Shrimp Burgers
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Feb 24, 2025 
These zesty juicy Shrimp Burgers are packed with island herbs and spices, and topped with fresh mango slaw. Plus, they can be made GLUTEN-FREE with just a couple of adjustments!
Caribbean Adventures
Lt. Dan and I have been taking a “grown-up trip” to a little chain of islands in the Bahamas, once a year, for the last few years.
It’s a true vacation, not a wild adventure like so many of our trips. We go with some of our closest friends and do relaxed island things.
We putt around the crystal waters on a small boat. We explore the interior of the islands by golf cart. We lay on the beach. We snorkel. We drink tiki drinks. We eat seafood… Lots of seafood.
It’s pure heaven.
Shrimp Burger Recipe?
Our buddy, Julie, from Running In A Skirt introduced me to shrimp burgers.
Honestly, the idea of shrimp in a burger was a little foreign to me. My first thought was, “Why would anyone grind up big juicy shrimp to make a burger patty?” Yet, after tasting Julie’s burger, it suddenly became quite clear.
Shrimp patties not only offer tons of fresh seafood flavor, but they also happen to be very moist. This combination makes an incredible platform for all sorts of herbs, spices, and chunky add-ins.
Julie’s shrimp burgers are utterly addictive, and you should definitely try them both.
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
Shrimp Hamburger with Mango Slaw
However, after our last couple of trips to the Bahamas with Julie, I felt it was time to work on my own shrimp burger recipe… One inspired by our trips together.
Other than amazing seafood, the thing I love most about Caribbean cuisine is the bold use of fresh herbs, chiles, and spices commonly thought of as baking spices.
Caribbean cuisine comes from the melting pot of voyagers, from all over the world, settling in these islands. When cultures collide in the kitchen, brilliant and unexpected dishes appear!
Today’s Shrimp Burger Recipe is packed with fresh island ingredients. A kick of spicy habanero and nutty ground spices perfectly complements the sweetness of the shrimp, onions, and bell peppers.
Ingredients Checklist
For the Shrimp Patties:
- Raw Shrimp – peeled and cleaned
- Panko Bread Crumbs – or gluten-free panko
- Large Egg
- Onion – roughly chopped (or scallions)
- Bell Pepper – roughly chopped
- Chopped Cilantro
- Lime – zested and juiced (or lemon juice or lemon zest)
- Garlic Cloves – Peeled
- Whole Habanero Pepper – seeded
- Salt
- Ground Allspice
- Ground Ginger
For the Mango Slaw:
- Broccoli Slaw Mix
- Ripe Mango – peeled and slice into thin strips
- Chopped Green Onions
- Mayonnaise
- Honey
- Salt and Pepper
For the Shrimp Hamburgers:
- Hamburger Buns – or gluten-free buns
- Avocado – peeled and sliced
- Oil or Butter
How To Make Shrimp Burgers
Find the full burger recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, and video tutorial in the printable from at the bottom of the post.
Tips for Shrimp Patties
Although you can grill shrimp patties over an open flame, I find the patties are safer in a large cast-iron skillet. That’s because shrimp patties done right are very delicate. They have a lot of moisture in them and are likely to stick to the grates.
Instead, lay them gently in a skillet with a small amount of oil or butter. The exterior will form a caramelized crust, yet the interior will stay ultra juicy.
Shrimp Burgers Recipe
Video
Ingredients
For the Shrimp Patties:
- 1 1/2 pounds raw shrimp, peeled and cleaned
- 1 1/4 cups panko bread crumbs (or gluten free panko)
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup onion, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 lime, zested and juiced
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 whole habanero pepper, seeded
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
For the Mango Slaw:
- 2 cups broccoli slaw mix
- 1 ripe mango, peeled and slice into thin strips
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Salt and pepper
For the Shrimp Burgers:
- 4 hamburger buns (or gluten free buns)
- 1 avocado, peeled and sliced
- 1 tablespoon oil or butter
Instructions
- For the Shrimp Patties: Make sure the shrimp are cleaned and all shells and tails are removed. Roughly chop the onions, bell peppers, and cilantro. Peel the garlic, and seed the habanero pepper. Zest and juice the lime.
- Set out a food processor. Add the onions, bell peppers, cilantro, garlic, habanero. Add the lime zest, but reserve the juice for the slaw. Pulse a couple of times to chop the veggies into small pieces. Add in the shrimp. Pulse a few more times to cut the shrimp into small pieces. *You don't want to puree the mixture; pulse just a little so you can still see pieces of shrimp.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the shrimp mixture, panko breadcrumbs, egg, salt, allspice, and ginger. Mix until smooth.
- Set a large skillet on the stovetop. Add the oil (or butter) Then set on medium heat. Form the shrimp mixture into 4 equal patties, just slightly larger than the hamburger buns.
- Gently move the patties to the hot skillet, and cook for 5-6 minutes per side. They should be brown, but not burnt.
- While the shrimp patties are cooking, prepare the mango slaw. In a medium mixing bowl, add the broccoli slaw, mango strips, green onion, lime juice, mayonnaise, and honey. Mix until smooth. Then taste, and salt and pepper as needed. Set aside.
- To Assemble the Shrimp Burgers: Open the buns and carefully move one patty to each bun. Top with mango slaw and a few slices of avocado. Place the bun on top and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Swap the panko bread crumbs and hamburger buns with gluten-free panko and buns. Also, be sure to check the ingredients of your mayonnaise.
Yes. If you use oil instead of butter to cook the patties, it is technically dairy-free. However, you should also check the ingredients on your mayonnaise and buns. They sometimes contain dairy.
No… But maybe. This recipe as-is does not fit into a low-carb diet. However, if you lose the bun and serve the shrimp patties with a salad, you can cut out almost two-thirds of the carbs. You can also swap out the panko breadcrumbs for almond flour. Yet the patties are even more delicate and can be very hard to handle.
Yes. You can make the patties up to 24 hours in advance. Lay them on a baking sheet, cover well, and refrigerate. If cooking straight from the refrigerator, they may take 12-14 minutes to cook through.
Surprisingly, yes! I usually make a double batch so my son can take them for school lunches. He is a shrimp burger fanatic!
You can go classic with mayo, tomato slices, lettuce leaves, sriracha, and bacon.
Great burger idea! I love shrimp and will try this. Thanks for the tip about binding the patties.
great idea for a burger, nice alternative for me since I love this kind of shrimp, and good to know that the shrimp patties can be bound together, so thank you