Grilled bison burgers are a great alternative to traditional beef burgers and are ready in 20 minutes or less! Bison burger patties are perfectly seasoned, grilled until juicy, and finished with your favorite burger toppings.
Why make bison burgers?
Flavor: Similar to beef but with a slightly sweet, rich undertone.
Bison vs beef: Bison is like a high quality beef burger, except it's slightly leaner and higher in protein.
Great for: Summer grilling, weeknight dinner, Fourth of July.
Top with: Your favorite burger toppings! My favorites (pictured) include Pimento Cheese Spread, Bread and Butter Pickles, and lettuce on a lightly toasted bun.
Serve with: Southern Potato Salad or Grilled Vegetable Skewers
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Ground bison - Can be substituted with any ground meat you have on hand, like ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork. Keep in mind that lean meats will cook faster than fatty meats. We made smaller, 4 ounce burgers, but you're welcome to make your burgers any size.
- Salt and pepper - To enhance the flavor of your bison burgers.
- Buns - Fresh bakery buns, like brioche buns or sesame seed buns, are perfect for this recipe.
- Cheese - I like to add pimento cheese on my bison burgers, but any melty cheese works. American cheese, cheddar cheese, and pepper jack cheese are great choices.
- Optional toppings - I added lettuce and bread and butter pickles to my burgers, but feel free to add your favorite toppings, like sliced tomato, red onion, or dill pickles.
How to grill bison burgers
- Form meat into four, 4-ounce patties. Gently press your thumb into the center of each burger to form an indent. This helps keep your patties nice and flat while they cook.
- Lightly season on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Place on a preheated grill at least 1 inch apart.
- Grill on each side for about 2-3 minutes, or until the center is done to your liking. Use a meat thermometer for accurate results.
Tips and tricks
Don't overwork the bison - Gently form your patties without working the meat too much. Form wide patties with an indent in the center. This prevents your burgers from puffing up once they start cooking.
High smoke point oil - Use oil with a high smoke point. This means an oil can stand up to higher heat (like a grill) without burning.
Oil the grill grates - This ensures your food doesn't stick.
Use a meat thermometer - Ground bison should to be cooked to an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit for medium doneness. Cooking for much longer will result in a dry burger, especially since bison is a lean meat. Using a meat thermometer guarantees juicy, perfectly cooked burgers.
For nice grill marks - Move your burgers as little as possible. Gently lift up one corner to check the progress of your burger patty, then lay it back down in the same spot if it's not ready to be moved yet.
Let your burgers rest - While they don't need as much rest as a steak, a minute or so helps the juices redistribute, which keeps your burgers juicy.
Frequently asked questions
Bison is a red meat that has a similar flavor to high quality beef. It is not gamey, and some describe it as having a slightly sweet undertone.
Bison is a nutrient-dense food, and is an excellent source of protein, iron, zinc, vitamin B6, and the antioxidant selenium. When compared to beef, bison is lower in calories, higher in protein, and lower in fat. This makes it a great swap if you're looking to lighten up your meals
Bison burgers pair well with any traditional picnic sides, like macaroni salad, potato salad, or a chopped salad.
Burgers will turn out dry from overcooking. Bison is slightly leaner than traditional beef burgers and will cook slightly faster. I recommend using a meat thermometer and testing the temperature while cooking to ensure your burgers turn out juicy and perfectly cooked.
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📖 Recipe
Grilled Bison Burgers
Ingredients
- 16 ounces ground bison
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 4 burger buns
Optional toppings
- ½ cup pimento cheese
- bread and butter pickles
- romaine lettuce
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high or high heat, about 400 to 450℉. If needed, clean grill grates.
- Form ground bison into four equal sized, wide patties, pressing an intent into the center of each. Salt and pepper patties on all sides.
- Wipe grill grates lightly with oil, then place bison burger on the grill grate (optionally, add buns around the edge of the grill to toast. This will take about a minute or less - bread browns quickly).
- Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until burgers are cooked to an internal temperature of 160℉. Rely less on time and more on the temperature and look of your burgers to determine when they're done. Grill temperatures and conditions can vary greatly.
- Remove from grill, immediately spread with pimento cheese (or add cheese slices), and allow to rest for 1 to 2 minutes before assembling sandwiches. Transfer burgers to buns and top with lettuce and pickles (or your favorite toppings). Serve warm.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Storage: Leftover bison burgers will keep for up to 4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
- Bison burger cooking time: Bison is leaner than beef and will cook slightly faster than a traditional beef burger.
- Want melted pimento cheese?: Add cheese during the last minute of cooking, then cover grill with lid.
- Other optional toppings: American cheese, cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise. Get creative and add your favorite burger toppings!
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