The juiciest and most flavorful elk burger that only takes 20 minutes to prepare! Whether cooking on the grill or stovetop, this recipe includes simple tips and tricks for making the perfect elk burger. Serve with homemade mustard aioli and your favorite burger toppings.
This post is sponsored by The Honest Bison, who I am so excited to partner with! The recipe, photographs, thoughts and opinions are all my own.
I have really been loving elk! It has such a clean and delicious taste, and it makes for a great burger!! I can't get enough. This recipe is so easy, using simple ingredients to create a juicy burger without overpowering the flavor of the elk. It's perfection.
But, I wouldn't be able to enjoy elk at home without companies like The Honest Bison who make it so simple to have grass-fed elk shipped to your front door! Living in Minnesota we don't have the privilege of hunting elk like we do deer. Luckily, The Honest Bison raises elk that are free to forage as they would naturally, eating a combination of native grasses, shrubs, leaves, wild grains, bark and berries.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Easy to prepare. All you need is a handful of simple ingredients to prepare burgers that are not only delicious but also healthy.
- Juicy and flavorful. Since elk is very lean, adding a little chopped bacon or grated butter adds lots of flavor while also creating a juicy burger.
- Delicous mustard aioli. I'm all about sauces! When it comes to elk burgers, a simple mustard aioli is the perfect compliment.
What does elk taste like?
Elk tastes like the perfect balance between beef and venison. It doesn't taste as gamey as venison, but it's still more flavorful than beef. Elk also has a slightly sweeter taste when compared to beef.
How to make a juicy elk burger.
Add fat! Ground elk is lean, unlike ground beef, which is usually 80% protein and 20% fat. Elk has about 10% fat, or even less depending on how the elk is processed.
To create a juicy burger, I like to add finely chopped raw bacon to my elk and venison. The bacon cooks nicely with the ground venison, making the burgers juicy and flavorful. Alternatively, adding grated butter also works well!
You won't even know there's bacon in this burger recipe, except for the delicious and slightly smoky flavor!
Ingredients
- Ground elk
- Bacon
- Worcestershire sauce
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt & pepper
- White cheddar cheese
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 ½ tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons dill pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
How to cook elk burgers
Cooking elk burgers on the grill
Grilling burgers adds another delicious depth of flavor. It will take about 8 minutes to grill an elk burger to medium doneness.
Here's how to do it:
- Preheat the grill. Preheat the grill over medium-high heat. If necessary, scrape the grill grates clean so the burgers don't stick.
- Grill burgers. Once hot, grill the burgers for 4-5 minutes, then flip, add cheese and grill another 4-5 minutes. Length of time depends on how done you like your burgers.
- Enjoy! Serve on buns with your favorite toppings!
Cooking elk burgers on the stove top
Cast irons skillets are best for frying elk burgers on the stovetop! Cast iron conducts heat evenly, allowing you to get a nice sear on the outside of the burgers while cooking perfectly on the inside.
If you don't have a cast iron skillet, just use the best pan you've got! I just recommend avoiding a non-stick pan. Non-stick pans prevent you from getting as nice of a sear on the burgers compared to cast iron.
- Heat skillet. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat with butter.
- Cook burgers. Once the skillet is hot, add the burgers and sear for 4-5 minutes, then flip, add cheese and sear another 4-5 minutes. Length of time depends on how done you like your burgers.
- Enjoy! Serve on buns with your favorite toppings.
Recipe tips
Mix in bacon or butter. Elk is a lean protein, so mixing in bacon or butter adds a little extra fat to the burgers, making them extra juicy. Bacon cooks nicely into the burgers, and you won't even know it's there, except for the delicious flavor!
If cooking on the stovetop, fry the burgers in butter. I like to fry burgers in butter because it adds great flavor while keeping them juicy. Alternatively, you can use oil or lard.
How long to cook elk burgers
When cooking an elk burger, here are approximate times:
- Rare: 4 minutes
- Medium Rare: 5 minutes
- Medium: 6-7 minutes
- Medium Well: 8-9 minutes
- Well Done: 10 minutes
If using a meat thermometer, here are approximate temperatures:
- Rare: 120-125 degrees F.
- Medium Rare: 130-135 degrees F.
- Medium: 140-145 degrees F.
- Medium Well: 150-155 degrees F.
- Well Done: 160-165 degrees F.
Storage & reheating
Storing in the fridge
Raw elk burgers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Cooked elk burgers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing elk burgers
To freeze elk burgers, patty the burgers then stack them together with squares of parchment paper between each burger. Place the burgers in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Thaw the burgers in the fridge overnight before cooking as directed in the recipe.
Reheating
I like to reheat burgers on the stovetop. Heat a skillet over medium heat with butter then sear on both sides for about 1-2 minutes per side, or until heated through. This will result in a burger that is well-done, so keep that in mind.
Frequently asked questions
Are elk burgers good?
Elk burgers are very flavorful, have great texture, and have a very clean taste.
What does an elk burger taste like?
Elk burgers taste somewhat similar to beef, but more clean and a little sweet. Like the perfect balance between beef and venison.
How should an elk burger be cooked?
Elk burgers are great either grilled or seared on the stovetop. Depending on how you like your burgers cooked, it takes about 5-8 minutes to cook an elk burger.
Do you need to add fat to an elk burger?
Elk is a very lean protein, so I like to add fat in the form of finely chopped bacon or grated butter. This will help to prevent your elk burger from drying out while cooking. Alternatively, you can use lard or ghee in place of bacon or butter.
Do you add pork to an elk burger?
I like to add a few slices of finely chopped raw bacon to my elk burgers. The bacon adds extra fat to the lean ground elk, creating a juicy burger and adding a slightly smokey flavor.
Is elk healthier than beef?
Compared to beef, elk is lower in fat and higher in protein, making it a very healthy option. Elk is also richer in healthy fats like Omega 3 and CLA.
What to serve with elk burgers
Zesty Balsamic Marinated Vegetables
More wild game recipes you'll love
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Best Juicy Elk Burger
Equipment
- cast iron skillet (if cooking on the stovetop)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground elk
- 2 slices uncooked bacon, finely chopped (or 2 tablespoons cold grated butter)
- ½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns
- Optional toppings: lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickles
Mustard aioli
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 ½ tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons dill pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Add the ground elk and bacon to a bowl. Add the Worcestershire, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix until just combined, then shape into 4 burger patties that are slightly larger than the buns. Let the burgers rest for 10 minutes. This helps the burgers firm up before transferring to the stove or grill.
- Grilling: Preheat the grill over medium-high heat. Scrape the grate clean, then brush the grate with oil so the burgers don’t stick. Once hot, grill each patty for about 3 minutes per side for medium doneness. Top the burgers with cheese during the last 1-2 minutes.
- Stovetop: Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of butter. Once hot, fry each patty for about 3 minutes per side for medium doneness. Top the burgers with cheese during the last 1-2 minutes. If needed, work in batches so you don't crowd the skillet. Add more butter as needed.
- Toast the buns: If desired, spread butter on the insides of the top and bottom buns and place butter side down in the skillet or on the grill. Toast for 1-2 minutes until golden brown; watch closely so they don't burn.
- Mustard aioli: In a small bowl, mix together all ingredients.
- To serve, assemble the burgers with your favorite toppings, then spread the top buns with mustard aioli.
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