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Grilled Salmon Burger Recipe

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This Grilled Salmon Burger Recipe is full of healthy fats and tons of taste. Use fresh salmon, a tasty blackening seasoning, and some delicious avocado crema to make the BEST burgers ever!

Need other burger ideas? I’ve gotcha covered. Try my Juicy Lucy Burgers with Goat Cheese, Grilled Poblano Burgers with Apricot Preserves, or my most recent creation, Pimento Cheese Burgers!

Side view of two grilled salmon burgers on homemade buns, with tomatoes and crema.

Big Green Egg Salmon

Burger month is here, y’all. May is often one of my favorite months here in the south because the weather is warm but not hot, the yard is bright green (thanks to my hubby and his yard/plant skills), and it’s prime grilling season. There is nothing better than smelling the charcoal from our BGE (Big Green Egg) and then filling it with our favorite meats and veggies.

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For these salmon burgers, I elected to make them inside in my cast iron skillet due to time constraints amidst a stormy weather week – my LEAST favorite part of May! While these burgers are delicate, I think you could totally make them on an outdoor grill as well.

Side view of a plate with a grilled salmon burger with blackened seasoning on top with a spoonful of avocado crema.

Ingredients Needed for Blackened Salmon Burgers:

Let’s go shopping, y’all. Or in my case, order online! Have I told you how much I love online access to groceries as I continue to fight chronic foot pain? Love the ease and convenience, even though I miss choosing my own produce.

  • Fresh Salmon – Buy the salmon withOUT skin, or remove it. We eat salmon almost every week, so I keep it handy in the freezer.
  • Panko breadcrumbs, an egg, and parmesan cheese – These items make the salmon patties stick together and add flavor. Everything goes right in the food processor.
  • Blackened Seasoning – I use a similar seasoning for my Skillet Blackened Tilapia. Most of these items should be in your pantry, and it’s a simple combo of paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and salt. Pro-Tip: Keep a large batch of this in a mason jar, ready to go!
  • Olive Oil – You’ll need just a couple of tablespoons for pan frying. If you make the salmon patties on the grill, just brush a light coating of oil on them to prevent sticking.
  • Avocado Crema Ingredients – This simple mixture combines one large avocado, sour cream light (or you could use plain Greek yogurt), cilantro, lime, and garlic salt. This topping is SO unbelievable, so don’t skip it please!
  • Hamburger Buns – I got the baking gene from my momma, so of course, I had to whip up some homemade buns using Norma Jean’s Whole Wheat Honey Bread recipe! But hey, you could use store-bought as well. 😀
Side view of a salmon burger on a homemade everything bagel bun.

How to make Blackened Salmon Burgers with Avocado Crema:

Step 1
Prep the patties. Cut the salmon into chunks and place in a food processor. Add the Panko crumbs, an egg, and parmesan cheese, and pulse until it resembles ground meat. Dump the mixture into a bowl, and using your hands, form into four patties.

Step 2
Make the seasoning. In a small bowl, combine the paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and salt. Spread the seasoning on both sides of salmon patties, adding a good amount to each one. (You most likely won’t use all the seasoning.)

Step 3
Prepare the Avocado Crema. In your food processor, combine the avocado, sour cream, cilantro, lime, and garlic salt. Pulse until creamy. Test for seasoning.

Step 4
Cook the burgers. Heat some olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Gently add two of the salmon patties, and cook until done, about 2-3 minutes per side. Repeat for the remaining two patties. The cooking time will vary, depending on the heat of your cooking surface and the thickness of the salmon patties.

A cast iron skillet with two large salmon burgers cooking.

Step 5
Serve. Take a hamburger bun, lay some thin tomato slices on the bottom, followed by a salmon burger, and top with a big scoop of Avocado Crema. EAT!

Beware: These salmon burgers are both delicious and messy! My guys like to add just a bit of the Avocado Crema on top, and then dip each bite in more!

Overhead view of two plates of the open faced burger with avocado crema on top.

Let’s talk about how good my homemade whole wheat hamburger buns taste with these burgers or any burgers. In addition to the amazing taste, they freeze well. Instead of wasting half of a package of store-bought buns each time you grill, you can simply remove a few homemade buns from the freezer, and enjoy the best taste. I highly recommend giving it a go! And yes, my family is so spoiled. 😀

What to serve with these delicious burgers:

Side view of a grilled salmon burger.

Make this salmon recipe next:  Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon

xoxo ~Sue

Side view of a grilled salmon burger with avocado cream.

