I love making these easy Mediterranean salmon burgers when I need a quick, protein-packed meal that's huge on flavor. Made with canned salmon, feta, fresh spinach, lemon, and hummus to keep them perfectly moist, they're prepped in minutes and reheat like a dream. Each burger packs 20g protein, making them epic for meal prep. Serve on a toasty bun or over greens with plenty of tzatziki.
This is one of those versatile, super approachable recipes I come back to time and time again. It's a fun twist on my reader fave veggie-packed salmon burgers--a total staple around here. So healthy, so delish, and a breeze to make.
My fave way to eat them is bathed in creamy tzatziki with tomatoes and fresh mint. How incredible does that sound?!
And if you're a feta hater, have no fear. They're actually so bomb with goat cheese, too!
Tidbits from testing
- Hummus is my secret weapon here. Clearly it fits the Mediterranean flavor profile far better than mayo, but it also adds creaminess without weighing them down. (Bonus points for keeping the burgers moist while boosting the nutrition!)
- I developed these to have spinach for a boost of veggie power, but I learned the hard way that finely chopping the onion and spinach is non-negotiable. Bigger pieces make the patties much harder to form and more likely to fall apart.
- On the breadcrumb front, I've made these with both regular and panko, and to me, panko reigns supreme (per uge). The burgers stayed lighter and had a more tender texture.
- I debated between lemon juice and Dijon but ultimately preferred the bright, zippy addition of lemon. So perfect with the hummus and feta!
Let's make 'em
The secret to sturdy salmon patties
It became very clear in testing that removing excess water is the key to salmon patties that don't fall apart. Too much moisture prevents the egg and breadcrumbs from doing their binding job.
For A+ results, drain the can well and then squeeze out any remaining liquid with your hands. It's a small step that's 100% worth it!
YUMMMM!
Print
Mediterranean Salmon Burgers with Spinach and Feta
- Prep Time: 35 mins
- Cook Time: 14 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Yield: 5 burgers 1x
- Category: Burgers and Sandwiches
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
I love making these easy Mediterranean salmon burgers when I need a quick, protein-packed meal that's big on flavor. Made with canned salmon, feta, fresh spinach, lemon, and hummus to keep them perfectly moist, they're prepped in minutes and reheat like a dream. Each burger packs 20g protein, making them epic for meal prep. Serve on a toasty bun or over greens with plenty of tzatziki.
Ingredients
- 1-15oz can wild salmon, well-drained
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 1 cup finely chopped spinach
- 2 small garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 3 tbsp hummus (original, roasted red pepper etc)
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp oregano
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil spray, for cooking
- store-bought tzatziki or tahini yogurt sauce and fresh mint, for serving
Instructions
- Drain salmon well in can and then remove from can and squeeze out additional water with your hands. Carefully remove some of the skin and bones from salmon (it's ok if you don't get it all). Add salmon to a large mixing bowl.
- Add remaining ingredients. Stir well to combine. Form mixture into 5 tightly packed patties. Cover and refrigerate mixture for 30 minutes (this helps them stick together) or freeze for 10 minutes.
- Heat a large skillet (I like nonstick for these) sprayed with cooking spray or a bit of oil over medium heat. Once hot, cook patties for about 7 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully flip and cook for another 5-7 minutes or until browned on the other side.
- Serve hot over greens (delish with my 5-min Mediterranean salad dressing) or on a bun with feta, tzatziki, tomatoes, and fresh mint if you have it! Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Kristine says
I can't have eggs. What's a good substitute?
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
You can omit and add 1 tbsp ground flax. They just my fall apart a bit more.
Vicki says
Delicious. My husband LOVED them.
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
So happy to hear it, Vicki!
katherine judith burns says
I tried three recipes from this website in the last week, and this one was my favorite. I really enjoyed it. The only thing I would probably do differently is sprinkle the capers on top of the burger. I just could not taste them in the burger, and that was disappointing. Other than that, I was really happy with this recipe. I will make it again.
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
I’m so glad to hear this, Katherine! That feedback is really helpful. Cheers to trying more recipes!
Nina says
Hi, thanks for the fab recipe. Could I swap out the feta cheese? I was wondering maybe mashed potato or fresh breadcrumbs, any thoughts? thanks
Alexis says
Hmm I haven't tried it, but I don't see why not!
Erica says
These are so yummy! The whole family gobbled them up (kids included)
Alexis says
So glad to hear that, Erica! Thanks for reporting back 🙂