If you love salmon, you are going to fall in love with this burger recipe.
There’s no doubt that we are big fans of a good ole juicy all-beef burger, But, folks, this recipe gives the all-American classic a run for its money. We serve it with our Rosemary and Garlic Aioli, and always get rave reviews. And you can make the patties up to 24 hours in advance! Great served with brioche buns, or homemade hamburger buns!
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How To Prepare a Salmon Burger
This salmon burger recipe is simple and easy to put together.
A food processor makes it come together quickly, put a large sharp knife will do the trick, too.
A great option for seafood lovers at your next outdoor BBQ!
Besides being absolutely delicious, there are many health benefits to including salmon in your diet.
We love our burgers to have nice big chunks of salmon in them, but that can make the burger more challenging to hold together during the cooking process.
EXPERT TIP: Adding about one-third of fresh salmon to your food processor and then processing it to a smooth texture will act as a binder, along with a little mayonnaise and bread crumbs. You may need to use a spatula to scrape down the salmon as you pulse. Process until very smooth, usually less than 1 minute.
Next, we add in the remaining salmon (cut into chunks), along with the parsley, garlic, Dijon, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Pulse 5 to 7 times.
This will mix everything together, but also leave nice-sized pieces of salmon which will yield a delicious burger.
Now, it’s time to fold in the chopped roasted red peppers and the Panko bread crumbs.
You can do this directly in the food processor, or transfer the salmon mixture to a bowl before adding in the peppers and bread crumbs.
EXPERT TIP: We love the texture of Panko bread crumbs, which can be found in most major supermarkets. However, if you want to use plain bread crumbs, which are much finer, then decrease the amount from ¼ cup to 2 tablespoons.
Forming the Patties
This recipe will yield four patties.
If you want thicker burgers, then you’ll only form three patties. Remember, however, the thicker the burger, the longer the cook time.
EXPERT TIP: We use cookie-cutter rings to help form our patties, but a standard hamburger patty press works great, too. Or, just form them with your hands! Be sure to chill the patties (preferably on parchment paper) for at least 20 minutes before cooking them. This will firm them up and make grilling or cooking in a skillet easier to handle.
Now, it’s time to cook the burgers!
If grilled (our preference), we highly recommend using a grill pan because if not, parts of the patties may fall through the grates. Lightly spray the pan and then crank your grill to medium-high heat.
You can also cook them up perfectly in a lightly oiled skillet (preferably non-stick).
EXPERT TIP: The FDA recommends salmon be cooked to 145°F. This is a very well-done salmon burger, but still very delicious. An instant-read thermometer helps you know when the burgers are properly cooked. Typically, 7 minutes per side will cook the salmon perfectly, but again, this will depend on the thickness of the patties. Also, the burger will continue to cook after it’s removed from the heat source.
What To Put on a Salmon Burger
The usual burger fixings are great on the burgers.
We always go with nice crisp green leaf lettuce, juicy sliced tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion. Buttered and toasted brioche buns complement the salmon beautifully. Or, make homemade hamburger buns!
But the condiment that really puts these burgers over the top is our Rosemary and Garlic Aioli, which can be made 1 to 2 days in advance. Heavenly.
These burgers are truly as beautiful as they are delicious!
And you can prepare and form the burgers up to 24 hours before serving! Just place them in an air-tight container and keep them in the fridge.
Another gorgeous, delicious, and healthy burger is our Curry Turkey Burgers with Grilled Pineapple!
But, f you, and/or your guests, enjoy salmon, then you will all absolutely love these babies! One bite, and you’ll be hooked!
Ready to make a non-beef burger that even your beef lovin’ guests will flip for? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!
Salmon Burger
Video
Equipment
- Food processor, or large sharp knife
- Grill pan is recommended (for grilling), or a non-stick skillet if cooking stovetop.
Ingredients
- 1¼ lbs salmon skinned and de-boned, cut into 2-inch pieces
- ¼ cup parsley fresh, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice usually from ½ of a large lemon
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- ⅓ cup roasted red peppers drained and roughly chopped
- ¼ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 4 brioche buns
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 large tomato sliced, for garnish
- green leaf lettuce torn into bun-sized pieces, for garnish
- 1 red onion sliced, for garnish
- 1 cup Rosemary and Garlic Aioli for garnish
Instructions
- Add ⅓ of the salmon to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the salmon is smooth, about 10 to 15 seconds.
- Add the remaining salmon, parsley, garlic, onion powder (if using), Dijon, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper into the food processor with the smooth salmon. Pulse 6 or 7 times, until everything is combined and there are still chunks of salmon visible.
- Transfer to a bowl and gently fold in the roasted peppers and bread crumbs.
- Divide the mixture into 4 mounds, and then form each into a patty, about 3 to 4 inches in diameter. A hamburger press or large cookie cutter is helpful here, but not totally necessary.
- Chill the patties for at least 20 minutes, or up to 24 hours.
- If grilling, turn your grill to medium-high heat. Lightly spray a grill pan, (or non-stick skillet) with cooking spray. Use a spatula to transfer the patties onto the grill pan and place over direct heat on the grill. Cook for 7 minutes and then carefully flip and cook for another 7 minutes. If cooking on the skillet, follow the same timing. The internal temperature of the burgers should be 135°F to 145°F.
- Meanwhile, butter the buns and toast during the final cooking of the salmon burgers.
- Serve at once on toasted buns, with lettuce, tomato, onion, and aioli, if desired.
Mike says
Can canned salmon be used?
Kris Longwell says
Sure! Be sure to drain completely. It won’t be as fresh tasting, but will still be tasty! Let us know if you make the burger and what you think! B\
Tom says
I randomly came across your site because I love salmon burgers. After seeing your video which I thoroughly enjoyed you guys are real characters, I had to try the recipe. Needless to they were delicious and I started looking for more videos and recipes. You guys are great!! Thanks for sharing your great food.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Tom! We can’t even begin to express how happy this makes us! We are so so happy you found us and we found YOU! Woo hoo! We are thrilled you made the salmon burgers and had such great success! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing and for the GREAT review. That truly means the world to us! Stay in touch and stay tuned…so much more fun and food on the way!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Marcia says
I made this last week and followed your recipe exactly. I can only say wow!
I’ve made salmon burgers in the past that always seem to fall apart even if I added extra bread crumbs.
This recipe is a keeper. I love your videos 🙂