White Cheddar Elk Burger with Mustard Aioli

Name: White Cheddar Elk Burger with Mustard Aioli
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 Servings
Ingredients: 1 lb Ground Elk; 2 slices uncooked bacon (or 2 tbsp cold grated butter); 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 4 slices sharp white cheddar cheese; 1 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 1 1/2 tbsp dijon mustard; 2 tsp dill pickle relish; 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 tsp honey (or sugar)

If you love burgers, you’ll love this simple recipe for White Cheddar Elk Burgers with Mustard Aioli. It’s the juiciest, most flavorful elk burger we’ve had in a long time — and it only takes 20 minutes to prepare! Topped with a thick slice of sharp white cheddar, crisp veggies, and a creamy, tangy mustard aioli.

We love burgers of all kinds but this simple, yet sophisticated combination of ingredients truly brings out the rich, savory flavor of the elk burger without overpowering it.

How to make a juicy elk burger.

Add fat! Ground elk is very lean, unlike ground beef, which is usually 80% protein and 20% fat. Elk has about 10% fat, or less depending on how the elk is processed.

To create a juicy burger, I like to add finely chopped bacon to my elk. The bacon cooks nicely with the ground elk, making the burgers juicy and flavorful. You won’t even know there’s bacon in the burger, except for a subtle, slightly smoky flavor! Alternatively, adding cold grated butter is also a great way to add a little fat.

White Cheddar Elk Burger with Mustard Aioli

Modern Farmhouse Eats

Servings

4 Servings

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

10 minutes

Ingredients

1 lb Ground Elk
2 slices uncooked bacon (or 2 tbsp cold grated butter)
1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 slices sharp white cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 tbsp dijon mustard
2 tsp dill pickle relish
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp honey (or sugar)

Directions

ON THE GRILL - Grilling burgers adds a delicious depth of flavor. It will take about 8 minutes to grill an elk burger to medium doneness.

Preheat the grill over medium-high heat. If necessary, scrape the grill grates clean so the burgers don’t stick.
Once hot, grill the burgers for 4-5 minutes, then flip, add cheese, and grill another 4-5 minutes. The length of time depends on how done you like your burgers and we always recommend using a meat thermometer for accuracy.
Serve on buns with your favorite toppings

Mix in bacon or butter.

Elk is a lean protein, so mixing in bacon or butter adds a little extra fat to the burgers, making them extra juicy. Bacon cooks nicely into the burgers, and you won’t even know it’s there, except for the delicious flavor! If you prefer, you can mix in cold grated butter instead.

ON THE STOVE - Cast irons skillets are best for frying elk burgers on the stovetop! Cast iron conducts heat evenly, allowing you to get a nice sear on the outside of the burgers while cooking perfectly on the inside.If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, just use the best pan you’ve got! I just recommend avoiding a non-stick pan. Non-stick pans prevent the burgers from getting as nice of a sear compared to cast iron.

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat with butter.
Once the skillet is hot, add the burgers and sear for 4-5 minutes, then flip, add cheese, and sear another 4-5 minutes. Length of time depends on how done you like your burgers. As with the grill, use a meat thermometer for accuracy.
Serve on buns with your favorite toppings.

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