Ostrich Burgers

By
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/12/21
Ostrich burger

Claudia Totir/Getty Images

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Total: 22 mins
Servings: 4 servings

When it comes to making a burger, ostrich may not be the first meat you think of, but it has a very beef-like quality and makes a great hamburger. Better yet, it is much leaner than ground beef and is more sustainable. Although an ostrich is a bird, it is a red meat instead of white, and has a similar texture and taste to beef, although it is milder in flavor. You actually might be able to fool a few people with this ostrich burger recipe—just be prepared to pay a bit more as ostrich meat is expensive.

In this recipe, the ground ostrich meat is combined with sauteed onion and garlic, seasoned with salt and pepper, and then formed into patties and grilled. When grilling, it's important not to overcook the burgers since ostrich meat is very lean; it also won't lose its red color like beef does as it cooks because of the meat's high iron level. The best way to know your ostrich burger is done is to use a meat thermometer and look for 150 F for rare or 160 for medium.

Serve the burgers as you would any beef burger—on your favorite type of roll with a variety of toppings. You can also turn it into a cheeseburger. Or, since the burger is unique, think outside the box when it comes to the accouterments and condiments, like caramelized onion, pickled vegetables, guacamole, or flavored mayo.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 pound ground ostrich

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  • 4 burger buns

  • Lettuce, optional

  • Sliced tomatoes, optional

  • Sliced onion, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until slightly brown. Set aside to cool.

  3. Preheat the grill to medium-high. Place the ostrich meat in a bowl and add the onion and garlic; season with salt and pepper and mix to combine. Form into four patties about 1 inch thick.

  4. Place the patties on the hot grill and cook on each side for 5 to 6 minutes or until they reach your desired doneness.

  5. Serve the ostrich burgers on buns with your favorite hamburger toppings.

  6. Enjoy.

Where Can I Find Ostrich Meat?

Depending on where you live, you may not be able to find ostrich meat in your local grocery store. Good bets are online gourmet food purveyors and health food markets, since ostrich is a healthy type of meat.

Recipe Variations

  • Add a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce for a hit of umami.
  • Add chopped fresh parsley or cilantro to the ostrich, onion, and garlic mixture.
  • Include one egg and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (seasoned if you like) to the meat mixture; this will add a bit of bulk to the burgers.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
377 Calories
11g Fat
31g Carbs
36g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 377
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 15%
Saturated Fat 3g 14%
Cholesterol 94mg 31%
Sodium 909mg 40%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 36g
Vitamin C 2mg 11%
Calcium 121mg 9%
Iron 6mg 34%
Potassium 516mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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