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    Hummusapien » Recipes » Lunch and Dinner » The Best Salmon Burgers

    ★★★★★ from 18 reviews

    The Best Salmon Burgers

    Published Apr 22, 2019 · Modified Feb 15, 2022 · by Alexis Joseph · 48 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Enjoy these hearty Best Salmon Burgers for a flavorful, easy, and healthy dinner the whole family will love!

    salmon burger on bun on marble

    I grew up eating a lottttt of salmon.

    I remember my dad grilling it outside or baking it for dinner topped with this wonderful seafood seasoning. I remember my mom whipping up her famous salmon dip made with canned salmon, cream cheese, lemon juice, onion, liquid smoke, and horseradish for Jewish holidays.

    Given my love for salmon, it was high time to post the salmon burger recipe that I make at home on a regular basis.

    You've seen salmon burger recipes make an appearance on here before, like my Kale and Broccoli Salmon Burgers and Goat Cheese and Spinach Salmon Burgers from way back when in 2012. But today's version is my gold standard!

    black pan with salmon burgers

    "Atlantic" salmon is code for farmed salmon. There is responsibly sourced farmed salmon, such as the Verlasso® brand out of Chile, which is what we use at Alchemy in order to keep prices affordable for our customers.

    It's the highest quality, most sustainable farmed option and the salmon are raised in conditions nearly identical to wild salmon.

    I buy frozen wild salmon at Costco and defrost it when I want whole salmon fillets. I also keep canned wild salmon on hand all the time because salmon burgers are so DELISH!

    Choosing Between Wild and Farmed Salmon

    While it is more expensive, wild-caught salmon is usually the most sustainable kind of salmon for the environment and also the most nutritious (wild salmon has more omega-3's due to their natural diet).

    The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch is my favorite resource when it comes to science-based recommendations for ocean-friendly seafood choices.

    Per the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, here are some simple guidelines to follow when shopping for salmon:

    • Look for wild-caught salmon that’s eco-certified by the Marine Stewardship Council
    • Say, "No, thanks" to farmed salmon unless it’s:
      • farmed in indoor recirculating tanks
      • farmed by Nordic Blu in Norway
      • sold under the brand names Verlasso®, Sixty South or Blue Circle Foods®
      • farmed in Maine, British Columbia, the Faroe Islands or Scotland’s Orkney Islands
      • eco-certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council

    bowl of salmon burger ingredients

    Is Canned Salmon Healthy?

    Fresh wild salmon, canned wild salmon, it's all GOOD! The nice thing about using canned salmon here is that it's WAY cheaper than fresh or frozen salmon and still tastes amazing. The nutrition stats for salmon are off the charts!

    Packed with brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids, regularly consuming wild salmon may boost heart health and help combat inflammation. Salmon is also loaded of vitamin B12, selenium, and vitamin D.

    How to Make the Best Salmon Burgers

    • Eggs and breadcrumbs help hold these babies together, but draining the salmon is super important to get rid of any extra liquid that makes the burgers fall apart. Sautéing the veggies before hand helps reduce moisture, as well.
    • Handle the patties carefully when you're forming them. If for some reason you can't form patties, add more breadcrumbs. Freezing the burgers helps firm them up prior to cooking.
    • Flavor, flavor, flavor! Mayo adds a wonderful richness that's complimented by the tangy Dijon, fresh parsley, and flavorful veggies. I often add fresh or dried dill and a squeeze of lemon juice, too.
    • Make sure the oil is nice and hot so the burgers get that beautiful browning. A drop of water on the pan should sizzle.

    uncooked salmon burgers on sheet

    Do These Freeze well?

    Indeed! These patties freeze like a dream, making dinner a breeze. Once patties are frozen in a single layer on the baking sheet, simply place them in a ziplock baggie. You can also individually wrap each one, if desired. Defrost overnight before pan prying.

    How to Serve Salmon Burgers

    I love serving these beauties with plenty of Dijon mustard, some butter lettuce, and roasted potatoes. I've also enjoyed them open-faced on a piece of toasty sourdough slathered in Dijon. You can also chop one up and devour it in a loaded salad.

