Venison Burger

Venison Burger

22 min
4 servings

Making perfect venison burgers isn't hard. All you need to do is add a bit of fat and a few flavors to make this underrated meat shine on burger night.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground venison
  • 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 2 Tbsp. freezing cold butter, grated*
  • Burger buns (brioche is best and toppings you like – cheese (we like Pepper or Colby Jack), lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, etc.

Directions

  1. 1

    Before beginning, place a stick of butter in the freezer. 

  2. 2

    If you’re cooking your burgers on a grill, go ahead and preheat the grill to medium-high (450-500F). If you’re cooking on a stovetop, get out a large pan (preferably cast-iron) and set it on the appropriate burner. You’re going to want to heat the pan for 3-5 minutes before cooking, so keep that in mind. 

  3. 3

    Mix together the venison, balsamic, Worchestershire, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. I like to use a fork and my hands. It’s good to use a fork to “fluff” and break up the meat, you don’t want it too packed. 

  4. 4

    Right before you form the patties, grate in about 2 tablespoons of freezing cold butter (I use a regular, old cheese grater). Mix again quickly just to distribute, but not so much that the butter melts. 

  5. 5

    Form the meat into 4 evenly sized balls and then shape them into patties. Form a divot in the top of the burgers to help catch some of the juice. 

  6. 6

    Place the burgers on the grill or in the hot pan, and cook for anywhere from 5-8 minutes per side. I like to just flip the burgers once so they have a nice crust. If you’re using cheese, add your cheese when you flip your burger over.

  7. 7

    I use an internal read thermometer and pull my burgers at 140-145F (medium) but you can pull them at 150F-160F if you like yours more well done. 

  8. 8

    Let your burgers rest for 5-10 minutes (SERIOUSLY) before assembling and eating. Voila!