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These air fryer salmon burgers are a healthy alternative to beef burgers. Whether you’re looking to add some omega 3 fatty acids and healthy fats to your diet, or you’re simply doing meat free Mondays, this will be an awesome addition to your kitchen repertoire.
Salmon Burgers
When it’s warm out, you don’t always feel like a hefty, stodgy beef burger. Salmon, with its lighter flavor and texture, is the perfect alternative. It also comes with vitamin D for your immune system, omega 3 fatty acids, and of course plenty of protein to build those muscles.
Salmon Burger Tips
Here’s a few handy tips to help you churn out perfect salmon burgers every time.
- Firstly, don’t worry too much about breaking down the salmon. We expect a chunky, hearty texture to a great burger. You don’t need the smooth, puree-like texture of a fully broken down salmon fillet. Overly processing the salmon will turn your burger mix into something more closely resembling pate.
- Use instant read thermometer. You want to make sure the outside is crisp and that the salmon burger is either cooked through or medium rare. An instant read meat thermometer will come in handy here so you can ensure the internal temperature of your salmon burger is correct.
- You don’t want to overcook your salmon burgers. Salmon, like most other types of fish, is somewhat prone to drying out, which the addition of add ins like breadcrumbs exacerbates. We recommend that you serve this dish medium rare in the middle, as overcooking the salmon will result in dry patties. Air fry for 10-12 minutes at 400°F or grill 3-5 minutes per side to get tender, flaky, perfectly cooked salmon.
You’ll Need
You only need a few basic ingredients and kitchen staples to turn out this exotic alternative to the traditional beef burger. It’s heart healthy, full of protein, and best of all is absolutely packed with flavor.
How To Cook Salmon Burgers
- The first thing to do is make up your salmon patties. These will be made up of a mixture of uncooked salmon, mayonnaise, dijon mustard and lemon zest, all mixed together in the food processor. The processing will break down the salmon while your mayo will help everything bind together and make it easier to shape into burger-friendly patties. The color of your salmon will lighten in the process, which is what you should expect.
- Once your mixture is made up, you can move it to another bowl for the mix ins. We recommend the addition of finely chopped parsley, breadcrumbs, dry dill, salt and pepper. This adds plenty of flavor and texture, and really makes this feel more like a burger. You can throw in any additional seasoning or herbs if you want here, but we recommend trying this recipe as is to start with.
- Try to make your patties about an inch less in diameter than your burger buns. This salmon burger recipe will give you four four-ounce burger patties. They’re pretty bulky and very filling, but if you find this mix a little too dry for your tastes, add some mayo at this stage. On the other hand, if it’s too moist, you can throw in a little bit of extra breadcrumbs.
- It’s time to get to the air fryer!
Your salmon burgers will cook fairly quickly. Add your patties to your air fryer basket and cook for 10-12 minutes at 400°F. Salmon, like most other types of fish, will cook very quickly. A good rule of thumb is to keep a close eye on your patties. Flip them over halfway through cooking.
Toppings for Salmon Burgers
There are plenty of additions and toppings you can use with your salmon burger. Burgers can be a very customizable food experience, and plenty of delicious additions go really well with salmon. We recommend:
- Tomatoes
- Onions
- Avocado
- Pickles
- Lettuce
- Cheese
- Tartar sauce
- Peppers
Salmon Burgers FAQs
This comes down to both your preference and the size/thickness of the burger patties themselves. Generally speaking, you want a crisp outside and tender inside to the burger. 10-12 minutes of cooking in air fryer ought to be enough for this.
You can freeze your salmon burgers either before or after cooking. They will keep in the freezer for up to three months. When freezing your burgers, stack them between wax or parchment paper in a freezer safe container. This prevents the patties from sticking together while freezing. You could also freeze them on a baking sheet and place them all together in a ziplock bag. When it’s time to reheat your burgers, thaw them in the fridge overnight and reheat on the microwave, in your air fryer or stovetop, or cook them as you would a fresh burger.
Yes! In fact, canned salmon, which is already a little flaked, could work better for forming the patties. If you’re using canned salmon, you’ll want to reduce your cooking time to about 4-5 minutes, to prevent the burgers from drying out. This recipe works better with the full flavor and texture experience of fresh salmon, but the canned stuff will be just fine.
Other Burger Recipes
If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! I will be happy to hear from you!
Air Fryer Salmon Burgers
Ingredients
Salmon Burgers
- 1 pound 500 grams salmon fillets
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon dry dill
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
- 1/2 cup Panko or regular breadcrumbs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
For Serving
- Hamburger buns
- Arugula leaves or lettuce leaves
- Lemon wedges
- Tartar sauce
- Avocado salsa
Instructions
- Dice the salmon into large chunks and place in the bowl of your food processor.
- Add the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and lemon zest. Pulse about 15 times or until the salmon is chopped. If necessary, stop and scrape down the sides.
- Fold in the parsley and breadcrumbs. Season with salt, dill and pepper.
- Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions. Shape each portion into a patty by hand or you can use a round biscuit cutter. They should be about 2-inches thick and 4-inches in width.
- Place the patties into your air fryer basket and brush with avocado or olive oil.
- Air fry at 400°F | 200°C for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through.
- Serve on burger buns with tartar sauce, avocado salsa and lettuce, if desired.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Quick, fast and delicious recipe. I make it frequently as my kids request it at least once a week!
Hey Adriana! Thank you for your feedback! I am glad you liked it!
I made these burgers for my kids and they loved it!
Hey Jayme! Thank you for your feedback! I am glad you liked it!
Fantastic and simple recipe that I will be making again! It’s also my 9-year-old’s favorite meal!
Thank you Mapro! I am glad you and your son like them!
Thanks for such a simple and great recipe! My family enjoyed this so much.
You’re welcome Rosa! I’m glad to hear that your family enjoyed the recipe.
Simple, easy and pantry found ingredients. This is definitely one of our go-tos.
That’s fantastic! Thanks for sharing your experience, it helps others to find great recipes as well.