Name: Grilled Bison Burgers
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 lb Ground Bison; 1/2 tsp Sea Salt, or to taste; 1/2 tsp Freshly Ground Pepper, or to taste; 3 Cloves Garlic, minced; 1/4 Onion, finely chopped ((or one shallot finely chopped)); 1/2 tsp Chili Powder ((optional)); 1/2 tsp Cumin ((optional)); 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes ((optional)); 1 Jalapeno Peppers, seeded and minced ((optional)); 2 Habanero Peppers, seeded and minced ((optional)); 2 tbsp Cilantro, chopped ((optional)); 2 tbsp Olive Oil (for cooking the burgers)

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Satisfy your burger cravings with these juicy Grilled Bison Burgers that are leaner, healthier, and more flavorful than ground beef. Bison is a delicious meat that be prepared simply with salt and pepper, or you can get creative with the flavor! This recipe gives you savory and spicy bison burgers, topped with caramelized onions, avocado, and blue cheese — this is the best burger you’ll ever have!

Bison meat is growing in popularity due to its high nutrient profile and great taste. Finding bison in the grocery store is a lot easier, so if you enjoy eating bison like I do, then definitely check out my Baked Bison Meatballs or Bison Steak Recipe next!

In less than 20 minutes you can bring restaurant-quality burgers to your table without leaving home. For this recipe, I made my grilled bison burger a bit on the spicier side! The addition of habanero and jalapenos with cilantro and chile powder made this burger a huge hit with the fam! I’ve also made bison burgers by seasoning them simply with minced garlic, chopped onion, salt and pepper, and it was equally as tasty!! Make the burger according to your preference, but be sure to follow my cooking tips so your burger comes out nice and juicy!

Bison Burger Nutrition VS Beef

Across the board, bison is lower in calories and saturated fat than beef, and has been shown to be better for vascular health than traditional red meat.
It also has a higher nutrient profile, supplying high amounts of iron and vitamin b-12.
Both bison and beef have similar protein contents: 23-25g protein per 4 ounces. However, buffalo are typically raised under much better conditions than cows, including having more grazing time as they are usually raised on ranches or farms. They are also more likely to be grass-fed and never given antibiotics or hormones.

Regarding antibiotics and hormones, it is always important to buy grass-fed AND finished meat whenever possible. Pay attention to the label because many beef options are grass-fed to start, then grain-finished.

buy ranch direct bison meat with other ingredients

How to Cook Bison Burgers on the Grill?

Bison is leaner than beef, which means that it cooks faster. It is best to not cook bison beyond medium (140°F) or it may become dry and tough.

After forming burger patties with ground bison, you will simply cook the patties for 3-4 minutes on each side over medium heat. The less time it takes to cook, the more juicy and tender your burger will be. Four minutes is ideal for a medium finish and 5-7 minutes is great for well done. (The same principle applies to cooking bison on the stovetop)

My trick for making sure these burgers come out juicy and flavorful every single time is to shape the ground meat into a patty and then make a small indentation with my thumb in the center of the patty. This will allow the moisture to accumulate in the grove while cooking and keep the burger juicy.

What to use for Bison Burger Toppings:

Caramelized Onions
Avocado or Guacamole
Avocado Crema
Romaine Lettuce or Arugula (my favorite!)
Tomato
Cheese: Blue Cheese and Sharp Cheddar are great
Roasted Red Peppers

Remember, bison is juicy, tender, and flavorful all on its own. You do not need lots of seasonings or toppings to enjoy this epic burger. Less is more when it comes to this tasty meat! Complete this meal with Homemade Sweet Potato Fries or Accordion Potatoes!

And that’s how you make grilled bison burgers!

If you try the recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments below! Take pictures, tag #goodfoodbaddie, and share them with me on Instagram! I love seeing my recipes come to life in your kitchen.