What can you make with ground bison? Basically, almost any recipe that calls for ground beef or ground turkey can be adapted to work well with ground bison. The great thing about bison is that you have leaner meat, so it’s great for people who are cutting fat and calories.
Bison ground recipes are filled with less fat, with the delicious beefy flavor you love. And as more and more people are looking for ways to eat healthily, ground beef is gaining in popularity.
As you seek to diversify your culinary repertoire, ground bison provides a delicious and nutritious alternative to traditional meat choices. With its rich flavor profile and numerous health benefits, ground bison can easily become the star ingredient in your kitchen. In this article, you’ll find inspiring recipes to elevate your cooking game and impress your family and friends.
Adding ground bison to your menu not only enhances flavor, but also contributes to a healthy diet. This lean protein is lower in fat and calories compared to beef, while delivering comparable taste and texture. Moreover, bison is a rich source of essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, and B vitamins, which play a crucial role in maintaining optimal health.
The versatile nature of ground bison offers endless opportunities for creating mouthwatering dishes. From flavorful meatballs and delectable tacos to savory chilis and succulent burgers, the possibilities are vast. Allow your culinary creativity to flourish as you explore the world of ground bison and transform ordinary meals into extraordinary experiences.
Now, a lot of people are a bit confused about how to cook ground bison. With bison, it’s important to remember that lean meats tend to cook faster, so you should definitely reduce your temperature to prevent overcooking – especially for ground bison recipes like burgers.
Below, we’ve gathered some of the best recipes for bison to help you get started on your journey. Enjoy!
This ground bison recipe for bison bolognese was inspired by a family recipe. But, instead of beef, they choose to use ground bison, and the results more than does justice to traditional bolognese.
The ingredients you will need for this ground bison recipe include whole plumb tomatoes, grape or cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves, ground bison, Italian pork sausage, olive oil, whole onion, carrots, baby Bella mushrooms, Italian seasoning, tomato paste, red wine, brown sugar, ground black pepper, kosher salt, parmesan cheese, basil, and parsley.
This recipe for bison sweet potato hash is a fantastic lean and healthy breakfast guaranteed to fuel your day with lean protein while exciting your taste buds!
The ingredients for this recipe include avocado oil, large sweet potato, kosher salt, black pepper, yellow onion, ground bison, ground cumin, and garlic powder. Serve with sliced avocado, fried eggs, and salsa.
This is one powerful meal to start your day off right, and best of all, it only takes about 20-25 minutes to whip up!
This hearty buffalo black bean chili recipe delivers a delectable flavor that’s rich and savory with far less fat than beef. And while you can probably cook this dish in about 20-30 minutes, we strongly suggest cooking for the full hour as you get the very best flavor that way.
The ingredients for this recipe include extra-virgin olive oil, ground buffalo, onion, garlic, red bell peppers, bulgur, ancho chile powder, unsweetened cocoa powder, chili powder, instant espresso powder (or any instant coffee), cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, salt-free black beans, salt-free diced tomatoes, and beef broth.
This healthy Mexican pasta bake recipe gives you all the savory, spicy Mexican flavors you love without all the fat. Plus, it’s loaded with lots of yummy veggies and clean protein for a very balanced meal that’s guaranteed to be a big hit at your next family dinner.
The ingredients for this recipe include avocado oil, macaroni, pasta peppers, onion, ground bison (sub for ground beef), salsa, black beans, plain yogurt, frozen corn, sharp cheddar, and fajita and taco seasoning.
Okay, while this isn’t strictly a recipe that calls for ground bison, it’s one that greatly benefits from a little switcharoo action!
Bison veggie bowls are a great way to enjoy lean, clean protein and some of your favorite veggies in one deliciously seasoned bowl. Now, we’ve got to warn you; this recipe can get a bit spicy. If you prefer things on the milder side, you can also reduce or eliminate the Harissa.
The ingredients for this dish include extra lean ground bison, pine nuts, olive oil, chopped onions, minced garlic, Ras El Hanout Spice, sliced leeks, diced red bell peppers, diced green bell pepper, mild Harissa, and chopped cilantro.
Okay, folks, now it’s time to get down to some serious business. We’re talking bison burgers.
These meaty burgers can be a bit tricky to cook due to their low-fat content. That means they are far less forgiving on the grill than regular burgers, but if you’re attentive, you can come away with some seriously juicy, delicious burgers.
