This creative venison appetizer has the perfect blend of textures and flavors. Each bite starts with a crispy potato chip, topped with creamy whipped blue cheese, fresh arugula, and tender venison steak, finished with a drizzle of tangy balsamic glaze. This elegant yet approachable appetizer is ideal for holiday gatherings or special occasions, showcasing venison steak in a new and exciting way!
Recipe Highlights
Layered Flavors: Combines savory venison, creamy blue cheese, and tangy balsamic glaze.
Easy Presentation: Beautiful, bite-sized portions make serving simple. For more tasty bites, check out these wild game appetizers.
Versatile: Works with different game meats or steak cuts.
Ingredients
- Venison Steak: You can use just about any cut of steak for this recipe. I prefer to use tender cuts from the sirloin, backstrap, or tenderloin.
- Potato Chips: You can use homemade potato chips or kettle-cooked potato chips for this recipe. You can add more flavor by using your favorite flavored potato chip if you'd like!
- Whipped Blue Cheese: The whipped blue cheese has a strong blue cheese flavor but it balances well with the other ingredients. If you're not a blue cheese fan, you can substitute whipped goat cheese (like in this venison crostini recipe) or whipped ricotta (like in this smoked fish crostini recipe).
- Arugula: The arugula adds a pop of color and peppery flavor. You can use other greens or herbs if you'd like.
- Balsamic Glaze: A drizzle of balsamic glaze adds the finishing touch. You can omit it but I think it brings all the flavors together!
See recipe card for quantities.
Equipment
Recommended
Cast Iron Skillet
I prefer to cook steak in a cast iron skillet because it provides the perfect crust on the outside of the steak.
Step by Step Instructions: Prep
These venison appetizers come together in a few simple steps!
- Step 1: Pat the steak dry with a paper towel. Season all over with salt and black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add lard and swirl to coat the pan. Place the steak in the hot pan.
- Step 3: Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 120-125°F for medium-rare. Place the steak on a cutting board to rest while you prepare the other ingredients.
- Step 4: Place blue cheese and whipped cream cheese in a small bowl.
- Step 5: Using a hand mixer, mix at medium speed until the cheeses are well-combined and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Place the cheese mixture in a small zip-top bag and snip off one corner to use it for piping.
- Step 6: Once the steak has rested for at least 10 minutes, slice it into 24 thin slices.
How to Assemble Venison Steak & Potato Bites
The assembly instructions are important to follow if you plan to make these ahead of time. Piping the cheese onto the chips first instead of placing the steak directly onto the chips helps keep it from getting soggy too fast.
- Step 1: Arrange potato chips on a plate or platter. Pipe the cheese mixture onto the potato chips.
- Step 2: Arrange the arugula leaves next to the cheese mixture on the potato chips.
- Step 3: Place steak slices on top of the cheese and arugula.
- Step 4: Drizzle balsamic glaze over the steak slices.
- Step 5: Serve immediately and enjoy!
Pro Tip
While you can spread the whipped blue cheese on the potato chips, it is much easier to pipe it onto the chips.
Storage
If you're making these for a party, you can assemble them up to 1 hour in advance and then top them with a balsamic drizzle just before serving. After 2 hours, the potato chips can start to get soggy so it's best to keep it under an hour.
The steak can be cooked and sliced up to 1 day in advance and stored in an airtight container. The whipped blue cheese can be prepared up to 1 day in advance and stored in a zippered bag as well.
Serving Suggestions for Venison Appetizers
These tasty little bites make an elegant and versatile appetizer. Serve them as a starter for dinner parties, as part of a grazing platter, or as a hearty snack for game day gatherings. Serve them with smoked fish crostini, sous vide duck confit, or fennel orange salad for a versatile spread. These bites also shine at holiday events, adding sophistication to appetizer spreads while staying bite-sized and easy to enjoy.
FAQ
Yes, other wild game meat, beef, or bison steak works well as substitutes for venison. The same method also works great for venison crostini!
Choose thick-cut or kettle-style chips for added sturdiness. Or try your hand at making homemade potato chips!
Goat cheese or whipped ricotta can be used for a less intense flavor.
Did you try this recipe?
Let us know what you thought by leaving a comment below and sharing it on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Thank you!
Annie
📖 Recipe
Venison Steak & Potato Bites with Whipped Blue Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
Steak:
- 8 oz venison steak (tender cuts like sirloin, backstrap, tenderloin, etc.)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon pork lard (or other cooking fat)
Whipped Blue Cheese:
- 2 oz blue cheese
- 2 oz whipped cream cheese
Other Ingredients:
- 24 kettle cooked potato chips
- 24 arugula leaves
- 2 tablespoon balsamic glaze
Instructions
Steak:
- Pat the steak dry with a paper towel. Season all over with salt and black pepper.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add lard and swirl to coat the pan.
- Place the steak in the hot pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 120-125°F for medium-rare.
- Place the steak on a cutting board to rest while you prepare the other ingredients.
Whipped Blue Cheese:
- Place blue cheese and whipped cream cheese in a small bowl.
- Using a hand mixer, mix at medium speed until the cheeses are well-combined and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Place the cheese mixture in a small zip-top bag and snip off one corner to use it for piping.
Assembly:
- Once the steak has rested for at least 10 minutes, slice it into 24 thin slices.
- Arrange potato chips on a plate or platter.
- Pipe the cheese mixture onto the potato chips.
- Arrange the arugula leaves next to the cheese mixture on the potato chips.
- Place steak slices on top of the cheese and arugula.
- Drizzle balsamic glaze over the steak slices.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use just about any cut of steak for this recipe. I prefer to use tender cuts from the sirloin, backstrap, or tenderloin.
- You can use homemade potato chips or kettle-cooked potato chips for this recipe. You can add more flavor by using your favorite flavored potato chip if you'd like!
- The whipped blue cheese has a strong blue cheese flavor but it balances well with the other ingredients. If you're not a blue cheese fan, you can substitute whipped goat cheese (like in this venison crostini recipe) or whipped ricotta (like in this smoked fish crostini recipe).
- While you can spread the whipped blue cheese on the potato chips, it is much easier to pipe it onto the chips.
- The arugula adds a pop of color and peppery flavor. You can use other greens or herbs if you'd like.
- A drizzle of balsamic glaze adds the finishing touch. You can omit it but I think it brings all the flavors together!
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