Juicy & Flavorful Buffalo Bison Burgers: Your Ultimate Guide to a Lean & Delicious Meal

Are you looking to elevate your burger game with a healthier, yet incredibly flavorful alternative? Look no further than these mouth-watering buffalo bison burgers! Moving beyond the usual beef or turkey options, this recipe harnesses the rich, lean goodness of ground bison and pairs it with an unforgettable homemade burger sauce. Prepare to make these juicy bison burgers a new staple in your culinary repertoire, perfect for any weeknight dinner or weekend gathering.

Close up photo of buffalo burger with burger sauce, tomato, onion, and lettuce on a bun, showcasing its juicy texture and vibrant toppings

Why This Bison Burger Recipe Stands Out

This buffalo burger recipe isn’t just another meal; it’s a delightful culinary experience that offers numerous benefits. Here’s what makes it truly exceptional:

Experience Unparalleled Tenderness and Juiciness: Despite its reputation as a lean meat, ground bison delivers an incredibly tender and juicy burger. Don’t let the name “buffalo burger” mislead you; this recipe exclusively uses high-quality bison meat. While “bison” and “buffalo” are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, they actually refer to distinct animals. Bison, particularly American bison, offers a flavor profile that is both robust and subtly sweet, making it a fantastic choice for burgers. Its natural leanness, when cooked correctly, locks in moisture, resulting in a satisfyingly succulent patty that will surprise and delight your taste buds.
A Healthier, Leaner Alternative to Traditional Burgers: Ground bison is a significantly leaner protein compared to ground beef, making it an excellent option if you’re mindful of your fat intake but find yourself weary of turkey burgers. With fewer calories and less saturated fat than beef, bison provides a nutritious boost without compromising on taste. Its lean nature also means it cooks more quickly, transforming this buffalo burger into an ideal solution for those busy weeknights when you’re short on time but still crave a hearty, home-cooked meal. It’s a win-win for both health and convenience.
A Flavor Profile That’s Familiar Yet Exciting: If you’re accustomed to the taste of beef burgers, you’ll find that bison offers a wonderfully similar, yet distinctly elevated flavor. It shares the savory depth you love in ground beef but introduces a delicate sweetness that truly sets it apart. Crucially, bison is not gamey at all, which often surprises first-timers. This makes it an incredibly approachable and family-friendly option, even for the pickiest eaters who might be hesitant to try something new. It’s a subtle difference that makes a big impact, turning an ordinary burger night into something special.

Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Buffalo Burger

Crafting the perfect buffalo burger starts with selecting quality ingredients. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need, along with tips for making the most of them:

Ground Bison – Ground bison is the star of this recipe, and its versatility extends far beyond just making burgers! It’s one of those truly fantastic ingredients that can effortlessly substitute for ground beef in almost any recipe. Think outside the bun: you can use ground bison for savory meatloaf, hearty tacos, rich chili, flavorful meatballs, or even a robust Bolognese sauce. When purchasing ground bison, look for a vibrant red color and ensure it’s from a reputable source for the best quality and flavor. Its mild, slightly sweet taste and lean profile make it a healthy and delicious foundation for countless dishes.

Toppings – Since buffalo burgers share a delicious similarity with beef burgers, you have the freedom to load them up with all your favorite classic toppings! Get creative and customize your burger to perfection. Consider crisp lettuce, thinly sliced red onion, ripe tomato, and a slice of your favorite cheese (cheddar, provolone, or Swiss work wonderfully). Don’t forget the condiments – a dollop of mayonnaise, a squirt of mustard, or a generous spread of our incredible homemade burger sauce are essential. For an extra layer of flavor and texture, think about adding sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, crispy bacon, a fried egg, or even some fresh avocado slices. The possibilities are endless!

The Easy Burger Sauce – While not listed as a “key ingredient” in the original snippet’s main section, the burger sauce is highlighted significantly within the recipe card and is truly a game-changer for these buffalo burgers. This simple yet incredibly flavorful sauce brings all the elements together, adding a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet kick that complements the bison beautifully. Made with common pantry staples like mayonnaise, relish, ketchup, and a few seasonings, it’s quick to whip up and can elevate any burger from good to gourmet. Its rich texture and balanced flavors are the perfect counterpoint to the lean bison patty, ensuring every bite is packed with deliciousness.

Achieving the Perfect Internal Temperature for Bison Burgers

Just like with beef burgers, the ideal cooking temperature for your bison burgers largely depends on your personal preference. However, due to its lean nature, bison requires a slightly different approach to ensure it remains juicy and doesn’t dry out. Here’s what you need to know:

For food safety, the USDA recommends cooking ground bison to an internal temperature of 160° Fahrenheit (71°C). This ensures any potential bacteria are eliminated. While this is the safest recommendation, many burger enthusiasts prefer their bison cooked to a slightly lower temperature for maximum tenderness and juiciness, similar to how they might enjoy a steak. If you opt for a less-done burger, please proceed with caution and at your own discretion.

