Korean BBQ Style Venison Backstrap Medallions

Thanks for sharing!

Korean BBQ style venison backstrap is our absolute favorite way to enjoy venison. You can also use the marinade on steaks or thinly sliced beef for a more traditional take on this bul kogi style goodness. 

If you are looking for a great way to give your venison or beef an out of this world flavor, you are in the right place.  This bulgogi style marinade is by far our family’s favorite flavor when grilling either. 

Just let the soak up the sweet and savory goodness and grill it to perfection.  We enjoy it cooked medium rare.

That way it is super tender and really flavorful.  Everyone who has it falls in love!

This recipe has been an absolute favorite in our family for decades.  We originally got the marinade recipe from my Great-Aunt Nancy.  

If I remember correctly it was when I was in the eighth grade.  So it was (ahem) a few years ago.  

We went to visit them in Virginia and she marinated thin strips of steak in this and cooked them on the grill.  It was delicious and unlike anything we had tasted before, being small town Midwesterners after all.

So of course we asked for the recipe.  It was my job to jot it down.  I still have the recipe written in my grade school handwriting!

Early on, MiMi and Pops would make it with thin strips of beef, much like Nancy did.  It was a hit every time.   

Then pops marinated a venison backstrap in it. Oh my!  It has been a family favorite ever since! 

How We Have Adapted the Recipe

Rather than slicing the backstrap thin like a more traditional bulgogi, pops cuts his deer loins into larger medallion type cuts and soaks them in the marinade.  That way he can grill them to a medium-rare type doneness.     

That is the best way to have deer loin in our book!  Everyone in the family loves it, and if he makes it for extended family it is gone in a snap.  I have never seen somebody try it and not like it. 

The Korean BBQ marinade gives the venison great flavor and a bit of sheen when you grill them up. Leaving the cuts of backstrap a little bit thicker allows you to get a nice medium rare cook that is tender and reminiscent of eating a nice steak.

You can garnish the grilled meat with a few toasted sesame seeds if you want, or serve them as is. If you are a fan of teriyaki this bulgogi flavor is going to be a hit as well.

Of course this marinade is still very tasty on beef, so if you don’t have venison don’t feel like you can’t enjoy it.  This recipe is still a good one for anyone’s arsenal. 

More Recipes You May Like

For another great venison dinner, check out my recipe for backstrap and broccoli. I included instructions for making it either in the slow cooker or instant pot. 

While you have the grill fired up, you might as well make some of Pops’ stuffed jalapenos as well.  Then your whole meal can be inspired by him! 

Or put some baked rice with mushrooms in the oven and you’ll have a great side dish to serve with your backstrap. Five spice roasted veggies would be another wonderful option.

Thanks for sharing!