Air Fryer Bison Burgers

August 19, 2022
Last Updated: June 19, 2023
2 Comments
Recipes

These air fryer bison burgers are flavorful, ready in minutes, and an easy way to make bison burgers. Top them with your favorite spreads and enjoy an easy dinner!

Air Fryer Bison Burgers with cheese and bun

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I’ve always been a burger gal, which is one reason I could never go vegetarian or vegan. A juicy cheeseburger with toppings is so delightful.

Of course, making burgers at home is rarely as good as ordering them out. But, these bison burgers in the air fryer come pretty close.

Let’s talk about bison for a quick second.

It is gamier than beef, so there is a little bolder flavor, although some people describe its flavoring as sweet.

It’s also “healthier” than beef. According to the Bison Council, bison is up to 84% lower in fat than beef, with about half the calories.

Because of the lower fat content, bison has finer fat marbling, which usually translates to a softer and more tender meat.

Bison has no added hormones, antibiotics, or fillers. It also offers more protein, omega 3‘s and iron than beef.

We love making bison meatballs in the instant pot, too! Because of its nutrition, bison is a great option for baby led weaning first foods.

It’s great for baby led weaning at 7 months because it’s easy to hold for babies and providing SO MUCH nutrition.

AIR FRYER ESSENTIALS – I love to keep some go-to’s on hand for my air fryer recipes. Here’s what I recommend using:

Fast Instant Read Thermometer – You’ll use this more than you know! It works for meat on the grill or stove or oven, too. It’s super fast and the large screen is easy to read.

Reusable Air Fryer Liners – I love these for easy cleaning!

Plate Gripper – This is great for HOT things when they come out of the air fryer. Take care and don’t burn yourself.

Tongs – Tongs can be helpful for transferring seasoned items and then hot items after cooked in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Bison Burger Ingredients

Making a bison burger in the air fryer is so easy with this recipe. Here’s what you need.

Ground bison – I’m a stickler for good quality meat, so we get ours from Butcher Box. Especially when pregnant and feeding little ones, I want humanely sourced, grass fed meat. Depending on where you grocery shop, it may be challenging to find, so we love Butcher Box for the convenience of delivery!
Egg – I’ve seen some burger recipes without egg, but I appreciate it for binding and keeping these air fryer patties firm and together when cooking.
Spices – I love garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning and Worcestershire sauce
Breadcrumbs – These help bind with the egg to hold everything together.
Burger optionals – cheese, buns, toppings

If you’re looking for a bolder burger option, try my air fryer turkey burgers.

I believe in using high quality meat, which is why we get our ground bison (and other meats, like beef, pork and chicken) from Butcher Box every other month.

I love to customize our orders depending on what we have coming up (I always order extra bacon, and their new chicken nuggets are so good).

SAVE $50 WHEN YOU TRY BUTCHER BOX TODAY! Butcher Box sends you nourishing, grass-fed, organic meat and seafood. My personal favorites are the wild caught salmon, organic free range diced chicken breast, and beef barbacoa. We have so many recipes with these nutritious, delicious ingredients, like this salmon below.

Save $50 on your Butcher Box order!

Butcher box salmon with sweetpotatoes and salad on blue plate — Save $50 on your Butcher Box order!

How to Cook Bison Burgers in the Air Fryer

It wasn’t until I needed a quick dinner one night that I figured I would just air fry bison burgers instead of cook them on the stove.

While I’m typically a stove-top or grill kinda girl for my burgers, the air fryer is incredibly easy and efficient.

Make sure your bison is thawed. Set your air fryer to 400 degrees.

clear bowl with mixed ingredients for bison burgers

While it’s heating, mix your meat with ingredients and spices and form into 4-5 medium-sized patties.

Place burgers inside the air fryer, making sure not to stack them or overlap them.

How Long to Cook Bison Burgers in Air Fryer

The big question I get is how long to cook bison burgers in the air fryer. Some of this will depend on how you like your burger.

I find the sweet spot to be around 10 minutes. You want the internal temperature to reach 145 degrees to 160 degrees, where the internal juices are clear, not red.

Use a handy food thermometer to know this!

I find this the best way to cook bison burgers because it’s cleaner, quicker, and more efficient than using your stove.

Some people, myself included, like to toast the bun or melt the cheese over the burger.

If doing this, place your assembled bun back in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes.

You don’t even have to worry about turning the air fryer back on. It’s likely warm enough from earlier.

This will help melt the cheese, and give the buns a little toasty flavor and texture, which is necessary for the best bison burger!

We love to serve our bison burgers with sweet potatoes of any kind – baked, roasted or in fry form.

Beef and bison are great examples of what to eat with sweet potatoes!

finished bison burger with bun in air fryer

FAQ

How to store air fryer bison burgers

Let your burgers cool completely, and then store in a glass or tupperware container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months and just reheat when ready to heat.

How long to cook frozen bison burgers

I would recommend thawing your bison meat before cooking. If you have frozen pre-made patties you’ll be cooking, you’ll likely need to increase the cooking time to 11-13 minutes. Depending on your air fryer, you may need to turn halfway. I did not test these in my air fryer.

Is ground bison healthy?

As mentioned earlier, ground bison is very nutrient-dense, and often leaner than beef. It is high in protein, omega 3’s, iron, zinc, B-vitamins and other micronutrients.

Can you make bison burgers gluten free?

Yes, make sure to use gluten free buns and gluten free breadcrumbs to keep them totally gluten free. Some Worchestershire or steak sauce may use gluten, so take caution when reading ingredients.

cooked bison burgers on white plate ready for toppings

More Burger and Fritter Recipes To Try:

More Air Fryer Recipes:

5 burgers