Serves: 24 sliders

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Total time: 30 minutes

Every year, as the leaves turn from green to gold and a crispness settles in the air, my heart starts beating a little faster. It’s not for football season or Thanksgiving turkey—no, it’s because North Dakota’s deer opener is just around the corner. I look forward to opening day than any other day of the year—it’s like Christmas morning—but with guns!

There’s something about the thrill of the hunt, the quiet moments outside, and, let’s be honest, the chance to escape the endless long days of helping my in-laws with the soybean and corn harvest.

For me, deer hunting isn’t just about bagging a deer to bring home and butcher to feed the family, though that doesn’t hurt. It’s the camaraderie, the tradition, and the excuse to wear camo and blaze orange without judgment. While some might spend these cold fall days dreaming about a trip to Florida or Arizona, I’ll take the wide-open prairie, the smell of coffee from my thermos, and the chance to create new memories with family and friends.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a busy parent, it’s that cooking up some of the venison I bring home from a hunt needs to be quick, delicious, and preferably something that doesn’t leave my kitchen looking like a war zone. And, of course, if you can make that meal double as a football party crowd-pleaser? Well, folks, that’s what we call a win-win! Enter my Venison Cheeseburger Sliders.

Ground venison is a lean and healthy protein that packs more flavor than your $5 per pound ground beef from the local grocery store. You’ll season it with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, and sauté it with some diced onion. The aroma alone will make the neighbors jealous. Then we mix it with a little mayonnaise, layer this deliciousness on some soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls with some cheddar cheese, and brush those buns with melted butter and sesame seeds for a little extra flair.

In about 30 minutes, you’ll have 24 irresistible cheeseburger sliders that will dash off the dinner table faster than running back Carson Steele going for another Kansas City Chief’s touchdown.

These bite-sized wonders are guaranteed to score big whether you’re feeding your family or fueling up for game day. Just don’t be surprised if you’re asked to make them again… and again… and again!

For more great wild game recipes from Jeff Benda, visit his website: www.wildgameandfish.com

Ingredients

3 tablespoons melted butter

2 teaspoons olive oil

2 pounds ground venison

1 medium yellow onion, diced

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 cup mayonnaise

24 Hawaiian rolls

8 slices cheddar cheese

3/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Using 1 tablespoon of the melted butter, grease the bottom of a rimmed baking sheet.

Place a large skillet over medium high heat with olive oil. Add ground venison, diced onion, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Cook for about 5 minutes until the venison has lost its raw, red color.

Transfer the meat mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the mayonnaise.

Using a long, serrated knife, slice off the top half of the Hawaiian rolls. Place bottom half of the rolls on the buttered baking sheet and line bread with sliced cheese.

Spread cooked ground venison mixture evenly over the sliced cheese, using the back of a spatula to square off the edges. Cover the ground venison with the shredded cheese.

Place the top half of the Hawaiian rolls, cut side down, over the meat and cheese mixture. Brush tops with remaining 2 tablespoons of the melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and tops are golden brown. Serve immediately.

You’ll find more recipes to prepare using the meat and fish that you’ve harvested yourself in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website. Find more of Jeff Benda’s recipes on his website, wildgameandfish.com or follow him on Instagram @wildgameandfish.