Caribbean Shrimp Burger Recipe: These zesty juicy Caribbean 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!

Shrimp Burger Recipe

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.

 

caribbean recipes

Shrimp Burger Recipe?

Our travel buddy, Julie, also has to have a blog. Her healthy lifestyle blog Running In A Skirt is packed with workout tips and mindful recipes.

On one of our trips to the Bahamas, Julie 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.

Mango Slaw

The Best Shrimp Burgers

Julie has since introduced me to her homemade shrimp burger recipes.

Julie’s shrimp burgers are utterly addictive and you should definitely try them both.

However, after our last couple of trips to the Bahamas, 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!

Caribbean Shrimp Burger Ingredients 

Today’s Caribbean Shrimp Burger Recipe is packed with fresh ingredients!

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 Burgers:

  • Hamburger Buns – or gluten-free buns
  • Avocado – peeled and sliced
  • Oil or Butter

The sweetness of the shrimp, onions, and bell peppers is perfectly complemented by a kick of spicy habanero and nutty ground spices.

Shrimp Patties Tips

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 little oil or butter. The exterior will form a caramelized crust, yet the interior will stay ultra juicy.

How To Make Caribbean Shrimp Burgers

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. Set out a food processor. Add the onions, bell peppers, cilantro, garlic, and 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. This makes for the best burger texture.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, mix the shrimp mixture, 1 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs, egg, salt, allspice, and ginger. Mix until smooth.
  4. Set a large nonstick skillet on the stovetop. Add the oil (or butter.) Then set it on medium heat. Form the shrimp mixture into 4 equal patties, just slightly larger than the hamburger buns.
  5. Gently move the patties to the hot skillet, and cook for 5-6 minutes per side. They should be brown, but not burnt.
  6. 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.
  7. To Assemble the Shrimp Burgers: Open the buns and carefully move one patty to each bottom bun. Top with mango slaw and a few avocado slices. Place the top bun on top and serve immediately.

Get the Full (Printable) Caribbean Shrimp Burger Recipe Below. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make Gluten-Free Shrimp Burgers?

Yes! Swap the panko bread crumbs and hamburger buns with gluten-free panko and buns. Also, be sure to check your mayonnaise ingredients.

Is This Recipe Dairy-Free?

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.

Are Shrimp Burgers Low Carb?

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.

Can I Make The Patties Ahead of Time?

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.

Are Shrimp Burgers a Good Leftover?

Surprisingly, yes! I usually make a double batch so my son can take them for school lunches. He is a shrimp burger fanatic!

Other Topping Ideas?

You can go classic with mayo, tomato slices, lettuce leaves, sriracha, and bacon.

More Brilliant Burger Recipes

Check the printable recipe card below for the information on nutrients contained including calories, carbohydrates, protein, and cholesterol percentages.

Caribbean Shrimp Burger Recipe #ASpicyPerspective #summer #shrimp #hamburger #burger
Print Recipe
5 stars (1 review)
Leave a Review »

Caribbean Shrimp Burger Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Caribbean Shrimp Burger Recipe: These zesty juicy Shrimp Burgers are packed with island herbs and spices, and topped with fresh mango slaw. They can be made GLUTEN FREE with just a couple of adjustments!
Servings: 4

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:

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. 

Video

Notes

Like It Spicy? The seeds and white ribs inside chile peppers are the spiciest parts. I’ve removed them in this recipe, however, you can leave them in for spicier burgers. You can also reduce the amount of habanero to half if you are worried about the heat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1burger, Calories: 633kcal, Carbohydrates: 56g, Protein: 47g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 493mg, Sodium: 2391mg, Potassium: 874mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 1750IU, Vitamin C: 114.1mg, Calcium: 423mg, Iron: 7.5mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Caribbean
Author: Sommer Collier
Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

Share This Recipe With Friends!