Bruce created this recipe, as it’s a longtime favorite of his. We like sloppy Joes equally well, whether the main ingredient is venison or fowl. Wild turkey breast tends to be a little dry, but not in this entrée.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground venison, wild or domestic turkey, or chicken
- 2 to 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup chopped green pepper
- 3/4 cup diced onion
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup (you may substitute honey or brown sugar if desired)
- 4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/2 to 1 cup wild chicken of the woods mushrooms or other wild or domestic mushrooms.
Sourdough Buns
- 3/4 cup sourdough starter
- 3/4 cup lukewarm water
- 1 teaspoon instant dried yeast
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons potato flour
- 2 tablespoons powdered milk
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
Directions
- Sloppy Joes: In skillet, brown ground venison in batches over medium heat until all pinkness is gone. Use oil to prevent sticking.
- Add all ingredients to slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low setting for 4 to 5 hours.
- After about 4 hours, check liquid in cooker. If very watery, spoon some excess liquid out. You can also cook on high setting with lid off to let some excess liquid cook down.
- For Sourdough buns: In large mixing bowl, combine sourdough starter, water, and yeast. Using dough hook attachment, mix to combine.
- In a separate bowl, mix all other ingredients except for softened butter.
- Pour dry ingredients over wet mixture in mixing bowl. Still using dough hook, mix 2 to 3 minutes. Add butter and mix an additional 8 to 10 minutes until dough seems smooth and elastic.
- Cover with a towel or plastic. Let rise 1-1/2 hours.
- Dump onto lightly floured surface. Cut into 8 equal pieces and roll into balls.
- Place balls onto greased parchment paper on baking sheet. Cover and let rise another 1-1/2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 375 F when buns are almost finished rising. Bake 20 minutes.
- Cool on rack. Slice before serving.
Of course, regular hamburger buns will work just fine with sloppy Joes. But sourdough buns transform that entrée from marvelous to sublime. Yield: 8 buns.
Optional: If you want sesame seed buns, mix 1 beaten egg with 1 tablespoon water. Before baking buns, brush them with this mixture and sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds over top.
Bake as directed.
For more Locavore Meals made with homegrown tomatoes
Locavore Meals: Chicken with Tomato Sauce and Tomato Soup with Venison Roast
Bruce and Elaine Ingram co-wrote Living the Locavore Lifestyle about hunting, fishing, and gathering wild fruits and nuts for food, plus recipes. For more info: BruceIngramOutdoors@Gmail.com.
Originally published in the July/August 2025 issue of Grit magazine and regularly vetted for accuracy.
