Spicy Venison and Onion Skillet with Cheesy Cracker Topping
Spicy Venison and Onion Skillet with Cheesy Cracker Topping
Ingredients
For the Skillet
- 1 pound ground venison
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, large, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 can diced tomatoes, 14 1/2 ounce, undrained
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more, to taste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
For the Crunchy Topping
- 1 1/2 cups cheese crackers, crushed (e.g., Cheese-Its)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Have a large oven-safe skillet ready.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
In the large oven-safe skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground venison and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Add the chopped yellow onion and diced red bell pepper to the skillet with the venison. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Stir in the minced garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute more, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes and beef broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer gently for 10-12 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
⏱️ 12 min
- 6
While the skillet simmers, prepare the topping. In a small bowl, combine the crushed cheese crackers and melted butter. Stir until the crackers are evenly coated.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in 1/2 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and combined. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the venison mixture.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Evenly spread the buttered cheese cracker topping over the cheese layer in the skillet.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and crispy, and the filling is bubbly.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375
- 10
Carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to settle. Serve hot.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Spicy Venison and Onion Skillet with Cheesy Cracker Topping
Ingredients
For the Skillet
- 1 pound ground venison
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, large, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 can diced tomatoes, 14 1/2 ounce, undrained
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more, to taste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
For the Crunchy Topping
- 1 1/2 cups cheese crackers, crushed (e.g., Cheese-Its)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Have a large oven-safe skillet ready.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
In the large oven-safe skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground venison and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Add the chopped yellow onion and diced red bell pepper to the skillet with the venison. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Stir in the minced garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute more, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes and beef broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer gently for 10-12 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
⏱️ 12 min - 6
While the skillet simmers, prepare the topping. In a small bowl, combine the crushed cheese crackers and melted butter. Stir until the crackers are evenly coated.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in 1/2 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and combined. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the venison mixture.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Evenly spread the buttered cheese cracker topping over the cheese layer in the skillet.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and crispy, and the filling is bubbly.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375 - 10
Carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to settle. Serve hot.
⏱️ 5 min