A bison steak is an excellent choice if you want to make sure that your meat is healthy and full of protein.
They’re leaner than other types of beef, but they have just as much flavor.
If you haven’t tried one before, we recommend giving our bison steak recipe a try!
What Are The Ingredients In A Bison Steak Recipe?
The best thing about this bison steak recipe is how simple it is.
You can use any type of bison or elk steak you like, and since there aren’t many different ingredients involved, you don’t need to worry too much about what cuts to buy (though you will definitely want to get a rib eye).
In addition to those basic ingredients, here are some of the things you should look out for when buying bison steaks at your local grocery store:
- Leanness – Bison has a lower fat content compared to most red meats, so you won’t find too many fatty acids in their muscles.
- Protein content – The amount of protein present in a bison steak varies depending on its weight, but generally speaking, it contains around 20% more protein than beef.
- Flavor – Because bison isn’t raised with hormones or steroids, it doesn’t taste unnatural or processed — even though it comes from cows.
- Healthy fats – Although bison does not contain omega 3s, which are found in fish oil, it still contains plenty of beneficial saturated fats.
- Hormones/steroids – Bison doesn’t come from cattle, and therefore it doesn’t have traces of growth hormones or steroids in them.
- Price – Buying bison is cheaper than beef because it requires less land to produce. In fact, it takes only 1 acre of grassland to feed one cow for 30 days.
- Availability – If you live in parts of North America where bison is native, then chances are good you already know someone who raises them yourself.
Buying bison
You may be wondering why you would bother paying extra money for something that’s naturally healthier than standard beef.
Here are some reasons why:
- Bison is easier to raise than traditional cattle, requiring no antibiotics or hormones
- It costs less per pound than beef
- It tastes better
- It gives off fewer greenhouse gases
- Because it’s healthier, it lasts longer
- People think it looks cooler
So, now that you know all these benefits, let’s see what else you need once you’ve bought your bison steak.
How Do You Cook A Bison Steak?
You can either grill or pan fry it – both methods work well, so whichever works better for you will be fine.
If you prefer grilling, put some oil on a hot grill (or cast iron skillet) and sear the steak until golden brown.
Then flip over and sear the other side.
Once finished cooking, remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
You might also like to brush the top of your steak with butter while it cooks to give it extra richness.
Alternatively, you could pan fry your bison steak by putting it into a pan with a little bit of oil and then adding salt and pepper.
Cook this method for around 6 to 8 minutes per side depending on how thick your steak is.
Once cooked through, remove from heat and serve immediately.
What Is The Best Way To Season A Bison Steak?
Bison steaks are extremely versatile in terms of cooking methods, which makes them perfect when it comes to seasoning.
The first thing you should do is cut them into thin slices or cubes so that they can be easily cooked on both sides without drying out too quickly.
Once you’ve done that, you can add any kind of spices that you like, such as garlic powder, salt, pepper, or even chili flakes.
We suggest using a dry rub because it will help keep moisture from seeping out of the steak during cooking.
If you don’t use a rub, at least brush the steak with some olive oil after cutting it up, then sprinkle it with some salt and pepper.
To finish off the dish, grill the steak over medium heat until it reaches 145° Fahrenheit (60° Celsius).
What Type Of Bison Steak Is Best For This Recipe?
Bison are native to North America.
The most common variety in the U.S.
is American Bison.
There are also two varieties of European Bison which are more commonly found in Europe.
Both breeds have been bred over centuries to create larger animals with less fat content.
The American Bison has a higher percentage of muscle mass than its European counterpart due to their diet.
With only 4% body fat on average, it’s considered one of the healthiest meats available today.
It’s low in saturated fats and high in omega fatty acids like EPA and DHA.
However, there are some downsides to eating bison.
For starters, they can be very difficult to find at stores.
You may need to go to specialty butcher shops or online retailers who sell them directly from farms.
Another reason why Americans don’t eat bison so often is because they tend to taste gamier than other cuts of beef.
But this doesn’t mean that bison isn’t delicious! If you love gamey flavors, then by all means give this bison steak recipe a shot.
How Long Do You Cook A Bison Steak For?
There are two different ways in which you can prepare a bison steak.
The first way is to use it on its own as part of a meal like tacos or burgers, while the second method involves cooking it up into slices and serving that alongside some sides.
- Bison Steak Tacos Recipe
- Bison Burgers Recipe
- Bison Sliders Recipe
- Bison Meatballs Recipe
- Bison Roast Dinner Recipe
Cooking Method 1: Bison Steaks Alone
The easiest way to enjoy a bison steak is by using it as part of a traditional meal.
