Grilled Ranch Bison Burger
On May 12, 2021 (Updated May 07, 2024)
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My Grilled Ranch Bison Burger is the most amazing, juicy bison burger you’ll ever have. Lean ground bison is combined with panko, Worcestershire sauce, and Ranch seasoning for an easy, yet flavor-packed burger you’ll absolutely love!
What is a Bison Burger?
A bison burger (also known as a buffalo burger) is a burger patty made from ground buffalo or American bison. Bison meat is extremely delicious and rich. It also tends to be healthier than beef (with less cholesterol and fat!), as the bison do not store as much fat as cattle. This also means you get a leaner burger patty that is very flavorful.
Unlike other less common or exotic meats, ground bison doesn’t tend to have that “gamey” flavor, making it an easy meat to try if you’re accustomed to domesticated meat. And while bison tends to be more expensive that beef, it’s definitely worth it for a little splurge every once in a while.
Bison Burger vs. Beef
The main difference between a bison burger and a beef burger is that they each come from a different animal. A traditional beef burger comes from a cow, and a bison burger comes from a buffalo.
When first taking a bite of a bison burger, you may not be able to taste the difference. Bison tastes similar to beef, though the flavor is often more delicate and sweet. Bison meat is also more tender and leaner than beef, making every bite enjoyable.
Due to these differences, bison burgers will need to be prepared and grilled slightly different than a beef burger, though the basic concept is the same. Scroll below to check out my failproof method for making awesome bison burgers.
Where to Buy Bison Meat
Bison can be a bit trickier to locate than ground beef, but that doesn’t mean it’s not out there!
If you have a Costco near you, they carry ground bison that is a great price, and you can freeze any extras for later use! Many specialty stores (like Whole Foods) also carry bison.
When in doubt, talk to your local butcher or see if any local farms process and sell bison. I’ve even found some ground bison in my local grocery store (call ahead and ask their butcher before heading out to save you a trip).
How to Grill a Bison Burger
Ready to sink your teeth into an amazing grilled bison burger? Me too! Let’s get down to the nitty gritty and talk about how to grill one of these tasty guys.
- Prep the meat. The magic in this burger is all in the meat mixture. I like to add all my flavor and goodness right into the bison so it cooks all that flavor in with it. Combine bison, egg, panko, Worcestershire sauce, and ranch seasoning in a bowl and mix well.
- Preheat the grill. Preheat your favorite grill to 400 degrees F. You can use whatever grill you have on your back porch, but for this particular burger I used a Kickoff Grill from Lodge. Before you grill your burgers, I recommend lightly oiling the grates with a high temperature cooking oil like avocado oil. Grill the buns to test for temperature. If they toast quickly, you know your grill is ready to go!
- Grill the patties. Place the bison directly on the grill grates, and grill them for 6 minutes. Flip and grill for an additional 2 minutes. Top with a slice of cheese and continue cooking until the cheese is melted and the burger reach an internal temperature of 155-160 degrees F.
- Get saucy. Combine all ingredients for my AWEOME bison burger sauce in a bowl. While your burgers are finishing up on the grill, spread a little sauce on the bottom of a toasted bun.
- Assemble! Top your sauced bun with tomato, lettuce, the bison patty, and any other toppings you enjoy. Finish off with the top bun, and you are ready to eat!
Bam. Get at that burger. It’s going to be juicy, tender, and packed with so much good flavor you’ll wonder why you waited so long to try out bison.
Bison Burger Internal Temp
Like all other ground meats, ground bison needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. I cooked my burgers to an internal temperature of 155 degrees F, then allowed them to rest for carryover cooking to bring them to a final 160 degrees F.
You do not want to cook bison above 160 degrees F. Bison is an extremely lean meat, and overcooking bison will result in it becoming dry and chewy. Keep an eye on your meat and be ready to remove it to a clean dish. Bison is definitely a meat you want to babysit a bit.
As with all other BBQ, I recommend using an instant read thermometer to ensure your meat is cooked to the correct temperature and you remove it from the heat promptly when it comes to temp.
More Grilled Burger Recipes
If you’re a burger fan like me, you’ve gotta try these other delicious grilled burger recipes from Hey Grill Hey. You could even swap out the ground beef for ground bison (and adjust grilling times as needed to get the meat cooked to the perfect final temperature). Check out some of our favorites below!
Best Bison Burger Recipe
Grilled Ranch Bison Burger
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground bison
- 1 egg
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 packet Ranch seasoning divided use
Bison Burger Sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon ranch seasoning
Toppings
- 4 ciabatta burger buns
- 4 slices American cheese
- 1 large tomato sliced
- ½ red onion sliced
- dill pickles
Instructions
- Preheat the grill and toast the buns. Preheat your grill to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil the grill grates with high temp cooking oil (avocado is my favorite). Test the grill for temperature by grilling your burger buns. When they toast quickly, you know the grill is ready. Set the toasted buns aside for later.
- Make the bison patties. Prepare the patties while the grill preheats. In a large bowl, combine the bison, egg, panko, Worcestershire sauce, and most of the ranch seasoning packet (reserve 1 Tablespoon and set aside for the burger sauce). Mix the burgers by hand until ingredients are well incorporated and form into 4 equal sized patties.
- Grill the burgers. Place the prepared patties on the hot grates of the grill. Grill, without pressing or flipping, for 6 minutes. Flip the patties and cook for 2 more minutes before topping with a slice of American cheese. Continue cooking until the cheese is melted and your burgers reach an internal temperature of 155 degrees F.
- Make the sauce. While the burgers grill, make your burger sauce. Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, and reserved tablespoon of ranch seasoning. Spread each bottom bun with a tablespoon or so of the burger sauce.
- Assemble the burgers and enjoy. Top your burger buns with your desired burger toppings and one of your perfectly grilled bison burgers. Spread more burger sauce on the top bun before capping off your burger. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
