You can make a burger out of any protein, but there’s something about shrimp that delivers superior flavor and texture. You get a juicy burger that stays intact with exceptional shrimpy sweetness by puréeing half the shrimp into a binding paste and leaving the rest chunky.
Cooks on a budget will appreciate how this recipe stretches its star ingredient. Shrimp can be expensive, but you get four generous burgers from just one pound of shrimp, making it a great way to make the most of a pricey ingredient.
Ingredients for Shrimp Burgers
- Shrimp: There’s no reason to splurge on large shrimp for this recipe since they will be chopped into smaller pieces anyway. Just make sure the shrimp are thawed (if frozen) and deveined.
- Green onions: Green onions are an aromatic that pairs well with shrimp.
- Seafood seasoning: Old Bay is a great option for seasoning the mayo donned by the shrimp burgers. You can also use any seafood seasoning you find in the seafood section of your grocery store.
- Panko breadcrumbs: Panko will give the burgers a light and fluffy texture. If you use regular breadcrumbs, the texture will be a bit denser.
- Egg: Egg acts as a binder for the shrimp burgers.
- Burger fixings: Between pillowy buns, this recipe calls for Boston lettuce, tomato and red onion, but feel free to add or omit as you see fit.
Directions
Step 1: Pulse the shrimp
Place half the shrimp in a food processor and process until the mixture is smooth and paste-like. Add the remaining shrimp, bread crumbs, egg, green onions, lemon juice, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Pulse until the mixture is combined and the largest pieces of shrimp are 1/4 inch.
Step 2: Shape the shrimp patties
Shape the mixture into four patties and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
Editor’s Tip: Slightly wet your hands with water before handling the mixture to avoid sticking.
Step 3: Cook the shrimp patties
Heat the oil over medium heat in a large skillet and cook the patties until golden brown on each side.
Step 4: Mix the mayo
In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon zest, and seafood seasoning.
Step 5: Assemble the burgers
Spread the mayo over the cut sides of the buns. Place the patties on the bottom buns, and the lettuce, tomato, and onion on the top buns.
Shrimp Burger Variations
- Saltine crackers: Crushed saltine crackers can be substituted for the breadcrumbs.
- Cajun seasoning: For a little smokiness, use Cajun seasoning instead of seafood.
- Spice it up: Add Sriracha to the mayo mixture or toss a spoonful of harissa into the food processor when making the patty mixture.
How to Store Shrimp Burgers
Refrigerate your leftovers in an airtight container for up to two days.
How to Freeze Shrimp Burgers
To freeze, layer the shrimp patties between sheets of wax paper and freeze them raw or cooked. They are best thawed and eaten within three months.
Shrimp Burgers Recipe Tips
Can you make shrimp burgers ahead of time?
The patties can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container.
What goes with shrimp burgers?
For side dishes, you can’t go wrong with cookout side-dish classics like homemade french fries, creamy coleslaw, potato chips, hushpuppies, corn on the cob, potato salad, or garden salad.
Can I use frozen shrimp for shrimp burgers?
Yes! Almost all shrimp you find in supermarkets is previously frozen, even if it isn’t frozen when you purchase it. To thaw frozen shrimp, place it in a bowl of cold water for about 15 minutes, swapping out the water once or twice. You can also defrost it overnight in the fridge.
