Name: Instant Pot Venison Stew
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 2 pounds of venison stew meat; 4 medium sweet potatoes, diced; 3 carrots, peeled and sliced; 1 yellow onion, chopped; 3-5 cloves garlic, minced; 1 bag frozen green pease; 4 cups beef broth; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary; 2 Tablespoons tomato paste; 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 Tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil

Instant Pot Venison Stew is the perfect meal for a chilly day, packed with rich flavors and tender meat. This easy recipe makes venison stew a breeze by pressure cooking the venison in the Instant Pot and then adding vegetables for a nutritious, flavorful stew. It’s the ultimate comfort food for busy weeknights or anytime you’re craving something warm and filling.

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Close up of a bowl of venison stew with sweet potatoes and carrots beside fresh garlic, potatoes, and a tea towel.

If you want a delicious, healthy, hearty meal in no time, this Instant Pot Venison Stew is it! Venison is a fantastic choice for stews and soups because of its rich, lean flavor. It absorbs seasonings well, creating a deeply satisfying dish without feeling heavy. The Instant Pot makes this recipe even easier by speeding up the cooking time and tenderizing the venison quickly.

Venison is a staple for us, since we are a hunting family. While I’m not a huge fan of other game meat, venison (especially ground venison) is incredibly versatile. It can be used in many different ways. The meat has a great flavor and a mild taste similar to red meat. It makes a delicious stew that tastes similar to beef stew! Another great game meat is elk meat. It is also similar to beef.

Instant Pot recipes are a game-changer, saving time and energy while still delivering delicious and nutritious food. When you use your Instant Pot, you can cook your stew in a fraction of the time it would take on the stovetop.

This tender, easy Instant Pot Venison Stew will quickly become one of your most favorite electric pressure cooker recipes! No pressure cooker? No problem. You can make this recipe in a slow cooker or in a dutch oven as well!

And if you need more delicious, healthy one-pot meals, Kale & Tortellini Soup and Tuscan Chicken are family favorites!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and Easy. Pressure cooking the venison ensures it becomes tender in less than 45 minutes. You can easily use frozen vegetables like frozen peas, carrots, and sweet potatoes. It also makes amazing left overs!
Packed with Flavor. The venison soaks up the seasonings, creating a rich, savory broth that pairs perfectly with the vegetables. This delicious venison stew and flavorful broth are a crowd pleaser!
Nutritious and Hearty. Venison is a lean, protein-packed meat, and when combined with hearty root vegetables like sweet potatoes, this stew is both filling and good for you.

Venison stew with carrots and sweet potatoes topped with fresh parsley.

What is Instant Pot Venison Stew?

This hearty Instant Pot Venison Stew is a rich, comforting dish made with lean venison, hearty vegetables, and a savory broth. The stew is cooked under high pressure in an Instant Pot, which helps the venison become tender and the flavors meld together. It’s a delicious recipe and one-pot meal that takes less time than traditional methods, making it perfect for a quick, satisfying dinner.

If you are trying venison for the first time, this recipe is the perfect rustic option! It’s a great recipe for those new to wild game because it tenderizes tough cuts and adds delicious, lightly smoky flavors.

This is a great venison recipe for busy evenings when you want something healthy and hearty but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. It is also a favorite comforting dinner at our house on a cold night!

Instant Pot Venison Stew Ingredients

2 pounds of venison stew meat: This lean deer meat is perfect for stews. I like to dice ours into bite-sized pieces.
Sweet potatoes: We like sweet potatoes, but you can also use any kind of potato.
Carrots: Carrots add a natural sweetness and color to the stew. Use frozen carrots to make it even easier.
Garlic cloves: Garlic is a great way to enhance the richness of the stew.
Beef broth: A flavorful broth is the base of any stew, bringing all the ingredients together.
Fresh thyme: I love using fresh herbs for stews and roasts. If you don’t have fresh, you can use 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Fresh rosemary: I love using fresh herbs for stews and roasts. If you don’t have fresh, you can use 1 teaspoon dried rosemary.
Worcestershire sauce: Adds a rich umami flavor to the broth.

A full list of ingredients and quantities can be found in the recipe card below.

How to Make Instant Pot Venison Stew

Select the “Sauté mode” setting on your Instant Pot. Add the oil and allow it to heat up. Add the onions and garlic, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and softened.
Add the venison stew meat and brown on all sides. This is optional but adds extra flavor.
Once the meat is browned, remove from the pot. With the heat still on, add a bit of balsamic vinegar and broth to deglaze the pan. Stir all the brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Turn off the “Sauté” setting. Add the broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary. Stir to combine.
Add the potatoes, carrots, and any other vegetables. Give everything a good stir.
Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to “Manual” high pressure for 35 minutes.
After the cooking time is up, use the natural release option for about 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
Open the lid, stir, and taste. Adjust seasonings as desired.

Tools You May Need

Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker. I have a 6-quart Instant Pot that works well for our family! If you want to cook the meat for a long time, you can use the glass lid on the Instant Pot to turn it into a slow cooker.

Venison stew with carrots and sweet potatoes topped with fresh parsley surrounded by fresh onions, garlic, potatoes, and cabbage.

Close up of venison stew with carrots and sweet potatoes topped with fresh parsley.

Recipe Tips

Brown the meat for extra flavor: While optional, browning the venison in the Instant Pot enhances the overall taste of the stew and creates tender chunks of venison throughout the dish. This extra step is worth it!
Use frozen vegetables: If you’re in a rush, using frozen carrots, peas, or green beans is a convenient option that doesn’t compromise flavor.
Adjust seasonings: Every cut of venison and beef broth is different. Taste as you go and adjust the seasonings to your preference. If you don’t have rosemary and thyme, you can substitute 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning.

What to Serve with Instant Pot Venison Stew

Artisan sourdough bread: Its tangy flavor and chewy texture are perfect for dipping into the savory broth.
Garlic cheddar focaccia: The richness of the focaccia pairs beautifully with the stew.
Steamed green beans: A light, crunchy vegetable side balances the richness of the stew. For a richer side, try this Healthy Green Bean Casserole!
Mashed potatoes: If you want extra comfort, serve this alongside mashed potatoes to soak up all the stew’s flavors.

Venison Stew Variations

Add mushrooms: Mushrooms bring an earthy flavor and extra texture to the stew.
Use different root vegetables: Try parsnips, turnips, or rutabaga for a twist on the traditional potatoes and carrots.
Spicy venison stew: Add some red pepper flakes and tomato sauce to add a spicy kick and change up the sauce.
Swap beef broth for venison broth: If you have venison stock, use it instead of beef broth for an even richer venison flavor.

Recipe FAQs

Yes, you can use the “Slow Cook” feature to make this stew. Simply follow the steps for sautéing, use the glass slow cooker lid, then switch to the slow cook setting for 6-8 hours on low.

Yes, you can skip the browning step if you’re short on time. The stew will still be flavorful, but browning the meat first adds extra depth to the flavor.

If venison isn’t available, you can use beef or lamb in place of venison, though you may need to adjust cooking times for different cuts of meat.

The total time is about 45 minutes. Spend 5 minutes prepping by browning the meat, then 35 minutes pressure cooking, then 5-10 minutes releasing pressure.

The beauty of pressure cooking is that the meat is definitely more tender. Make sure you don’t overcook it, and it shouldn’t be tough. Trimming off excess fat, browning the meat before pressure cooking, and cooking the right amount of time should make the meat tender. If your meat is still tough, it is likely not a good cut for pressure cooking.

I hope you love this recipe!