These Easy Salmon Burgers, flavored with lemon and dill, are the perfect weeknight meal. Using simple ingredients, and with minimal prep, these delicious burgers are on the table in less than 30 minutes!
Ingredients
These simple ingredients are all you need to whip up some mouthwatering savory salmon burgers.
- Canned Sockeye Salmon – Yes, these are made with canned salmon and, yes, they taste great. Just be sure to choose a high-quality salmon, like sockeye for the best flavor and texture.
- Egg – Acts as a binding agent to hold the patties together
- Lemon Juice – Adds bright flavor and helps bring out other flavors
- Dijon Mustard – Adds a little bit of spice without overpowering the other flavors
- Dill – Always a great match with salmon and lemon
- Granulated garlic – Great flavor, but not as strong as fresh garlic
- Salt & Pepper – Staple seasonings in any recipe.
- Panko Breadcrumbs – Helps absorb some of the moisture and bind the ingredients. I use whole wheat as I like the flavor, but you can use white or gluten-free.
- Hot Sauce – Just a dash or two adds a nice spice. You can leave this out if you prefer.
Variations
You can switch up these salmon burgers in all kinds of ways!
- Salmon – If you’d like to use fresh salmon instead of canned, you can! In fact, these burgers would be a great way to use leftover cooked salmon. You can replace the canned salmon with equal parts cooked, flaked salmon.
- Heat – If you want a little added spiciness, sprinkle in some cayenne pepper powder or red pepper flakes.
- Lime Juice – For a twist, swap the lemon juice for lime.
- Whole Grain Mustard – If you want a slightly more robust, tangy kick, swap in whole-grain mustard. The texture and flavor give the burgers an added layer of complexity.
- Fresh Parsley – If you’re not a fan of dill, fresh parsley is a great alternative!
- Fresh Garlic – If you love a more powerful garlic punch, fresh garlic gives a sharp, bold flavor that can really enhance the patties. Just be sure to mince it well.
- Crushed Crackers – If you don’t have panko on hand, try using crushed crackers. They’ll absorb moisture just as well and add a slightly different flavor profile.
How to Make Salmon Burgers
There are really only a few steps to making salmon burgers, but there are a few tricks to making sure they turn out perfect every time.
- Drain the salmon. Make sure it is well drained then place it in a medium-sized bowl and flake it apart. I also like to remove any skin, but that is up to you.
- Mix the ingredients together. Add the wet ingredients first, then add the seasonings and breadcrumbs. Mix until well combined.
- Form the patties. Form the mixture into 4 equal-sized balls and place on a piece of parchment or waxed paper. Next, gently press the salmon balls into patties with your hands. You are looking for patties that are about ½ inch thick.
- Let the patties rest. Allow to sit for about 10 minutes before cooking. This will help them hold together better.
- Cook the burgers. Heat a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot add a drizzle of oil to coat the bottom, then gently lift the patties from the parchment paper and place in the pan. Allow to cook for about 5 minutes then carefully flip and cook an additional 5 minutes.
- Assemble. Put the burgers on buns, add toppings, and serve!
Salmon Burger Toppings
Looking for more ideas for salmon burger toppings? We’ve got you covered!
- Lettuce
- Tomato slices
- Red onion rings
- Cucumber slices
- Avocado or guacamole
- Feta cheese
- Dill sauce
- Tartar sauce
- Garlic aioli
- Lemon herb mayo
- Spicy Sriracha mayo
- Honey mustard
- Mango salsa
- Pineapple rings
- Coleslaw
- Capers
- Fried egg
- Microgreens
What to Serve with Salmon Burgers
We like to either pair these burgers with a simple salad or pop some sweet potato fries in the oven. They are also delicious on their own!
For toppings, we like pickled red onions, tomato, and alfalfa sprouts. The pickled onions add more tang and crunch while the tomatoes and alfalfa sprouts add freshness. You can also add all sorts of sauces from tartar sauce or garlic aioli to teriyaki sauce or Big Mac sauce.
Common Questions about Salmon Burgers
You can use any toppings that you would put on a beef burger or you can switch it up with tartar sauce, BBQ sauce, or a garlic aioli. You can also use slaw, kimchi, fried onions, or any of your own favorites.
Salmon patties can easily fall apart if you don’t give them time to bind together. Chill them in the fridge for a bit before cooking.
Salmon burgers have lots of protein, are high in omega-3 fatty acids, and are low in fat. They can be a healthy addition to most diets.
Storage and Freezing
If you’re looking for a great idea for meal prep or you simply have leftovers, these salmon burgers are easy to store.
If you’d like to form the patties ahead of time simply store them in the fridge and cover with plastic wrap until ready to use.
How to Store
Keep these burgers stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Can I Freeze Salmon Burgers?
Freeze leftover salmon burgers for up to 3 months.
More Salmon Recipes
Searching for more salmon recipes to satisfy your seafood craving? Check out these salmon recipe favorites!
Salmon Burger Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 ounces canned sockeye salmon , drained
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (reduce to ¼ tsp if using regular salt)
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 6 tablespoon Panko breadcrumbs
- Dash hot sauce
- 4 Hamburger buns
Instructions
- Drain the salmon well and add it to a medium size bowl, flake the salmon apart using a fork.
- Add the egg, mustard and lemon juice to the salmon and mix with a fork to combine.
- Add the seasonings and breadcrumbs and mix until all ingredients are well incorporated. Add a dash or two of hot sauce, if desired.
- Form the salmon into 4 balls and place on a piece of parchment or wax paper.
- Using your hand, press into patties about ½ inch thick.
- Let the salmon patties rest for about 10 minutes, this will help hold them together.
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat and add a bit of oil to coat the bottom.
- Once the skillet it hot, carefully add the patties. Cook for 5 minutes, then gently flip and cook 5 minutes more.
- Remove from heat and serve on hamburger buns with your choice of toppings.
Nutrition
Perfect recipe with just the right amount of dill! I have to ask, where did you get those sprouts?! I love sprouts and can never find them anywhere! (so jealous!)
Hi Michelle, They usually have them at either of my local grocery stores near the fresh herbs, but Whole Foods also has a nice selection. They are also so easy to grow at home with a 7 day harvest cycle. 🙂
This looks so delicious and yummy! My daughter and I are going to love this! So excited to make these!
These salmon burgers were a hit last night! they were super easy to make. I had no idea I could make them with canned salmon. This would definitely be at our table very often.
Such a great idea to use canned salmon and so much easier on the budget. I love this fun twist on burger night.
These salmon burgers remind me of the ones my mom made when I was a kid! She always used canned sockeye salmon for the same reason. It’s a lot less expensive, and she could store it in the pantry. These have great flavor and are so simple to make too!