Salmon Burgers

Here’s the salmon burgers recipe you need! They’re easy and have the best flavor: each bite is perfection slathered with remoulade sauce.

Here’s an impressive dinner idea that’s calling your name: this irresistible Salmon Burgers recipe! These burgers are so deliciously satisfying, we’re kicking ourselves this hasn’t been part of our dinnertime repertoire until now. Each bite is hearty and juicy, topped with a creamy remoulade sauce that takes it to rockstar status. This is a great way to feel like you’re eating red meat, without the meat! It’s every bit as satisfying, we think.

The keys to great salmon burgers

Salmon burgers are a great healthy alterative to red meat. Or if you’re someone like us, they’re a splurge to compliment our 90% plant-based diet! We’d resigned ourselves to veggie burgers forever, until this salmon burger came along. Our entire family gave it 5 stars! Here’s what to know about making this salmon burger recipe:

• You’ll use raw salmon. No need to pre-cook it! You can use any type of salmon, though of course the better the salmon the better the flavor. Want to use canned salmon? Go to Easy Salmon Cakes.
• A food processor is handy, but a knife works too! Whiz the dough to get the right texture: or you can use a knife to finely chop.
• Refrigerate before cooking. Firming the burgers for 15 minutes does wonders for the texture.
• Pan fry for 5 minutes per side. Then it’s a quick pan fry in healthy olive oil. It comes out lightly crispy on the outside and browned to perfection.

Best fresh salmon to buy

One think we like about this salmon burgers recipe: because you’re adding seasoning and shaping it into patties, you don’t need the most expensive, beautiful fillet. You can get away with lower quality salmon in a burger! But like any recipe, the better the raw ingredients the better the flavor. Here’s what we’d recommend for this recipe:

• Fresh salmon is best. You can find decent frozen salmon. But for the very best salmon, buy it fresh from your local seafood counter.
• Buy wild caught salmon. Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch Consumer Guide.

Or, try it with canned salmon

You can also use 16 ounces canned salmon as a substitute for these salmon burgers. Canned salmon is economical and shelf-stable, making it a versatile ingredient for quick and easy dinners. (You can also use canned to make salmon cakes or salmon croquettes.)

If using canned salmon, omit the food processor. Simply finely chop all the vegetables before adding them to a bowl with the salmon and other ingredients. 

Salmon burger sauce ideas!

Once you’ve cooked up your salmon burger, pair it with a tasty and delicious sauce for maximum deliciousness! Here we’ve gone classic with a traditional Remoulade Sauce. But there are so many options, each with a different vibe. Salmon burger sauce ideas to try are:

1. Remoulade sauce, a traditional French and Cajun mayo-based sauce (our top pick!)
2. Tartar sauce, a common seafood sauce
3. Lemon dill sauce, for a Mediterranean spin
4. Creamy cilantro sauce, a zingy dairy-free option
5. Cilantro lime ranch, a creamy cilantro-based ranch
6. Dill sauce or Cucumber sauce, Greek-yogurt based Mediterranean sauces
7. Horseradish sauce, creamy with a spicy bite!
8. Spicy mayo, mayo with zing
9. Special burger sauce, all your favorite condiments in one

Salmon burger toppings

Once you pick a sauce, you can customize your salmon burger toppings to go with the theme. There are so many great ideas, so we’ve got a separate list going! Here’s what we used, and a few more ideas:

• Go simple with red onion, tomato and lettuce
• Try guacamole and pico de gallo
• Opt for spicy mayo and sauteed shiitakes
• For more ideas, head to Best Salmon Burger Toppings!

More about panko

These salmon burgers use panko to hold them together. Not used to working with this ingredient? Here’s what to know:

• Panko is a Japanese-style breadcrumb mixture that is airier and lighter than traditional breadcrumbs. We like using panko because it’s light and crunchy, and makes a great texture.
• Need a substitute? You can use coarse breadcrumbs or even homemade breadcrumbs.
• Is all you can find regular breadcrumbs? Use only ½ cup instead of ¾ cup panko, because regular breadcrumbs are very finely ground.

How to make this recipe gluten-free

Can you make these salmon burgers free? Yes. Here’s what to do:

• Look for gluten-free panko or breadcrumbs in stores or online. It’s pretty easy to find these days! Or try a breadcrumb substitute like rolled oats or crushed gluten free crackers.
• Use a gluten free bun, or try these bread substitutes.
• Or omit the bun and serve the salmon burgers over greens, or on a plate alongside vegetable sides or fries!

Storage and make ahead info

Salmon burgers are easy to make ahead and store well! Store them refrigerated up to 2 days, or wrap in plastic wrap or other wrapping, place them in a container, and freeze up to 3 months. Allow to defrost in the refrigerator the night before cooking. 

What to serve with a salmon burger

Want to make it a meal? Here’s what we’d serve with these tasty salmon burgers to make them a meal:

• Potato wedges or fries: Keep it simple with sweet potato wedges, potato wedges, or frozen fries.
• Easy green salad: Go for a salad recipe like arugula salad, chopped salad, goat cheese salad, Caesar salad, or kale salad.
• Vegetables: Opt for colorful easy succotash or sauteed vegetables.
• Beans: Try white beans or borlotti beans.
• Coleslaw: Opt for creamy coleslaw or apple slaw.
• Veggie or grain salad: This celery salad with apples is irresistibly crunchy, or try quinoa salad.

01

Apple Slaw

02

Easy Sweet Potato Wedges

03

Easy Kale Salad

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Go-To Quinoa Salad

This salmon burgers recipe is…

Pescatarian and dairy-free. For gluten free, see the notes above.

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More favorite salmon recipes

Salmon is one of our top choices when it comes to fish and seafood! Here are a few more salmon recipes to enjoy:

• Go for tasty Salmon Tacos with creamy green avocado sauce
• Fire up the oven for crunchy Pistachio Crusted Salmon or Pecan Crusted Salmon
• Make a Simple Salmon Bowl or Smoked Salmon Salad
• Mix up zingy Lemon Garlic Salmon with lemon butter sauce
• Grab your skillet for Cajun Salmon, Blackened Salmon or Pan Seared Salmon
• Try this easy Quick Broiled Salmon with lemon caper sauce, or Maple Glazed Salmon
• Add bright green pesto for Pesto Salmon
• Go for fan favorite Lemon Dill Salmon or Salmon with Capers