    If you love this recipe, please let me know by leaving a 5-star rating and/or comment! I hope you adore it as much as I do.

    salmon burgers with dijon

    CRAVING MORE SEAFOOD GOODNESS? DON’T MISS MY OTHER GO-TO RECIPES:

    • Grilled Fish Tacos with Strawberry Avocado Salsa
    • Healthy Salmon Corn Chowder
    • Sheet Pan Mediterranean Snapper
    • Seared Fish with Zucchini Farro and Olive Tapenade

    Get your gorgeous salmon on, pretty people!

    [adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="rRU45Cuf" upload-date="2019-04-22T09:00:00.000Z" name="The Best Salmon Burgers" description="Enjoy these hearty Best Salmon Burgers for a flavorful, easy, and healthy dinner the whole family will love!"]

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    The Best Salmon Burgers Recipe

    ★★★★★ 5 from 18 reviews
    • Author: Alexis Joseph | Hummusapien
    • Prep Time: 25 min
    • Cook Time: 10 min
    • Total Time: 35 minutes
    • Yield: 4 1x
    • Category: Main Meals
    • Method: Stovetop
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Enjoy these hearty Salmon Burgers for a flavorful, easy, and healthy dinner the whole family will love!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1-14.5oz can wild salmon, drained well, bones/skin removed
    • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (plus more for cooking)
    • 1 medium onion, diced
    • 1 bell pepper, chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 large eggs, whisked
    • 2 tbsp quality mayonnaise
    • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard (plus more for serving)
    • ½ cup breadcrumbs or almond flour
    • ⅓ cup parsley, finely chopped
    • ½ tsp kosher salt
    • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
    • Optional: 3 oz goat or feta cheese

    Instructions

    1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drain salmon very well and carefully remove the bones and skin. Place in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
    2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat (you’ll use this later to cook burgers). Add bell pepper and onion and cook for 6 minutes, or until softened. Add garlic and cook for another minute. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
    3. To mixing bowl with salmon, add beaten eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon, bread crumbs, parsley, salt, pepper, optional cheese, and peppers and onions. Use your hands to mix until well combined. Carefully form into 4-6 patties and place on baking sheet. Freeze for 20 minutes.
    4. Once they’re almost done freezing, heat enough oil over medium heat to cover the bottom of the large skillet. Cook burgers for 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Serve with Dijon on buns or greens.

    Notes

    These freeze well! Once frozen, simple place them in a ziplock baggie (you can also individually wrap each one, if desired). Defrost overnight before pan prying.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @hummusapien on Instagram. I love sharing what you make!

    Recipe by Alexis Joseph of Hummusapien™. Photos by Eat Love Eats. 

    About Alexis Joseph

    Oh HEY there! I'm Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food. Learn more about Alexis!

    5 Secrets to Delish, Healthy Lunches

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Kori Daniel says

      November 16, 2022 at 1:10 am

      Unbelievably delicious! Our six month old daughter, Ansley loved it. Her first salmon exposure. 🖤

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Robin Lucas says

      December 02, 2021 at 2:38 pm

      I just had these for dinner last night. Made a batch a month or so ago and took from the freezer and cooked them. Actually, all of the salmon patties that Alexis posts are delicious. Adding the goat cheese for me is a game changer the way it melts 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        December 02, 2021 at 7:59 pm

        Mmmmm goat cheese is the best, right?!

        Reply
    3. Dina says

      November 10, 2021 at 6:51 pm

      One of our favorite go to meals!!! I make this 2-4x a month for my husband and toddler. Way better than Trader Joe’s frozen salmon burgers!😋

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        November 11, 2021 at 1:36 pm

        Yayyy you made my day, Dina!