You could serve these sliced bison steaks alongside any sort of taco salad, burger, or sandwich to create a complete meal.
To get started, cut the bison steaks from the bone in half (or thirds). Place them down onto a preheated pan over medium heat.
Cook each side for about five minutes per side until you see signs of browning.
Once done, remove from the pan and set aside.
You don’t need to season the meat when cooking it because the natural flavors will already come through.
If you’d still like more seasoning, feel free to sprinkle some salt and pepper on top.
Cooking Method 2: Sliced Bison Steaks With Side Dishes
When you want to eat a bison steak, there’s no better option than slicing it up and placing those slices next to something delicious.
It doesn’t matter what kind of dish you choose, whether it’s a baked potato, rice pilaf, or even pasta—the possibilities are endless.
This is how you would go about preparing sliced bison steaks for a family dinner:
- Prepare your favorite veggies and put them in a bowl.
- Slice the bison steak into bite-sized pieces.
- Put the bison steaks on a plate and layer the vegetables around them.
- Enjoy!
Serve with anything you like, such as ranch dressing, sour cream, or butter.
A little bit goes a long way so don’t worry about trying too hard!
What Temperature Should A Bison Steak Be Cooked At?
Bison steaks can go from medium rare to well done.
However, there are two factors involved here: the thickness of the steak and how quickly it cooks.
For example, thicker cuts will take longer than thinner ones because they need more time on the grill or in the oven.
For this reason, thick steak recipes usually call for cooking them past medium rare.
Medium rare means that the center of the steak still has some pinkness left to it, while well done means that all the juices inside the steak are gone.
The best way to tell which stage your bison steak is in is by using a probe thermometer.
You can also use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature though.
Insert the probe into the thickest part of the meat so that you get an accurate reading.
You don’t want to overcook your steak, so keep a close eye on it throughout the process.
The USDA recommends these temperatures for different parts of bison steaks:
- Loin (top/middle): 120 F
- Flank (bottom/sides): 125 F
In general, you want to let bison steaks rest after grilling or baking for about 10 minutes.
Then cut each side off of the bone and serve immediately.
If you’d like to know more about bison steak preparation techniques, read up on the following links below.
How Do You Know When A Bison Steak Is Done?
You will need to cook it until the internal temp reaches 130°F (54°C).
For medium rare, this means cooking it between 125º–130ºF (52ºC – 54ºC) using a digital thermometer or instant read meat probe.
You can also use a meat thermometer to check the doneness of the steak.
It takes about 10 minutes per pound (4kg) on average, so allow 20 minutes from start to finish.
If you aren’t eating it right away, wrap up any leftovers in foil and place them back into the fridge.
The longer the steak sits out after being removed from the heat source, the more likely bacteria will grow on the surface of the meat.
Bacteria are not dangerous, but they certainly won’t taste good.
Bison steak tips
- Beefier cuts like tenderloin tend to take longer to reach their final temperatures because of how thick the muscle fibers are. As such, we suggest cooking these steaks for 14 minutes per pound (4kg), instead of 12.
- The best way to ensure that your steak is fully cooked is by checking it multiple times during the process. Once you remove it from the heat source, cut into it and see what its color looks like. It shouldn’t look pink inside—it should appear white. Don’t worry too much about getting every last bit of juice out of the meat either. It’s fine if some liquid remains inside the steak once you slice it open.
Can You Overcook A Bison Steak?
It depends on what kind of cooking you use.
Bison steaks are naturally tough and difficult to cook, so it takes some time in the oven or under the grill to tenderize them enough to eat.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t cook them too long—it all comes down to how well you follow the recipe instructions.
Bison steaks will toughen up more quickly if you don’t properly sear (or “browning”) them first.
If this happens, simply rinse off any excess oil and continue cooking until the desired temperature is reached.
There’s no need to worry about overdoing it once you get past medium rare.
You can even go ahead and leave your bison steak in the oven overnight at low heat if you like.
It will be ready to enjoy whenever you’re hungry.
How to brown a bison steak
To prepare a bison steak for cooking, you must first season it.
Seasoning helps add flavor to the meat while also making it easier to sear (or brown).
- Season both sides of each piece of bison steak with salt and pepper.
- Rub your seasoning into the meat using a paper towel. Wipe away any remaining seasoning from the surface of the steak.
