Ground Elk Meatballs Recipe

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This ground eld meatballs recipe is a delicious and easy dinner, loaded with lean ground elk meat, garlic, herbs, and spices!  They are savory, flavorful, and totally decadent – the perfect addition to your next pasta night.

I added a few tasty ingredients in this recipe which gives these meatballs a really nice flavor, like Worcestershire sauce. Simmer in a pot of easy homemade tomato sauce & serve with pasta and garlic bread for a perfect meal.

If you’re looking for a recipe for ground elk meat, look no further than these delicious and easy elk meatballs! I got some great lean elk meat in my Misfits Market box the other week, and wanted to try something a little different.

I mixed together lean elk meat, breadcrumbs, fresh chopped garlic, herbs and spices, and Worcestershire sauce to make this amazing recipe. I started by browning the meatballs in a skillet, then slow simmering them in a delicious tomato sauce to finish cooking

These Ground Elk Meatballs Are

• Tasty
• Garlicky
• Herby
• Savory
• Easy to Make
• Great for A Pasta Night!

Modern Dinner Ideas You’ll Love

While this meatballs may be an old classic recipe, it’s a great one to bring into our modern kitchen by using elk meat. It’s filling, made with whole ingredients, and is made with simple, everyday ingredients and ground elk. 

You can cook this in any pot (although I love using our Dutch oven), and doesn’t require any fancy equipment to make.  These meatballs are a great cozy dinner you can make all year long.

Browse all our dinner recipes here to find your next family favorite!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!

• Ground Elk Meat – it’s lean like ground sirloin, and not too gamey.
• Eggs – Eggs naturally contain about 60-70mg of sodium per large egg. We try to get cage free / free range eggs when we can. There isn’t any nutritional difference, but I always try to support animal welfare when I can!
• Panko breadcrumbs – I found these recently at the store and I am obsessed!
• Fresh Garlic
• Fresh Parsley
• Worcestershire Sauce – I love using this really good Worcestershire sauce which gives this dish a ton of flavor!
• Italian Seasoning Blend: usually has thyme, basil, rosemary, parsley, etc. Make sure yours is certified gluten free.
• Onion Powder: adds a delicious and savory flavor to this dish as well, and the onion powder pairs nicely with the onion.
• Brown Sugar
• Salt
• Chili Flakes – I like to add these for a little heat, but optional if you want to omit the spiciness.

How To Make This Recipe

1. In a large boxing bowl, add all ingredients and mix well with a wooden spoon or your hands until the mixture is well combined. Wash hands after.
2. Take 2 tablespoons or so of the mixture, roll it into a ball, and place on a plate. Repeat until all the meatballs are formed.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add each meatball, and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side (I rotated my meatballs on 3 sides) until meatballs are browned on the outside.
4. To bake – heat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the meatballs to a sheet pan and bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked through. Toss with sauce or enjoy with pasta.
5. To cook in sauce- bring a lot of low sodium tomato sauce to a simmer, submerge the meatballs in the sauce, and cook on low heat for 1 hour until meatballs are cooked through.

Modern Game Meat Dinner Recipe Ideas

I love finding new (& delicious!) ways to cook game meat, like elk. Ground elk can be an inexpensive protein, is great for soups, stews, chilis, and dinners, and is so versatile – you can cook it many different ways!

It can be great to add to sheet pan meals, stews, or pasta dinners. And easy to bake, grill, or broil. Brose all our trending meat recipes here for great dinner ideas.

More Modern Dinner Recipes You’ll Love!

• Swiss Chard Soup with Sausage and Beans
• Roasted Delicata Squash Pasta
• Honey Old Bay Salmon
• Authentic Spanakopita Recipe
• Tuna Salad with Grapes Recipe

If you made this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!

Ground Elk Meatballs

By: Kelly Jensen

This ground eld meatballs recipe is a delicious and easy dinner, loaded with lean ground elk meat, garlic, herbs, and spices!  They are savory, flavorful, and totally decadent – the perfect addition to your next pasta night.

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 8 servings

Calories 188 kcal

Equipment

• Mixing Bowl
• Skillet
• Large Pot
• Baking Sheet

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1.5 lbs ground elk meat I used 91% lean
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Pinch red chili flakes optional

Instructions

 

• In a large boxing bowl, add all ingredients and mix well with a wooden spoon or your hands until the mixture is well combined. Wash hands after.
• Take 2 tablespoons or so of the mixture, roll it into a ball, and place on a plate. Repeat until all the meatballs are formed.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add each meatball, and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side (I rotated my meatballs on 3 sides) until meatballs are browned on the outside.
• To bake – heat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the meatballs to a sheet pan and bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked through. Toss with sauce or enjoy with pasta.
• To cook in sauce- bring a lot of low sodium tomato sauce to a simmer, submerge the meatballs in the sauce, and cook on low heat for 1 hour until meatballs are cooked through.

Notes

Save Money on Fresh Groceries & Pantry Staples!

I get all the fresh produce for my recipes from my garden and from Misfits Market – they sell organic produce at a discounted price, and it’s purchased direct from farmers to reduce food waste. We get Misfit boxes every other week and love picking out our favorite seasonal produce for delivery.  You can save up to 40% off grocery store prices.

If you think produce delivery is too expensive… think again, and give Misfits Market a try!

Nutrition

Calories: 188kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 20gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 288mgPotassium: 372mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 388IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 3mg

Did you make this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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