Mini Venison Meatballs and Gnocchi

As the weather cools we are all craving cozy comforting meals and this Mini Venison Meatballs and Gnocchi is just that! A hearty meal, made from scratch using that beautiful ground wild game meat in your freezer.

If you have never made homemade gnocchi before it is absolutely delicious. Soft pillows of happiness as my husband likes to call them. They are a potato based pasta, that melt in your mouth and go perfectly in this dish! Ive paired the gnocchi with mini Venison Italian Meatballs so that you get a little bit of everything in every bite!

To make this recipe you start with the homemade gnocchi by mashing boiled potatoes and mixing them with some flour and egg until a dough forms. Then, roll that dough into logs and slice it into little gnocchis! Next, you make my staple Italian venison meatballs full of basil and parmesan, only you are rolling them into teeny tiny meatballs. Bake those until tender and juicy, then boil the gnocchi and toss it all in a simple tomato basil sauce made from canned crushed tomatoes.

You can serve this meatballs and gnocchi as is, or with some cheesy garlic sourdough bread! It makes great leftovers, and can even be frozen for quick meals in the future! I promise you that once you make homemade gnocchi for the first time you will be hooked.

Mini Venison Meatballs And Gnocchi Ingredients

Potatoes– You can use russet potatoes or any yellow fleshed potato really. I like Yukon gold.

Ground Venison– Whenever making meatballs you want ground venison that has at least 10-15% fat added into it.

Flour– All purpose flour is all you need.

Egg- You will need an egg in both the gnocchi and meatballs.

Parmesan Cheese– Freshly grated is best.

Basil- Fresh is always better if you can get it.

Breadcrumbs– Use homemade or store bought.

Crushed Tomatoes– This sauce is kept super simple using a can of crushed tomatoes.

Garlic– You want fresh garlic for the sauce but can use fresh or garlic powder for the meatballs.

Onion– A yellow or white onion is fine.

Milk– For a richer sauce use cream.

Balsamic Glaze- This little addition adds the perfect touch of sweetness and a little extra flavor.

The Steps

1. Start by cutting the potatoes in half and boiling them in salted water until tender.
2. Once cooked, strain and rinse with cold water to cool them slightly.
3. Mash the potatoes in a bowl until nice and smooth, then stir in the egg and flour and mix until a thick dough starts to form. Set aside.
4. Next, preheat your oven to 350F and stir together all of the meatball ingredients until combined.
5. Scoop the meat into tsp sized meatballs and place on a baking sheet.

1. Bake for about 7-10 minutes or until internal temp reaches 160F.
2. Next, take the gnocchi dough and dump it onto a floured counter. Cut the dough into 4 pieces, then roll each piece into a log about 1/2 an inch thick or so.
3. Using a bench scraper or sharp knife, slice each log into little gnocchis about 1/2-3/4 inch wide.

1. Once all the gnocchis are cut, bring a pot of salted water to a boil, then gently add in the gnocchis and boil for just a couple minutes until they start to float. Strain and set aside.
2. Finally, heat a large skillet with a couple tbsp of oil over medium heat. Add in the garlic and onions and cooke for a couple minutes until tender.
3. Then, add in the chili flakes and crushed tomatoes and stir.
4. Pour in the milk/cream, then let sauce simmer and heat up before adding in the parmesan cheese.
5. Stir until it is all melted and smooth, then finish the sauce by adding in the fresh basil and balsamic glaze.
6. Add the cooked mini meatballs and cooked gnocchi into the sauce and toss so it all gets coated in that lovely sauce.
7. Serve warm, topped with some extra fresh parmesan and a side of cheesy garlic bread. Enjoy

If you give this recipe a try, leave a comment or a recipe review below!

Looking for more cozy meals to make this Fall?

https://cmbarndominium.com/creamy-thai-curry-venison-noodle-bowls/

https://cmbarndominium.com/insanely-delicious-chili-steak-ramen/

https://cmbarndominium.com/to-die-for-creamy-venison-stuffed-shells/