Salmon Burgers with Lemon and Dill are always a huge hit. Made with fresh salmon, they're incredibly juicy, and are packed with bright, fresh and spicy flavors. These are awesome for a summer BBQ and perfect for a weeknight dinner, too.
These burgers (or patties) are made using fresh salmon, a few other simple ingredients and a food processor.
With the bright added flavors of lemon and fresh dill, this salmon burger recipe is a delicious option for a healthy dinner, a hearty lunch or a summer barbecue.
Learning how to make salmon burgers is easier than you might think, and I love this type of recipe because while it's fairly quick to put together, it's still quite impressive for guests.
Making Fresh Salmon Burgers in a Food Processor
Using fresh salmon is so easy in this recipe. The only thing you need to mix the ingredients is a food processor, and from start to finish, it only takes about 20 minutes!
- Place all of the ingredients in the food processor to make the salmon mixture (salmon, lemon zest, lemon juice, fresh dill, green onions, Sriracha or chili paste and salt).
- Blend until everything is in tiny pieces, shape into patties and sprinkle with black pepper.
How to Cook Salmon Patties on the Stove
My preferred methods for cooking the salmon burgers is on the stove in a nonstick skillet.
Satuéing is great for making these healthy salmon burgers year round. (And you can go for the grill in the summertime.)
- Place a large nonstick skillet over medium heat to medium-high heat, and lightly coat it with grapeseed oil.
- Once the pan is very hot, add the patties, with a bit of space between them.
- Flip them when the bottoms are golden brown, after about two minutes. Then sauté just until they're cooked through, another couple of minutes.
Can you use other cooking methods?
- I find it's easiest to make these in a nonstick pan on the stove, but they can also be grilled or baked.
- If you're grilling them, a stove-top grill pan is best because they are fairly fragile and there's no grate for them to crumble through. That said, on an outdoor grill, if the grate isn't very wide, it should work.
- To bake salmon burgers, once they're shaped on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet, bake in a preheated 425°F oven for about 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.
What to Serve with Salmon Patties
- One great way to serve them is on a delicious bed of greens.
- They're excellent between two hamburger buns with tomato, red onion, avocado and my delicious Chipotle Aioli.
- I also love them served just as a salmon patty -- maybe with rice and a salad.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
- Fresh herbs are lovely in salmon burgers and I love the dill. Basil or oregano would also be tasty, or any combination thereof.
- Feel free to use more of less of the Sriracha or chili paste, depending on the amount of heat you want.
- Starting with the best salmon possible is key to any salmon recipe. I always try to buy wild salmon when I can. Here's why. (Sockeye salmon is a great choice when it's in season.)
Can you make them ahead?
- I think these are at their most delicious right out of the pan. However, they are indeed still very good if you make them ahead. They can be made up to two days ahead of time and warmed slightly to serve.
- The cooked patties can be frozen for up to a month. They should be cooled to room temperature first, and then wrapped tightly. Thaw them in the refrigerator before warming to serve.
- You can also freeze the raw patties for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator, and then sauté them as instructed. To freeze them this way, wrap them individually in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer bag.
I hope you love these scrumptious, healthy salmon burgers as much as my family and I do!
Enjoy!
More amazing healthy salmon recipes:
- Olive Oil Poached Salmon
- Baked Cilantro Chimichurri Salmon
- Salmon Bowl with Peach and Avocado
- California King Salmon with Zucchini
- Blackened Mexican Salmon
Salmon Burgers with Lemon and Dill Recipe
Salmon Burgers with Lemon and Dill always draws a crowd. Packed with fresh and spicy flavors, it's awesome for a summer BBQ and perfect for a weeknight dinner, too.
- 1¾ pounds salmon fillet, (skin removed, cut into large chunks (preferably wild-caught salmon))
- 1 cup loosely packed dill, (washed and dried)
- ½ cup roughly chopped scallions (green onions), (washed and dried)
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest (from about 2 medium-sized lemons)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce or chili paste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- a few turns of freshly ground black pepper
- grapeseed (or other neutral) oil for the pan
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Blend the ingredients. Add the salmon, dill, scallions, lemon zest, lemon juice, Sriracha or chili paste, and salt to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Blend just until it's broken down into small pieces.
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Shape the burgers. Line a baking sheet with parchment, and evenly divide the salmon mixture into 6 patties, about ½ cup each. They should be about 1½ inches or so thick . Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper.
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Sauté. Coat the bottom of a large nonstick skillet with grapeseed oil and place it over medium to medium-high heat. Once the pan is very hot, add the salmon patties, with a bit of space between them. Flip them when the bottom is golden brown, after about 2 minutes. Then sauté the other side for another couple of minutes, until it's golden brown as well.
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Serve. Now you can add this delicious burger to your favorite bun, with your favorite burger add-ons, and serve.
Calorie count is only an estimate.
Chef Mimi
Just beautiful. I love that you started with raw salmon, that way the burgers aren’t dry and overcooked. Great flavors, and pretty pictures!
valentina
Thank you, Mimi. I watch my salmon like a hawk while it's cooking, as I'm sure you know it can go from perfect to too dry in an instant. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina
Eha
Yes please . . . as soon as possible ! Love it all, especially since dill is a factor and would serve them as a pattie ! No problems whatsoever with carbohydrates but hamburger buns are kinda 'empty' ones 🙂 ! Altho' I normally grill or bake - these are so healthy a little shallow pan-frying won't go astray 🙂 ! Shall point friends in this direction !!!
valentina
Thank you so much, Eha! You are so very kind -- I always appreciate how you share recipes with friends. I hope if you try this you love it. 🙂 ~Valentina
Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!
What, fresh salmon! I bet these are delicious! I've coincidentally been having cravings for salmon patties, and I was planning to use canned! Now I've seen the light!
valentina
Hi Jeff. I hope you try and love this. I do love starting with raw salmon. Thanks for checking it out. 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn
Lemon and dill go so so well with seafood so I just know how incredibly delicious this salmon burger recipe is gonna be! Plus, the touch of spice is just perfect. Love that they can be made ahead, too (so great for busy days). And, yay, I have all the ingredients - these are SO happening!!
valentina
Thanks, Dawn. Thank for all of the positive words on this recipe. I hope you love it. 🙂 ~Valentina
David
I have only made salmon patties with cooked salmon — honestly, it never occurred to me to use raw salmon (thought I use raw tuna in burgers all the time). Go figure. I will definitely be trying these soon! Thanks, Valentina.
valentina
I hoe you love them, David. And now I'm wanting to try a tuna burger. 🙂 ~Valentina
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
Terrific! Really such a great flavour profile - light, bright, refreshing, yet quite piquant. Lemon and dill are a great addition here, and I think they actually can also be transformed to a yogurt-dill-lemon sauce.
valentina
Thanks, Ben. The sauce you just dreamed up sounds delicious. I'll be trying that. 🙂 ~Valentina
John / Kitchen Riffs
What terrific salmon burgers! I usually buy them already made up from my fish monger or Whole Foods, but these look far better. Far, FAR better. 🙂 Good stuff -- thanks.
valentina
Thanks so much, John. I hope you try and enjoy them. 🙂 ~Valentina
Marissa
We love salmon burgers, Valentina! Seasoning them with lemon and dill is perfection in my book - Can't wait to try this recipe!
valentina
Thanks, Marissa. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina
2pots2cook
Amazing! So full of flavours; perfect spring week dinner!
valentina
Yes they are. Thank you, Davorka. 🙂 ~Valentina