Grilled Bison Burgers

Bison is a fantastic meat for burgers and a great way to switch it up the next time you grill. 

Bison is known for being super lean, but it’s still packed full of flavor. It’s not overly gamely but has a lot of similarities in flavor to standard beef burgers, but with a heartier flavor profile.

I love a great grilled bison burger, and today I’m going to share my recipe along with some tips and tricks so you can grill tasty bison burgers right at home!

What is bison?

American bison, not to be confused with buffalo, is a large animal that can be found all over the United States and parts of Canada.

Buffalo is found throughout Asia and Africa, though people often confuse the two species.

Bison live in open grasslands and are not domesticated or bred commercially, which makes bison a bit harder to find than beef.

Where can I buy bison meat?

Bison meat has gained a lot of popularity in recent years and can be found in many grocery stores and supermarkets.

The ground bison I used in this recipe was from my local HEB grocery store, a brand called Force of Nature. They offer 100% grass-fed ground bison, along with other game meats such as venison and elk.

If you are unable to find ground bison in your local store, you can purchase premium quality ground bison from Crowd Cow.

How should bison burgers be cooked?

Because bison is extremely lean meat and only contains about 10% fat, it should never be cooked further than medium. Medium-rare to rare is recommended for bison to prevent the patties from drying out.

If you’re not a fan of a rare burger, this might not be the best option for you. I do urge you to try it, and remember the red juice you see isn’t actually blood!

To keep an eye on the temperature of your bison patties while grilling them, I recommend using an instant-read thermometer. I like to use the ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 for this application. It takes temperature very quickly and accurately, and preventing me from overcooking or keeping my smoker open too long.

How to make Grilled Bison Burgers

1. Make the patties

Combine the meat, mustard, and 1 teaspoon of each seasoning. It’s important not to overwork your meat, though, as this will affect the texture of your burgers, and not in a good way.

Once combined, use your hands to form 2 half-pound patties.

2. Grilling

Fire up the grill to 500°F (medium-high heat).

For this recipe, I used my Napoleon Freestyle 425 propane grill. I love using a propane grill for burgers because I am able to get nice, even heat across the grates and ensure my burgers cook evenly.

You can also opt to use a charcoal grill for this recipe as long as you can maintain a steady temperature.

Place your burger patties directly on the grates.

You are going to let them cook for about 5 to 7 minutes per side until they reach an internal temperature of 135°F for medium rare.

In the last 2 minutes, add a slice of Swiss cheese to the top of each burger and close the grill to let the cheese melt.

Place the buns with the inside down and let them cook for 2 to 3 minutes until they are golden brown.

3. Build your bison burger

Once your burgers are cooked and your buns are toasted, you are ready to build your burger.

Just like any regular beef burger, you can add whatever toppings you like.

I decided to keep it simple with a bit of shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, sliced red onion, and a nice smear of Dijon mustard on the top bun. I find that the combination of Dijon mustard and Swiss cheese is a killer combination on a burger!

What should I serve with Grilled Bison Burgers?

Just like a traditional beef burger, a bison burger pairs perfectly with fries, tater tots, and a number of other great barbecue sides.

Here are some great side dishes we recommend:

• Homemade Classic French Fries
• Ultra-Crispy Potato Wedges
• Herb Roasted Potato Salad
• Southern-style Coleslaw
• The Best Macaroni Salad for BBQ