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!
This recipe has been tested to make these salmon burgers easy to make, giving you options between canned and fresh salmon and just the right amount of binder to make sure they don’t fall apart. Also the tip of chilling to bind!
Gather This
These simple ingredients are all you need to whip up some mouthwatering savory salmon burgers. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Canned Sockeye Salmon OR Fresh 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. Or you can choose to use fresh salmon. I suggest using sockeye still, but cook it and then flake it. Use leftover salmon too. You’ll need about 1 pound.
- Panko Breadcrumbs– Panko is a larger crumb than traditional Italian; style, which is fine. Think of them as little moisture or flavor bombs that absorb the moisture, ensuring two things: that your burgers stay put together and bind, but also that they stay juicy and moist.
- Egg
- Lemon juice
- Dijon mustard
- Fresh dill
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Granulated garlic
- Hot sauce
5S Philosophy 👩🏻
- Salt – Adding coarse kosher salt to the burger patties helps to bring out the other flavors like lemon and herbs.
- Seasonings – In addition to the dill, try adding parsley, fresh garlic, cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
- Sauces – 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.
- Swaps – 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. 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.
- Senses – Sizzling patties release a clean, ocean-fresh aroma with lemon and dill. Crisp, bronzed edges give way to juicy, flaky salmon and a buttery richness.
Toppings Ideas
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
Perfect Pairings
We like to either pair these salmon 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. Using dried seasonings like dill and garlic help to absorb some of the moisture and make the binding paste.
Of course! Use pre-cooked salmon – either leftovers or sear it up in the pan. You’ll need about 1 pound of flaked salmon.
Easy Salmon Burger Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Salmon Burgers:
- 15 ounces canned sockeye salmon , drained
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt (reduce to ¼ tsp if using regular salt)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 tablespoon panko breadcrumbs
- hot sauce
- 4 Hamburger buns
Toppings:
- 4 brioche buns
- 1/3 cup lemon herb aioli
- beefsteak tomato , thickly cut
- 1/2 cup sprouts
- 1/3 cup pickled red onion
Instructions
- Drain the 15 ounces canned sockeye salmon well and add it to a medium size bowl, flake the salmon apart using a fork.
- Add the 1 egg, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice to the salmon and mix with a fork to combine. Mash in the 1 teaspoon dried dill, 1 teaspoon garlic powder , ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper and 6 tablespoon panko breadcrumbs. If desired, also add a dash or two of hot sauce.
- Form the salmon mixture into 4 equal 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 chill in the refrigerator for 10-20 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. We served ours on a brioche bun with lemon herb aioli, tomato, sprouts and red onion.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Notes
Nutrition
More Salmon Recipes
Searching for more salmon recipes to satisfy your seafood craving? Check out these salmon recipe favorites!
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!