Avocado Salmon Burgers

Easy Salmon Avocado Burgers that taste great, are budget-friendly and can be made ahead of time.

About Salmon Avocado Burgers

If you're looking for a recipe using canned salmon, be happy you found these Avocado Salmon Burgers. They are budget-friendly, delicious, and versatile. And I love them.

I know canned fish isn't known for its culinary prowess, but don't shun the thought of using canned salmon if you've never tried it. It's an excellent way to get in your recommended serving of fish on a budget. Plus it really can taste good and that's what matters most, right? Right.

Plus, canned salmon and avocado go quite well together.

Basically, you should try these because they are easy to make, inexpensive, and very tasty.

They are also free of gluten, dairy, soy, and nuts. You could probably omit the egg and add a tablespoon of lime juice to help it hold together. They won't stay together as well but they'll still be tasty no matter what.

The main thing to remember when making these, and any other type of crab cake, salmon burger, tuna burger, or bean burger, is to refrigerate them after forming. This will significantly help them hold together better when cooking.

Ingredients

Avocado: A ripe, medium-sized avocado (which is about ½ cup mashed avocado) is best for these salmon burgers.

Egg: The egg helps keep together the salmon burgers. One large egg, the standard-sized egg at grocery stores, is ideal. No need to use any special type of egg.

Green onions: For a little extra flavor, you can add green onion or chives. You can also add fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley. These are completely optional though, and I often forget to add them.

Seasoning: Usually, I use garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and salt. The salt is the only must-have seasoning in my opinion, but I like the extra flavor the garlic powder and cayenne pepper give. You could also try adding ⅛ teaspoon of another spice like paprika, turmeric, curry powder, chili powder, cumin, or any other seasoning you like.

Salmon: This recipe uses 2 (6 ounce) or 1 (14.5 ounce) cans of salmon. Look for the cans that are wild-caught in Alaska for your most environmentally friendly. There's also a label that shows that the fish has been eco-certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and/or Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

Be sure you drain the salmon really, really well. Otherwise, your Avocado Salmon Burgers could be a little soggy and not hold together as well.

Oil: The oil keeps your Salmon Avocado Burgers from sticking, but if you use a nonstick skillet, it's not mandatory. You can use olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, or even butter in a pinch if needed.

Cost of Recipe

• avocado 1 medium: $1
• egg 1 large: $0.23
• green onion 2 green onions: $0.20
• salt ¼ tsp: $0.01
• garlic powder ¼ tsp: $0.02
• cayenne pepper ⅛ tsp: $0.01
• cilantro 2 TBSP: $0.15
• lime zest ½ tsp: $0.16
• salmon 14.5 ounce can: $5.98
• olive oil 2 tsp: $0.16

TOTAL COST: $7.92 or $1.98/serving (Based on San Diego Sprouts 2021)

How to Make Avocado Salmon Burgers

Recipe Tips

Variations

Ingredient Options

• Green onion, cilantro, and citrus (lime or lemon) zest are all optional but give great flavor!
• I always forget green onion, so I honestly leave it out most of the time, and they are still delish. Same with the cilantro, and if you aren't a cilantro fan, just use parsley in its place. Or omit it.
• However, the lime or lemon zest is really important in my opinion, so add it if you can.
• If you can't find 2 (6 ounces) cans of salmon, you can also use 1 (14 ounces) can in place.

Flavor Substitutions

Want to make this a more Mexican-style salmon burger? Add ⅛ teaspoon chili powder and/or cumin.

Another spice option could be ⅛ teaspoon each of curry powder and/or tumeric.

Alternative Prep & Cooking

The stovetop is the best way to cook these. I tried baking them in the oven, and they came out less than ideal. They were dryer and took longer to cook. Plus, they didn't look very appetizing.

How to Make Allergy Friendly

These are already gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and soy-free. The Salmon Avocado Burgers have an egg in them, but you could try omitting the egg and adding a tablespoon or so of lime or lemon juice to help them hold together.

Make Ahead Ideas

These are best made ahead so you can refrigerate the burgers. The refrigeration step helps them hold together a little better when cooking. However, they only need about 20-30 minutes in the fridge, so these can still be ready in less than an hour if you need them to be.

These are great to make in advance for meal prep. You can refrigerate after forming the patties for up to one day, and you can freeze the cooked burgers. Just thaw in the fridge for an hour before reheating the burgers in the skillet over low heat. Microwaving on a paper towel (to absorb excess liquid) in 30-second intervals until done can be done in a pinch.

Storage Suggestions

Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 4 weeks uncooked or 2 weeks pre-cooked. I highly suggest wrapping the burgers in parchment paper or waxed paper before putting them in an airtight bag or container if freezing.

Plus, these have a much better texture if frozen before cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions

The best canned salmon for salmon burgers

When buying canned salmon, be sure to look for those that are wild-caught in Alaska for your most environmentally friendly. I like Wild Planet, Safe Catch, StarKist, and the Costco Kirkland brand canned salmons.

I also like to look for a label that shows that the fish has been eco-certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and/or Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

What condiments do you put on a salmon burger?

There are tons of options for condiments to serve with your salmon burgers. I like to add a slice of lemon or lime and some ketchup. You could also top with salsa or guacamole.

How do you freeze salmon burgers?

You can freeze the salmon burgers before they have been cooked or after. I prefer to freeze them before cooking for better texture. However, they are still good if frozen after cooking and it's nice since you can simply reheat and enjoy them.

To freeze uncooked Avocado Salmon Burgers, form into burgers and wrap in parchment or waxed paper and keep in an airtight container in the freezer for up to one month. 

To freeze cooked burgers, follow directions to cook. Let cool completely; then wrap in parchment or waxed paper and keep in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. 

How do you cook frozen salmon burgers?

To cook frozen uncooked salmon burgers, let thaw in the refrigerator for at least 90 minutes. Then heat the skillet and cook as directed, adding an extra 2-4 minutes per side until cooked through.

To cook frozen pre-cooked salmon burgers, reheat in the microwave on 50% power at 45-second intervals on a paper towel until warmed through. Or heat a skillet over medium heat, and cook about 5 minutes per side until heated through.

Are salmon burgers healthy?

Yes, these salmon burgers are full of heart-beneficial fats like omega 3's thanks to the salmon and avocado. Plus, they are an excellent source of protein, and they even have some fiber in the burgers from the avocados.

If you use a canned salmon with bones, you get a nice dose of calcium and vitamin D. 

What to serve with Salmon Avocado Burgers

I love serving these with salsa alongside some carbohydrates and veggies. You could serve on a hamburger bun with a quick veggie like sauteed green beans, rosemary garlic carrots, or a bowl of tomato soup.

Final thoughts:

This Avocado Salmon Burgers recipe is one that I go to time and time again because I know they are tasty and I know they'll keep me satisfied.

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MORE SALMON RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:

• Pesto Salmon
• Salmon Asparagus Bundles
• Chickpea Salmon Burgers
• Salmon Eggplant Grilled Cheese
• Feta Salmon Burgers

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Meme

This post was originally published on September 10, 2014. Text, recipe, and photos have been updated.