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    Home » Main Meals

    Bison Meatballs

    Last Updated: Jan 18, 2023 by Seanna Borrows · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. · 4 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    Bison Meatballs over brown rice on a white plate with blue stripped kitchen towel in background.

    Bison Meatballs Recipe - Ground bison recipe for the best bison meatballs and gravy. Tasty comfort food that is a healthy alternative to ground beef.

    Bison Meatballs over brown rice on a white plate with blue stripped kitchen towel in background.

    This was inspired by our Swedish Meatballs recipe, and pairs well with brown rice or these creamy mashed potatoes.

    Jump to:
    • Here's What You Need
    • Notes on Ingredients
    • Equipment
    • How to Make It
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Variations
    • Want To Bake Or Air Fry Them?
    • Pro Tip
    • Bison FAQS
    • Freezing And Meal Prep
    • More Ground Bison Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Here's What You Need

    Individual ingredients for bison meatball recipe.

    Notes on Ingredients

    You only need a few simple ingredients to make these amazing bison meatballs.

    • ground bison - may substitute any ground meat like ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork.
    • parmesan cheese - flavors and helps the meatball hold its shape. May substitute breadcrumbs, crackers, or almond flour.
    • onion - minced so that it softens entirely as it cooks.
    • garlic - or garlic powder
    • egg - acts as a binder and helps the meatball hold its shape.
    • tabasco sauce or sriracha - flavor booster.
    • salt
    • ground black pepper
    • olive oil or canola oil - for sautéing.

    Equipment

    • Large Mixing Bowl
    • Cookie Scoop - useful for forming uniform meatballs. But you can always use a spoon.
    • Le Creuset Pan with Glass Lid Or Sauté Pan
    • Kitchen Tongs

    How to Make It

    You can make this easy meatballs recipe by following these simple steps:

    Combined ingredients for Bison meatballs in a mixing bowl.

    1. Combine Meatball Ingredients. Put all meatball ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Gently mix together with your hands to combine.

    A platter of 18 uncooked bison meatballs.

    2. Form Meatballs. The best way to make uniform meatballs is to use a cookie scoop. Scoop out a small amount of meatball mixture. Form 1 inch balls.

    One pound of meat will make approximately 18 1-inch balls.

    Bison meatballs simmering in a pan with one meatball being raised with kitchen tongs.

    3. Sauté The Meatballs. Add a little cooking oil to a sauté pan that has been placed over medium-high heat. Once the oil gets hot and you can see the surface begin to ripple, it's time to add the meatballs.

    Using kitchen tongs, place the meatballs into the hot oil. Turn down the heat and continue to cook them over medium heat. Brown them on all sides.

    A slurry of water and corn starch in a glass pyrex measuring cup with a small whisk.

    4. Mix Slurry. Whisk together cold water and corn starch in a liquid measuring cup until corn starch has dissolved. The corn starch slurry will act as a thickening agent for the gravy.

    Bison Meatballs simmering in gravy.

    5. Add Slurry. Pour the slurry into the pan with the meatballs and use a spoon to gently lift the bits of meatball that are stuck to the bottom of the pan as you stir the liquid into a gravy. This is called deglazing the pan. And those bits will give amazing flavor to the gravy.

    Let the gravy come up to a gentle boil while you stir it into a smooth sauce. This is an important step, as the corn starch will reach its full thickening potential once it has reached the boiling point.

    Bison Meatballs simmering in gravy.

    6. Simmer. Simmer over medium-low heat for 15 minutes until they are cooked through and the gravy is thick and delicious. Adjust seasonings as necessary.

    Bison Meatballs over brown rice on a white plate with blue stripped kitchen towel in background.

