing will vary on the size of the roast. It can be cooked on low. Generally a neck roast that fits in a normal sized crock pot, cooked on low, would take about 10 hours in my best guess.
You can also do this in an Instant Pot in just a couple hours – delicious. I cooked it bone-in but my hubby is a little freaked about the spinal column. Do take the bone out?
We cook ours bone in
Absolutely fabulous! I was given a neck roast and had no idea how to cook it. I’m so glad I found your recipe. I didn’t alter the recipe and the roast turned out perfect. The venison was tender and moist, the flavour was fabulous. The liquid made the best gravy ever!!! Thank you for the recipe.
As for the bone broth recipe, can you freeze the broth or how do you store it?
Freeze, pressure can, freeze dry, dehydrate…
thanks Hayley – I bought venison neck chops from the supermarket thinking I could just toss them in a fry pan.
(1/ I’m male. 2/ I’m 81). My wife said you can’t do that! I said, why not, they’re chops?! She said, check the internet! Sadder and wiser, I gazed helplessly at various complicated recipes/ Then I discovered yours – brilliant! At my wife’s direction (she’s laid up with a broken metatarsal at present), I’ve added cut up carrots, parsnips, onions, tomatoes, bit of worcester sauce, now all simmering away beautifully. Will add the salt and pepper later, taste it, and maybe add further seasoning.
What I liked about your recipe was it’s sheer simplicity – all sorts of other things can be done if desired, but no need to.
All the best from Christchurch, New Zealand…
My amazing husband hunt a every year and brings home a white tail deer. I don’t really enjoy the meat but cook it anyway. Every roast has come out tough or dry using several methods! I took out the neck roast and googled a recipe! Thank the Lord I ended up with yours!!! I followed the easy directions with low expectations. We were blown away!! My husband was thrilled and I loved it!! I even used your directions again on another venison roast and it was fabulous! Thank you so much! I know longer fear cooking venison roasts..
Great post- the neck is definitely an under-appreciated cut, and it’s nice to see someone giving it some attention & love. I’ve known people who’ve given them to their dogs, or worse, thrown them away still attached to the head/hide. I most often use necks for pot roasts, crockpot barbeque or slow cooked barbacoa-style.
I just want to confirm this should be cooked for 8-10 hours on HIGH?!! This is my 1st time cooking venison neck…will there be enough liquid in the crock to sustain cooking that long on high? Thanks!!
yep! if you are worried add a cup of water but the meaty juices and fatty connective tissues will render down into liquids AND the longer cooking time is essential for it to be shreddable tender.
Perfect perfect perfect. I’m not the cook here but I can follow a simple recipe. This was unbelievable. The resident cook here said to cook it on low instead of HIGH for ten hours and it was fantastic. I might have over pulled it a little but that”s my inexperience with cooking. I added a little bbq sauce after pulling and cooked on high for 45 mins. Thank you so much for this recipe.
I’m 73 yrs young. I grew up hunting, killing, processing & eating wild game. The family motto was “eat right up to the bullet hole”!
It wasn’t until just recently that I had not taken the time to bone out the neck of a black tail doe and just threw it into the freezer.
When. I thawed out that package and realized it was that neck, I
Just threw it in the crock pot. Wasn’t thinking anything special but I’ll tell you that was the tenderous cut of venison I’ve had in decades. To think I’ve missed all those decades of culinary delight!!
One of the best venison meals my wife has enjoyed. We will use leftovers for hash
This is the first time I cooked a venison neck roast. It was delicious!! We always used the neck meat for burger before. We will keep the neck next year and roast again!!
I made this tonight and it was wonderful! I did omit the onion (I just didn’t have one) and used Balsamic Vinegar for 1/4 of the liquid; otherwise, no change. My poor little venison neck was quite small, so the end result left me longing for more! I served it over egg noodles with the juice drizzled on top. Even my picky 8 year old gave it a thumbs up and he isn’t crazy about any meat that isn’t chicken! Thank you so much!
This worked out great! I had it on low in the crock pot from 10pm to 8am. I added a little cayenne pepper, paprika and a little apple cider vinegar as well. In the morning, the meat fell right off the bones! I took as much fat off as possible (I think if anything that’s the gamiest tasting part). Then I added our favorite bbq sauce (not too much), put it in the fridge and heated it on the stove at suppertime. We ate it with tacos/wraps and all kinds of fresh veggies, guacamole, hot sauce and sour cream (just like ulled pork tacos). So good! (not gamey 🙂
Trying this in the crockpot tomorrow!
Can you also share the recipe for the breaded venison steaks? We’ve got so many but I don’t know the best way to cook them!
Sure Amanda – Here’s my Grain-Free Breaded Venison Recipe
Just put mine in too! I never would have thought to cook the neck. I’m a Deer newby too tho.
Thank you
This is my first time cooking a neck and I’m hoping it comes out really good. We never kept it before last year so it will definitely be something different. Thanks for the recipe and tips!!
I can’t wait to hear what you think! It’s one of our favorite ways to enjoy venison.
My neck roast is going in the crockpot this morning. First time cooking a venison neck roast, I can’t wait. Thank you.
I’m thawing a neck roast out to cook one for the first time,oh boy