Skip to main content

Venison Backstrap with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms Recipe

Venison Backstrap with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms Recipe
Print Recipe

The thing I love about this Venison Backstrap with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms Recipe is that it is malleable. You can adjust it depending on whatever you have on hand. The one constant, other than the venison, is the caramelized onions. I love them so much I make large batches just to have around. Even a few tablespoons adds richness and sweetness to any dish — it's like a flavor grenade.

Backstrap with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms Venison Backstrap With Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms Recipe (Holly A. Heyser photo)

Serves: 4

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, divided
  • 3 onions, peeled and sliced from root to tip
  • Salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Recommended


  • 2 teaspoons honey (optional)
  • 1 pound venison (elk, deer, etc.) backstrap, preferably in one piece
  • ½ pound fresh mushrooms, sliced (ideally hen of the woods a.k.a. maitake)
  • 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
  • Dandelion leaves, for garnish (optional)

Directions: 

1. To caramelize the onions, heat two tablespoons of butter in a frying pan. Add the sliced onions and toss to coat. Cover the pan, turn the heat to low and cook slowly, stirring once in a while. You want the onions soft and brown, not scorched on the edges. After 10 minutes or so, sprinkle salt over the onions and keep cooking.

2. When the onions just begin to brown, add the thyme and honey. Cook until they are well-browned, then put them in a bowl for now. You can make the onions in advance.

3. As the onions cook, take the venison out of the fridge and salt it. Let it come to room temperature; this is especially important if you are using elk or moose backstrap, which is thick.

4. Wipe out the pan you cooked the onions in and add the remaining butter. Pat the venison dry with a paper towel and sear it over medium-high heat, turning it to make sure all sides are well browned.

Backstrap with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms (Holly A. Heyser photo)

5. Cook the meat until it's about medium-rare, which will depend on the thickness of your backstrap. To determine, touch your forefinger to your thumb: Now, with your other hand, touch the pad/muscle at the base of your thumb. That is the right amount of squishiness the venison should have when it's medium-rare.

6. Take the backstrap off the heat and let it rest. Put the mushrooms in the pan and turn the heat to high. Sear the mushrooms until they release their water (this might not happen if you are using hen-of-the-woods mushrooms).

7. When the water has almost boiled away or when the mushrooms begin to brown, add some salt and more butter and cook until the mushrooms are browned.

8. Add the caramelized onions and the parsley to the pan and toss to combine.

9. Heat through for one minute, then put some on everyone's plate. Add the dandelion leaves if you are using them. Slice the venison and serve.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Sighting in a thermal optic is similar to a traditional riflescope. However, a thermal does require the target to give o...
Gear

New MagView Mount from Warne

Sighting in a thermal optic is similar to a traditional riflescope. However, a thermal does require the target to give o...
Gear

New Browning Firearms for 2025: Citori 825 Shotgun, X-Bolt 2 Rifle

Sighting in a thermal optic is similar to a traditional riflescope. However, a thermal does require the target to give o...
Gear

New Rings and Accessories from Warne

Sighting in a thermal optic is similar to a traditional riflescope. However, a thermal does require the target to give o...
Gear

Steiner's New ePredator 8 Riflescope and LRF Binocular

Sighting in a thermal optic is similar to a traditional riflescope. However, a thermal does require the target to give o...
Gear

Wonky Whitetails, Wind, and Weatherby Rifles

Sighting in a thermal optic is similar to a traditional riflescope. However, a thermal does require the target to give o...
Hunting

Ireland's Whistling Stags

Sighting in a thermal optic is similar to a traditional riflescope. However, a thermal does require the target to give o...
Gear

Silencer Central's New Modular Titanium Suppressor

Sighting in a thermal optic is similar to a traditional riflescope. However, a thermal does require the target to give o...
Hunting

Endless Bugles

Sighting in a thermal optic is similar to a traditional riflescope. However, a thermal does require the target to give o...
Gear

Weatherby's New Model 307 Alpine CT

Sighting in a thermal optic is similar to a traditional riflescope. However, a thermal does require the target to give o...
Gear

Aero Precision's New Solus Lightweight Hunter

Sighting in a thermal optic is similar to a traditional riflescope. However, a thermal does require the target to give o...
Gear

How to Sight-In a Thermal Optic

Petersen's Hunting Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save.

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Petersen's Hunting App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Petersen's Hunting stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Petersen's Hunting subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Petersen's Hunting stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use