Hoisin Burgers

Juicy grilled hoisin burgers are piled high with lettuce and cucumber, then finished with a drizzle of creamy, addictive Yum Yum Japanese steak sauce. It adds a flavorful twist that beats ordinary mayo every time. This is one of our favorite summertime recipes with hoisin sauce.

Grilling Season means it's Burger Time!

As a wild game chef and full-time recipe developer, I strive to create family meals like this that are simple and delicious, while elevating the wild game meat you have in your freezer.

After a long North Dakota winter, it feels great to finally be hearing the sizzle of burger patties hitting a hot grill. The snow has retreated, the patio chairs have come back out of storage, and supper time is spent in the backyard.

This hoisin burgers recipe delivers juicy burgers brushed with sweet-and-savory hoisin sauce, piled onto toasted buns, and finished with cool cucumber, crisp lettuce, and a drizzle of creamy Yum Yum Japanese steak sauce. Even better, you can make these burgers with either ground venison or lean ground beef. I have two freezers packed with venison from hunting season, so wild game is always my first choice. However, I also wrote this hoisin burger recipe with my sister-in-law in mind because she always has a freezer full of beef. Either option works beautifully.

Why You'll Love This Hoisin Burger Recipe

One of the best things about recipes using hoisin sauce is how quickly they build flavor. Hoisin sauce acts almost like a barbecue sauce and steak sauce rolled into one bottle. When brushed onto burgers during the final minute of grilling, it caramelizes into a glossy coating that smells incredible drifting across the backyard.

These hoisin burgers also stay beginner friendly. It's perfect for home cooks who are still learning how to grill burgers confidently so they turn out nice and juicy. The instructions below walk you through every step, including when to flip the burgers and why resting the meat matters.

What is Hoisin Sauce?

If you’ve never cooked with hoisin sauce before, think of it as a thick, rich Asian-style sauce with sweet, salty, and slightly tangy flavors. It’s commonly used in stir fries, marinades, and glazes. Here, it gives the burgers a distinct character that pairs perfectly with smoky grill flavor.

Because hoisin sauce contains sugar, it caramelizes quickly over heat. That’s why you brush it onto the burgers near the end of grilling instead of at the beginning. Otherwise, it can burn before the burgers finish cooking.

Tips for Making the Best Hoisin Burgers

Don’t Overwork the Meat

When mixing burger patties, stir only until the ingredients combine evenly. Overmixing creates dense burgers instead of tender ones. Venison especially benefits from a gentle hand because it’s leaner than traditional ground beef.

Oil the Grill Grates Properly

A lightly oiled grill grate helps prevent sticking. Use tongs and a folded paper towel dipped in vegetable oil to brush the grates carefully before cooking.

Leave the Burgers Alone

One of the hardest lessons in grilling is learning when not to touch the food. Once the patties hit the grill, resist the urge to press or move them around. The burgers naturally release from the grill when they’ve developed a nice crust.

Use an Instant-Read Thermometer

An instant-read thermometer removes all the guesswork. For medium-rare burgers, cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees F. This step becomes especially important when working with lean wild game like venison.

Venison or Beef? Either Works Great.

As a wild game chef, I naturally lean toward venison burgers. However, this hoisin burger recipe works wonderfully with ground beef too.

Venison delivers a rich, clean flavor that pairs beautifully with sweet-savory hoisin sauce. Ground beef creates a slightly richer burger with more fat content. Either way, the grilling method remains the same.

What to Serve With Hoisin Burgers

These burgers pair nicely with almost anything you’d normally serve at a backyard cookout. Potato salad, grilled corn on the cob, potato chips, pasta salad, or crispy fries all work beautifully.

Hoisin Burgers Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground venison or lean ground beef
• 2 green onions, minced
• 6 Tablespoons hoisin sauce, divided
• 1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• vegetable oil
• 4 hamburger buns
• Yum Yum Japanese Steak Sauce
• ¼ cup sliced cucumber
• 1 cup shredded lettuce or spring mix

Instructions

1. For a gas grill, turn all burners to high, cover, and heat grill until hot, about 10 minutes. Leave all burners on high.

2. To a large bowl, combine venison, green onions, 4 Tablespoons hoisin sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined. Divide into 4 equal portions and form into patties about 3 inches in diameter and ½-inch thick.

3. Lightly brush the grill grates with vegetable oil, then grill burger patties without moving them, until browned and meat easily releases from grill, about 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce grill heat to medium low, then flip burgers and continue to grill for about 2 minutes more. During the last minute of grilling, brush the patties with remaining hoisin sauce. Continue to grill until meat registers 135 degrees F for medium-rare using an instant-read meat thermometer. Transfer to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, grill buns cut side down until slightly toasted and warm. Remove from the grill.

5. Build burgers by spreading Yum Yum Sauce on cut sides of buns. Add sliced cucumber to the base of the bun, then burger patty. Add lettuce to the top of burgers and close with the other bun. Serve.

More Ground Venison Recipes

If you enjoyed this burger recipe with hoisin sauce and are looking for more ways to use some of that ground venison in your freezer, be sure and check out all of our family favorites right here.

Two of our 10-year-old daughter's favorites that you can try with your kids are the Easy Burger Bowl and the Deer Meat and Gravy over Mashed Potatoes.

Come Deer Hunting in North Dakota

If you are headed our way for North Dakota deer season, check out the North Dakota Game & Fish Department website. And if you want me to come along with you as your camp cook, photographer, or butcher, you can find out more details here.

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If you make this Hoisin Burger Recipe, tag @wildgameandfish so I can share it on my Instagram and Facebook stories.

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