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    Home » Main Meals » Pasta

    Ground Bison Pasta

    Published: Jan 13, 2021 · Modified: Sep 17, 2021 by Seanna · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. · 26 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Bison Pasta made with rotini pictured in a white bowl, topped with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Fork in bowl on right side. Muted blue and white stripped towel placed on upper left side of image. Three small pieces of Parmigiano-Reggiano pictured in upper right corner next to a small micro-plane grater.

    Bison Pasta - Easy weeknight dinner coming your way! This tasty recipe is made with ground bison, tomato sauce, onion, and Italian seasonings. So Good!

    Ground Bison is a tasty, low fat protein that is an excellent substitute for ground beef in any recipe. Be sure to check out our Ground Bison Chili or Instant Pot Mexican Casserole for inspiration.

    Easy weeknight dinner of Ground Bison Pasta made with rotini pictured in a white bowl, topped with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
    Easy Weeknight Dinner option! This Bison Pasta Recipe will hit the spot!

    Bison Pasta

    Recently, we were craving pasta and needed an easy weeknight dinner option. So, I pulled out a frozen brick of ground bison and made this quick and easy pasta recipe with a few simple ingredients.  Super easy and tasty! Have dinner on the table in 30 minutes!

    Jump to:
    • Bison Pasta
    • Here's What You Need
    • Notes on Ingredients
    • Making the Sauce
    • Tasty Tip: Have the pasta water ready before you begin making the sauce.
    • Why Bison?
    • Protein Substitutions
    • Make Ahead Meal Prep
    • Watch How to Make this Recipe
    • Substitute Ground Bison in These Tasty Recipes
    • More Bison Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Here's What You Need

    Ingredients for Bison Pasta arranged in circle top clockwise: tall glass container of Olive Oil, small clear dish of 2 tablespoons butter, small off white dish of salt, pepper, and Italian Seasonings, 1 pound package of ground bison, small glass bowl of Parmigiano-Reggiano, 32 ounce glass Ball canning jar of red tomato sauce
    1 Tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 Small Onion, Diced, 1 lb Ground Bison, 1 Teaspoon Table Salt, ¼ Teaspoon Pepper, 32 Oz Tomato Sauce, 1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning, 2 Tablespoons Butter, 1 lb Pasta

    Notes on Ingredients

    • Ground Bison - Usually sold in vacuum sealed package in the meat section of the grocery store.
    • Tomato Sauce - Choose the best tomato sauce without added additional flavors.
    • Italian Seasoning - We use our Homemade Italian Seasoning Recipe for here! It's super tasty and easy to make. Give it a try!

    Making the Sauce

    Ground Bison Pasta made with rotini pictured in off white Le Creuset dutch oven with wooden spoon gently lifting up some of the pasta.
    Easy Weeknight Dinner option! This Bison Pasta Recipe will hit the spot!

    Tasty Tip: Have the pasta water ready before you begin making the sauce.

    Bison Pasta is super quick and easy to make.  So, make sure you have your well-salted (should taste salty like the sea) pasta water heated to a low boil before you start.  I usually put in a palm full of kosher salt into 8 quarts of water.  You'll begin cooking the pasta once the sauce has started simmering.

    Why Bison?

    Is Bison better for you than beef?

    Bison meat is leaner than beef. It has fewer calories, more protein when compared with beef, making it a frequent choice of athletes and health conscious consumers.

    What does Ground Bison taste like?

    Bison tastes very much like beef, but milder and somewhat sweeter, making it an easy substitution in recipes calling for beef.

    What spices go well with Bison?

    Bison is really versatile and goes well with many of the common seasonings you have on hand like Parsley, Oregano, Thyme, or Rosemary. Good rule of thumb: If you would use a spice with ground beef, then give it a try with Bison as well. You might like it!

    Protein Substitutions

    This recipe will work well with any other ground protein that suits your preference, like the following:

    • Beef
    • Turkey
    • Venison - for the hunters out there!
    • Pork
    • Italian Sausage

    Make Ahead Meal Prep

    Ground Bison Pasta is a great meal prep idea you can make ahead and freeze to pull out later for that easy weeknight dinner. We love to use these convenient Restaurant Storage Containers.

