Share your venison meatloaf recipe?

[stubborn1VT]

I've been craving venison meatloaf.  Mine isn't anything fancy.  I use half venison, half beef from my brother's dairy farm, and the trusty McCormick's meatloaf seasoning packet.  Does anyone have a recipe that kicks it up a notch?

[nyslowhand]

My meatloaf & chili are forms of artwork or at least a way for me to be semi-creative in my meager culinary skill set. So each batch is a little different than the last or next creation. My recipes are defined by what's in the refrig/freezer and my mood at the time. Anyways, back to my basic meatloaf ingredients...

Always have a lot of venison made into hot Itl sausage with added pork & use that solely as the meat base. But whatever your choice of meat or proportions, go with that. I add egg(s), breadcrumbs or corn meal, peppers, onions, mushrooms, salsa (as hot or thick as you like) and whatever spices you desire. Be warned, salsa makes the final product a little more loosely packed or crumbly, so add salsa as needed. Per my mood, may also add garlic, steak seasoning &/or A1 drizzled over the top. I don't use it, but suppose you could add BBQ/wing sauce if the mood strikes. To me it's a sin to put ketchup on these meatloaf creations, but whatever floats your boat! Have even drapped bacon over the top of venison meatloaf before, if it's available at the time. Be creative, to me there is nothing worse than a plain ground meat style meatloaf, esp using venison as the base. Another personal hint, I try to keep the juices to a min and pour/syphon them off as meatloaf is baking. Okay, that's where most of the flavorings migrate, but it also tends to boil the bottom of the meatloaf as opposed to baking it. Just me...!?! Can't suggest a proper 350deg cooking time, since w/o a meat thermometer each time it's a trial & error method for me. Basically, you can tell & will know when it's done.

Be creative & form your own favorite recipe per your experimentation. Even if it does go terribly wrong, still can be used as a base for spaghetti sauce or chili.

[stubborn1VT]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I made it with onions, bread crumbs, egg and BBQ sauce.  It was ok.  It was even better as meatloaf sandwiches with homemade pickled jalapenos.  I put some ketchup on it too.  I love ketchup.  It's one of my favorite vegetables.