What recipes come to mind for the 4th of July!? Steaks, Brats, Hot Dogs, Chicken, Burgers, how about about an amazingly easy, Juicy Bison Burger with Caramelized Onions — afraid of bison, try ground turkey, beef or chicken! Plus easily convert to gluten free, Paleo, Keto and Whole30
JUICY BISON BURGERS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS
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I think of juicy, hot, fresh burgers, preferably with grilled or caramelized onions, smothered in melted cheese. Can you picture it with me? It’s dinnertime on the 4th of July; after a long day of parade’s, pool games and belly flop contests; families retreat to regroup (or nap). **This post was updated 6/26/19**
LAND OF THE FREE, HOME OF THE BRAVE
Wafting in on the evening summer breeze is the aroma of barbecues fills the air all over the neighborhood — people gathering to celebrate our great country, kids (young and old) lighting fireworks, something grilling, fresh salads being brought out, bright red watermelons...Land of the free, home of the brave!
I love our country and I hope I never take our great freedoms for granted. Give this amazing burger a try, it’s simple, moist, juicy, popping with flavor!
I USE SHORTCUTS TOO
To clear the air, I cut corners, use shortcuts, buy store bought items. What you see on the blog is one recipe out of 21 possible meals!
My hope is to inspire you, give new ideas, know that there are shortcuts and that I don’t do everything perfectly, I don’t serve up 5 course meals for my family each night, heck some nights it’s cold cereal!
So rest easy my friends, I am just like you!
JUICY BISON BURGERS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS
Back to our regularly scheduled post about burgers!! Have you ever tried bison or elk? They both make DELICIOUS Juicy Bison Burgers! Bison is more readily available in the grocery stores and Costco here in Colorado, but if you can get your hands on ground elk, go for it!
I love bison, it’s so lean and flavorful! Some people think it’s gamey, I don’t and I think I’m slowly converting my husband…because he really likes these bison burgers!
WHY BISON BURGERS?
You can certainly swap out beef (or ground turkey or chicken for that matter) for the bison, they are just as good!
If you haven’t tried bison, give it a whirl, it’s leaner, healthier, and SO delicious!
TIPS FOR MAKING THE JUICIEST BURGERS EVER!
- Take 5 minutes to add a few key ingredients for the juiciest burger ever!
- Thumbprints work! When forming burgers, make a well in the center of the patty, this allows for shrinkage and helps the burger cook evenly.
- Allow the burger mixture to “mingle” while you prep your grill, get your sides and toppings out, etc.
- Use tools from your kitchen to make uniform burgers; like the lid to a mason jar (small for sliders, large for regular), but there’s nothing wrong with the old fashioned way, shaping with your hands!
- Make sure your grill is clean, oiled and hot! Kind of a no brainer. Especially if you want grill marks!
- LID OPEN! Leave the lid to your grill open, not only so you can keep an eye on things, but also so you don’t end up smoking the burgers.
- Once cooked, remove burgers to a plate and let them rest again for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices that would have normally escaped to return to the burger.
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This burger made with turkey! MMMMM good!
A GUIDE TO KNOWING WHEN YOUR BURGERS ARE DONE
- Everyone likes their burgers cooked differently. Me, I used to be a “burn it baby” kind of burger eater, but in my later, more mature years I’ve come to enjoy burgers that aren’t hockey pucks and can even tolerate a smidge of pink, just a smidge mind you.
- So how do you know when your burgers are done? Here is a fabulous and simple guide from DELISH on temps and tips for the best, perfectly cooked burgers.
- I’ve started using a meat thermometer more frequently, takes a lot of the guesswork out of when your meat is done. This brand one of my favorites and it won’t break the bank either, for the Cadillac version, try this one.
ASSEMBLING THE BURGERS
Plop your ground meat into a mixing bowl and add your Panko bread crumbs (Gluten Free if needed).
Mix in dry mustard, onion powder, seasoning salt, Worcestershire, ketchup and cream.
Mix well and form into 4 or 5 patties, makes about five ¼ lb burgers (our bison comes in 1.25 lb packages, if your meat only comes in 1 lb, packages you don’t need to adjust a thing, they will taste just fine). Or if you need 6 burgers, it’s fairly easy to stretch this recipe to another burger.
WHY MAKE A WELL IN A BURGER PATTY?
Using the back of a tablespoon or simply your thumb, squish an indent into the center of the burger to form a little well. This enables the burger to cook more evenly and prevents significant shrinking.
Plus it creates a great well to pour a little more Worcestershire sauce into, totally optional. Allow burgers to rest at room temp while you caramelize the onions and gather your toppings and condiments.
HOW TO CARAMELIZE ONIONS
In a pan, on medium-high heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter.
Slice onions and toss into the hot oil/butter in a skillet, I love using cast iron for grilled onions. Cover, reducing temp to low and stir occasionally until beautifully caramelized and they have made your home smell so wonderful that your people come from hither and yon to see what in the world you are making!
Can you tell I love caramelized onions, their natural sweetness is brought out by slow cooking. Adding such scrumptious flavor! Cook, covered for about 20 minutes over medium to low heat.
About the last 10 minutes of caramelizing, start your grill or get your grill pan ready on the stovetop to cook the burgers.
Grill or cook your burgers about 5 minutes over medium heat for medium to medium well burgers, but see my guide above.
Flip and grill 3-4 minutes longer, add a slice of your favorite cheese during the last minute of grilling. Allow to rest for a few minutes to allow juices to fully absorb.
If desired, get out your griddle and slather a little butter onto your buns; grill on medium-high heat for a few minutes until golden, remove. Or place on the grill just until grill marks show on inside of buns.
