Change up your regular beef dishes using bison! Bison is just as high in protein, has more flavor than lower fat beef, and is MUCH LEANER. Here are my favorite recipes!
1. Paleo Bison Plantain Breakfast Bowl
I am a giant fan of plantains in just about any kind of meal, and I think they make a fabulous breakfast here with seasoned ground bison, garlic, coconut milk, cherry tomatoes, lime juice, chili powder, onion, grass-fed butter or ghee, and sea salt.
Photo: Amazing Paleo
2. Sweet and Spicy Asian Bison Meatballs
These meatballs are made with ground bison, eggs, almond flour, green onions, roasted red chili paste, ginger, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper. Fry them in sesame oil and douse with a maple-sesame-coconut-aminos sauce that’s spicy, sweet, and so tasty.
3. Paleo Lettuce Wraps
These lettuce wraps have a lightened-up filling with sweet potato, red bell peppers, baby bella mushrooms, sweet onion, shredded red cabbage, ground bison, and cherry tomatoes. Season them well and drizzle with a delicious homemade raspberry habanero sauce.
4. Bison Burgers With Harissa Aioli
There’s something about bison burgers that feels a little fancier than beef burgers, and you can play that up even more with a fancy harissa aioli made with paleo-friendly mayo, harissa sauce, lime juice, and more. Serve with baby arugula.
5. Bison Pineapple Chili
The spunky-sweet flavor of pineapple in this chili is unique and delicious, and it’s easy to make with ground bison, green bell peppers, chili pepper, yellow squash, tomatoes, tomato paste, cumin, oregano, and chili powder. And you can use your slow cooker!
Photo: Civilized Caveman Cooking
6. Paleo Bison Chili
The heartiness of bison calls for chili like no other. For this recipe, you’ll need ground bison, ghee, sweet potato, roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, bay leaves, chili powder, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, chicken broth, and cilantro for sprinkling.
7. Bison, Herb, and Root Vegetable Soup
A hearty soup will hit the spot on chilly evenings, and this bison soup is extra nourishing with olive oil, ground bison, garlic and onion powders, carrots, celery, sweet potato, parsnips, and herbs. You’ve got a healthy protein with lots of veggies, too.
8. Bison Meatballs With Zoodles and Chimichurri
This paleo version of spaghetti and meatballs won’t leave you feeling sick and heavy like many traditional pasta meals. This time, you’ll make zucchini noodles and fresh bison meatballs with lots of herbs and garlic, and serve them with a homemade chimichurri sauce.
9. Bison Meatloaf With Mustard Hollandaise
This is not your grandma’s meatloaf, people. Make it with ground bison, red onion, garlic, cayenne, paprika, Italian seasoning, and a silky Hollandaise sauce made with lemon juice, egg, whole grain mustard, cayenne pepper, and grass-fed butter.
Photo: Naked Cuisine
10. Mexi Bison Lettuce Wraps
Bison does go well in lettuce wraps, because it has a gamey flavor that’s well-balanced by the lightness of lettuce. For these, you’ll need ground bison, lettuce, onion, garlic, tomatoes, Cajun seasoning, oregano, thyme, paprika, and other seasonings.
Photo: PaleOMG
11. Apple and Arugula Bison Burgers
Served with homemade sweet potato fries, these burgers have a sweet touch to them with the addition of green apple. You’ll also need yellow onion, coconut oil or butter, chopped arugula, garlic powder, black pepper, and some course sea salt to taste.
12. Spaghetti Squash and Bison Meatballs
Roast that spaghetti squash that’s been hanging out in your pantry for awhile and serve it up with homemade bison meatballs in a delicious homemade sauce with tomatoes, eggplant, fresh basil, bok choy, bell peppers, fresh parsley, apple cider vinegar, and more.
13. Taco Salad
I love using bison to replace beef in typical beef recipes, like this paleo-friendly taco salad. Make it with ground bison, avocado, red bell pepper, cilantro, red onion, cherry tomato, salad greens, buffalo sauce, and lemon juice. So easy, and really tasty.
Photo: Healthful Pursuit
14. Paleo Picadillo Casserole
Made with both ground bison and ground elk, this casserole features mushrooms, red onion, garlic, and flavors of chili, cumin, oregano, olives, dried apricots, raisins, and more in a sweet-and-savory sauce with a super-fluffy, seasoned butternut squash topping.
15. Paleo Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Stuffed with smoky bison, this spaghetti squash is a great way to fill yourself with protein and healthy veggies without cooking a super-heavy meal. The flavors of garlic, sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, spinach, rosemary, smoked paprika, and fennel, are perfect in this recipe.
16. Bison and Meatball Stew
No, not bison meatballs…bison AND meatballs! For this recipe, you’ll need bison shanks, onions, ground cinnamon, beef stock, cooking fat of your choice, cloves, egg, allspice, and a few other things. I love the unique flavors of the spices in this hearty stew!
17. Paleo Bison Chili With Kale
Most of us could stand to be eating more greens, so try working them into your non-salad recipes, like this bison chili. You’ll need grass-fed ground bison, garlic, celery, carrots, onion, kale, chili and cumin powders, tomatoes, tomato paste, olive oil, sea salt, and some avocado for topping.
Photo: Paleo p*rn
18. Paleo Meatloaf With Bison and Bacon
I think most paleo eaters agree that you can improve anything by adding bacon to it. But with the dish is amazing to begin with, like this bison meatloaf, the bacon takes it out of this world. The rest of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen, too!
19. Bison Bacon Chili
The bacon and bison combo is at it again in this delicious chili with onion, bell peppers, jalapenos, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, cumin, smoked paprika, chipotle, and more. You can adjust the leaves of chipotle and jalapeno if you want more or less heat.
20. Bison Bacon Sweet Potato Sliders
Who needs buns? Nobody! These bison and bacon sliders are made with a simple array of seasonings and some quick homemade guacamole for spreading. Serve them on seasoned sweet potato “buns” instead of trying to get your hands on grain-free buns. Sweet potatoes are healthier, anyway!
