The Easiest Wild-Game Elk Smash Burgers Your Family Will Love

EVA’S ELK BURGERS

Ready for the easiest, mouth-watering wild game burger recipe?! THIS IS IT. I’ve been making this recipe forever with elk, moose and venison meat and they are soo good, y’all! So go take some ground out of the freezer and listen up!

You’ll need:

1 pound ground elk (or any wild game you like – moose works great too!)
½ cup panko bread crumbs
3 tablespoons hickory-flavored barbeque sauce, plus more for basting
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
1 egg
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Canola oil, for the grill
Sliced cheese (whatever variety you like; optional)
Buns or lettuce leaves, for serving

Directions:

In a large bowl, place the meat, bread crumbs, barbeque sauce, parsley, horseradish, egg, garlic, salt, and pepper and gently combine with your hands. Do not overmix.
Shape the meat into 1-inch-thick patties. Press your thumb into the middle of each patty so that the outside edges are thicker than the center. This will ensure even cooking.
Preheat a barbecue or grill pan to high heat. Brush the grates with oil.
Grill the burgers for 5 to 6 minutes per side, until cooked through. Baste each burger with barbecue sauce during the final 2 minutes of grilling. Top each burger with a slice of cheese (if using).
Serve on buns with your favorite toppings. I enjoy mine on lettuce leaves for a low-carb option.

Pro tip: If you want to make these smash burgers, grab a burger press, and PRESS the patty down. You want it thin for that crispy, crunchy perfection! Then, top them with smash burger sauce by combining the following ingredients in a small bowl 👇

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons finely chopped dill pickles
1 to 2 tablespoons hot sauce
2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 garlic clove, finely chopped or grated
Salt and pepper

ENJOY!! 🤤

Perfect Pairings:

What’s a burger without some fries? I’ve been pairing my burgers with these DELICIOUS sweet potato fries and a yummy side salad with my famous homemade salad dressing! Here’s the breakdown 👇

Crispy sweet potato fries:

You’ll need:

1 pound sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Grease a large baking sheet with cooking spray
Peel your sweet potatoes and slice them into 1/4 inch sticks. Try to keep the fries all the same size for even cooking.
Soak your cut sweet potatoes in a large bowl of cold water for 30-60 minutes. This will help make them crispier by removing some of the excess starch. Once they are finished soaking, pat dry with paper towel.
In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and pepper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, toss the sweet potato sticks in olive oil until they are evenly coated. Then sprinkle cornstarch and seasoning mixture over the fries. Continue to toss until the fries are well coated.
Spread the fries in a single layer on your baking sheet, trying not to overcrowd the pain.
Bake for 15 minutes, flip each fry, and bake for and additional 15 minutes or until they are crispy and golden brown.
Once they are crispy and golden brown, and sprinkle with salt. I also love adding fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme for extra flavor!

My homemade salad dressing:

I’ve been making this dressing for YEARS and usually I just measure with my heart, shake it uppppppp, and pour it over a bed of greens and my favorite veggies!

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon oregano
1 clover crushed garlic
Salt and pepper

Let me know in the comments what your favorite burger side dish is!

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