Rustic Elk & Root Harvest Stew | Hearty Homemade Dinner Recipe

Rustic Elk & Root Harvest Stew: Hearty Comfort from the Wild

There’s something about a long-simmered stew that feels like home. Tonight’s dinner was born from what I had on hand — a mix of frozen veggies, a pile of potatoes from the pantry, and a pack of fresh ground elk meat that’s been waiting for its time to shine.

When that elk hit the skillet, the smell alone made my whole kitchen come alive. I tossed in those frozen onions, hearty root vegetables, and a storm of seasonings that always seem to find their way into my pots: garlic, parsley, oregano, paprika, and a dash of allspice for that subtle warm kick.

Once everything was loaded into the pressure cooker, I let it do its thing for an hour before flipping it to slow cook. That’s when the magic happens — the broth turns rich and golden, the veggies soften just right, and every spoonful tastes like pure comfort.

By the time the evening rolled around, my little kitchen smelled like an old-fashioned supper straight out of a mountain lodge. This stew is simple, humble, and full of flavor — the kind of meal that doesn’t need fancy ingredients, just patience and good seasoning.

So if you’ve got a pack of wild game in your freezer and some odds and ends in your veggie drawer, don’t overthink it. Make yourself a pot of this Rustic Elk & Root Harvest Stew and let it remind you that real cooking comes from instinct — and a little love stirred in.

Rustic Elk & Root Harvest Stew

Cozy up with this Rustic Elk & Root Harvest Stew — a flavorful blend of elk meat, potatoes, and earthy root vegetables slow-cooked into the perfect comfort-food dinner.

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Course Dinner, Dinner Recipes, Food Recipes, Main Course, One Pot, One Pot Dishes, Slow Cooker, Soup

Cuisine American, Southern

Servings 8

Equipment

• 1 instapot, slow cooker, or pressure cooker

Ingredients

  

• 1 ½ lbs fresh ground elk meat
• 5 large potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1lb bag frozen diced onions
• 2 bags frozen root vegetables (carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, beets) found at Walmart
• 10–12 cups water
• 1 1/2 tbsp coarse sea salt
• 1 tbsp white pepper
• 3 tbsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp parsley
• 2 tbsp oregano
• 2 tbsp Badia Complete seasoning
• 2 tbsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1 tbsp mustard seed

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Instructions

 

• Brown the Meat — In a skillet, cook the ground elk until fully browned. Drain any excess fat if needed.
• Combine Everything — Add the cooked elk into your pressure cooker or slow cooker along with the diced potatoes, onions, root veggies, and seasonings.
• Add Water — Pour in 10–12 cups of water, just enough to cover everything nicely. Give it a good stir.
• Cook It Down —

  Pressure Cooker: Set to Pressure Cook for 1 hour.

  Slow Cooker: Once pressure cycle finishes, switch to Slow Cook for 3 hours to let all those root flavors marry together.
• Serve & Enjoy — Stir well before serving. Taste and adjust seasoning if you like it bolder. Serve hot with crusty bread or cornbread for dunking.

Keyword elk meat dinner, elk stew recipe, fall comfort food, hearty elk soup, pressure cooker elk stew, root vegetable stew, slow cooker elk stew, wild game recipes