Grilled Salmon Burger Recipe

This Grilled Salmon Burger Recipe is full of healthy fats and tons of taste. Use fresh salmon, a tasty blackening seasoning, and some delicious avocado crema to make the BEST burgers ever!
5 from 12 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
Servings: 4 burgers
Calories: 465kcal
Author: Sue Ringsdorf

Ingredients

For the salmon burgers:

  • 20 oz. fresh salmon fillet
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 Tablespoon parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil – or more as needed, for cooking
  • hamburger buns of your choice – use my Whole Wheat Honey Bread for homemade version, or use store-bought
  • tomato slices – to serve

For the blackened seasoning:

  • 1 Tablespoon paprika
  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper – more or less, depending if you like spicy
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Crema:

  • 1 large avocado
  • 1/2 cup sour cream light – or you can use plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 Tablespoons cilantro
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 medium lime – freshly squeezed

Instructions

For the salmon:

  • Take the salmon, place in a food processor, along with Panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, and the egg, and pulse until it resembles ground meat. Form into four patties, and refrigerate until ready to cook.
  • Prep the blackened seasoning by mixing together the spices – the paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, cayenne, salt and pepper. Press the mixture onto both sides of the salmon.
    Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Gently place two patties in skillet, and cook for about 2-3 minutes before flipping. Cook another 2-3 minutes. Then repeat process for remaining two patties.

For the Avocado Crema:

  • Using a food processor, combine the avocado, sour cream (or yogurt), cilantro, garlic salt, and the juice of one lime. Pulse until creamy. (This shouldn't be prepared more than a half hour in advance.)

To serve:

  • To serve, warm up hamburger buns, add tomato slices, salmon patties, and then follow with a scoop of Avocado Crema. You can also dip the burgers in the Avocado Crema! Enjoy!

Notes

  • These burgers cook very quickly. I like to make them inside using my cast iron skillet, but you could make them on the grill too. Just brush both sides of patties with olive oil, and be gentle!
  • Make up a large batch of the blackening seasoning and store in a mason jar. You’ll be surprised how much you use it.
  • Don’t make the Avocado Crema too far in advance, for best results. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covering tightly with cling wrap.
  • If you are a bread maker (or want to be!) try making some homemade hamburger buns using my Whole Wheat Honey Bread recipe on the blog. I keep a stock of these in my freezer.

Nutrition

Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 1061mg | Potassium: 1099mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1355IU | Vitamin C: 10.1mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 2.7mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @Suebeehomemaker or tag #suebeehomemaker!

29 Comments

  1. Luna Regina says:

    You completely nailed it with the avocado crema, I love this dish!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      We love it too! Thanks for your feedback, Luna!

  2. Our family loves salmon and it’s a staple in our kitchen (typically prepared on the grill). These salmon patties are the bomb and it’ll be a frequent alternative to grilled salmon for us. I often use my cast iron skillets on the gas grill so on warmer days we’ll be able to keep the splattery mess outside. Great recipe! (don’t forget the crema)

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      That’s a great idea to make them on the grill. Thanks so much for trying these salmon burgers, Dave!

  3. What a great new and delicious way to make salmon.

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      I’m glad you enjoyed it, Shari! šŸ™‚

  4. All of those flavors and spices make for an incredible looking burger! And that crema on top is just the icing on the burger. I’ll have to try this with cod or haddock because I’m not a salmon fan, but I’m definitely going to try this one!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Thanks Christie! Let me know how it turns out for you using a different kind of fish. šŸ™‚

  5. My husband loves salmon and I’ve never thought to serve it to him in burger form, so delicious!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Thanks Jolene! It’s a nice change for us, because we eat a lot of salmon. šŸ™‚ Enjoy!

  6. I love that you made your own buns! BEST salmon burgers!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Yup, my family is totally spoiled! But they make this burger so much better. šŸ™‚

  7. Shirley Wood says:

    Your Avocado Crema is so delicious with these salmon burgers! Even without buns!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Thank you Shirley! My family loved them. šŸ™‚

  8. Erin Vasicek says:

    I am loving these burgers! So much flavor!

  9. Geoffrey at Spoonabilities says:

    It’s been a long time since I’ve had blackened salmon. What a great way to make it into a burger!! Now I know what I’m having for lunch tomorrow.

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      I hope you enjoy it, Geoffrey! Be sure to stop back and let me know! šŸ™‚

  10. Sarah Walker Caron says:

    These. ARE. Incredible.

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Thanks Sarah! They sure were a hit at our house. šŸ™‚

  11. Paul Sidoriak says:

    We are just now seeing some Chinook salmon available and I am excited to try this!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      That’s great, Paul! Let me know how you like it!

  12. Oh wow! These burgers are sooo good! I’m drooling over that avocado cream!!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Thank you so much, Holly! šŸ™‚

  13. Can you freeze the patties? If so, do you cook them first or freeze after cooking? Love your recipes!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      I haven’t tried to freeze the patties yet, but I do freeze the salmon. These come together very fast, so I wouldn’t recommend you freezing the patties. Good luck, and I hope you enjoy them like we do, Renee!

  14. This recipe is incredible! I love a good pork or beef burger, but this provides another great option. My pro tips are definitely take the time to try/make the Avocado Crema and the Whole Wheat Honey Bread Buns! This bread recipe is legit and the only bread that I eat because of taste and ingredients! Also, I like the freezer option, but it rarely gets to that point!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the salmon burgers! I know I can always count on you. šŸ™‚

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