Juicy ground bison is mixed with diced onion and jalapenos, sculpted into patties, and seared in a skillet in this mouth-watering buffalo burger recipe!
Why this recipe works
A lean, mean buffalo burger arrives on scene with minced red onion, jalapeno, chili powder, and garlic salt which work in tandem with ground bison to add a world of flavor to the patties. And no, we’re not talking about buffalo sauce here – it’s all ground bison that’s low in fat, calories, and cholesterol.
Did you know that buffalo are actually bison? Buffalo’s are native to Africa, whereas bison are native to Europe and North America. The two names are often used interchangeably although they aren’t exactly the same animals, only the same species. With bison being commonly mistaken for buffalo in America, we found it fitting to call this a buffalo burger – although it uses ground bison. Bison burger or buffalo burger, whichever you want to call it, is a juicy burger nonetheless and a nice switch up from your everyday ground beef patty.
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
PATTY – The star of the show, ground bison. Bison is lean and low in fat, cholesterol, and calories while still being juicy and delicious. You can find ground bison in most grocery stores in the same section as ground beef. Because bison is so lean, you want to avoid pressing the burger patty down while cooking or you’ll squeeze all the juices out, this isn’t a smash burger folks!
TOPPINGS – Optional toppings include mayonnaise, ketchup, or thousand island dressing along with the classic lettuce, tomato, and red onion. Pickles too, of course! You can top the patty with a slice of cheese if desired. American cheese, Swiss, or pepperjack are all good options.
How to Make Buffalo Burger
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high until shimmering. Add red onion and jalapeño peppers. Saute until tender and browned. Remove from skillet leaving as much oil in the skillet as you can.
- Place ground bison into a large mixing bowl. Press the meat into the bottom of the bowl and up the sides. Sprinkle meat with chili powder and garlic salt (to taste).
- Add the cooked red onion and jalapeño to the bowl.
- Using gloved hands, combine all the ingredients until evenly distributed. Divide meat into 3 equal patties.
- Using your thumb, make an indent in the center of each patty.
- If the pan is dry, add another teaspoon of olive oil. Cook in skillet over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes per side, flipping a couple times throughout the cooking process.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
If we are getting down to the specifics, ground bison should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160F registered on an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the meat. The same guidelines as a ground beef burger apply to this rule as well, however, you can cook bison to medium-rare or medium (just as you would a beef burger).
Store any leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through.
Yes, absolutely. Shape the ground bison into patties and freeze flat in an air-tight container or large zip top bag for up to 4 months.
Bison is a leaner meat than ground beef. If you find that your patties are not holding together well, you can place them in the refrigerator for 10 minutes or so to firm up before cooking.
Yes, you can make buffalo burgers on the grill following the same basic instructions.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your buffalo burger with your favorite condiments such as mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, aioli, or thousand island dressing as well as lettuce, onion (caramelized or raw), tomato, and pickles. You can even top them with buffalo sauce if that’s your fancy.
Bison burgers can be topped with Swiss cheese, American cheese, or pepperjack if desired. The topping options are endless! Serve alongside french fries, sweet potato fries, or chips.
More Burger Recipes
- Smash Burger
- Salmon Burger
- BBQ Bacon Burgers
- Cheeseburger Sliders
- Air Fryer Burgers
- Black Bean Burger
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Buffalo Burger
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup minced red onion
- 1 jalapeno pepper minced, seeds removed
- 1 pound ground bison
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 3 burger buns
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- You can find ground bison in most grocery stores in the same section as ground beef. Because bison is so lean, you want to avoid pressing the burger patty down while cooking or you’ll squeeze all the juices out.
- Optional toppings include mayonnaise, ketchup, or thousand island dressing along with the classic lettuce, tomato, and red onion. Pickles too, of course! You can top the patty with a slice of cheese if desired. American cheese, Swiss, or pepperjack are all good options.
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high until shimmering. Add red onion and jalapeño peppers. Saute until tender and browned. Remove from skillet leaving as much oil in the skillet as you can.
- Place ground bison into a large mixing bowl. Press the meat into the bottom of the bowl and up the sides. Sprinkle meat with chili powder and garlic salt (to taste).
- Add the cooked red onion and jalapeño to the bowl.
- Using gloved hands, combine all the ingredients until evenly distributed. Divide meat into 3 equal patties.
- Using your thumb, make an indent in the center of each patty.TIP – Bison is a leaner meat than ground beef. If you find that your patties are not holding together well, you can place them in the refrigerator for 10 minutes or so to firm up before cooking.
- If the pan is dry, add another teaspoon of olive oil. Cook in skillet over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes per side, flipping a couple times throughout the cooking process.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- You can make buffalo burgers on the grill following the same basic instructions.
- Store any leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through.
- Freezing – Shape the ground bison into patties and freeze flat in an air-tight container or large zip top bag for up to 4 months.
Nutrition
Chef Antoine Davis
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