The ingredients needed for this recipe include ground bison, Worcheshire sauce, mustard, ground garlic, and coarse salt.
Top with your favorite veggies and serve with some homemade BBQ baked beans for an out-of-this-world BBQ experience!
You’re in luck if you’re looking for an egg and dairy and egg-free ground bison recipe. This recipe for ground bison meatballs is just the thing for any get-together, and they are covered in a seriously savory, smoky BBQ sauce. Plus, they only take 30 minutes to cook!
The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe include ketchup sauce, brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcheshire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cloves, liquid smoke, ground bison meat, yellow onion, red bell pepper, dried thyme leaves, and fresh parsley.
This delicious ground bison pasta sauce recipe tastes great over your favorite noodles, although I must say I love the egg noodles they use here!
The ingredients you’ll need for this recipe include 100 percent grass-fed ground bison, onion, garlic cloves, balsamic vinegar, coconut liquid amino, dried oregano, dried basil, paprika, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, avocado oil, crushed tomatoes, portabello or cremini mushrooms, and coconut sugar or honey.
This sauce’s savory, seasoned, tomato-y taste is simply inspired, and your family is guaranteed to clean their plates!
I have to admit, being from New Orleans, I had never heard of shepherd’s pie until my wife made it for me one night. Since then, it’s been one of my all-time favorite meals!
And now that I’m trying to shed a few pounds, I can still enjoy all the flavors of Shepherds pie without paying a high-fat tax on the scale.
The ingredients for this recipe include ground bison, shredded Colby jack cheese, mashed potato, diced carrots, peas, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and creme fraise (or sour cream).
Here’s another recipe where you’re just going to pull the old switcharoo and substitute “lean ground beef” for something much leaner – ground bison.
This skillet chili mac recipe is by far one of the very best I’ve tasted, and with ground bison, it’s much healthier too!
The ingredients you’ll need are whole-wheat elbow noodles or fusilli, or rotini, extra-virgin olive oil, onion, poblano peppers (or green bell peppers), celery, garlic, ground bison, chili powder, salt, diced tomatoes, low-sodium beef broth, kidney or chili beans, sour cream, and shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Serve with pickled jalapenos or scallions.
Oh my goodness, if you’re a mushroom lover, this recipe for bison stroganoff is right up your alley!
While the recipe calls for bison sirloin, I actually substituted some cooked ground bison, and it was fantastic!
Other ingredients needed for this dish include flour, dry mustard, salt, ground black pepper, olive oil, mushrooms, onion, garlic, flour, vegetable or chicken stock, dry sherry, tomato paste, sour cream, and egg noodles.
Seriously, how can you not fall in love with the above picture? This recipe for perfectly seasoned homestyle bison enchiladas is just the thing you need to add some excitement to your weeknight dinners.
The ingredients for this dish include cooking oil of choice, cooking flour, chili powder, pickling spices, beef stock, yellow onions, zucchini, bell pepper, garlic, ground bison, paprika, ground cumin, ground cinnamon, black pepper, sea salt, flour tortilla, shredded Mexican cheeses, Jack, cheddar (or all of them!), scallions, and sour cream.
One of my all-time favorite meals my aunt Marie used to make for the holidays was stuffed bell peppers. The tender meat, cheese, and rice mixed together inside the pepper have a taste like nothing else. It wasn’t until later in life I became wise enough to eat the actual pepper too!
Meatloaf is one of those meals we all grew up on. Give me some flavorful meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, and veggies any day of the week. Thank you very much!
And with this ground bison recipe, I might be able to squeeze in a few thirds and fourths (belt withstanding).
Another fantastic one of those ground bison recipes that’s great for parties is bison meatballs in savory bourbon plumb sauce. Folks, there is just nothing like the tart, sweet, delicious taste you get from this sauce. Trust me; your guests won’t do much talking while dining on these meat treats!
Ground Bison Recipes: Conclusion
As we’ve seen, there are so many ways you can enjoy delicious, lean, ground bison. In fact, you can replace any recipe that calls for ground beef. You just have to be more careful with the cooking temperatures and time.
When cooked properly, ground bison is every bit as delicious as beef with just a hint of gamey flavor.
Ground bison is a great way to supercharge your diet while not giving up the meaty foods you enjoy.
And here’s a video featuring another simple and savory ground bison recipe.
Our 15+ BEST Ground Bison Recipes (+Bison Burger)
These options are sure to be a hit. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