Medium-Rare: Cook until the internal temperature reaches 130-135°F (54-57°C). The center will be warm and red.
Medium: Cook until 135-140°F (57-60°C). The center will be pink.
Medium-Well: Cook until 140-145°F (60-63°C). The center will be slightly pink.
Well-Done: Cook until 160°F (71°C) or higher. The center will be brown throughout.

It’s crucial to use an instant-read meat thermometer to accurately check the internal temperature. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the burger patty, avoiding the pan surface. Avoid cooking bison beyond medium-well, as its leanness makes it highly susceptible to drying out and becoming tough when overcooked.

The Importance of Resting: If time allows, I highly recommend letting your cooked bison burgers rest out of the pan for about 5 minutes before serving. This resting period is critical for locking in the juices. As the burgers cook, the muscle fibers contract, pushing the moisture to the center. Resting allows these fibers to relax and redistribute the juices throughout the patty, resulting in a much more succulent burger. If you plan to rest them, remove them from the pan when they reach approximately 5 degrees below your desired final temperature (e.g., 155°F for a well-done burger), as they will continue to cook slightly during this carry-over period.

Chef’s Expert Tips for Perfect Bison Burgers

Achieving the perfect buffalo burger is simple with these essential chef-approved tips. Follow these guidelines to ensure your bison patties are consistently juicy, tender, and full of flavor:

Resist the Urge to Press the Patties: This is perhaps the most common mistake when cooking any burger, especially with lean meats like bison. While it might seem tempting to press the buffalo burger down with a spatula to speed up cooking or achieve a flatter shape, doing so will ruthlessly squeeze out all the precious juices and flavor. The result is a dry, less enjoyable burger. Allow the patties to cook undisturbed on the pan or grill, turning them only once to create a beautiful crust and maintain their internal moisture.
Cook Slowly Over Medium Heat: Since bison is inherently a lean meat, it contains less fat than traditional ground beef, which means it can dry out quickly if cooked too aggressively. Therefore, you’ll want to cook it over a medium to medium-high heat, rather than a scorching high heat. This gentler approach allows the burger to cook through evenly without losing its moisture too rapidly. Bison cooks faster than beef, so keep a close eye on it. If you’re concerned about your buffalo burger being dry, a small splash of Worcestershire sauce mixed into the meat mixture before forming the patties can add moisture and a deeper savory flavor.
Handle the Meat Minimally When Forming Patties: Overworking or overhandling the ground bison when forming the patties is a surefire way to end up with tough burgers. When you compress the meat too much, you break down the delicate muscle fibers, which then bind together tightly during cooking, resulting in a dense, rubbery texture. Instead, gently mix the seasonings into the meat just until combined, and then lightly form the mixture into patties. If you’re worried about the patties falling apart during cooking, a useful trick is to refrigerate them for 15-30 minutes beforehand. Cooking them cold helps them hold their shape better than cooking them at room temperature. Also, once the patties are in the pan, avoid moving them around unnecessarily.
Create a “Dimple” in the Center of Each Patty: This is a simple but highly effective trick used by many professional chefs. Before cooking the buffalo burger patties, gently press your thumb or the back of a spoon into the center of the top of each patty, creating a slight indentation. This small impression serves a crucial purpose: it prevents the meat from puffing up into a dome shape while it cooks. As the meat cooks and contracts, the dimple helps the patty cook evenly and maintain a flat, appealing shape, ensuring that your burger will fit perfectly on the bun without bulging in the middle.

Buffalo burger with burger sauce, onion, tomato, lettuce on a bun, sitting on a rustic wooden cutting board

Explore Other Delicious Burger Recipes You’ll Love

If you enjoyed these buffalo bison burgers and are looking for more exciting burger variations or healthy meal ideas, be sure to check out these fantastic recipes from our collection:

Air Fryer Turkey Burgers – A quick and easy way to enjoy juicy turkey burgers with minimal oil.
Keto Sloppy Joes – A low-carb twist on a classic comfort food, perfect for busy nights.
Chicken Burgers with Chipotle Aioli – Flavorful chicken patties elevated with a spicy, creamy aioli.
Epic Black Bean Burgers – A satisfying and hearty plant-based burger option.
Loaded Burger Bowls with Special Sauce – All the flavors of a burger without the bun, perfect for Whole30, Paleo, and low-carb diets.
Whole30 In-N-Out Burgers – A healthy, compliant version of a beloved fast-food classic.

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5 from 2 votes

Buffalo Burger with an Easy Burger Sauce

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 15 minutes

Total: 30 minutes

A buffalo burger is a delicious alternative to beef burgers or turkey burgers! Made with juicy, lean ground bison and topped with an incredible burger sauce, this buffalo burger recipe is about to be a new favorite in your meal rotation! It’s quicker to cook, packed with flavor, and surprisingly tender.