    Serving Suggestions

    7. Serve. We like to serve them over creamy mashed potatoes, brown rice, or a vegetable side dish.

    Variations

    There are so many ways to enjoy these delicious bison meatballs. Try some of these variations:

    • Italian Meatballs - They're great with pasta sauces. Make a quick tomato sauce with fresh basil, red pepper flakes or Italian seasoning. Add cooked meatballs to the sauce and serve over pasta or zucchini noodles (zoodles) with some fresh parmesan cheese.
    • BBQ Meatballs - Brush on some bbq sauce that has been mixed with a little brown sugar.
    • Teriyaki Meatballs - Make a simple teriyaki sauce by mixing soy sauce, with a little sake, sugar, and some fresh herbs. Add the sauce to the pan, and simmer slowly until the sauce has thickened and the meat is cooked through.
    • Bison Meatloaf - Form one loaf instead, place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake it in a 400°F oven for 45 minutes.

    Want To Bake Or Air Fry Them?

    • Baked Bison Meatballs - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lay the uncooked meat on baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Bake for 15 minutes.
    • Air Fryer Meatballs - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place uncooked meat in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air Fry them for 8 minutes.

    Pro Tip

    Flavor Boosters - Bison has a mild, sweet flavor. Boost that mild flavor by adding flavor boosters like: salt, spicy crackers, fresh herbs, garlic, or hot sauce. Be sure to check our go-to dry rub, and Italian seasoning recipes.

    Bison FAQS

    What Is Bison Meat?

    Bison meat is a healthy alternative to ground beef. It has less fat, and fewer calories and is a great option for those on the keto diet, and for athletes and those looking for a healthy protein option.
    Bison once roamed wild and free in the United States. Today, ranchers raise and process American Bison as close to nature and humanely as possible.

    What Does Bison Taste Like?

    Bison meat is similar in texture and taste to beef but its flavor is a little sweeter. So, ground bison is a great substitute for ground beef in recipes.

    Where To Get Ground Bison?

    You can get bison meat at your local grocery store, Costco, or online purveyor.

    Freezing And Meal Prep

    This Easy Meatball Recipe is a really great for meal prep. Freeze portions in restaurant storage containers for that easy weeknight dinner win.

    There you have it. Making this Bison Meatball Recipe is as easy as that! We hope you enjoy our super simple, super tasty recipe. Try it and let us know how you like it. We'd love to hear from you!

    xo ~ Seanna

    More Ground Bison Recipes

    • Ground Bison Pasta - Our most popular recipe here at Seanna's Kitchen! This tasty recipe is made with ground bison, tomato sauce, onion, and Italian seasonings. So Good!
    • Ground Bison Chili - Healthy chili recipe with all the classic chili flavors you love.
    • Ground Bison Pasta
    • Ground Bison Chili

    Hungry for More? Subscribe to my Newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all of the latest recipes.

    📖 Recipe

    Bison Meatballs over brown rice on a white plate with blue stripped kitchen towel in background.

    Bison Meatballs Recipe

    Bison Meatballs Recipe - Ground bison recipe for the best meatballs and gravy. Tasty comfort food that is a healthy alternative to ground beef.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate Add to Shopping ListGo to Shopping List
    Course: Main Meals
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 6 Servings
    Calories: 245kcal
    Author: Seanna Borrows

    Equipment

    • Large Mixing Bowl
    • Cookie Scoop
    • Le Creuset Pan with Glass Lid Or Sauté Pan
    • Kitchen Tongs
    • Liquid Measuring Cup
    • Small Whisk

    Ingredients

    Meatball Ingredients

    • 1 lb ground bison
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
    • ¼ cup yellow onion minced
    • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon tabasco sauce or sriracha
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper ground
    • 1 tablespoon canola oil for frying

    Gravy Ingredients

    • 1 cup water
    • 1 tablespoon corn starch
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Meatball Mixture

    • Combine Ingredients. Put all meatball ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Gently mix together with your hands to combine.
      1 lb ground bison, ½ cup parmesan cheese, ¼ cup yellow onion, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon tabasco sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper

    Form Meatballs

    • Form Meatballs. Using a cookie scoop, scoop out a small amount of meatball mixture and form 1 inch balls by rolling it around between the palms of your hands. One pound of meat will make approximately 18 1-inch balls.