    Ground Bison Pasta made with rotini divided into 4 rectangular black meal prep containers for easy weeknight dinners.

    We hope you enjoy our super simple, super tasty ground bison recipe for Bison Pasta. Try it and let us know how you like it in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you!

    xo ~ Seanna

    Image of Rotini pasta dish. Easy dinner option made with ground bison and red tomato sauce. Served with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
    Bison Pasta. This tasty pasta dish is an easy to make weeknight meal. So Good! Healthy recipe made with ground bison, tomato sauce, onion, and Italian seasonings.

    Watch How to Make this Recipe

    Substitute Ground Bison in These Tasty Recipes

    • Beef and Cabbage Soup
    • Oma's Spaghetti
    • Instant Pot Mexican Casserole
    • Ground Bison Chili

    More Bison Recipes

    • 10 Best Ground Bison Recipes - Check out this Bison Recipe Roundup from InsanelyGoodRecipes.com.
    • Bison Meatloaf - from Food.com.
    • Best Ever Bison Burger - from Delish.com.

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    Print

    📖 Recipe

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    Easy weeknight dinner of Ground Bison Pasta made with rotini pictured in a white bowl, topped with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

    Easy Bison Pasta Recipe


    ★★★★★

    5 from 12 reviews

    • Author: Seanna | Seanna's Kitchen
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 6 Servings 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Bison Pasta - Easy weeknight dinner coming your way! This tasty Ground Bison Pasta Recipe is made with ground bison, tomato sauce, onion, and Italian seasonings.

    |www.seannaskitchen.com


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 small onion, diced
    • 1 lb ground bison
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
    • 32 oz tomato sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
    • 2 tablespoons salted butter, cold
    • 1 lb pasta

    Instructions

    1. Have the Pasta Water Simmering Before You Begin.  Bison Pasta is super quick and easy to make.  So, make sure you have your well-salted (should taste salty like the sea) pasta water heated to a low boil before you start.  I usually put in a palm full of kosher salt into 8 quarts of water.  You'll begin cooking the pasta once the sauce has started simmering.
    2. Dice and Sauté Onion: Dice a small onion and sauté it in a pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil until just translucent.
    3. Add Ground Bison and Brown.  Next, add 1 pound ground bison, along with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon ground pepper.  Break up the meat and mix it in with the sautéed onions until meat is browned.  Taste the meat at this point to make sure that it is well seasoned.  It should be tasty!
    4. Add Tomato Sauce, Seasonings and Simmer.  Now, stir in the tomato sauce and Italian Seasoning and let the sauce simmer for 10 minutes.
    5. Cook The Pasta.  Toss the pasta into the water right after you have the sauce simmering.  Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package.  Approximately 8-10 minutes.  Try to time the pasta so that you don't have to drain it when it's done.  Ideally, it's best to transfer the pasta directly from the water to the sauce using a slotted spoon.
    6. Taste Test and Adjust Seasonings.  After the sauce has simmered for 10 minutes, it's time for another taste test and to adjust the seasonings as necessary.
    7. Add the Cooked Pasta to the Sauce.  When the pasta is ready, use a slotted spoon to transfer it directly from the water into the simmering sauce, bringing with it some of the starchy pasta water. The starchy pasta water is the secret flavor booster for Italian sauces!  It's also a great way to loosen a sauce that is too thick.   So, always reserve a cup just in case it comes in handy!
    8. Finish the Sauce.  Final step is to turn off the heat and stir in 2 tablespoons of butter. Finishing a red sauce with cold butter will reduce the acidity of the tomatoes and smooth out the texture of the sauce.
    9. Serve Immediately or Save for Later.  Enjoy this easy weeknight meal right away, or separate into meal-prep containers and freeze.

    Equipment

    Colander

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    Image of Wooden Spoon

    Wooden Spoon

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    Image of Le Creuset Dutch Oven

    Le Creuset Dutch Oven

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    Notes

    Serving Suggestion:  Serve with plenty of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.  Enjoy!

    Storage Suggestion:  Bison Pasta freezes and reheats easily, making it an easy weeknight dinner option.

