Air Fryer Salmon Burgers – Real Food with Sarah

Air Fryer Salmon Burgers are made with fresh salmon and topped with a lemon-dill Greek yogurt sauce. They are a great way to switch up burger nights and are perfect for the entire family!

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Salmon burger on a brioche bun with lettuce and tomato.

The key to flavorful and juicy salmon burgers? Using fresh Atlantic or sockeye salmon. While I love it in a pinch, canned salmon is just not the same.

This recipe was inspired by my Lemon and Herb Salmon Burger recipe. If you are a seafood lover you will also love my Teriyaki Salmon Bowls and Cajun Butter Sauce for Seafood.

🌟Why You'll Love this Recipe

Simple & quick. This recipe is super flavorful but it's truly a simple recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes.
Fresh ingredients. The lemon juice, fresh dill and Greek yogurt all pair very well with the salmon.
Perfect for meal prep. These burgers can be made ahead of time and frozen, making them perfect for meal prep. You can store them cooked or uncooked.

🥘Ingredients and Substitutions

Ingredients in air fryer salmon burgers.

Salmon- salmon is the base of these burgers and I highly recommend using fresh wild-caught salmon.
Lemon- lemon juice help to brighten up the flavors of this recipe.
Fresh herbs- you will need fresh dill and fresh parsley. Dried herbs will also work but I do recommend fresh over dried.
Greek yogurt- we use this as a binding agent in the burgers but it is also the main ingredient in our yogurt sauce. It helps to add moisture to the salmon patties. You can also use mayonnaise inside the burgers.
Panko breadcrumbs- if you can't find or don't have panko breadcrumbs, use regular breadcrumbs, but just a ¼ cup as they are more finely ground.

See the recipe card below for quantities and remaining ingredients.

🔪Instructions

Ingredients in a food processor before blending.

Four salmon burger patties on a white plate.

Prepare the salmon. You may need to remove the skin from the salmon before dicing it and adding it to the food processor with the other burger ingredients.
Pulse the mixture until it forms a paste.
Form the burger patties with your hands.
Air fry for about 10 minutes.
Make the yogurt sauce.
Assemble the burgers and enjoy!

💭Recipe FAQs

How do you store and reheat leftover salmon burgers?

Store the burgers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

If you want to freeze them, individually wrap cooked or uncooked burgers and place them in a freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating or cooking.

To reheat, microwave for 1 minute or sear them on a skillet with olive oil over medium heat for a few minutes.

Can I use canned salmon?

I do not recommend making these burgers with canned salmon. Fresh salmon will give you the best results for this recipe. If you prefer a recipe using canned fish, try my Easy Tuna Cakes recipe.

Can these be made gluten-free?

Yes! Use gluten-free panko or regular breadcrumbs. You can find these at most grocery stores.
Rolled oats or gluten-free crackers that have been crushed make a great substitute for gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Make sure to use gluten-free burger buns, lettuce buns or omit the buns altogether!

👩🏻‍🍳Top Tips

I highly recommend using raw, wild-caught salmon for this recipe. Pre-cooked or canned salmon will just not give you the same result.
Be sure to spray the air fryer with cooking spray before placing the burgers down otherwise they will stick!
Form the mixture into equal-sized patties to ensure they all cook evenly.
Don't overcrowd the salmon burgers in the air fryer as this can prevent them from crisping up. Cook in batches, if needed.

Salmon burger with yogurt sauce on a bun with lettuce and tomato on a wooden board.

Toppings for Salmon Burgers

I love topping mine with the basics- lettuce, tomato and yogurt sauce but there are ways to switch it up!

Add sliced red onion or pickled onions.
Avocado or guacamole would both be great in place of the yogurt sauce.
Sriracha or chipotle mayo will add a little kick to the burgers.
Tartar sauce makes a great sauce for salmon.

🥗Serving

Pairing the salmon burgers with a couple of side dishes, including a starch and a vegetable, is a great idea. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve these patties:

French fries, sweet potato fries or my Air Fryer Seasoned Fries are all great options.
Try roasted or air-fried potatoes, such as Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes or Smashed Potatoes.
A simple green salad or Italian Tomato Salad.
Vegetables- broccoli, asparagus or zucchini are all good options.