    Cook Meatballs

    • Brown The Meatballs. Add a little cooking oil to a sauté pan that has been placed over medium-high heat. Once the oil gets hot and you can see the surface begin to ripple, it's time to add the meat.
      Using kitchen tongs, place meatballs into the hot oil, one at a time. Turn down the heat and continue to cook them over medium heat. Turn them over so that they brown on all sides.
      1 tablespoon canola oil

    Make Gravy

    • Mix Slurry. Whisk together cold water and corn starch in a liquid measuring cup until corn starch has dissolved. The corn starch slurry will act as a thickening agent for the gravy.
      1 cup water, 1 tablespoon corn starch
    • Add Slurry. Pour the slurry into the pan with the meatballs and use a spoon to gently lift the bits of meat that are stuck to the bottom of the pan as you stir the liquid into a gravy. This is called deglazing the pan. And those bits will give amazing flavor to the gravy.
      Let the gravy come up to a gentle boil while you stir it into a smooth sauce. This is an important step, as the corn starch will reach its full thickening potential once it has reached the boiling point.
    • Simmer. Simmer over medium-low heat for 15 minutes until the meat is cooked through and the gravy is thick and delicious. Adjust seasonings as necessary.
    • Serve. We like to serve them over creamy mashed potatoes, brown rice, or a vegetable side dish.

    Notes

    Notes On Ingredients

    • ground bison - may substitute any ground meat like ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork.
    • parmesan cheese - flavors and helps the meatball hold its shape. May substitute breadcrumbs, crackers, or almond flour.
    • onion - minced so that it softens entirely as it cooks.
    • garlic - or garlic powder
    • egg - acts as a binder and helps the meatball hold its shape.
    • tabasco sauce or sriracha - flavor booster.
    • olive oil or canola oil - for sautéing.

    Flavor Boosters

    Bison meat has a mild, sweet flavor. Boost that mild flavor by adding flavor boosters like: salt, Italian seasoning, spicy crackers, fresh herbs, garlic, hot sauce, or your favorite dry rub.

    Variations

    • Italian Meatballs - Bison meatballs are great with pasta sauces. Make a quick tomato sauce with fresh basil, red pepper flakes or Italian seasoning. Add cooked meatballs to the sauce and serve over pasta or zucchini noodles (zoodles) with some fresh parmesan cheese.
    • BBQ Meatballs - Brush on some bbq sauce that has been mixed with a little brown sugar.
    • Teriyaki Meatballs - Make a simple teriyaki sauce by mixing soy sauce, with a little sake, sugar, and some fresh herbs. Add the sauce to the meatballs, and simmer slowly until the sauce has thickened and the meat is cooked through.
    • Bison Meatloaf - Form one loaf instead, place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake it in a 400°F oven for 45 minutes.

    Alternative Cooking Methods

    • Baked Meatballs - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lay the uncooked meatballs on baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Bake for 15 minutes.
    • Air Fryer Meatballs - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place uncooked meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air Fry them for 8 minutes.

    Freezing and Meal Prep

    This easy meatball recipe is a really great for meal prep. Freeze portions in restaurant storage containers for that easy weeknight dinner win.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 615mg | Potassium: 273mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 2mg
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Mention @SeannasKitchen and tag #seannaskitchen!

    Did you love this recipe? If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Seanna's Kitchen and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest and subscribe my Newsletter for ALL the latest recipes! We'd love to hear from you!

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links to products we use and love. If you click through these links and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    More Main Meal Recipes

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Megan

      January 18, 2023 at 7:33 pm

      5 stars
      Everything about this recipe is just perfect! I love the dough scoop tip for getting even sized meatballs!

      Reply
      • Seanna Borrows

        January 19, 2023 at 7:12 am

        Thanks so much Megan!

        Reply
    2. Russ B

      January 18, 2023 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      Awesome hearty meal! Great alternative to beef.

      Reply
      • Seanna Borrows

        January 18, 2023 at 7:28 pm

        Thanks Russ. High protein, too!

        Reply

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    Seanna Borrows.

    Welcome to Seanna's Kitchen!

    Hi, I'm Seanna, a home cook and food blogger, sharing favorite recipes inspired by the people and places I love.
    Food is love. And here you can expect to find the recipes and stories that bring us together.
    Good food…made with love…for the people you love…Now, that's a great recipe!

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