Now that the season is officially beginning to shift to fall, I’m craving savory and filling recipes that warm the belly and make for great leftovers. Elk and bison is one of my favorite combinations of our ground meats. The flavors of the two together are really excellent and make for amazing burgers, tacos, meatloaf, etc. Wrapping the whole thing in our delicious duck bacon is the cherry on top of this ultimate meatloaf experience.

Also Read: Oven Baked Bison Short Rib Pot Pie For Chilly Evenings

Free Range Bison, Raised The Way Nature Intended

Our bison live free range on 20,000 beautiful acres here in New Mexico, or roam freely on our carefully selected partner ranches. They are pasture raised and never administered any amount of hormones, steroids or antibiotics. These are powerful, strong animals that live essentially wild with minimal handling. There were once 60 million bison roaming North America, and we hope to see their numbers increase back to even 1 million during our lifetime.

By increasing the demand for ethically sourced bison meat, we can help to bolster their population. The more people that want to purchase this nourishing and nutrient dense meat, the more farmers will be encouraged to raise bison. This directly helps to increase the number of herds which assists in providing genetic diversity for the population.

Ethically Raised, Healthy & Delicious Meat

Our elk live completely free range, roaming on 20,000 to 100,000 acre ranches. We source from two locations, one being the Rocky Mountains of the United States. The other source that fit our strict quality standards was an elk ranch in the pristine mountain valleys of New Zealand. They wander as they please, grazing and foraging as they engage in all of their natural instinctive behaviors. As with all of our meat, these animals are never administered hormones, antibiotics or steroids of any kind. Elk is some of the most delicious and healthy meat you can eat, considered by many to be the most heart healthy meat in existence. Chefs love using our elk for its delicate flavor and outstanding tenderness.

Also Read: How To Make The Most Epic Duck Bacon Sandwiches Ever

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon avocado oil
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, finely minced
• ¾ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¾ cup bison bone broth
• ½ cup chopped parsley
• 2 large eggs
• ⅔ cup panko bread crumbs
• ½ cup grated Gouda cheese
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound ground bison
• 1 pound ground elk
• 6 pieces of duck bacon

Also Read: Elk Osso Buco: A Wild & Tender Twist On The Italian Classic

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a baking sheet by lining with foil or parchment paper if desired.
2. Heat avocado oil in a small cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic to the skillet, stirring frequently and cooking until thoroughly softened, approximately 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large mixing bowl for later use.
3. In a small saucepan, bring the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, coconut sugar and cayenne pepper to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.
4. Remove the ketchup mixture from the heat. Add 2 tablespoons to a blender and set the rest aside.
5. Add the bison bone broth and chopped parsley to the blender with the 2 tablespoons of ketchup mixture. Blend until smooth.
6. Add the mixture from the blender, to the large bowl with the cooked onion and garlic. Add in the eggs, panko bread crumbs, Gouda cheese, sea salt and freshly ground pepper and combine thoroughly.
7. Add the ground elk and ground bison to the bowl. Use your hands to mix everything together thoroughly (but don’t overmix).
8. Place the meatloaf mixture on the prepared baking sheet, shaping it into a loaf with your hands.
9. Spread the remaining ketchup mixture on top of the meatloaf, then criss cross the strips of bacon over the top. Tuck the ends of the bacon strips underneath the loaf. Bake in the preheated oven for an hour and fifteen minutes, checking after one hour for doneness. The bacon should be crisp and the loaf cooked all the way through without being overdone. Keep in mind that bison and elk are naturally lean and will cook more quickly than beef.

Also Read: Traditional Cabbage Rolls With Elk And Wild Boar Bacon

The Beck & Bulow Team Is Here To Support You

At Beck & Bulow, we pride ourselves on our excellent customer service. We’re always here to help if you have any questions regarding your meat, want help making selections, or are just looking for some cooking tips. Every time you call our office, you’ll be directly connected with one of our team members right here in Santa Fe, New Mexico where we’re based.

Every cut of meat is pressure sealed and flash frozen immediately after butchering at the peak of freshness. We work exclusively with master butchers who make every cut with care and precision. All orders are hand packed at our Santa Fe warehouse, shipped in a reusable cooler with dry ice and delivered straight to your doorstep. Check out our selections of humanely raised chicken, elk, bison, beef, lamb, wild boar and seafood.