    Protein Substitutions:  Beef, turkey, venison, pork, Italian sausage

      • Prep Time: 10 Minutes
      • Cook Time: 20 Minutes
      • Category: Pasta
      • Method: Stovetop
      • Cuisine: Italian

      Nutrition

      • Serving Size: 1 cup
      • Calories: 487
      • Sugar: 8.2 g
      • Sodium: 698.9 mg
      • Fat: 13.6 g
      • Carbohydrates: 65.2 g
      • Protein: 26.3 g
      • Cholesterol: 51.8 mg

      Keywords: Bison Pasta, Bison Pasta Recipe, Easy Weeknight Dinner

      Did you make this recipe?

      Tag @seannaskitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #seannaskitchen

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Kate U

        February 08, 2022 at 5:11 pm

        The Bison Pasta dish was a HUGE hit with my son-in-law and his hockey teammates! Definitely a winner!

        Reply
        • Seanna

          February 09, 2022 at 8:24 am

          Awesome to hear! Bison is a great lean protein choice for athletes. Easy recipe for the guys to make, too!

          Reply
      2. Kristen Greazel

        May 10, 2021 at 9:25 am

        I had some bison in the freezer and this pasta was a great recipe!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Seanna

          May 10, 2021 at 1:09 pm

          Thank you! So glad you liked it!

          Reply
      3. Kristina

        May 09, 2021 at 8:40 am

        This was amazing! My family loved it.

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Seanna

          May 10, 2021 at 1:10 pm

          Thanks Kristina! I'm so happy to hear!

          Reply
      4. Natalie

        May 08, 2021 at 2:44 pm

        Great dinner idea. I'm going to try this next week. I bet my family would love this pasta. Thanks!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Seanna

          May 10, 2021 at 1:11 pm

          Thanks Natalie. I hope its a hit!

          Reply
      5. Pam Greer

        May 07, 2021 at 3:18 pm

        I love this leaner, healthier option!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Seanna

          May 07, 2021 at 7:01 pm

          Thanks Pam!

          Reply
      6. Raquel

        May 07, 2021 at 1:40 pm

        Cannot wait to try this - sounds delicious!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Seanna

          May 07, 2021 at 3:02 pm

          Thanks Raquel. Hope you like it!

          Reply
      7. Emily Flint

        May 07, 2021 at 1:14 pm

        I need to find bison ASAP so I can make this pasta, it looks amazing!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Seanna

          May 07, 2021 at 3:05 pm

          Thanks Emily! You should be able to find it near the packages of ground beef at your local grocery store.

          Reply
      8. Jeri

        May 07, 2021 at 11:39 am

        This was awesome! Thanks for the recipe!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Seanna

          May 07, 2021 at 3:05 pm

          Thanks Jeri. So glad you liked it!

          Reply
      9. Amanda

        May 07, 2021 at 8:22 am

        I love bison steaks but haven’t used ground bison in pasta. It came out so great!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Seanna

          May 07, 2021 at 8:34 am

          Thanks Amanda! We use ground bison in any recipe calling for ground beef. So much less fat! and still so tasty!

          Reply
      10. Sue

        May 07, 2021 at 8:15 am

        I'm seeing ground bison more frequently these days in my local grocery store. I'll have to give this a try!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Seanna

          May 07, 2021 at 8:36 am

          It's so good. Used it for tacos the other night and it was amazing. Great healthy option!

          Reply
      11. Laura

        April 22, 2021 at 6:57 pm

        I love this recipe! The bison tasted so good in the marinara sauce. I love that it's leaner and higher in protein. The seasoning where perfect. Thanks!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Seanna

          April 23, 2021 at 9:21 am

          I'm so happy to hear! Bison is such a great substitute for beef! Thank you so much!

          Reply
      12. Paul Crosby

        September 04, 2020 at 10:42 pm

        Really good! Everyone really liked it.

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Seanna

          September 10, 2020 at 12:18 pm

          Thank you so much! I'm so glad to hear!

          Reply
      13. Misha

        August 18, 2020 at 7:30 pm

        made this tonight and it was so easy and delicious! thank you for this recipe

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Seanna

          September 10, 2020 at 12:13 pm

          Thanks Misha. Glad you enjoyed it!

          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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