Change up your dinner with these easy Shrimp Burgers! The homemade patties are made with pimento and Cajun seasoning, giving them a delicious flavor. Whether you make them for a summer barbecue or a quick meal, they're ready in under 30 minutes.
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Cajun Shrimp Burgers
I spent my childhood summers visiting the beaches in Maryland and Virginia and enjoying delicious crab cakes. However, a while back, I had a bad experience on a cruise ship, and it made me allergic to real crab.
The other day, I found an old Woman's Day magazine featuring a recipe for shrimp patties. Right away, I knew this would solve my crab cake dilemma!
I absolutely love shrimp. When I make dinner, two of my favorite healthy meals are coconut curry shrimp and shrimp zucchini noodles.
We had a bottle of Cajun seasoning in the pantry. So, I immediately knew I wanted to switch up our dinner with some Cajun-inspired shrimp burgers!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Juicy shrimp burgers with a Cajun kick are an easy, flavorful way to mix up your dinner routine. Give them a try, and enjoy a new favorite!
- Light and Fresh Flavor - These seafood burgers are light yet packed with flavor. The fresh taste of shrimp perfectly complements the bold Cajun spices.
- Quick and Easy – The burgers are pan-fried for a crispy outside and a tender inside. You can have them prepped and on the table in under 30 minutes!
- A Break from the Ordinary – This recipe is a fun way to change up a traditional burger or seafood dinner.
- Easy to Customize – You can also make them as spicy or mild as you like! Add toppings like tartar sauce, avocado, spicy mayo, or a crunchy slaw for even more flavor.
Main Ingredients
This shrimp burger recipe is made with simple ingredients found at your local grocery store.
- Raw Shrimp: We like to use frozen shrimp in this recipe. Thaw, rinse, and pat them dry with paper towels first.
- Onions: Diced green onions add flavor and color to the mixture.
- Pimento: Finely diced pimentos add a sweet and mild flavor to the mixture. Chopped red bell peppers are another great option.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Holds the ingredients together and helps the outside to get crispy when sauteed in a pan.
- Egg White: Helps to bind the ingredients together.
- Seasoning: Cajun seasoning adds a spicy and savory taste. You can also use old bay seasoning, black pepper, and salt.
How To Make Shrimp Burgers
- Roughly chop the shrimp. Combine all the ingredients in a food processor, then pulse a few times. Do not overprocess because you want chunks of fish in your mixture.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the skillet is warm, divide the shrimp mixture into four even scoops.
- Gently form the scoops into a ¾-inch thick patties. The mixture is sticky, so spray your hands with nonstick spray.
- Place the patties in the hot oil and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve these seafood burgers on brioche buns with lettuce, tomato, bacon, and a creamy Cajun dill sauce. If you are on a low carb diet, skip the bread and serve it in a lettuce wrap or salad. Here are a few sides that go well with it.
- Pizza Zucchini Salad
- Vegetarian Caprese Salad
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad
Storage Recommendations
Leftover shrimp burgers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat individual patties in the microwave or a hot skillet.
Tips and Tricks
- Start with raw shrimp. Don't use pre-cooked shrimp; raw will give you the best texture. Just clean and devein them before blending.
- Don't overprocess. Pulse the shrimp in the food processor until it's finely chopped but not a paste. You still want some texture in the patties.
- Use a binder. Mix everything with bread crumbs or crushed crackers to hold everything together. This helps the patties keep their shape when cooking.
- Keep it from sticking. The mixture is very sticky. Spray your hands with nonstick spray or dip your fingers in ice water to prevent sticking.
- Cook over medium heat. Shrimp cooks quickly, so use medium heat to avoid overcooking. You want the outside golden and crispy while the inside stays juicy and tender.
- Add some crunch. Serve your burger patties on a toasted Kaiser roll with crunchy lettuce, pickles, or a fresh cabbage slaw for texture.
FAQs
Shrimp cooks fast! The patties should turn pink and opaque throughout. It usually takes about 3-4 minutes per side over medium heat.
Yes! You can prep the patties and store them in the fridge for up to 24 hours. You can also freeze them uncooked for a quick meal later. Just thaw them before cooking.
Not at all! You can switch it up with Old Bay, lemon pepper, or your favorite seasoning blend.
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Recipe
Shrimp Burgers
Ingredients
For the Cajun Dill Sauce
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¾ teaspoon cajun seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill
- pinch of salt
For the Shrimp Burgers
- 1 lb. bag medium deveined and no tail shrimp, thawed & cut up
- 2 diced green onions
- 2 tablespoons diced pimento, drained
- 2 tablespoons panko crumbs
- 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
- 1 egg white
- canola oil
- Optional Toppings: buns, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, cooked bacon
Instructions
- Whisk together the yogurt, seasoning, lime juice, paprika, garlic, dill, and salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve with the burgers.
- Place the shrimp, onions, pimentos, panko, cajun seasoning, and egg white in a food processor. Pulse slightly until a paste forms. Do not over-pulse. You should still see chunks of shrimp in the mixture.
- Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Shape the mixture into four ¾-inch patties. Gently place the patties in the preheated pan. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
- Serve hot with buns, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, and cajun dill sauce.
Notes
- Start with raw shrimp. Don't use pre-cooked shrimp; raw shrimp will give you the best texture. Just clean and devein them before blending.
- Don't overprocess. Pulse the shrimp in the food processor until it's finely chopped but not a paste. You still want some texture in the patties.
- Use a binder. Mix everything with bread crumbs or crushed crackers to hold everything together. This helps the patties keep their shape when cooking.
- Keep it from sticking. The mixture is very sticky. Spray your hands with nonstick spray or dip your fingers in ice water to prevent sticking.
- Cook over medium heat. Shrimp cooks quickly, so use medium heat to avoid overcooking. You want the outside golden and crispy while the inside stays juicy and tender.
- Add some crunch. Serve your shrimp burger patties on a toasted Kaiser roll with crunchy lettuce, pickles, or a fresh cabbage slaw for texture.
- Recipe adapted from Woman's Day
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 772mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 9g
This post was first published in July 2018. It was updated and then republished in September 2024.
brenda
can i make them a day ahead and put in frig
Jocelyn
Yes, they would be fine to make ahead. You can either cook them and then reheat, or refrigerate the uncooked patties and cook the next day. The cold patties may take a little longer to cook. I hope you enjoy the burgers.
Barbara wiser
Good recipes