Cheryl Malik Cheryl Malik

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4 burgers

Ingredients

▢ 1 tablespoon butter for cooking, or a neutral oil
▢ toppings of choice such as lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, pickles, or avocado

For the Buffalo Burger Patties

▢ 1 pound ground bison lean and fresh
▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
▢ ½ teaspoon onion powder
▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the Easy Burger Sauce

▢ ¼ cup mayonnaise full fat or low fat
▢ 2 tablespoons pickle relish sweet or dill, based on preference
▢ 2 tablespoons ketchup sugar-free for keto
▢ ½ tablespoon dijon mustard
▢ 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce gluten-free if needed
▢ ¼ teaspoon onion powder
▢ ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
▢ 1 teaspoon sugar or sugar substitute (e.g., Swerve), optional, to balance flavors
▢ salt and pepper to taste, for final seasoning

Get Recipe Ingredients

Equipment

Large bowl
Plate
medium bowl
Large pan or cast-iron skillet
Instant-read meat thermometer (optional but recommended)

Instructions

In a large bowl, gently add the ground bison, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. With clean hands, thoroughly but lightly combine the ingredients until just mixed – be careful not to overhandle the meat, as this can lead to tough burgers. Divide the mixture into four (4) equal portions and form each into a burger patty, approximately ¾-inch thick. Press your thumb into the center of each patty to create a small indentation; this prevents the burgers from puffing up while cooking. Set the patties aside on a plate, or refrigerate for 15-30 minutes if you prefer to cook them cold.
In a separate medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, pickle relish, ketchup, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and the optional sugar or sugar substitute. Whisk thoroughly until all ingredients are well-incorporated and the sauce is smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Set the burger sauce aside, or refrigerate until ready to use.
Heat 1 tablespoon of butter (or your chosen oil) in a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium to medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted and shimmering (or the oil is hot), carefully place the bison burger patties into the pan. If your pan isn’t large enough to accommodate all four patties without crowding, cook them in batches to ensure even browning and proper cooking.
Cook the burgers for approximately 4 minutes on the first side, allowing a nice sear to form. Do not press down on the burgers with your spatula. Flip the patties gently and continue to cook for another 4 minutes or so, until your desired doneness is reached. For an accurate reading, use an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the patty. Remember, bison cooks quickly and can dry out easily, so aim for a target internal temperature of 135-160°F depending on your preference (160°F for food safety).
Once cooked to your liking, remove the buffalo burgers from the pan and allow them to rest on a plate for 5 minutes. This crucial resting period helps the juices redistribute, ensuring a more tender and moist burger. Serve immediately on your favorite buns, generously topped with the homemade burger sauce and all your preferred fresh toppings. Enjoy your incredibly delicious and satisfying homemade buffalo bison burger!

Notes

Make it Lower Fat: To reduce the fat content, swap the butter for a low-fat cooking oil like olive oil or avocado oil when cooking the burger patties. For the burger sauce, use a low-fat mayonnaise, or consider reducing the amount of sauce used, or skipping it altogether and opting for lighter toppings. Keep in mind that many low-fat products often contain added sugars to compensate for flavor loss due to fat reduction, so if you’re also monitoring your carbohydrate or sugar intake, check labels carefully.
Make it Dairy Free: For a completely dairy-free buffalo burger, ensure you use a dairy-free butter substitute or a neutral cooking oil, such as olive oil, avocado oil, or grapeseed oil, to cook the burgers. All other ingredients in this recipe are naturally dairy-free.
Make it Gluten Free: Most of the ingredients in this recipe are naturally gluten-free. The primary ingredient to check for gluten is Worcestershire sauce, as some brands contain gluten-containing ingredients like malt vinegar. Be sure to select a certified gluten-free Worcestershire sauce to maintain a gluten-free meal. Serve on gluten-free buns or as a lettuce wrap to complete the dish.
Make it Keto/Added Sugar Free: If you’re following a ketogenic or sugar-free diet, you can easily adapt this recipe. For the burger sauce, replace the sugar with a granular sugar substitute like Swerve or erythritol, or simply omit the sugar entirely. It’s also vital to ensure your ketchup is low-carb and contains no added sugar. Alternatively, you can make your own homemade keto ketchup for full control over ingredients. Enjoy your bison burger in a lettuce wrap or with keto-friendly buns to keep the carb count low.

This recipe yields approximately 4 delicious buffalo burgers with homemade burger sauce. The actual number of servings may vary slightly depending on your individual portion preferences and the size of the patties you form.

The nutritional values provided are general guidelines only and reflect information for 1 burger patty (cooked in butter) with sauce, without including the bun or any additional toppings. Please be aware that actual macronutrient counts can differ slightly based on the specific brands and types of ingredients you choose to use.

To accurately determine the weight of one serving for your specific preparation, follow the recipe instructions to completion. Weigh the total finished recipe (excluding the weight of the cooking container), then divide this total weight by 4 (the number of servings). The resulting figure will be the precise weight of one individual serving.

Nutritional Information for 1 Buffalo Burger Patty (Cooked in Butter) without Burger Sauce:

Nutrition Information

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.