How to cook rabbit and love it! Yes, rabbit is delicious and can be prepared in a variety of ways. If you’re raising meat rabbits you’ll especially appreciate this post today. I know many people in the US have never consumed rabbit meat (which is a shame because its delicious). Some backyard farmers will start raising rabbits as a livestock before even trying the meat. I actually bought some expensive rabbit meat from a “fine grocer” before starting our meat rabbit journey. I figured I better know if we liked the meat first!
How To Cook Rabbit
Cooking rabbit is very similar to cooking lean meats like boneless / skinless chicken breasts or lean pork chops. I have, often, described rabbit meat as a cross between these meats in flavor and texture. Domestic rabbit may have a bit more fat on it than a wild one but not much. Like chicken and pork, rabbit meat will take on almost any flavor you season it with!
Thawing Your Rabbit Meat for Cooking
If you’re working with frozen rabbit meat you can thaw it safely, in 3 ways. NEVER thaw rabbit meat at room temperature!
- The first way would be in your refrigerator which can take a full day to defrost and should be used within 2 days of thawing.
- Another option is to defrost frozen rabbit meat in cold water. Make sure your rabbit is in a sealed bag and submerge it in cold water (never warm). You should change the water out every 30 minutes until thawed completely. The rabbit meat should be cooked the same day.
- You can defrost rabbit meat in a microwave, though I would not recommend it.
How To Cook Rabbit – Baking and Roasting
When baking or roasting a rabbit you want to cook low and slow for the best results. The best temp for oven cooking is 325 F and you want the rabbit meat to reach an internal temperature of 160 F.
Baked & Roast Rabbit Recipes
- Honey Rosemary Baked Rabbit
- Slow Roasted Rabbit in the Sun Oven
- Slow Roasted Rabbit Recipe
- Baked Rabbit with Orange
- Baked Rabbit with Potatoes
How To Cook Rabbit in a Crock Pot
Rabbit meat will cook much like chicken in your crock pot. You can also substitute rabbit in most chicken recipes for your crock pot. This is a great method of cooking to add moisture to the rabbit while cooking and perfect if you want to shred it!
Crock Pot Rabbit Recipes
- Beer Braised Rabbit in the Crock Pot
- Hearty Crock Pot Rabbit Stew Recipe
- Crock Pot Rabbit Chili
- Creamy Rabbit with Biscuits
How To Cook Rabbit on the Grill
When it comes to cooking rabbit, grilling is a great way to add a rich flavor to the meat. Because rabbit is so low in fat you’ll need to watch your flame so it doesn’t get over cooked and dried out.
Grilled Rabbit Recipes
How To Cook Rabbit in the Instant Pot
Much like the crock pot you can cook rabbit meat in the Instant Pot with amazing results. I feel like the IP really infuses flavor into the rabbit meat and it won’t dry it out!
Instant Pot Rabbit Meat Recipes
Frying Rabbit Meat
One of my favorite ways to eat rabbit is fried. You can use any of your favorite fried chicken recipes. Good old fashioned way of cooking rabbit, for sure! Sure it up with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans for a real southern flair!
- Buttermilk Fried Rabbit Recipe
- Italian Style Fried Rabbit
- Extra Crispy Korean Style Fried Rabbit
- KY Fried Rabbit
Rabbit Meat Casserole Recipes
Busy weeknights call for a good casserole recipe, right? Get your rabbit meat ready for these casserole recipes now!
Miscellaneous Rabbit Recipes
Cooking rabbit has endless possibilities here are MORE amazing recipes for you to try!
Need More Information on Raising Meat Rabbits?
If you are looking to raise meat rabbits and not sure where to start please see these auricles to get you going. Rabbit is a great, sustainable, livestock and perfectly suited for the small backyard farmer!
- Why Meat Rabbits?
- Meat Rabbits 101
- Breeding Your Meat Rabbits
- Top 10 Meat Rabbit Breeds for Your Homestead
- Making Money Raising Meat Rabbits
Rabbit is great meat – it takes a marinade even better than chicken. Good stuff.
A friend of mine in college was step mom to 2 girls – 8 and 3. She and her husband wanted to expand their palate, so one night they served rabbit. The 8 year old was fretful, having been raised on tales of Peter Rabbit. But she tried a little, and that was fine. The three year old, who must have been going through a growth spurt, had a fork in one hand and a spoon in the other and said with great enthusiasm “GIVE ME SOME OF THAT BUNNY!!!!”. The friend was slightly aghast, then amused, then aghast again. As much as she appreciated the kid’s openness to try something new, she was going to keep an eye on that little one!
That’s a great story!!! <3
how much money was the rabbit???
It depends on whether you are buying pre-processed meat or raising your own rabbits.
Great recipes that I’m excited to try! I have a question though, I have acquired already dressed and frozen rabbits from a friend however, the heads are still on them. Do you do anything w/ the head? Like you would a goat? Or should I just remove the head and carry on w/ trying a recipe?
I have never cooked the heads. I think my dogs would enjoy it, maybe dehydrated.
We have meat rabbits we are raising and I want to know if anyone has suggestions for the best way to slaughter them. That’s the hardest part :). I’m going to try a number of these recipes.
There is truly no easy way, in terms of taking the life itself, but the broomstick method is fast and causes very little stress. I have lots more on meat rabbits here on the blog – https://www.imperfectlyhappy.com/?s=meat+rabbits
We used to shoot in the back of the head and with a few cuts toward the backside and a quick pull you can kill and skin it pretty quick
Shooting is not a bad method but not always an option for a backyard homesteader living in close quarters to neighbors.
My preferred method for slaughter is a .22 bullet to the temple. Broomstick method or using a rake is an option also, but I don’t like the manipulation of dislocating the rabbit’s neck to kill it.
As long as it is quick I think either method works fine.