Grilled Venison Burgers

Step 1

I always drain the ground venison in a colander first. Most of the strong "earthy" or gamey taste from venison is in the blood so this helps.I use my hands to help press out the blood but I NEVER run ground meat under water to wash out the blood. That adds too much water to the meat which results in steaming the burgers and will fall apart.

Step 2

Combine ground venison, ground beef, mesquite seasoning, Moore's or Dales marinade, and salt in a bowl. Being careful not to overwork the mixture, mix it together with your hands. (Gloves work well for easy cleanup.)

Step 3

Shape the mixture into six 4 1/2-inch patties. They will plump up and fit the buns fine. Tip: To help prevent any burger from rising up in the center, press your thumb into the center about halfway down. This keeps the burgers flat.

Step 4

Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat (about 400 to 425 degrees) Carefully lift the patties with a wide, heat resistant spatula onto lightly oiled grill grates, one at a time.Cook about 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until done. What is done? For food safety reasons, ground meat of any kind should be cooked to at least 160 degrees but I know many people like to cook it less.