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Juicy Shrimp Burgers are a great way to spice up your regular burger routine! Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, they’re served on toasted brioche buns spread with a creamy homemade sauce and piled with cheese and fresh vegetables.
Why You’ll Love This Shrimp Burgers Recipe
We love burgers and we love seafood, so this shrimp burgers recipe is the perfect combination of the two! The sweet and juicy homemade shrimp patties are slightly crunchy with the addition of Panko breadcrumbs, and the rich homemade dressing is out of this world good! Here’s why you’ll love these burgers:
- A new way to make shrimp. I love cooking with shrimp because it’s such a versatile seafood choice. These burgers are a different way to use it, and something you might not see every day.
- Mix up your burger routine. Go beyond the classic beef burger and try it with shrimp! You’ll love how hearty yet light these burgers are.
- So flavorful. From the sweet shrimp spiked with a combination of dried spices including cumin and cayenne pepper to the tangy dressing you’ll love the variety of flavors going on in this dish.
What You’ll Need
These tasty shrimp burgers are a fantastic way to break free from the usual beef burger routine. Made with simple ingredients, the shrimp patties bring a delicious twist to your meals. Here’s what you’ll need to make these mouthwatering burgers. Check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.
For the Shrimp Patty
- Shrimp – You’ll use peeled and deveined shrimp. Save time by buying shrimp that’s already prepped for you.
- Onion – I use a yellow onion, but you can use a purple onion if you wish.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted butter is fine.
- All-Purpose Flour
- Water
- Salt and Pepper
- Spices: Cumin, cayenne pepper, garlic powder season the burgers.
- Scallions
- Parsley – Flat or curly leaf parsley will work.
- Oil – You’ll need vegetable oil to fry the patties.
Breading Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour
- Egg – A large egg helps the coating stick to the burgers.
- Panko Bread Crumbs – I love to use Panko because they are larger and flakier bread crumbs. You can use regular bread crumbs in a pinch.
For the Dressing
- Mayonnaise – Mayo forms the base of the creamy dressing. Use a good-quality mayonnaise for the best flavor.
- Greek Yogurt – Low-fat or full-fat Greek yogurt is fine, but make sure to use plain yogurt so that it doesn’t affect the flavor of the dressing.
- Garlic Powder – To add a little savory bite.
- Italian Seasoning – If you don’t have Italian seasoning you can substitute dried basil, oregano, or a combination.
- Salt
Assembly
- Brioche Buns – Or substitute regular burger buns.
- Cheese – You can use Maasdam cheese or mozzarella cheese.
- Tomatoes – Use vine-ripe tomatoes for the best juicy flavor.
- Cabbage – I like to use shredded green cabbage.
Can I Use Frozen Shrimp?
Yes, you can use frozen shrimp to make this shrimp burgers recipe. Thaw the shrimp according to the package directions, then continue with the recipe. I advise buying deveined and peeled shrimp to save yourself time. You also can use any size of shrimp, just make sure to grab two pounds of whatever size you choose.
How To Make Shrimp Burgers
These juicy shrimp burgers are loaded with juicy chunks of shrimp, perfectly seasoned with spices and herbs for a light and fresh flavor. Follow the simple steps below to make them.
- Make the shrimp mixture. Place the shrimp in the processor and process it, leaving a few large pieces.
- Combine. Place the patty ingredients in a bowl and mix the ingredients together. Stir in the chopped scallions and add the parsley.
- Form patties. Divide the shrimp mixture into 4 patties.
- Dredge. In three separate bowls, add the flour, beaten egg, and panko bread crumbs and dredge each shrimp patty in the mixture. Dredge each shrimp patty in flour, dip in beaten egg, and coat evenly with panko bread crumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
- Fry. Carefully place the patties into hot oil and fry until golden brown.
- Drain. Remove the patties from the oil and drain on paper towels.
- Make the dressing: Combine the mayonnaise, yogurt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt.
- Assemble. Toast the bottom half of the buns and spread with dressing. Place a shrimp patty on each bun, top with slices of cheese, sliced tomatoes, and shredded cabbage, and finish with the top half of the bun.
Tips for Success
A few of my easy tips for these shrimp burgers will ensure that they turn out amazing and perfect every time.
- Use fresh shrimp. For the best-tasting shrimp burgers, choose fresh shrimp and use it the day you bring it home. Alternatively, you can use frozen shrimp, but make sure to defrost it just before you make the recipe.
- Swap tartar sauce. Tartar sauce is a classic accompaniment to seafood dishes, and it works well with these burgers, too. If you’re short on time or just want a slightly different flavor profile, substitute tartar sauce for the dressing.
- Add lemon. A burst of bright lemon is perfect with shrimp! Add the zest of one lemon to the shrimp patties for a bit of citrus flavor.
- Try Old Bay Seasoning. For a more Southern flair to these shrimp burgers, swap out the dried spices in the patties for Old Bay Seasoning.
What To Serve With Shrimp Burgers
Shrimp burgers are a wonderful main meal choice, along with simple sides like fries or a fresh salad. An always-welcome side to any kind of burger includes fries! Try my Garlic Fries or Parmesan Crusted Potatoes with shrimp burgers, or make a vegetable fry like Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini Fries.
Keep it easy with a big salad! Make an Avocado Tomato Salad or Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream Dressing to go alongside these burgers. Or, try a crunchy fresh slaw with shrimp burgers, like my Asian Cabbage Slaw recipe.
Proper Storage
- Fridge – Place the cooled shrimp patties in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you have leftover toppings and dressing, store them in separate containers in the fridge.
- Freezer – Make the patties, let them cool, then place them in a freezer-safe bag with a piece of parchment in between each one. Store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the patties in the fridge before reheating them.
- To Reheat – Leftover shrimp burgers can be reheated in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through or in the microwave on a microwave-safe plate in 1-minute increments until hot.
More Seafood Recipes To Try
Shrimp Burgers
Ingredients
Shrimp patty:
- 2 pounds shrimp, peeled, deveined, and patted dry
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon water
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 scallions, finely chopped
- 1 handful of fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 2 cups vegetable oil, for frying
Breading:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Assembly:
- 4 brioche buns or regular burger buns, split and toasted
- 12 slices Maasdam cheese or mozzarella cheese
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- 1 cup cabbage, shredded
Instructions
For the Shrimp patties
- Chop the shrimp using a food processor or a sharp knife, making sure to leave some larger pieces for texture. Avoid overprocessing to prevent a paste-like consistency, aiming instead for a mixture with varied-sized chunks.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped shrimp with diced onion, butter, flour, water, salt, pepper, cumin, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder.
- Add chopped scallions and parsley to the shrimp mixture and mix well until combined.
- Divide the shrimp mixture into 4 equal portions and shape each portion into a patty. Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to firm up.
- Prep the breading station and place flour, beaten egg, and panko bread crumbs in three separate shallow bowls.
- Dredge each shrimp patty in flour, dip it in the beaten egg, and then coat it evenly with panko bread crumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
- In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
- Carefully place the breaded shrimp patties into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Remove the patties from the oil and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Prepare the Dressing
- In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
Assemble the Burgers
- Toast the bottom of the brioche buns until lightly golden.
- Spread a generous amount of the prepared dressing on the bottom half of each bun.
- Place a shrimp patty on each bun. Top with slices of cheese, sliced tomatoes, and shredded cabbage.
- Finish with the top half of the bun and serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
