Easy Bison Meatloaf Recipe
Packed with Italian flavors and real ingredients , my Bison Meatloaf Recipe is a must for your dinner table. Ground bison is mixed with aromatic spices and uses shredded mozzarella. Pair this dish with Oven Roasted Carrots and Brussels Sprouts or alongside Rosemary Sweet Potato Mash for a complete meal!
Original Post: January 2023 | Updated Post: April 2025
I have been making meatloaf for years and have made countless versions. Back in the day, I used Manwich as my secret ingredient to flavorful meatloaf and relied on store bought bread crumbs like Progresso. But over time, I wanted to revamp this classic to reflect how I eat today.
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Why this recipe works
- Perfect for meal prep. Similar to my Shaved Steak Recipe, Bison Sloppy Joes, Bison Stir Fry and Gluten Free Turkey Meatloaf, Bison Meatloaf is even better the next day as the flavors mend together.
- Adaptable for dietary needs. Make this with regualr breadcrumbs or use my Gluten Free Bread Crumbs.
- Just like my Bison Meatballs, this dish is made with delicious aromatic Italian flavors that the whole family will love.
Ingredients needed for this Bison Meatloaf
- Ground bison meat. You can find ground bison at any major grocery store. I like to get mine from Costco because it’s a 2 pack and at an affordable price.
- Ketchup. Good old Heinz works great or I like to use Paleo ketchup from Primal Kitchen.
- Breadcrumbs. I have made this before with both my Gluten Free Bread Crumbs, regular plain breadcrumbs and Italian seasoned breadcrumbs. Any of them work.
- White onion.
- Garlic cloves.
- Egg and egg white. Egg along with bread crumbs are the binder in meatloafs. I learned this trick from Cooking Light many years ago to add egg and egg white because you are binding without the extra fat plus it gives a bit of a light texture.
- Mozzarella. Any shredded soft cheese such as mozzarella, pepper jack or provolone will work just as well. I suggest getting a block and shredding it yourself for better texture and taste.
- Spices. Simple spices are used here such as ground thyme, paprika, oregano, dried parsley.
- Kosher salt. I find 1/2- 3/4 teaspoon is a good amount.
- Extra virgin olive oil. Coat the meatloaf pan with a little or use spray.
- Fresh parsley. Optional garnish.
How to make this Bison Meatloaf recipe
Step One: Start with preheating the oven at 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, add the bison along with the bread crumbs, 1/2 cup of ketchup, onions, garlic, egg and egg white, seasonings, and cheese.
Step Two: Mix together with your hands(using gloves is optional) and season with more salt if you desire.
Step Three: Coat your meatloaf pan with the olive oil. Take the bison mixture and shape it into the meatloaf pan.
Step Four: Place the meatloaf on top of a sheet pan and put it in the oven to bake for about 1 hour. Half way through cooking, add the additional ketchup on top. Bison should reach 160 degrees internal temperature. You will want to use a meat thermometer or instant read thermometer for accuracy. Be sure to place the thermometer in the middle of the loaf when temping.
Step Five: When done, carefully remove the bison meatloaf from the oven and sprinkle top with fresh parsley if desired. Let the meatloaf cool before cutting into it. Let the meatloaf rest for about 15-20 minutes before cooking into it.
Storage instructions
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Helpful tips for this Bison Meatloaf Recipe
- Use a loaf pan so that you can have a nice oval shape. But you can also use a small casserole dish and form the meatloaf into as you would in a loaf pan.
- I highly recommend using a baking sheet pan underneath your loaf pan so that you can prevent any juice spillage into your oven.
- A food processor is handy for chopping the onion and garlic. It also helps with releasing all that juice which will flavor up the meatloaf even more.
- Cook until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F. Bison is much leaner than beef so it can dry out if cooked till well done at 170 degrees F.
- To make it easier to lift out the meatloaf from the pan, you can line it with parchment paper. Another alternative is to coat with oil or spray your loaf pan.
- Make sure to have a large bowl ready for mixing all of your ingredients and also a pair of food safe rubber gloves if you don’t want to get your hands dirty!
Serving suggestions and variations
- Enjoy this with regular mashed potatoes or if you want to keep it light,try my Dairy Free Root Vegetable Mash, my Whole30 Mashed Potatoes or my Cumin Sweet Potatoes.
- For low carb, serve with green beans or another vegetable of your choice. You can also pair it with my Rosemary Carrots or my Cauliflower Parmesan Steaks.
- Leftovers are great for making a cold meatloaf sandwich! Oh you heard me right! A little bit of mayo, a slice of American cheese, touch of sprouts and some good white bread and your meatloaf slice just got reinvented.
- Bison Meatloaf is also delicious in meal prep with fresh cooked jasmine rice as my husband likes to enjoy his or try it with my Garlic Turmeric Rice.
Other ways on how to cook ground bison
Use ground bison like hamburger meat just like in my Bison Enchiladas or chili like my Cauliflower Chili, tacos, pasta or casserole dishes or even meatballs. Basically anything you would normally eat ground beef in, replace it with bison.
After years of cooking with bison, I can tell you spices and sauces matter! Bison can be enjoyed with many different spices such as my All Purpose Seasoning, Enchilada Spice Mix or my Zesty Italian Seasoning. Be sure to throw in fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley.
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Easy Bison Meatloaf Recipe
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Equipment
- meatloaf pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground bison
- 1/2 cup organic ketchup to be mixed in
- 1/3 cup organic ketchup for topping
- 1 cup breadcrumbs regular, gluten free or italian style
- 1 small white onion small chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg white
- 3/4 cup mozzarella or any shredded soft cheese such as mozzarella, pepper jack or provolone
- 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus more if needed
- olive oil to coat pan
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley optional, garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 350 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the bison along with the bread crumbs, 1/2 cup of ketchup, onions, garlic, egg and egg white, seasonings, basil and cheese.
- Mix together with your hands and season with more salt if you desire.
- Coat the meatloaf pan with the olive oil.
- Take the meat and shape into the meatloaf pan.
- Put the meatloaf on top of a sheet pan and place in the oven to bake for about 1 hour. Half way through cooking, add the additional ketchup on top.
- Bison should reach 160 degrees F internal temperature.
- When done, carefully remove from the oven and sprinkle top of loaf with fresh parsley if desired. Let the meatloaf cool before cutting into it.
- For leftovers, slice meatloaf and store into an airtight container.
Video
Notes
- Use a loaf pan so that you can have a nice oval shape. But you can also use a small casserole dish and form the meatloaf into as you would in a loaf pan.
- Do not overmix the meatloaf mixture.
- I highly recommend using a baking sheet pan underneath your loaf pan so that you can prevent any juice spillage into your oven.
- A food processor is handy for chopping the onion and garlic. It also helps with releasing all that juice which will flavor up the meatloaf even more.
- Cook until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F. Bison is much leaner than beef so it can dry out if cooked till well done at 170 degrees F.
- To make it easier to lift out the meatloaf from the pan, you can line it with parchment paper. Another alternative is to coat with oil or spray your loaf pan.
- Make sure to have a large bowl ready for mixing all of your ingredients and also a pair of food safe rubber gloves if you don’t want to get your hands dirty!
Nutrition
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This bison meatloaf looks fabulous! I cannot wait to try it!
Thank you Aleka!
This was flavorful and filling. Bison is delicious.
Thank you!
What a delicious dish! My family loved it! I used regular mozzarella and it turned out well.