Blue Cheese Bison Burger with Bacon Caramelized Onions

Dream Burger? Simple, it would have to be this Blue Cheese Bison Burger with Bacon Caramelized Onions!

I don’t participate in a lot of group events; I just really like doing my own thing and not feeling any pressure to perform according to a schedule. When I do participate? It’s for fun; pure and simple. To that end I have my own monthly Progressive Eats where we move from blog to blog instead of house to house with the dish we’ve each decided to bring to the party.

This month it’s all about the cookout. Hosted by Jenni Field and her blog Pastry Chef Online, participants have got you covered with foods to be cooked and consumed outdoors, something I love to do all summer long; how about you?

Another group I love is an annual event organized by Kita at Girl Carnivore. It’s all about the burger. Burgers, burgers and more burgers! Thirty days of burgers; each day with several bloggers offering their own unique take on a burger they have made and loved. There is beef, lamb, turkey, veggie and more…you really must check all of them out. Even if I do think my Blue Cheese Bison Burger with Bacon Caramelized Onions would be hard to beat!

Many, many thanks to all of the sponsors for their contribution to the success of this event each year and for providing great products for prizes during the Burger Month 2017 celebration.

CONTEST CLOSED!

• American Lamb Board – (ALB prize boxes 5 lbs of ground lamb, an apron and a meat thermometer
• Anolon – 10″x 18″ Double Burner Griddle and Grill Pan
• Beef, It’s What’s For Dinner – prize packs of beefy grilling-themed goodies
• Char-Broil – Char-Broil Kettleman Grill
• Curly’s BBQ – Curly’s BBQ Pork Pack
• Cuttingboard.com – Olive Wood Carver Bo
• Melissa’s Produce – Baby vegetable box
• Primal Stone – XL Primal Stone
• Spiceologist –  4 Rub Grilling Spice Set
• Thermoworks –  Thermapen Mk4
• Veal Made Easy – 5 lbs Veal and grilling gear

Because Burger Month 2017 and our Progressive Eats Cookout event happened in the same month I decided to make a burger and dedicate this post to both. While I do love the occasional steak (this one is my all time favorite presentation) and certainly pull a ton of chicken off of the grill each year, I am still and forever will be a fan of the burger. The truth is that the burger itself is sort of like the lettuce in a salad…it’s a good base but it’s the condiments that make it or break it.

The first year I participated in the Burger Month event, I made these Lamb and Goat Cheese Burgers with Cabernet Sauce using lamb from the American Lamb Board. A lamb burger is finished with a beautiful Cabernet sauce and then topped with goat cheese and crispy onion rings. I want another one NOW!

I followed that unique burger with one I recreated after visiting Ted’s Montana Grill. The Canyon Creek Burger is amazing and once you have a burger that combines jalapeno with a sweet jam, I promise you will love it too! Why yes, that is a fried egg!

My venture with Burger Month 2016 resulted in re-creating another restaurant special. Smashburger offers this Spicy Cowboy Burger occasionally and I happened by one night when it was available. The spicy did it for me but honestly I could get used to that notion of onion rings on a burger…they are the bomb! I was especially proud of my homemade Sesame Hamburger Buns; they were SO perfect!

This year I decided to use bison meat since Colorado has such a large bison population. I’ve been here for 30 years and remember the first time we drove to the mountains and saw a herd moving across the plains down below. It was very emotional; to think that these animals have survived for so many years and were such a part of the history of the west. Sadly their numbers were diminished from mass slaughter at the hands of man. They are now making a comeback and carefully managed herds and better health practices have seen a rise in their numbers.

In my area of South Denver, there are a couple of farms within an hours distance where you can purchase fresh bison meat but I’m seeing it even more widespread the last few years in local markets. Last week I found it available at two shops and even our Costco. Bison at Costco…is that something available at yours?

I decided to try another re-creation albeit with a burger I’ve never actually had! When a friend accompanied me to Ted’s Montana Grill to sample menu items, while I enjoyed the Canyon Creek Burger shown above, she decided to order the Blue Creek, a Bison Burger that had Blue Cheese and a tasty combination of grilled onions with bacon on top. I’ve long wanted to get back for one of those but decided instead to put my own spin on it for today.

We are after all, PROGRESSIVE Eats right? I forged ahead with a recreation that included Bison, Gorgonzola Cheese and an amazing combination of bacon, onions, and red wine that resulted in a topping so tasty I had to hold myself off from finishing it with a spoon!

Yes, I’ve still called it a Blue Cheese Bison Burger but for me, Blue Cheese and Gorgonzola are interchangeable and I more often have the bit less pungent Gorgonzola in my fridge. Use either one for preparation; both would be great.

