Dove meat — a good source of protein, vitamin B6, and a host of other essential nutrients — is as versatile as it gets! And as the dove-hunting season comes close, the iconic bacon-wrapped dove recipe just begs to be cooked. And for good reason! But how about branching out?
Dove meat has a mild, subtle flavor that makes it easy to be cooked in a wide range of different ways! Not sure where to start? Give these 15 flavorful dove recipes a go and make your dove season even more delicious!
#1. Butter Seared Dove Breast with Garlic & Fresh Herbs
This recipe calls for two essentials — a supreme seasoning mix and high-quality butter — to make an ultra-flavorful dove meal that’ll have you reaching for seconds. Cook the seasoned dove breasts with butter, garlic, and thyme and serve with a topping of golden, crispy garlic and a drizzle of some pan butter. It’s quick, easy, and so flavorful!
#2. Cajun Grilled Doves
An easy recipe that packs a punch of fiery flavor, this is a great choice for meal rotation during dove hunting season. To create this delectable appetizer, let the dove meat marinate in a dry rub of Cajun or Creole spices preferably overnight. Grill until the meat is well-browned and had a little char on it, and serve!
#3. Cornbread Casserole Recipe with Doves
This casserole recipe retains the tenderness of the dove while adding some cornbread flavor to the mix. Simply place some stuffing mixture in a casserole, top it with dove breasts, then cover it fully with the remaining stuffing mixture and bake uncovered until the meat is cooked through. It’s a hearty, filling recipe, perfect for weekends!
#4. Dove & Fig Kabobs
This recipe brings together smoky and fruity flavors in an amazing kebob form! Coat the dove meat in a marinade prepared from red wine, barbeque sauce, and teriyaki sauce simmered together. Stack them with delectable fresh figs on skewers. Once browned and caramelized in the oven, serve as-is or with a salad!
#5. Pan-Seared Dove Breast and Sunflower Seed Hummus on Toast
This recipe brings together some amazing flavors to create a uniquely delicious side dish! Smear your toasted bread with homemade sunflower seed hummus, add sliced pan-seared dove, radish, and goat cheese, and top it all off with some flavorsome za’atar seasoning — this recipe is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted before!
#6. Dove Nuggets
Appetizers are doubly appetizing when they’re crispy on the outside and deliciously tender on the inside. And this high-protein recipe, made by frying dove meat coated with bread crumbs and flavored with Creole seasoning, has crunch and texture down pat! Serve this soft, juicy, and crunchy delicacy with a dipping sauce of your choice or salad for a quick lunch.
#7. Grilled Doves la Mancha
Stuff fat, juicy doves with sage and bay leaf, place them on the grill, brush with bacon fat, and season with smoked Spanish paprika and black pepper. Grill until you get some color on each side. Serve with a simple tomato salad or crusty bread paired with a glass of red wine for a light lunch or dinner!
#8. Grilled Doves, Portuguese Style
Authentic Portuguese flavors of bay leaves, chile peppers, garlic, olive oil, paprika, and sweet wine are blended in a food processor to create a delectable marinade for dove meat. After marinating the doves, grill them till done to your liking, then pour the sauce — prepared by simmering the leftover marinade — on top with a sprinkling of ground black pepper to enjoy.
#9. Grilled Doves with Blueberry BBQ Sauce
Combining tart and spicy blueberry barbecue sauce with tender grilled doves — this is the perfect dish to try for your next cookout! Pro tip: Cook the dove meat medium rare to enjoy a taste of heaven in every bite. Got leftover BBQ sauce? Refrigerate it in a glass jar and use it with pork, duck, or chicken thighs!
#10. Pot-Roasted Doves
Delicate dove meat cooked in a rich, brown gravy — that’s it. That’s the moment. Make it with seasoned doves, celery, onions, green bell peppers, as well as chicken broth and gravy mix, and cook to your desired doneness. Serve this hearty meal over rice and a side of peas (optional) for a healthy, flavorful, comforting dinner.
#11. Smoked Doves with Maple Glaze
This easy and incredibly flavorful dove recipe will completely transform your dove cooking game. It calls for marinating whole doves in a sweet and savory marinade that also serves as a sauce! Cook the marinated doves over a smoker and baste them thrice. Serve this yummy sweet and smoky combo with added glaze and pair it with a light salad.
#12. Soy & Lime Roasted Dove
Want to go all out for dinner? Make this statement meal with plucked and gutted doves, soy sauce, aji Amarillo, honey, limes, lime zest, along with canola, salt, and pepper to taste. Once baked, serve it with your favorite side dishes, such as blistered shishito peppers or lemon-dressed tomato and red onion salad, for a delicious family dinner.
#13. Blood Orange and Herb Stuffed Dove
Elevate simple ingredients to a restaurant-worthy meal! This recipe involves stuffing your dove breast with a thin blood orange slice, garlic clove, rosemary, and thyme and brushing it with a tangy, zesty mixture of blood orange juice, oregano, butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Bake until cooked through and serve with your favorite sides!
#14. Simple Grilled Doves
A simple recipe to let the flavors of this delicate meat shine. Once the doves are plucked and gutted, toss them in a mixture of olive oil, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Cook them on a hot grill for about 5 minutes on both sides. Serve with a side of greens or just a bowl of rice.
#15. Grilled Dove Poppers
Fire up the grill to create this classic recipe! Wrap thinly sliced bacon around seasoned dove meat, jalapeno, cream cheese, and a slice of onion, and use a toothpick to secure each roll. Cook these poppers over a hot charcoal fire until the bacon is crisp. Serve hot!
