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    Home > Main Courses > Main Dishes Beef > Juicy Perfect Bison Burgers

    Juicy Perfect Bison Burgers

    Published: Jan 12, 2010 · Modified: Sep 16, 2022 by Lea Ann Brown · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Perfect Bison Burger

    Perfect Buffalo Burgers.  Ground Bison meat is flavored with onion, rosemary, thyme and Worcestershire sauce. And with a special homemade secret sauce you’ve got a delicious version for a lower cholesterol burger.

    bison burger topped with sauce and onion rings, served with fries

    If you enjoy cooking with bison, don’t miss my Bison Recipes category.

    Is it Bison or Buffalo?

    I’ve always said that if I had to kill my own food, I’d be a vegetarian.

    I’ve also always claimed that if I were a vegetarian I’d miss hamburgers so much that I’d kill a cow to get one, if I had to.

    For Buffalo burgers???  I’ll leave the killing of a bison to the experts.  I don’t even think a konk on the head with my cast iron skillet would cause them to blink an eye.  Have you ever seen one of those things in real life?

    They snort and they’re big as all get out.  They’re the bulldogs of the bovine world.

    Did you know that there are about 500,000 bison in the United States and many thousands of them are right here in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming?

    But is it Bison or Buffalo? American Bison are native to North America, South America and Europe. There are two buffalo species that live in Asia and Africa.

    You simply should not see a package of meat labeled “buffalo”. And make sure you’re purchasing Bison meat from reputable ranchers.

    Bison are my neighbors

    Yes, I live in the Wild West and we have a small herd just a few miles south of Highlands Ranch and here’s a picture of my neighbors.

    I’d like to introduce you to (from left to right) that’s  Bill, Joe and little Joey Jr….

    How to Cook Bison Meat

    Did you know that bison is lower in fat and cholesterol than beef, pork and chicken and even half the fat of turkey?

    Ground bison is so lean you may need to turn your skillet down or spray it with non-stick spray.

    How to Cook Bison:

    • Lower heat
    • Cook slower
    • Think Pink
    • Don’t overcook

    If you’ve never eaten bison, the taste is very similar to beef, and with a slightly creamier texture. Delicious.

    Recipe for Perfect Bison Burgers

    Bison burger recipe topped with onions and special bbq sauce.

    This recipe is a combination of great flavors that would work well for turkey burgers or hamburgers and the sauce would work in many situations. 

    These burgers would be best grilled, but my Weber is still in hibernation, so I pan fried them in my cast iron skillet.

    I hope you give these Bison Burgers a try. And if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating. And leave a comment about your experience with the recipe. And if you have a favorite bison recipe, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.

    Looking for more Bison resources?  Here’s a link to Bison Central: National Bison Association

    Beer and Wine Pairing for Buffalo Burgers

    Beer Pairing:  Lightly malted Colorado Golden Ale. Wine Pairing:  Malbec from Argentina would have the red and black fruits and the body to go well with this Perfect Bison burger.

    More Bison Recipes

    • Pan Seared Bison New York Strip Steaks
    • Chipotle Bison Chili with Lime Crema
    • Bison Stew Recipe with Porter Ale
    • Buffalo Burger with Spicy Creamy BBQ Sauce

    And if you’re a burger fanatic like us, don’t miss my post which features a line up of Best Grilled Burgers recipes. I’m positive you’ll find something you’ll fall in love with.

