These bison burgers are an epic summer grilling recipe! They’re juicy, topped with melty cheddar and crispy bacon, and ready to shake up your next backyard get-together.
If you’ve never cooked with bison before, this recipe is the perfect place to start! Bison has a rich, meaty taste similar to beef, making it awesome for burgers. Especially when you add sharp cheddar, smoky bacon, and all your favorite toppings! Follow the recipe below (and don’t skip my guide to grilling the best burgers) and you can’t go wrong.
What Makes These Bison Burgers My Personal Favorite
Even though I love all the other burger recipes I’ve shared over the years, these bison bacon cheeseburgers are by far my favorite. There is so much flavor in every bite!
- Big burger flavor. Bison has a beefy taste that makes it a more fitting swap for beef than ground turkey or chicken, which are good, but don’t really have that same richness.
- Awesome macros. Bison is naturally lean, with fewer calories and grams of fat than beef, while still being incredibly satisfying thanks to its higher protein count.
- Tender and juicy. Trust me, this bison burger recipe won’t let you down!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card for exact measurements and instructions.
For the Burgers:
- Ground bison – If you can’t find this at your local grocery store, a natural food store or butcher shop should have it.
- Salt and pepper – I enjoy the flavor of bison, so I keep the seasonings simple.
- Cheddar cheese – I love using Tillamook cheddar for burgers. Sharp or medium both add good flavor.
- Bacon – Crispy bacon adds smoky flavor and crunch.
For Serving:
- Iceberg lettuce – Crisp wedges serve as a low-carb alternative to burger buns.
- Vine-ripe tomatoes – This is a great recipe for using colorful heirloom tomatoes!
- Red onion – Or for a different spin on this recipe, swap in caramelized onions.
- Pickles – Choose your favorite!
- Condiments – Ketchup, mustard, mayo, or anything else you like.
Tips for the Best Bison Burgers
Bison is leaner than traditional ground beef, so these tips will help ensure juicy burgers every time.
- Don’t overwork the meat. Mix and shape the patties gently to keep them tender.
- Avoid overcooking. Because bison is so lean, it can dry out fast. It’s not recommended to cook bison meat past medium. I highly recommend using a meat thermometer so you can monitor the internal temperature of the burger. 145°F will give you a medium-rare patty.
- Let the burgers rest. A few minutes of resting helps keep the juices inside.
- Oil the grill grates. Lean meats are more likely to stick, so don’t skip this step!
Serving Suggestions
These bison burgers pair perfectly with:
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerator: Store leftover bison burger patties in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- To reheat: Warm the patties in a skillet over medium heat or microwave until heated through, then assemble the burgers.
More Burger Recipes
Bison Burgers
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Grilling, Low Carb, Keto, Beef,
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Description
With juicy grilled bison patties, melted cheddar, and crispy bacon, these easy keto bison burgers are packed with flavor in every bite!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground bison meat (you could also use lean ground beef 93/7)
- salt & pepper to season
- 4 slices of sharp or medium cheddar cheese (I used tillamook)
- 4 slices of bacon, cooked
- 1 head of iceberg lettuce, sliced into wedges
- 4 thick slices of vine ripe tomatoes
- 4 slices of red onion
- pickles
- condiments of your choosing: ketchup, mayo, mustard
Instructions
The Cheeseburgers (Bison Burger)
- Preheat grill to medium high heat, approximately 375-400 degrees F.
- Form ground bison meat into four 1/4 lb. patties.
- Season with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Clean grill grates and spray with cooking spray or rub with olive oil soaked rag.
- Place burgers on the grill. Grill the first side for 4 minutes, with closed grill. Flip burger and grill the other side for 3 minutes with closed grill.
- Then, place a slice of cheese on each burger and close the grill. Let the burgers cook and cheese melt for 1 minute and remove from grill.
Assemble Bacon Cheeseburgers:
- To a plate add a wedge of lettuce, then bison cheeseburger, top with cooked bacon (I slice mine in half and criss cross them), a slice of tomato, red onion, pickles and a condiment of your choosing.
- Serve!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger
- Calories: 335
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 696 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 78 mg
