RECIPE: Stuffed Bison Burgers

Take the classic bison burger to the next level by stuffing it with blue cheese and bacon!  Bison’s so lean that these burgers aren’t greasy or heavy, just packed with rich, smoky flavor. 

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Ramstead Ranch Ground Bison
• 6 slices Ramstead Ranch Bacon (we recommend Shoulder Bacon –perfect for burgers!)
• 4 oz blue cheese
• 4 burger buns (brioche are extra good!)
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional (but recommended) toppings

• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Avocado
• Caramelized onions
• Cheddar cheese slices
• Your favorite condiments

Directions

1. Heat a skillet over medium high heat.  Cook 3 slices of bacon until just cooked but still soft (they’ll continue cooking when mixed with the burger meat).
2. Chop the 3 slices of bacon into small pieces.
3. In a small bowl, mix the chopped bacon together with the blue cheese.
4. Pat the ground bison dry.  Season generously with salt and pepper.
5. Form the ground bison into 8 thin, round patties. Drop a generous spoonful of the bacon and blue cheese mixture into the center of 4 of the patties. Spread it out to about ¼ inch from the edge of the patties.  
6. Place a plain patty on top and pinch the edges to seal in the cheese and bacon mixture.
7. Heat a skillet over medium high heat.  Coat with a thin layer of oil and then add the patty.  Use a spatula to squish the patty relatively flat as it cooks, so it cooks all the way through. Let it cook for a couple minutes, then flip for another couple minutes.  Use the spatula to squish it flat again after each flip.
8. Keep flipping every few minutes until the juices run clear.
9. Cook the patties to your desired internal temperature: 
   1. Rare-- 120 to 125°F 
   2. Medium Rare-- 130 to 135°F 
   3. Medium Well-- 150 to 155°F 
   4. Well Done-- 160 to 165°F (The USDA recommends cooking ground meats to this temperature for safety)
10. Remove from heat, rest the meat for 10 minutes.
11. While the burgers are resting, heat a skillet over medium high heat and cook the remaining 4 slices of bacon until crispy.
12. Lightly toast the burger buns.
13. Layer your burgers with a stuffed bison patty, crispy bacon, and your favorite toppings (see recommendations above).
14. Enjoy!