Surf and Turf Burgers!

Classic surf and turf goes casual with burgers, shrimp and a creamy Ranch dressing. Say hello to Surf and Turf Burgers!

Surf and turf burger on a wooden board.
Jump to:

Why we love this recipe

Oh, these surf and turf burgers. This completely satisfying combo of tender shrimp and juicy burger lets you have your cake and eat it too.  Beef and seafood-wise! It’s the informal version of that steak surf and turf recipe you see on fancy menus, right here in your own kitchen!

And the icing on the cake is that you are only going to mess up One Single Pan (or griddle!) making these babies, because not only are the burgers cooked to your liking on the griddle, but the shrimp are going on the griddle as well.  

Now, I need to warn you that these delectable all-in-one treats are, well, messy. Not only do you have juicy burger and tender shrimp going on, but the whole thing is topped with no, not ketchup.  

Nope, that is creamy, dreamy, Ranch salad dressing dripping down the side of that burger.  Listen, if we are going to go surf and turf with our burger, let’s not cut any corners!

Ingredients you need

Ingredients for surf and turf burgers.

Ingredient notes and substitutions

  • Ground Beef: We always like the 80/20 mixture for the best flavor, but you can also use leaner ground beef. Or ever ground turkey.
  • Shrimp: Get them at your seafood counter…you can ask for the exact number you need.
  • Old Bay: You can find this classic seafood seasoning in the spice aisle.
  • Dressing: We love Ranch dressing for this recipe, but Caesar would also be amazing.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.

How to make this recipe

Burger patties on a cutting board.

STEP 1: Heat your griddle or large skillet to high and while it is heating, form burgers into 4 loose patties.

Shrimp marinating in a bowl.

STEP 2: Toss some peeled and butterflied shrimp with olive oil and Old Bay.

Shrimp cooking on a griddle.

STEP 3: Cook the shrimp until they are just done, about 1-2 minutes per side. Set them aside.

Burgers cooking on a griddle.

STEP 4: Cook the burgers until they are done to your liking, about three to four minutes per side for medium rare.

STEP 5: Assemble your surf and turf burgers as follows: roll, burger, lettuce and tomato, generous amount of dressing, shrimp, top of roll. Serve at once.  With lots of napkins! Open reeeeeeeeeal wide.  You know the rest!

Equipment we used for this recipe

These are some of my favorite kitchen tools! These are Amazon affiliate links, which means I get a little something if you buy through my links at no extra cost to you. (Which helps pay for all that bacon I keep buying! 😄) And I only share things I use and love. I’m so grateful for your support!

  • Griddle: You can of course make these burgers in a skillet, but our choice always is this griddle – you can fit lots of burgers and the flipping is much easier.
  • Paring knife: Perfect for butterflying those shrimp (more on that below!)
  • Fish Spatula: This thin spatula is perfect for getting under those burgers to flip them. And for making Cinnamon Oat Pancakes, for that matter!

Recipe FAQs

How do I peel and butterfly shrimp?

Pull off the shell by wiggling it apart at the bottom of the shrimp. Once the shell is off, cut a deep line along the top of the shrimp where the vein is, pull it out with the tip of the knife and…you’re done! Butterflying shrimp simply means that the deep cut you made in the shrimp flattens it out into two sides that look kinda like a butterfly…this makes them better for topping on that burger. Put the shrimp shells in a zippered plastic bag when you toss them out, because if they sit in your trash can for more than a few hours…well, I’ll let you use your imagination.

Can I make these burgers and shrimp on the grill?

100% yes! You can cook the burgers directly on the grill, but we recommend a grilling pan for the shrimp so you don’t lose any in between the grill grates.

What is Old Bay Seasoning?

Old Bay is a seafood seasoning that is a mixture of celery salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, paprika and a few others. You can find it in the spice aisle of your grocery store, and it adds a delightful flavor to your shrimpies. And if you want to try your hand at mixing up your own, here’s a recipe for the homemade version!

Have a question that I didn’t cover?

Leave your question (or comment or suggestion) in the Comments box below the recipe and I will answer pronto!

What to serve with this recipe

We love some cheese fries and/or some pancake batter onion rings with our burger! Or maybe some sour cream potato salad? And for dessert, we love these blueberry cheesecake squares.

Other burger recipes we love!

We would love your review!

If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section below the recipe. 

Print

Surf and Turf Burgers!

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

  • Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1012 large shrimp, peeled and butterflied
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
  • Your favorite bottled Ranch salad dressing
  • Sliced tomato
  • Lettuce
  • Hamburger rolls

Instructions

  1. Heat your griddle or large skillet to high and form burgers into 4 loose patties.
  2. Toss shrimp with the olive oil and Old Bay.
  3. Cook the shrimp until they arej ust done, about 1-2 minutes per side. Set them aside.
  4. Place burgers on the griddle and cook them until they are done to your liking, about 3-4 minutes per side for medium rare.
  5. Assemble surf and turf burgers as follows: roll, burger, lettuce and tomato, generous amount of dressing, shrimp, top of roll. Serve at once.  With lots of napkins!

Notes

    • Ground Beef: We always like the 80/20 mixture for the best flavor, but you can also use leaner ground beef. Or ever ground turkey.

    • Shrimp: Get them at your seafood counter…you can ask for the exact number you need.

    • Old Bay: You can find this classic seafood seasoning in the spice aisle.

    • Dressing: We love Ranch dressing for this recipe, but Caesar would also be amazing.

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag @FramedCooks on Facebook or Instagram…we want to see it!

6 Comments

  1. after pa rousing the patty melt, the cheddar cream cheese chive biscuits and this I have decided that now you are just being cruel! ;)

    Keep ’em coming!

  2. Even when I scour menus before going to restaurants, I still spend at least twenty minutes deciding what to order. It’s a problem. If more places had fusion meals like this it would make my life MUCH easier!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star