        Reply
    4. Whitney Long says

      September 26, 2021 at 1:53 pm

      Do you think I could sub canned tuna? Thanks! 🙂

      Reply
    5. Hannah J Parrish says

      July 09, 2021 at 1:36 am

      So pleased to have helped with the recipe and thank you so much for the descriptive message and feedback. Have a wonderful day!
      ☀️ https://goodhometime.com/ ☀️

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Liz Allen says

      May 08, 2021 at 1:24 pm

      This is my new favorite recipe!!! These will not disappoint. I’ve never had a salmon cake that I liked, until I had these. Delicious! The recipe is perfect,

      I followed exactly (but I substituted light mayo) - I wouldn’t change a thing! I served on top of a fresh salad and topped with a dollop of dill dip (Hidden Valley dill dip seasoning package mixed with fat free plain Greek yogurt)

      YUM! This is my new favorite website to find recipes. I’ve made a few now, they’re always amazing!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        May 09, 2021 at 10:28 pm

        Yummm that sounds SO delish, Liz! I really appreciate your kind review. Let me know what else you make!

        Reply
    7. Luna Regina says

      February 23, 2021 at 4:48 am

      This is such a perfect recipe. I often follow recipes as written the first time and then make my own corrections for the next time I make. Not this recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        February 24, 2021 at 4:50 pm

        Yayyy! Thanks, Luna!

        Reply
    8. Paige says

      August 23, 2020 at 7:28 pm

      Hey Alexis!

      If i wanted to cook these in the air fryer, what temp and how long would you recommend?

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        August 24, 2020 at 12:32 pm

        Hey Paige! I've only used an air fryer once, so I have no idea. I'd go to Google for this one!

        Reply
    9. Penny Montgomery says

      May 22, 2020 at 2:26 am

      Delicious recipe! Mine came out similar to Crab Cakes, but still amazing. Highly recommend!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        May 24, 2020 at 10:29 pm

        Awesome! So glad these were a win for you, Penny.

        Reply
    10. Kristina says

      May 15, 2020 at 1:59 pm

      This is the first time I tried salmon from a can and I was emotionally scarred! I got it from trader joes and there were so many bones it took me 30 minutes to separate the bones from 2 cans. So tedious. Are all canned salmon this way ?? Otherwise the burgers were good!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        May 18, 2020 at 2:13 pm

        Hahah I feel ya--it's not the most fun thing. The trick is separating it kinda in half so all the bones are in one line and getting them out mostly at once versus dumping it in a bowl and the bowls going all over the place if that makes sense. Once I remove the couple lines of bones, I remove as much of the gray skin stuff as I can. It only takes me a couple minutes but yes, it's all that way. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    11. Kristin Jentgen says

      April 21, 2020 at 3:33 pm

      Hi ! I have some frozen sockeye salmon I would like to use for salmon burgers. Have you used it in this recipe? I am wondering if it would work. I got sockeye salmon in my butcher box and sockeye isn't a favorite of mine so I am trying to figure out how to use it.. maybe in burgers, a salmon dip, salmon cakes? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        April 21, 2020 at 6:16 pm

        I haven't, but yes it would be great! Lots of salmon burgers call for fresh salmon, in fact. Just defrost it and follow the recipe as normal. 🙂 Also this Salmon Corn Chowder is a must!

        Reply
    12. Eileen Joseph says

      February 27, 2020 at 2:31 am

      Salmon burgers are this mommas ultimate favorite meal! These make me smile so! Delish cold, too! I like mine in lightly toasted whole wheat pita, slathered with avocado, a big handful of arugula, cherry tomatoes and celery sticks on the side!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    13. Dylan says

      February 26, 2020 at 6:50 pm

      These are so easy to make! They are also freezer-friendly! I like to make a double batch and keep in my freezer for busy times 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        February 27, 2020 at 1:44 pm

        Love keeping them in the freezer!

        Reply
    14. Mark says

      February 26, 2020 at 2:53 pm

      Love this!! It’s so good and easy! I was looking for a good salmon burger, and now I found it!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        April 13, 2020 at 3:10 pm

        Wonderful, thanks Mark!

