Bison Burgers Recipe
Fire up the grill for my juicy, flavor-packed Bison Burgers. They're leaner than beef but loaded with bold, beefy goodness. These burgers are perfect for a healthier cookout without sacrificing taste!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground bison
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup sweet onion -finely minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
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Instructions
- Remove the ground beef from the refrigerator 30 minutes prior to making this recipe to allow it to come to room temperature.
- Heat your pellet grill to 425 degrees (If using a cast iron pan or a Blackstone, heat on medium-high heat and coat lightly with olive oil).
- Add the ground meat, onions, thyme, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt to a large bowl.
- Gently combine the ingredients. *Try not to over-handle the ground meat mixture, as it will become tough if over-mixed.
- Divide the ground beef mixture into four quarter pound burgers or burger balls.
- Place the burgers onto your pellet grill, cook on one side for 8-10 minutes (if using a cast iron pan or Blackstone, 6-8 minutes).
- lip the burger over to the other side and continue cooking for 8-10 minutes, or until it reaches your desired temperature. (If using a cast iron pan or Blackstone, 6-8 minutes)..
- Once the desired internal temperature is reached, place the cheese slices on top and let them melt (about 1 minute). Then remove them from the grill.
Notes
Can I Make Adjustments to the Recipe?
Absolutely. We made this recipe with lean ground bison, but you can easily use ground beef, elk, or venison if that’s what you’ve got. Just remember that fattier meats cook faster and shrink a little more, so adjust your timing as needed.
You can swap out the fresh thyme for dried herbs, or try different seasonings depending on what you like.
Instead of mixing the onions in, try topping your Bison Burgers with caramelized onions for a richer finish, and for a simple shortcut, onion powder works great when fresh onions aren’t handy.
If you want some heat, add a dash of chili powder or cayenne to the meat. It doesn’t take much to give it that spicy little kick.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover Bison Burgers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For the best flavor, bring them to room temperature before reheating in a skillet over medium heat with a little olive oil, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
You can also reheat in an air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes, or in the microwave in 30-second bursts, flipping once. The texture might not be quite the same, but it still gets the job done when you’re short on time.
Freeze cooked burgers without any cheese on top, and thaw them overnight in the fridge before reheating. To freeze the uncooked patties, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and lay them flat in a single layer. Cooked or uncooked, they’ll keep in the freezer for up to two months.
Chef Tip
A common mistake made by novice grillers is flipping the meat too frequently and pressing down on the burger with a spatula.
You want to flip the burger and leave it alone. When you squeeze down or press down on the burger, you release all the juices from the burger onto the grill. This not only affects the juiciness of the burger, but it also causes flare-ups on your grill.
Will overcooking Bison Burgers ruin them?
Yes, it will. Bison is much leaner than regular ground beef, so it cooks faster and dries out if you go too far. I always pull mine off the heat just shy of medium to keep them juicy. Go past that, and you’ll end up with a rubbery puck instead of a great burger.
For ground bison, it's best to cook to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. for medium. Insert a meat thermometer into the middle of the burger to check the temperature.
What if the bison tastes too gamey?
You might notice a slightly richer smell when it starts to cook, but that usually fades by the time it hits the bun. If you’re sensitive to stronger flavors, a little dijon mustard or onion powder mixed into the meat will mellow things out without covering up that natural bison flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 176kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 23gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 673mgPotassium: 417mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 26IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 3mg
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