- Heat a cast iron pan over high heat. When the pan has heated up, place the seasoned pieces of bison steak into the hot pan and let them sit there until they begin to sizzle.
- Use tongs to flip the bison steak pieces and then repeat steps 3 and 4 above.
How to cook a bison steak
When you’ve prepared your bison steak, it’s now time to start preparing it for cooking.
Here’s what you should do next:
- Place your bison steak onto a rack set inside a roasting dish.
- Cover the bison steak with aluminum foil and put the roast in the refrigerator. Allow the bison steak to rest for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat your broiler. Place your baking sheet underneath the broiler to catch any juices dripping out of the bison steak.
- Take the bison steak out of the fridge and discard the foil cover. Turn the broiler on and allow the bison steak to broil for 5 minutes without moving it around. Then flip the bison steak pieces and continue broiling them for another 5 minutes.
- Remove the bison steak from the oven and remove the baking tray. Let the bison steak cool slightly.
- Once the bison steak is cooled, cut it into thin slices.
- Enjoy your delicious bison steak!
What Do You Serve With A Bison Steak?
Bison steaks are best served medium rare or well done.
If you cook it too long, the fat will melt away from the inside of the meat, making it dry out.
Bison also has less intramuscular fat (the “marbling” that makes beef look so good) than most cuts of beef.
So if you want to enjoy a tender cut of red meat, you should choose a bison steak over any other type.
Bison also comes in different varieties, including grass fed and grain finished.
You can find these at specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods.
Serve bison steak with a green salad
This is the classic way to eat bison steak.
It’s very simple and goes together quickly — perfect when you need something quick on the table.
The bison itself takes about 30 minutes to prepare, but then all you have left to do is chop up some greens and dress them with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
You could also add some fresh herbs like basil or cilantro if you have those around.
But don’t be afraid to experiment.
Just remember that everything tastes better with a little bit of acidity like lemon juice or vinegar.
Try bison chili
Chili isn’t everyone’s first thought when thinking of what to pair their steak with, but this is a great option.
Chili is hearty enough to soak up the sauce while still maintaining its own texture.
Plus, there’s no shortage of ways to spice things up.
Try adding cumin, paprika, chipotle peppers, garlic, onions, jalapenos, or even habaneros!
The key to creating a tasty chili is using high quality ingredients.
A lot of people buy canned beans because they think they taste fresher than dried ones, but they often aren’t as flavorful.
Instead, go with homemade tomato paste instead.
It adds depth and complexity without being overwhelming.
This dish is easy to pull off, especially since you only need five ingredients.
Combine 1 pound ground bison with 2 tablespoons chili powder, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon minced onion, 1/8 cup tomato paste, and 1 14 ounce can diced tomatoes.
Cook until heated through and serve topped with shredded cheese.
What Is Your Favorite Bison Steak Recipe?
We love this Rosemary Mustard Bison Steak from The Kitchn because it has so many ingredients that are good for us.
It also tastes great when paired with some roasted potatoes or carrots on the side.
You can find more information about the preparation process in the article linked above.
Equipment
- Pan
- Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion halved
- 1/2 red bell pepper cored
- 1/2 orange bell pepper
- 2 Tablespoon course grain mustard
- 1/2 Cup water
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 Tablespoon oil
- 2 Bison New York Strip Steaks
Instructions
- A big skillet is warmed up over medium-high heat. Add two teaspoons of the oil to the heated pan. when the oil starts to shimmer. After adding the bell peppers and onion, simmer for about 8 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally to ensure that the heat is distributed evenly.
- When the majority of the liquid has evaporated, add the mustard mixture to the onion and pepper mixture that has been whisked with water. Add salt and pepper to taste, then turn the heat off and cover.
- Give steaks about 30 minutes to come to room temperature. Steaks are seasoned with salt and pepper after being lightly brushed with 1 tablespoon oil. A French carbon steel pan or a cast iron skillet can be used to pan sear steaks.
- Cook on a pan. French steel or cast iron over medium-high heat. Add a few tablespoons of oil once the pan is heated. Add steaks when the oil is shimmering. Before rotating, cook for 4 minutes. The other side needs an extra 4 minutes of cooking. Steaks should be taken off the heat, covered loosely with foil, and allowed to rest for five minutes.
- To determine the internal temperature required for desired doneness, use an instant read meat thermometer.
- To serve, place the steak slices on top of the onion and pepper combination in a dish.
- Remember that bison has less fat than conventional meat, cooks faster, and becomes dry if overcooked.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.