Salmon Burgers

This Salmon Burgers recipe brings restaurant-quality flavor right to your kitchen! These burgers are always a hit at the dinner table thanks to juicy patties loaded with fresh lemon and dill, and a creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing. The crusty sear on the outside makes them truly irresistible!

Years ago I came up with this Salmon Burgers recipe as a spin-off of my all-time FAVE Lemon Dill Salmon.

While retesting and re-photographing recipes for my upcoming cookbook, I realized the patty was perfect, but the toppings needed a bit of a refresh.

The Avocado Ranch Dressing you see here is dreamily creamy and uses similar herbs as the salmon patty, but I wanted something with more texture.

Enter this vinegar slaw recipe—it’s seriously the PERFECT addition! For the exclusive cookbook recipe (complete with lemon garlic aioli!), you can sign up here.

This versatile salmon burger can be topped with a myriad of options, so feel free to have fun and experiment!

My Tips to Make This a Weeknight Winner

There are a few key things that will really make the salmon patty stand apart no matter what toppings you choose:

• Type of Salmon Matters: Fresh fillets with good marbling give the most flavor and juicy texture. Previously frozen or canned salmon can be used if needed.
• Use Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs add a ton of flavor to the patty; sub with dried only if necessary.
• Get a Good Sear: A good sear adds delightful texture. While you can air fry or bake the salmon burgers, cooking them in a skillet or on the grill is the best way to get that golden crust!

Ingredients

Notes about the ingredients needed for this Salmon Burger recipe are below. Jump to recipe for the exact measurements.

• Salmon. You can use fresh, frozen, or canned fish. Fresh salmon will taste the best, frozen is a close second, but canned is the quickest to use. Verlasso is my go-to for burgers if you happen to have this available.
• Mayonnaise. Since it is made up of eggs, mayonnaise makes a great binder.
• Dill. Fresh is used in this recipe for the best flavor. Dried will work; just sub one teaspoon instead of one tablespoon.
• Chives. These mix in great because of their small size. Green onions will also work, but make sure to chop them as finely as possible.
• Mustard. Dijon mustard is recommended, but yellow or even stone ground can be substituted.
• Lemon juice. Fresh-squeezed will give the best taste. Bottled can be used as well if needed.

How to Make Salmon Burgers

Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts. Jump to recipe for the printable instructions

1. Prepare the salmon.

Remove the salmon skin by peeling it back from one corner. Move slow and steady as you pull it back. Try to keep the skin in one piece if possible; with most fillets you’ll be able to do this. 

There will still be a little bit of shiny flesh underneath, this is OK. As long as you don’t see any scales, you’ve totally removed all of the skin!

Cut the fillet into smaller 1- to 2-inch cubes.

Next, and arguably the most important step is to FINELY chop the salmon. A finely diced and almost mushy salmon will give you the most moist and tender patty. There are 2 different ways you can do this:

• Food Processor. Add half of the cubes to the food processor. Process 15-20 times, or until the salmon is finely chopped. Add in the remaining cubed salmon and process another 10-15 times. 
• Cut with a Knife. Make sure you’re using a REALLY sharp knife and a flat, smooth cutting board.

2. Combine the patty ingredients.

In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. Thoroughly whisk all the ingredients until they are well combined.

Add the salmon to the mayonnaise base. Mix with a spatula until just combined.

Finely chop chives and dill. Add in herbs and breadcrumbs and stir by hand until well incorporated.

3. Form the patties.

Divide the salmon mixture into four equal parts. Use your hands to make burgers about 1-inch thick and 4-inches wide.

To create patties that are perfectly circular and even, use a round cookie cutter. There are many sizes available; choose one according to your bun size. Remember, these burgers will shrink slightly when cooking.

For help forming the salmon patties, spray the bottom of a plate with cooking oil. Roll one quarter of the mix into a ball. Place it on a cutting board. Then, gently press down to form the burger. Repeat this for the remaining quarters.

3. Cook the burgers.

You can cook these salmon burgers on the stovetop (my preferred method!), in the air fryer, in the oven, or on the grill.

• Cook on the grill or stovetop: preheat by setting the temperature to medium heat. Add salmon patties. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side.
• Cook in an air fryer: Arrange salmon patties in a single layer in a 400°F air fryer basket and cook for 9-10 minutes. Flip the burgers over halfway through.
• Cook in the oven: Preheat oven to 425°F. Place salmon patties, evenly spaced, onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes. 

4. Make the avocado ranch dressing.

Add avocado, sour cream, and lemon juice to a food processor. Mix for 30-60 seconds, or until the avocado is smooth.

Add mayonnaise, dill, parsley, powders, salt, and pepper, and pour in the milk. Process until ingredients are just combined. Do not overmix this as the mayonnaise may begin to separate.

Prep-Ahead and Storage Directions

• Prep-Ahead: You can do a few things beforehand. Cook the patties completely and store until ready to assemble and eat. Or, just prep the dressing and salmon ahead of time. You can also mix everything up and form the patties and refrigerate for up to 1-2 days before cooking.
• Storage: Keep leftover patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To freeze, wrap the salmon burgers in foil or plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: Defrost patties if they are frozen. For best results warm the burgers in a skillet over medium-low heat. You can also reheat in a 350°F oven, in an Air Fryer, or in the microwave.

FAQs

What to Serve with Salmon Burgers?

Complete this dish with one of these delicious sides:

• Sautéed Green Beans
• Air Fryer French Fries
• Baked Sweet Potato Fries
• Southern Coleslaw
• Instant Pot Potato Salad

More Simple Salmon Recipes

If you are looking for other healthy, salmon recipes, try one of these meals next:

• Lemon Garlic Baked Salmon in Foil
• Blackened Salmon
• Smoked Salmon Dip
• Salmon Bites
• Salmon Curry with Coconut Milk
• Air Fryer Salmon