Tender, smoky, and packed with rich, savory flavor, these Moose Burgers take game meat to a whole new level. Seasoned with warm spices, mixed with barbecue sauce and loaded with crisp bacon, they come together easily and cook up beautifully whether you're grilling or baking them in the oven. The result is a juicy, hearty burger that's simple to make and impossible to resist.
Why I Love This
- Tender and Juicy: Game meat can be dry as it's naturally leaner. This recipe solves this issue and brings forth the most satisfying and juicy burger that you'd never guess was made out of game meat (or beef - it's perfect for both!).
- One Bowl Dump: There is nothing fancy about pulling these together. Dump your ingredients into a bowl, mix and shape. That's it. Little fuss, little mess.
- Grill or Oven: These are so tasty all year round, so whether you have access to your grill or it's covered in snow, you can still bake these to juicy perfection.
Pair this with my Charred Corn Salad or Pesto Caesar Salad! Need another supper idea?Try these Pulled Chicken Wraps for another great supper idea that pulls together in minutes.
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Ingredients
- Burger - you can use nearly any game meat or beef in these burgers. I have used moose as it's a common game animal in our area but deer, elk, bear, goat, sheep, or caribou are also all good options.
- Bacon - this is the star of the show here! Not only do we add freshly cooked bacon bits to the burgers but a little of the bacon grease is also added to compensate for the leanness of the game meat. While this might sound excessive think about the amount of fat you would normally find in beef. Your game meat simply doesn't have it. So we are adding it in like you would butter to cookies. It's what makes them delicious.
- Barbecue sauce - while this is often a topping for burgers, and still can be, I like to add it directly into the meat. It makes them burst with flavor and allows you to create a wide variety of flavor profiles from spicy to sweet to suite your taste.
- Spices - a medley of spices are used to really bring home the taste in these moose burgers. I use all dried spices and as it makes it quick and easy to throw these together.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
*It's always important to follow USDA's recommendations for thawing, handling and cooking meats.
Step 1: Place the bacon on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 425°F for 10 minutes. Flip, then bake another 7-10 minutes or until crisp. Set aside to cool.
Step 2: Chop the cooled bacon into bite sized pieces and add to a medium mixing bowl. Measure ½ cup of the bacon grease and pour into the same bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix with your hands until everything is well combined.
Step 3: Shape the mixture into 6-7 patties, depending on your preferred size. Place them on a broiler pan or foil-lined baking sheet if baking in the oven. (See BBQ instructions below.)
Step 4: Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (USDA's recommendation for ground moose or beef). If adding cheese, place a slice on each patty during the last 5 minutes.
Step 5: Dress your burgers with desired bun and toppings. Serve hot!
BBQ/Grill Instructions: Use this instead of step 4.
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 375-450°F). Grill the patties for 4-6 minutes per side. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (USDA's recommendation for ground moose or beef). If desired, add cheese during the last 1-2 minutes of grilling.
Hint: If grilling the Moose Burgers, oil a piece of paper towel and holding it with tongs, grease the grates before placing the burgers on. This helps prevent sticking. Also, be gentle with the burgers as you place them on and flip them so that they don't break apart.
Substitutions
- Meat - use beef instead of game meat.
- Gluten Free - swap the bun for a gluten free bun or lettuce wrap your burger. Also, use gluten free oats in the meat.
- Breadcrumbs - if you'd rather use bread crumbs instead of oats that works perfectly fine. You can even get some that are seasoned which would add more flavor!
Variations
- Spicy - add ⅛ teaspoon red pepper chili flakes and 2-3 tablespoons of chopped, pickled jalapenos to the meat.
- Barbecue Sauce - you can really adjust the flavor of the moose burgers depending on the sauce you use. I like sweet and spicy but feel free to use whatever your favorite BBQ sauce is!
- Toppings! - try adding spicy or smoked (gouda) cheese, guacamole, jalapenos or chips - salted, ketchup or Doritos, for some fun additions!
Try my Halibut Tacos for another fun evening meal or for something lighter try our Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad.
Storage
The first few days: Leftover Moose Burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Freezing: You can freeze these burgers either raw or cooked. For raw burgers, form the patties as instructed. Place the raw or cooked patties in an airtight container, separating stacked patties with parchment paper. Freeze for up to three months.
Reheating/Thawing: To thaw, place the burgers in the refrigerator until completely thawed or follow other USDA approved methods for thawing meats.
Top Tip
Make life easier by doubling or even tripling this Moose Burger recipe! Shape the raw patties, separate them with parchment and freeze in family-sized packs. On busy weeknights, you'll be just minutes away from a homemade burger dinner - no prep required.
FAQ
No, you sure don't. You can use beef or a wide variety of other game meats which I've outlined above.
The egg and oats in this recipe act as a binder to help keep the burgers together. If they are still falling apart on you try putting them in the refrigerator for 10-20 minutes before cooking them to help them firm up. Baking rather than grilling can also be helpful.
I like to make mine about ¾ of an inch thick. Thicker burgers tend to be juicy but require longer cooking so make sure you use a thermometer to check their internal temperature (160°F - USDA's recommendation).
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Moose Burgers
- Total Time: 1 hr - 1hr 25 minutes
- Yield: 6-7 Burger Patties 1x
Description
Tender, smoky, and packed with rich, savory flavor, these Moose Burgers take game meat to a whole new level. Seasoned with warm spices, mixed with barbecue sauce and loaded with crisp bacon, they come together easily and cook up beautifully whether you're grilling or baking them in the oven. The result is a juicy, hearty burger that's simple to make and impossible to resist.
Ingredients
½ pound bacon
½ cup (120 milliliters) bacon grease
1 ½ pounds moose burger
½ cup (115 grams) sweet & spicy bbq sauce I use "G Hughes Sugar Free Sweet & Spicy"
½ cup (50 grams) rolled oats or quick oats
2 eggs
1 teaspoon Montreal Steak Spice
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon onion powder
Desired Toppings/Buns
Instructions
*Always follow USDA recommendations for thawing, handling and cooking meats. USDA recommends cooking ground moose and beef to an internal temperature of 160°F.
- Place the bacon on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 425°F for 10 minutes. Flip, then bake another 7-10 minutes or until crisp. Set aside to cool.
- Chop the cooled bacon into bite sized pieces and add to a medium mixing bowl. Measure ½ cup of the bacon grease and pour into the same bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix with your hands until everything is well combined.
- Shape the mixture into 6-7 patties, depending on your preferred size. Place them on a broiler pan or foil-lined baking sheet if baking in the oven.
- Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (USDA's recommendation for ground moose or beef). If adding cheese, place a slice on each patty during the last 5 minutes.*
- Dress your burgers with desired bun and toppings. Serve hot!
*All nutritional information is an estimation only. Exact nutritional value depends on exact amounts and ingredients used. Nutrition information provided is for the burger patties only.
Notes
4. BBQ/Grill Instructions: Use this instead of step 4: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 375-450°F). Grill the patties for 4-6 minutes per side. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (USDA's recommendation for ground moose or beef). If desired, add cheese during the last 1-2 minutes of grilling.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Jenice Wallace says
These are such tasty burgers and are so versatile to suite anyone's preferences. While they are perfect for game meat, beef works wonderfully too. The addition of the bacon fat brings warm flavors and moistens the meat without making them greasy. Easy to whip up, freeze for later or bake for dinner tonight!