The Best Sauces for Salmon Burgers: 12 Must-Try Options

Salmon burgers are a delicious, healthy meal that can be easily made at home. But what sauce should you serve with them? The right salmon burger sauce can take your meal from bland to spectacular. After thorough research and testing I’ve compiled the 12 best sauces for salmon burgers that will make your tastebuds sing.

Why Salmon Burgers Need Special Sauces

Unlike beef burgers, salmon burgers require sauces that complement, rather than overwhelm the flavor of the fish. Beef burgers pair well with thick, creamy sauces like ranch or special sauce. But those would overpower the delicate flavor of salmon.

Salmon burger sauces should enhance the natural flavors of the salmon without being too heavy. They should add moisture and acidity to balance the fish. And they should complement any additional toppings you choose.

The sauces on this list accomplish all that and more. Let’s get to the list so you can start perfecting your next salmon burger night.

12 Must-Try Salmon Burger Sauces

1. Lemon Dill Sauce

Lemon and dill are classic pairings with salmon. This lemon dill sauce combines mayonnaise, mustard lemon juice dill, and a kick of cayenne. It’s fresh, herby, and zesty – perfect for highlighting the salmon flavor. I like to add sliced tomato, avocado, lettuce, and red onion to my salmon burger with this sauce. The acid from the sauce and toppings cuts through the richness of the salmon.

2. Cajun Remoulade

Remoulade is a classic French condiment that pairs excellently with seafood To make it perfect for salmon burgers, I add Cajun seasoning to the remoulade for a little heat. Combining mayonnaise, spicy mustard, garlic, hot sauce, horseradish, and Cajun seasoning creates a creamy, spicy sauce. It adds moisture and a savory depth to your salmon burger.

3. Avocado Ranch Sauce

Ranch is a versatile sauce that works well with salmon, especially when blended with avocado. Combining Greek yogurt, avocado, garlic, herbs, lemon juice, and other seasoning creates a quick sauce to dress up your salmon burger. The cool, creamy avocado balances the hot burger. I love this sauce because you get the flavor of avocado without the hassle of slicing it.

4. Creamy Garlic Sauce

This sauce only requires four ingredients but transforms your salmon burger. Combining mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, and heavy cream makes a rich, garlicky sauce. The heavy cream gives it a creamy luxurious texture. And the garlic adds a wonderful zing. This is one of the simpler salmon burger sauces, but it packs a flavor punch.

5. Sriracha Mayo

For the easiest salmon burger sauce, combine sriracha and mayonnaise. That gives you a spicy, creamy condiment to spice up your burger night. I love sriracha mayo because it only requires two ingredients but adds so much flavor. Feel free to adjust the sriracha to your desired spice level. I top my salmon burger with this sauce, arugula, and avocado slices for a quick weeknight meal.

6. Creamy Tartar Sauce

Tartar sauce is commonly paired with fried fish, but it’s also excellent on salmon burgers. My homemade tartar sauce recipe combines mayonnaise, lemon juice, capers, pickles, herbs, and seasonings. The creaminess of the mayo balances the acidity of the lemon. And the briny capers and pickles complement the salmon beautifully. Tartar sauce adds a cool, tangy contrast to the salmon burger.

7. Dill Yogurt Sauce

If you want to avoid mayonnaise, this dill yogurt sauce is a great alternative. Combining Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, dill, and other seasonings creates a fresh, herby sauce. The yogurt adds tang and creaminess without the guilt of mayo. This sauce highlights dill, which is one of my favorite pairings with salmon. It’s light and summery tasting – ideal for warm weather salmon burgers.

8. Honey Mustard Sauce

Honey mustard is a classic burger sauce that also pairs well with salmon patties. I make mine by combining Dijon mustard, honey, mayonnaise, garlic, and lemon. The sweet honey and tangy mustard cut through the rich salmon burger. The mayonnaise and lemon add creaminess and acidity. And the garlic gives it an extra punch. Drizzle this easy sauce on your burger for added flavor.

9. Spicy Peanut Sauce

For an Asian flair, make an easy peanut sauce. Combining soy sauce, peanut butter, sriracha, lime juice, garlic, ginger, and other spices creates a salty, nutty sauce that pairs amazingly with salmon. The peanut butter gives it a creamy texture, while the sriracha brings the heat. I love this spicy peanut sauce on top of a salmon burger with fresh cucumber slices.

10. Mango Salsa

Skipping the creamy sauces, a fresh mango salsa is amazing on salmon burgers. Dice mango, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice for a sweet, tangy salsa. The juicy mango matches the salmon’s moist texture. And the lime and jalapeño cut through the fattiness. Serving this vibrant salsa on a salmon burger adds color and a tropical twist.

11. Chimichurri Sauce

Chimichurri is a thick, herby sauce that traditionally pairs with grilled meats. But its intense flavor also complements rich salmon wonderfully. My chimichurri contains parsley, cilantro, garlic, shallots, oregano, red pepper flakes, oil, and vinegar. Combining the fresh herbs, savory garlic and shallots, heat from the pepper flakes, and acid from the vinegar makes a complex sauce that elevates any salmon burger.

12. Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

Pesto is commonly paired with chicken or pasta, but it’s amazing on salmon too. Blending basil, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, walnuts, and olive oil creates an intense, savory pesto. The sun-dried tomatoes give it a rich, almost meaty flavor that stands up to the salmon patty. And the basil and garlic add fresh herby notes. A drizzle of pesto mayo on your next burger will become your new favorite sauce.

Tips for Salmon Burger Sauces

To get the most out of your salmon burger sauces, keep these tips in mind:

• Pay attention to consistency – you want the sauce thick enough to stick to the burger without being runny. Thicken with mayo, yogurt, or sour cream if needed.

• Don’t overpower the salmon – a little sauce goes a long way with lighter flavors.

• Highlight salmon’s natural flavors – choose sauces with lemon, herbs, garlic, capers.

• Add acidity to balance the fat – lemon juice, vinegar, mustard all work great.

• Include creaminess – mayo, yogurt, avocado, or nut/seed butters.

• Complement with toppings – lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles all pair well.

Several sauces complement salmon beautifully, offering a range of flavors from creamy and tangy to spicy and savory.