Bison Burgers - Basil And Bubbly

Lean, flavorful bison burgers are a welcome change from the plain-ol' ground beef burgers everyone has had a million times before.

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Do bison burgers taste good?

Does bison taste like beef? Turkey? Ostrich? Veal? Not surprisingly, bison meat has its own unique flavor. It's very mild relative to many other lesser-used meats in America, and not gamey at all. It's a great meat to introduce your beef-loving friends to as an alternative that they may love.

Are bison burgers healthy?

As always, "healthy" seems to be relative to the consumer these days, but I'll safely say this: bison is leaner than beef, has fewer calories than beef, and has less saturated fat than beef. Most of the bison I've found in grocery stories is American Bison that is grass-fed, which tends to make those numbers even better (and frankly, a grass-fed bison burger is even more delicious.)  In my opinion, it's a great, healthier alternative to a classic beef burger.  

How do you make bison burgers from scratch?

• Season the ground bison. I like:
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Pepper
  • Salt
• Gently Mix. Very gently mix the seasoning into the ground meat in a large mixing bowl. If you over mix, your burgers will be dense.
• Carefully Form Patties. Press the meat into patties that are 4" wide and about ¾" tall. Only press the meat together enough so that it JUST holds together for the best juicy burger.
• Cook. A heavy bottomed skillet is a great choice for cooking patties, as is the grill. Either way, I give the patties about 2 minutes on each side on medium high heat.
• Air Fryer Cooking Method: You can also make bison burgers in your Air Fryer. Preheat the Air Fryer to 370 F. Cook the patties for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3 minutes.

How should bison burgers be cooked?

Due to their leaner composition / lower fat content, I prefer to cook my bison burgers somewhere between medium rare and medium. The recipe as listed below will give you a medium burger.

Please note that the FDA recommends cooking commercially ground meats to 160F, which is significantly higher than the 145F I recommend for optimum flavor. Make the choice that is best for you.

As for cooking method, I use a heavy bottomed skillet set over medium high heat. Given the lean fat content, I add a small amount of high-heat tolerant oil to the pan to help the patties get a crust and stay together.

After two minutes in the pan, I flip the patties and cook them another two minutes, then serve.

If you like this bison burger recipe, you might also like:

• Instant Pot Pulled Pork
• Red Wine Braised Lamb Shanks
• Baked Corned Beef

📖 Recipe

Bison Burgers

How to make THE BEST, flavorful, juicy bison burgers. 4.08 from 14 votes Print Pin Rate Course: DinnerCuisine: AmericanKeyword: bison burgers, ground bison Prep Time: 6 minutes minutesCook Time: 4 minutes minutesTotal Time: 10 minutes minutes Servings: 3 burgers Author: Marianne

Ingredients

• 12 ounces lean Ground Bison 90/10
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
• ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
• ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
• ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Grapeseed Oil or other high heat mild oil (as with any high heat cooking, avoid using extra virgin olive oil) 
• ½ teaspoon Kosher salt optional

Instructions

• In a large bowl, sprinkle the seasonings evenly over the ground bison and gently mix the meat and seasonings together
• Form three bison burger patties that are 4" across and about ¾" tall/deep.

To Cook in a Skillet (preferred method)

• Set heavy bottomed skillet (like a cast iron skillet) over medium-high heat. Add the oil. When the oil starts shimmering, add the bison patties. Cook for 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes. They should be golden brown on the outside and dark pink on the inside.

To Cook on the Grill

• Heat the grill to about 475°F. Place the patties on the grill and grill for 2-3 minutes, flip, then grill for another 2 minutes. For the best flavor, use a charcoal grill instead of a gas grill.

To Cook in the Air Fryer

• Preheat the Air Fryer to 370°F. Place the patties in a single layer on the Air Fryer grate, and cook for 5 minutes. Flip the patties, then cook for another 2 minutes.

Notes

Note 1: This recipe is a base for a delicious bison burger. For me, the best bison burgers have toppings! My favorite toppings include some type of onion - be it red onions or caramelized onions - fresh tomato slices, and a hearty mustard.  When I get a wild hair, I'll go for some melted cheese like gorgonzola or American. Note 2: I like my burgers a solid medium, which is around 145˚F. The USDA recommends cooking ground bison meat to 160˚F, which is well-done and a bit dry for my tastes.  Make whatever choice is right for you, and verify it with a quality meat thermometer if you want to be sure! Tried this recipe?Mention @basilandbubbly or tag #basilandbubbly!