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Switch up your normal burger with Bison. Grilled bison burgers have an amazing flavor and are packed with protein. A simple seasoning of salt, pepper, garlic (SPG) enhances the flavor of the meat making the perfect burger.
Grilling season is kicking into high gear and bison burgers should be a staple recipe that should be put into rotation over the open flame.
This was inspired by my Juicy smoked Burgers Recipe (beef) on this site, and pairs well with this amazing smoked corn on the cob side dish.
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Ingredients
Bison is the main event in this grilled bison burger recipe. Try to find ground bison with an 80:20 meat/fat ratio. Bison is pretty lean, so you might only be able to find it in 90:10.
Seasoning with a light mixture of SPG enhances the flavor of the bison, but not too much that it overpowers and takes away from the bison flavor.
- Ground Bison (80:20)
- Sea Salt
- Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Step 1: Weigh out ⅓lb of ground bison for each burger
- Step 2: Using your hands, form into round burger patties
- Step 3: Season both sides of patty with SPG.
- Step 4: Pre-heat grill to 450 degrees F and clean with a grill brush.
- Step 5: Place bison burger patties on grill, close lid, and cook for 4 minutes.
- Step 6: Flip burgers and cook another 3 minutes with the grill lid closed.
- Step 7: Add cheese to burgers. I put a slice of cheese on when internal temp reached 135°F. Then grilled with lid closed 1 more minute.
- Step 8: Remove and serve with your favorite burger toppings.
Hint: Let the grill run for 4-5 minutes at 400-450 degrees fahrenheit to burn off any remnants, then clean it. I like to use a grill brush (affiliate link) or an onion cut in half for cleaning the grill.
Finished Internal Temperature
Everyone likes their burgers different degrees of cooked. The best finish for bison burgers in my opinion is a medium to medium rare.
Refer to my chart on what internal temperature when deciding the right time to remove off the grill.
Substitutions
Have family members that are following a certain diet? Maybe the kids won't be keen on eating bison. Make these substitutions if necessary.
- Lettuce - instead of ice berg lettuce, you can use romaine lettuce or spinach
- Bun - use gluten free buns instead of white bread buns to make this gluten free
- Beef - You can use ground beef if you do not have bison meat
I would encourage everyone to try the bison though. It has an amazing flavor and might become their favorite burger going forward.
Equipment
Grill Baby Grill. Use whatever grill you have! These will turn out great on a $1,000 weber grill (affiliate link)like I am using or a $50 charcoal you bought off your neighbor.
I always try to encourage people to just start grilling. Don't think you need the newest and greatest. A cheap charcoal grill will give you a great flavor on these burgers.
Video - Bison Burgers (Step-by-Step)
Toppings
Really make these grilled bison burgers stand out with some amazing toppings. Here is a list of my favorite things to enhance these burgers.
Top tip
Farmers markets are a great place to find local bison meat. If you live in the south you might not find it here, but in the western US it's very common. Local grocery stores should carry ground bison as well.
FAQ
Absolutely! Bison is a lean healthy meat that is packed full of protein. Even a 90:10 meat fat ratio will create a great tasting burger.
Yes. It will have a slight sweetness to it. It's not gamey like venison but compares more to beef.
Yes. It refers to the North American Bison that is raised by farmers much like beef is. They roamed in the millions not that long ago and also go by the name buffalo. Yeah, the same buffalo you see mauling stupid tourists in yellowstone every year.
Related
Looking for other great grilled/smoked recipes? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with grilled bison burgers:
Ingredients
Burger & Seasonings
- 2 lb ground bison (80:20 or 90:10)
- 2 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Bun & Condiments
- 4-6 buns hamburger buns
- 1 tomato (sliced)
- 1 onion (sliced)
- Bunch lettuce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup mustard
Equipment
Instructions
- Weigh and separate ground bison meat into four ½lb or six ⅓lb and form into patties with your hands. Patties should be 1 - 1.5 inches thick.
- Season both sides of the burgers with salt, pepper, garlic (SPG). Don't use too much where you will overpower the bison flavor.
- Pre-heat grill to 425-450°F and clean with grill brush or an onion cut in half.
- Place burgers on grill grates and grill 4 minutes with the grill lid closed. Flip burgers after 4 minutes and cook another 3-4 minutes. Check temperature of burgers with a meat thermometer and cook longer if not cooked enough.
- IF wanting cheeseburgers. Place cheese on burgers when they are 10°F BELOW your desired finish temp and cook another 1 minute with the cheese on the burgers.
- Remove from the grill and place on burger buns. Top with desired toppings and enjoy!
- Tried this recipe?! Please leave a review of how it came out.
Video
Pro Tips
- Try to use 80:20 meat/fat ratio. 90:10 will work as well.
- Place some jalapenos on the smoker along with the burgers. Slice and use as an amazing spicy topping.
- Don't EVER smash or press the burger down with a spatula when grilling. This will squeeze out all of the juices and make the burger dry.
Nutrition
Food safety
We sometimes take for a granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience, that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips.
- Defrost frozen meat in the refrigerator, not at room temperature
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat or use food safety gloves
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
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