    And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

    If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below. And write a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback.

    bison burger topped with sauce and onion rings, served with fries

    Perfect Bison Burgers

    Ground buffalo is flavored with onion, rosemary, thyme and Worcestershire sauce.  And with a dressing of BBQ sauce, ketchup and mayo, you’ve got a delicious version for a lower cholesterol burger.
    4.88 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course Beef
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 594kcal
    Author: Lea Ann Brown

    Ingredients

    • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 medium onion thin sliced
    • 2 Tablespoons Marsala wine
    • 1 Cup onion diced
    • 1 egg beaten
    • 1 teaspoon rosemary dried
    • 1 teaspoon thyme dried
    • 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 pound ground buffalo meat
    • 4 hamburger buns toasted
    • 4 slices tomato
    • 4 leaves lettuce
    • For the Sauce:
    • 1/4 Cup BBQ sauce your favorite brand
    • 1/4 Cup ketchup
    • 1/4 Cup mayonnaise
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    Instructions

    • For The Burgers:
    • Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes or until softened; set aside to cool. 
    • In a large bowl, combine egg, rosemary, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, salt and pepper, Mix in cooled minced onion and buffalo meat Shape mixture into four 1/2 inch thick patties. Chill up to 6 hours.
    • When ready to cook burgers, cook patties for about 5 minutes per side in a little olive oil in a cast iron skillet (or grill).
    • To build your burger: Spread sauce on toasted buns and serve remaining sauce on the side for dipping. Place patties on bun and garnish with lettuce and tomato and thin sliced onion.

    Notes

    Pro Tip: Saute the thinly sliced onion in the Marsala wine for 10 – 15 minutes or until caramelized. Use these in place of thin sliced rings of raw onion for garnish.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 594kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 1038mg | Potassium: 664mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 465IU | Vitamin C: 9.2mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 5.2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @lannisam or tag #CookingOnTheRanch!

    Perfect Buffalo Burgers …It’s What’s For Dinner

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      Chili Cheese Burrito
    • Beef tournados with red wine mushroom sauce served with mashed potatoes and green beans
      Beef Tournedos Steak with Red Wine Mushroom Sauce
    • Beef machaca tacos served with cotija cheese and salsa.
      Mexican Beef Machaca Recipe
    • Red wine beef stew with carrots and mushrooms.
      Jacques Pepin’s Beef Stew In Red Wine

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Stevi Ann says

      December 03, 2022 at 5:34 pm

      4 stars
      These were super good! Added a diced up chipotle pepper and minced garlic to the onions, and a squirt of hot sauce to the egg for a “slightly spicy bison burger.” my husband enjoyed as well, which is all I’m really looking for ❤️ thank you

      Reply
    2. Gabriella says

      June 21, 2022 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe. We used it last night and the burgers turned out perfectly. Would also be great for regular beef burgers!

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        June 21, 2022 at 11:30 am

        Fabulous! Thanks for the rating and review.

        Reply
    3. Katherine A Dietz says

      June 06, 2021 at 5:04 am

      What is the bbq sauce that you use?
      Also how do you access the older comments? This is happening in all of your recipes!
      Thanks
      Katherine

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        June 08, 2021 at 5:41 am

        I like Stubbs Original or KC Masterpiece. I’ll email you separately about the older comments.

        Reply
    4. Kelly says

      May 24, 2021 at 4:46 pm

      5 stars
      We love bison! Steaks, hamburgers, roasts and especially bison chili.
      Thanks for making the recipe including the spices. They are healthy perfection.

      Reply
    5. Sarah says

      January 08, 2020 at 1:25 pm

      Can you eliminate the egg?

      Reply
      • Lea Ann Brown says

        January 09, 2020 at 5:31 am

        Hi Sarah

        The egg acts as a binder, holding everything together, so the burger won’t fall apart while cooking.

        If you eliminate the egg, I’d eliminate the Worcestershire sauce also. You’ll still have flavor left from the rest of the spices.

        Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks for your note.

        Reply
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    I'm Lea Ann, Welcome to my Colorado kitchen. I'm a Culinary School Grad with a passion to inspire you to cook as often as you can. Here you'll find Wild West Colorado inspired recipes along some Southwestern and Mexican food favorites. I also share some special recipes from school along pro cooking tips. If you're an adventurous cook looking to spice up your meal plans, you'll find plenty of reliable, approachable, easy to follow recipes.

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