Bison is not gamey but it is lean. While there is some fat in the meat I was taking no chances so I put in a bit of the fat that was rendered from the bacon. These burgers cook FAST and if you’re the well done type?

Don’t do bison, it really should be only cooked to rare or medium rare; any more and they will dry out to the point of ugh. Better to substitute with a fattier meat and just use the ground beef you usually buy for burgers.

This burger was a winner. The savory cheese sauce combined with the sweetness of the onions was the perfect combination; I could have eaten more than one. (Shh…I did eat more than one; don’t tell!)

Be sure to check out all of the fantastic dishes for our Progressive Eats Cookout event that are listed after the recipe. I want them all…this virtual business is fun but nothing like getting to have an actual taste; which would you put on your menu?

Enjoy more Dishes from our Progressive Eats Cookout!

Appetizers

• Loaded Baked Potatoes from The Redhead Baker
• Indian Grilled Corn on the Cob – Street Style Bhutta from Spice Roots

Main Course

• Blue Cheese Bison Burger with Bacon Caramelized Onions from Creative Culinary (You’re here!)

Side Dishes

• Fresh Fruit Salad with Bourbon-Orange Syrup (Gluten-Free) from The Heritage Cook
• Homemade Baked Beans from Food Hunter’s Guide

Desserts

• Blueberry Peach Pandowdy from Pastry Chef Online
• Rustic Berry Turnovers from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Rum-Glazed Grilled Bananas from Mother Would Know

So much food. So little time. Get on it! 🙂

Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. Our menu this month features recipes that would be perfect for a summer cookout! We had a lot of fun creating them, and hope you’ll enjoy trying them, too. Our event this month is hosted by Jenni who blogs at Pastry Chef Online. Our menu includes everything from beverages to bread, an entree to sides, and of course some desserts so we can finish on a sweet note.

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats, a theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out.

PIN IT! ‘Blue Cheese Bison Burger with Bacon Caramelized Onions’

Blue Cheese Bison Burger with Bacon Caramelized Onions

Creative Culinary

This is the best of all worlds. Bison is lean and a wonderful alternative to beef and the blue cheese sauce combined with a bacon and onion topping are decadent and delicious!

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Beef

Servings 4 Burgers

Calories 698 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For the Bacon and Onion Topping:

• 4 slices bacon
• 1 large red onion
• 1 Tablespoon Whole Grain Mustard
• ¾ cup Cabernet Sauvignon or other dry red wine

For the Blue Cheese Burger Sauce:

• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 1 Green onion minced
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 4 Tbsp crumbled blue cheese
• Salt and black pepper to taste

For the Burger:

• 1 pound ground bison buffalo
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
• ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper

To Put the Burgers together:

• 4 hamburger buns
• 1 small head of romaine leaves separated

Instructions

 

• To Make the Onion Bacon Mixture
• Saute bacon over medium-high heat until fat has rendered and it is just starting to brown. Skim off fat and set aside. Add the onions, sprinkle with salt, and sauté until tender and golden brown, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and continue to sauté until very tender and well browned, about 15 minutes longer. Add mustard and wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cool, cover, and chill.
• To Make the Blue Cheese Sauce
• In a small saucepan over low heat combine the butter, minced green onion and garlic and simmer for 1-2 minutes on medium heat.
• Add the crumbled blue cheese and warm slowly until the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy. If the sauce starts to separate, whisk until it combines together again.
• To Make and Assemble the Burger
• Preheat grill. Gently mix buffalo meat with 2 Tbsp reserved bacon fat, onion, garlic powder, salt and pepper in large bowl. Shape into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.
• Grill on high heat until well browned, about 2 minutes per side for medium-rare.
• Open buns and arrange, cut side up, on top of grill. Leave on grill until lightly toasted, about 1 minute.
• Spread bottom halves with about 1 tsp of cheese mixture.
• Top each with romaine leaves, then burger. Dollop with another tablespoonful of the Blue Cheese Sauce.
• Spoon onions atop burgers, dividing equally.
• Cover with bun tops; press lightly. Serve.

Notes

Like a larger burger? Make three burgers and cook on each side only about a half minute longer.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Blue Cheese Bison Burger with Bacon Caramelized Onions

Serving Size

 

1 grams

Amount per Serving

Calories

698

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

38

g

58

%

Saturated Fat

 

18

g

113

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

16

g

Cholesterol

 

142

mg

47

%

Sodium

 

1027

mg

45

%

Carbohydrates

 

36

g

12

%

Fiber

 

5

g

21

%

Sugar

 

7

g

8

%

Protein

 

40

g

80

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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