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    Home » Recipes » Main Dish » Juicy Elk Burger Recipe

    Juicy Elk Burger Recipe

    Published: Dec 1, 2020 · Modified: Apr 22, 2021 by Erin · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

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    Pinterest Pin: Juicy and flavorful elk burgers - elk burger on a board with tomato and lettuce.

    This juicy Elk Burger recipe is a lean but flavorful alternative to a traditional beef burger. Whether you purchase your elk meat from the store or you have it ground fresh, you can make them juicy and delicious with just a few simple steps!

    Two elk burgers topped with cheese, caramelized onions, tomato and lettuce, on a wooden board.

    Elk is one of the largest mammals in North America and can be found roaming wild in half of the states in the U.S. They are most commonly found in mountainous regions, traveling together in herds.

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    Elk is lean meat, with much lower fat than beef. It is also incredibly high in protein!

    Elk is also a bit sweeter than ground beef. You may be expecting it to be gamey, but it is surprising not at all! It is really tasty! My kids prefer elk burgers to regular beef burgers. My youngest actually won't even eat a beef burger, but is always excited when elk burgers are on the menu!

    Ingredients

    Bowl of ground meat with a ramekkin of seasoning and a plate with 4 buns.

    Ground Elk: Because elk is so lean, it does need the help of some extra fat to bind it together. If you are purchasing elk from the store it will likely already have some beef or beef fat added in, so nothing additional is needed.

    If you had your own elk meat processed, then add 2 tablespoons of butter or oil per pound. Chopped bacon is also a delicious way to add fat to the burgers.

    Seasonings: The flavor of an elk burger is so delicious that you do not need much when seasoning the meat. A simple mixture of salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder works beautifully to make a tasty burger.

    Instructions

    1. Gently mix the ingredients together in a large bowl. Overmixing can make the meat tough, so just mix it until the seasoning is evenly distributed.
    2. Divide the meat into four equal portions, and shape each into a ½-inch-thick patty.
    3. Press an indention into the center of the patty. This gives the meat room to expand and helps them to keep their shape as they cook. It also helps the patties to cook more evenly.
    4. Grease your pan or grill grates so that the lean meat does not stick. I use butter when cooking on the stove, and rub the grates with oil when cooking on a grill.
    5. Whether cooking your burger patties in a pan or on a grill, use medium heat. Cook the patty for 4 minutes, then flip it over and cook an additional 4 minutes. Cheese can be added a couple of minutes after flipping the burger.
    4 meat patties on a plate.

    Your elk burger is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F. Using a thermometer is helpful for this, as cooking to this temperature will help you have a juicy burger.

    4 elk patties on a grill.

    How to Top Your Elk Burger

    Top your burger with your favorite hamburger toppings. While some elk burger aficionados say that ketchup and mustard don't belong, it really is about designing a burger that you think is delicious.

    My personal preference is to top the elk burger with caramelized onions and garlic aioli! It is also delicious with bacon and an over-easy egg.

    Other common toppings include Cheddar cheese, blue cheese, iceberg lettuce leaves, sliced tomato, red onion, and even hatch green chiles! The customization options are limitless!

    Serving Recommendations

    • Elk burgers pair with any side dishes that you would serve with regular hamburgers, including French fries, potato salad, and chips!
    • We enjoyed these elk burgers with our Montana state dinner, along with Hasselback potatoes and huckleberry cheesecake.

    Recipe FAQs

    How do I keep my elk burgers from falling apart?

    The secret to keeping your elk burger from falling apart is to press it tightly into a patty, and then make an indention in the middle with your thumb. This will allow the burger to expand without falling apart.

    Some add bread crumbs and eggs to their burgers, but this is not necessary. If the patty is formed properly and has a little fat added in, then it will stay together without the addition of binding agents.

    Is elk meat dry?

    Elk meat that is cooked to medium doneness (140-145 degrees) is juicy and delicious! Cooking to higher temperatures will make the meat dry.

    Do you need special equipment to make elk burgers?

    Ground elk meat can be purchased at many grocery stores. You can also take elk to a professional butcher shop. But if you want to purchase it yourself you will need a meat grinder. Kitchen Aid has a grinder attachment, or you can purchase a stand-along grinder.

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    Elk burger with caramlized onions and cheese on a board with freshly sliced tomatoes and lettuce.

    Let me know how you like this recipe by leaving a review! And follow along on Instagram @stateofdinner for behind-the-scenes and to be among the first to know when new recipes post!

    Recipe

    elk burger with cheese and caramelized onions.

    Elk Burgers

    Recipe by: Erin
    These easy to make juicy elk burgers are low in fat, high in protein, and delicious in flavor!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 372 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 pound ground elk meat
    • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 4 hamburger buns
    • Your favorite hamburger toppings
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium-sized bowl, sprinkle seasonings over the elk meat. Use a spoon or your hands to mix the seasonings into the meat until evenly distributed.
    • Divide the meat into four balls. Form each ball into a patty that is ¾-inch thick.
      Press your thumb into the center of each patty to make an indention in the middle. This will help the patty hold its shape.
      Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
    • Place a grill pan or skillet on the stove over medium heat. Add butter and olive oil to the pan.
      (If cooking on an outdoor grill, oil the grates and turn onto medium heat.)
    • Once the butter has melted, add the elk burger patties to the pan.
      Cook for 4 minutes, then flip the patties over.
      Cook an additional 2 minutes, then add cheese, if using.
      Cook for 2 more minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 140-145 degrees.
    • Remove patties. Add to a hamburger bun, along with desired toppings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 766mg | Potassium: 420mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 107IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Share a photo of your creation with your friends!Mention @stateofdinner or tag #stateofdinner!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. sue

      January 16, 2022 at 1:19 pm

      trying this recipe today

      Reply
      • Erin

        January 18, 2022 at 9:39 am

        Let me know what you think!

        Reply
    2. Matt

      February 02, 2021 at 6:37 pm

      5 stars
      These are the best. When your kids who don’t like burgers will eat them and say, “it’s amazing!” You know you have a winner!

      Reply
      • Erin

        February 03, 2021 at 9:16 am

        I am glad that you love these as much as we do!

        Reply
    3. James

      December 01, 2020 at 10:05 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is so good! The burgers were juicy and had really great flavor.

      Reply
      • Erin Gierhart

        December 01, 2020 at 10:07 am

        Thank you, James! It is great to hear that you enjoyed them!

        Reply

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    Photo of Erin Gierhart

    Welcome! I'm Erin: Wife, mom, lover of great food, and former food safety administrator. I am passionate about cooking mostly from scratch recipes that bring comfort, without spending all day in the kitchen. Most recipes on this site can be made in under 30 minutes! This approach to cooking allows me to provide delicious meals for my family while freeing up time to spend with those I love.

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