        Reply
    15. Erin says

      February 26, 2020 at 1:12 pm

      Truly the best salmon burgers. Super flavorful and extra good with more Dijon on a toasted bun. A staple for our family.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    16. Alex says

      September 29, 2019 at 4:57 am

      These turned out super well! I used yogurt instead of the mayonnaise. I used the almond flour for protein purposes, and I didn't use parsley, but instead, about five large sage leaves and some basil. I also added in the green ends of a green onion. I prepared the burgers in advance and left them in the fridge for the day before pan-frying them. I coated them in additional almond flour to help keep them together and maybe increase the crunch, but I don't think it did help - the breadcrumbs would probably help with that. These burgers are definitely fragile, but if you're careful, they'll stay intact. Don't let the fact that they're made with canned salmon deter you - the other ingredients really help to bring the whole thing together. Had these with some homemade sourdough buns and they were pretty amazing. Highly recommend!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        September 29, 2019 at 12:09 pm

        Homemade sourdough buns?! Sign me up! Thanks for the detailed, review Alex. So helpful!

        Reply
    17. sunshine floating says

      July 29, 2019 at 6:26 am

      Can’t wait to try this recipe, I know my family will love it!

      Reply
    18. Josh says

      July 13, 2019 at 4:26 pm

      These were absolutely delicious. Basically a crab-cake consistency. Highly recommended.

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        July 16, 2019 at 12:51 pm

        Yes--love me some crab cakes!!

        Reply
    19. Kylie S. says

      May 20, 2019 at 12:29 pm

      Just made these burgers and they are DELICIOUS!! I popped them in the freezer and I am so excited to have them on hand for future dinners. Thank you for sharing!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        May 21, 2019 at 6:22 pm

        Thank you so much, Kylie! Love how they're freezer-friendly.

        Reply
    20. Kylie S. says

      May 20, 2019 at 12:29 pm

      Just made these burgers and they are DELICIOUS!! I popped them in the freezer and I am so excited to have them on hand for future dinners. Thank you for sharing!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        May 21, 2019 at 6:22 pm

        Thank you so much, Kylie! Love how they're freezer-friendly.

        Reply
    21. Mallory says

      April 25, 2019 at 1:44 pm

      First time making salmon burgers, & these were delicious! I added mashed avocado to mine ??

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 26, 2019 at 8:04 pm

        What's a burger without avocado?! Thanks for sharing, Mallory!

        Reply
    22. Mallory says

      April 25, 2019 at 1:44 pm

      First time making salmon burgers, & these were delicious! I added mashed avocado to mine ??

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 26, 2019 at 8:04 pm

        What's a burger without avocado?! Thanks for sharing, Mallory!

        Reply
    23. Kat says

      April 24, 2019 at 2:45 pm

      Is there any way to use defrosted salmon fillets I already have on hand?

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 26, 2019 at 8:06 pm

        Sure! Just bake it and chop it up 🙂

        Reply
      • Marlies says

        February 26, 2020 at 2:08 am

        The flavors here were amazing and they came together so quickly! They were a bit delicate but not more than most veggie patties.

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Alexis Joseph says

          February 26, 2020 at 12:55 pm

          I'm so glad to hear they worked for you, Marlies! Thanks so much for leaving a review.

          Reply
    24. Kat says

      April 24, 2019 at 2:45 pm

      Is there any way to use defrosted salmon fillets I already have on hand?

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        April 26, 2019 at 8:06 pm

        Sure! Just bake it and chop it up 🙂

        Reply
    25. Shams says

      April 23, 2019 at 9:40 am

      Hi Alexis,

      Definitely going to try this weekend for my kiddos! They are very fond of burger. If I don't use minced, is it test well?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    26. Shams says

      April 23, 2019 at 9:40 am

      Hi Alexis,

      Definitely going to try this weekend for my kiddos! They are very fond of burger. If I don't use minced, is it test well?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    27. Erin says

      April 22, 2019 at 7:28 pm

      Can't wait to make these!! Salmon burgers are my favorite!

      Reply
    28. Erin says

      April 22, 2019 at 7:28 pm

      Can't wait to make these!! Salmon burgers are my favorite!

      Reply

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