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These burgers are super lean, don’t overcook them…this coming from a girl who likes her red meat dead, but seriously, don’t overcook them. When you flip them they tend to crumble a bit, but have no fear, just use a nice large spatula and get under it fast. If you lose a little piece, just pluck it out when you are ready to serve and place back on bun!
Place burger on pretzel roll or your favorite hamburger bun (or go bun-less), spoon on some of those wonderful onions and voilà! A lovely, juicy, so very flavorful bison burger! Serve alongside with sliced cucumbers, carrots and tomatoes, or maybe some kettle chips, or tater tots, fries or watermelon…you get the idea.
By the way, this would be lovely paired with my Super Easy Ice Cream Cake for dessert!
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LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THESE JUICY BISON BURGERS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS
Tips for making these Gluten Free, Whole30, Paleo and Keto
- Gluten Free | Omit or replace breadcrumbs with GF Panko and replace bun with lettuce wrap or GF bun
- Whole30 & Paleo | Omit breadcrumbs, replace cream with water, careful of your Worcestershire sauce or omit, omit ketchup, replace with clean tomato paste, no cheese, check seasonings and omit if needed. Replace bun with lettuce wrap.
- KETO | Omit panko, watch ingredients in condiments and seasonings, replace bun, wrap with lettuce.
Happily sharing this recipe on Weekend Potluck | Meal Plan Monday | Full Plate Thursday| Dishin’ & Diggin’ It
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Juicy Bison Burgers with Carmelized Onions
Juicy, tasty, flavorful, healthier bison* burger, loaded with caramelized onions on a salty pretzel bun! (Or easily convert to beef, chicken or turkey)
Ingredients
BURGERS
- 1-1 ¼ lbs ground bison (or ground beef, chicken or turkey)
- ¼ cup Panko bread crumbs (gluten free if trying to keep GF)
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp seasoning salt (like Lawry's)
- 4 "shakes" of Worcestershire sauce, about 2 teaspoons
- 1 Tablespoon ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons cream (heavy or ½ & ½)
- 5 slices of cheese (your choice, optional)
- 5 Pretzel Rolls (or other hamburger roll of your choice)
CARAMELIZED ONIONS
- 1-2 medium to large yellow, white or sweet onions, sliced
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Add mustard, panko bread crumbs, onion powder, seasoning salt, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup and cream to ground meat. Mix well with wooden spoon, preferably with your hands. Form into 4-6 patties,
- Using the back of a Tablespoon press a well into center of burger, if desired, pour a little more Worcestershire sauce in the well and let rest on a plate while caramelizing onions. Heat oil and butter in medium pan, over medium-high heat. Toss sliced onions into pan, reduce heat to medium-low. Cover, stirring occasionally until golden caramel color, about 20 minutes
- In last 10 minutes cooking onions, clean and oil your grill or pan, preheat your grill or pan. Cook burgers over medium heat, 5 minutes. Flip burgers, cook for 3-4 more minutes, add cheese, cook for another minute until cheese melts.
- Optional: Heat griddle and butter halves of hamburger buns, cook on grill until golden. Or place on grill off to side of heat until warmed. Place caramelized onions in a bowl to allow others to serve themselves. Offer ketchup, mustard, mayo, and other traditional toppings for your burger.
Notes
Tips for making these Gluten Free, Whole30, Paleo and Keto
- Gluten Free | Omit or replace breadcrumbs with GF Panko and replace bun with lettuce wrap or GF bun
- Whole30 & Paleo | Omit breadcrumbs, replace cream with water, careful of your Worcestershire sauce or omit, omit ketchup, replace with clean tomato paste, no cheese.
- KETO | Omit panko, watch ingredients in condiments and seasonings, replace bun, wrap with lettuce.
See post for cooking guide, temperature recommendations and more.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Lodge LPGI3 Pro-Grid Cast Iron Reversible - Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Skillet. Pre-Seasoned 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet with Red Silicone Hot Handle Holder.
- Wusthof Santoku knife 5 inch; Black
- Pyrex Smart Essentials Mixing Bowl Set Including Locking Lids (Clear), 8 piece
- Grillaholics BBQ Grill Tools Set - 4-Piece Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Barbecue Grilling Utensils - Premium Grill Accessories for Barbecue - Spatula, Tongs, Fork, and Basting Brush
- ThermoPro TP-16S Digital Meat Thermometer Accurate Candy Thermometer Smoker Cooking Food BBQ Thermometer for Grilling with Smart Cooking Timer Mode and Backlight
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 burger pattyAmount Per Serving:Calories: 210 Total Fat: 3.42g Saturated Fat: g Trans Fat: 1g Unsaturated Fat: g Cholesterol: mg Sodium: mg Carbohydrates: g Fiber: g Sugar: g Protein: 25 gramsg
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Wow. Never knew the tip about making a well in center o burger. Never too old to learn!
Not a one of us is too old to learn!!
I tried these Bison burgers and they are Yummy! I have cooked them several times! A “go to” recipe! Thanks Kathleen!
Thank you Karen, so glad you like them!!
We will love your Bison Burger and those caramelized onions will just make it perfect! Thanks so much for sharing it with us at Full Plate Thursday and have a great week!
Miz Helen
You two Miz Helen!!
I just made these and the texture was really icky. We have a Treager grill that grills evenly like an oven. The burgers were like soft meatloaf. Perhaps it was the fine grind of the bison but this recipe did not work out for us. I do appreciate knowing about making a well on top.
I’m so sorry to hear that Beth, emailed you separately.