Salmon Sliders

Tender pan-seared salmon slapped between a mini bun with coleslaw or tartar sauce make these salmon sliders a huge hit for game day or parties. No mashing or shaping into patties involved!

Hand holding a Salmon Slider above more sliders

Why this recipe works

They’re flakey, they’re tender, and they’re full of flavor – these salmon sliders are the miniature version of a classic salmon burger. Except, you don’t have to deal with any messy pre-cooking, mashing, or shaping into patties. That’s a yes for me.

We’ll begin with a 1-hour marinade to infuse flavor into the salmon then slice it into equal portions. Next, pan-sear and pop those suckers onto a slider bun. Serve with creamy coleslaw, tartar sauce, or salmon sauce and that’s all there is to it!

Hand placing a Salmon Slider on top a stack of Salmon Sliders

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

SALMON – You will need 1.25 pounds of salmon for this recipe. Any kind of salmon will do, but we typically reach for center-cut so they are fairly equal in thickness between all “patties”.

MARINADE – While the marinade isn’t absolutely essential, I highly recommend it! Realistically you can season and pansear the salmon without having to marinate it if you are short on time. The marinade infuses flavor and moisture into the fish, more than you would get from a simple dry rub.

How to Make Salmon Sliders

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Cut salmon into pieces that will fit onto the slider buns. You will end up with more than one piece of fish per slider. Place salmon pieces into a shallow dish or baking pan.

TIP – Some of our salmon sliders have more than one salmon “patty”. You can easily use more than 6 slider buns if you would prefer to have only one patty per bun.
Combine all marinade ingredients and whisk well.
Pour marinade over the salmon, turning to coat. Try to nestle them under the marinade the best you can. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Remove salmon from marinade and cook in a large skillet over medium-high heat, 2-3 minutes per side. Should be nicely browned.
Place salmon on slider buns and serve with your favorite toppings.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Can I make salmon sliders ahead of time?

Ideally, these salmon sliders should be made fresh. I wouldn’t suggest marinating your salmon for any longer than 2 hours as it’s a delicate fish to begin with. Although they are still good as leftovers, nothing quite compares to fresh cooked salmon both texture-wise and moisture-wise!

How do you store leftover salmon sliders?

Store any leftover salmon in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat on a baking sheet in a 300F oven until warmed through, around 15 minutes or so. Then assemble the sliders as you would normally!

Serving Suggestions

Serve your salmon sliders at football parties or as a grab-and-go appetizer for any event. They’re of course delicious as a full blown meal as well! Pair with chips, french fries, sweet potato fries, potato salad, or roasted vegetables to name a few.

Topping ideas include creamy coleslaw or red cabbage, tartar sauce, salmon sauce, lettuce, or thinly sliced tomato. If doubling up on the salmon (as shown in the photo above), optionally add a cocktail pick to keep the slider nice and sturdy.