Juicy Perfect Bison Burgers

Perfect Bison 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.

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 Bison 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.

And did you know, that if you see a package of meat labeled “buffalo” that it’s probably imported Water Buffalo meat and not Bison. Which can be misleading to consumers. Make sure you are purchasing Bison 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 buffalo is lower in fat and cholesterol than beef, pork and chicken and even half the fat of turkey?

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

4 tips for cooking buffalo:

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

I rarely eat buffalo and honestly am not all that crazy about the idea of killing these majestic animals.  I did buy ground buffalo meat for this recipe.  If you’ve never eaten Buffalo, the taste is very similar to beef, and with a slightly creamier texture. Delicious.

Recipe for Perfect Bison Burgers

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 Bison 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
• Bison Chipotle Cheddar Cheeseburgers
• Chipotle Bison Chili with Lime Crema

5 from 2 votes

Print

Perfect Buffalo Burgers

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

25 mins

 

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.

Course: entree

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Buffalo Burgers

Servings: 4

Calories: 594 kcal

Author: www.highlandsranchfoodie.com

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 Cup onion diced, plus 1 onion sliced into rings for garnish
• 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

Instructions

1. For the burgers: Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes or until softened; set aside to cool. 

2. In a large bowl, combine egg, rosemary, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, salt and pepper, Mix in cooled onion and buffalo meat Shape mixture into four 1/2 inch thick patties. Chill up to 6 hours.

3. 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).
4. 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 caramelized onions.

Nutrition Facts

Perfect Buffalo Burgers

Amount Per Serving

Calories 594 Calories from Fat 306

% Daily Value*

Fat 34g52%

Saturated Fat 10g63%

Cholesterol 126mg42%

Sodium 1038mg45%

Potassium 664mg19%

Carbohydrates 40g13%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 17g19%

Protein 28g56%

Vitamin A 465IU9%

Vitamin C 9.2mg11%

Calcium 114mg11%

Iron 5.2mg29%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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