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These salmon cakes are crisp on the outside with tasty bites of flaked salmon – YUMM!! It’s mostly salmon which makes every bite such a treat! These salmon cakes always disappear fast and are well loved by the kids and grown ups in our family. I love that there isn’t a hint of fishiness in them.
It’s a smart way to use up leftover cooked salmon, but it’s worth the extra 10 minutes it takes to roast salmon just for this recipe. These salmon patties are THAT GOOD! p.s. You can also use well-drained packaged or canned salmon if that’s what you have on hand.
Make sure to serve with this homemade tartar sauce – it’s the easiest sauce to make, keeps well in the fridge, and once you try homemade, there’s just no going back to the store-bought muck. The same goes for these salmon cakes – they are truly delicious!
Ingredients for Salmon Cakes:
1 lb fresh salmon filet*
Garlic Salt – I use Lawry’s brand
Black Pepper
Olive Oil
1 medium onion (1 cup finely diced)
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
1 cup Panko bread crumbs (Japanese Style crumbs)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 Tbsp mayo
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
*Note: Fresh salmon is best, but it can be substituted with leftover cooked salmon, or 14-15 oz of well-drained canned salmon, or three 5 oz salmon packets. If mixture is too moist to hold the patty shape, add more bread crumbs and if it is too dry, add an extra Tablespoon of mayo.
Watch How To Make Salmon Patties:
How To Make Salmon Cakes (Salmon Patties):
1. Preheat Oven to 425˚F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or a silpat. Place salmon skin-side down, brush with olive oil and season with garlic salt and black pepper.
Bake uncovered for 10-15 min or just until cooked through (my thinner cut wild salmon was closer to 10 minutes). Remove from oven, cover with foil and rest ten minutes. Discard skin, flake salmon with forks, remove any bones, and cool to room temp while prepping remaining ingredients.
2. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp butter and finely diced onion and bell pepper. Saute until softened and golden (7-9 minutes) then remove from heat.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled flaked salmon, sautéed onion and pepper, 1 cup bread crumbs, 2 beaten eggs, 3 Tbsp mayo, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp garlic salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 cup fresh parsley. Stir to combine then form into 13-14 patties. I find it’s easiest to portion the patties using a flat ice cream scoop then pressing them into 1/3 to 1/2″ thick patties.
4. Heat 1 Tbsp oil and 1 Tbsp butter in a large pan over medium heat and once butter is done sizzling, add half of the salmon cakes and sauté 3 1/2 to 4 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through.
If salmon cakes brown too quickly, reduce heat. Remove to a paper-towel lined plate. Add remaining 1 Tbsp oil and 1 Tbsp butter and repeat cooking remaining salmon cakes.
I can’t get enough of those big flakes of salmon! Major Cravings for salmon cakes with homemade tartar sauce right now. Hands down, these are the best salmon cakes I’ve ever tried and they are so easy!
P.S. If you love this recipe and salmon in general, our famous baked salmon is a must try!
Salmon Cakes Recipe (Salmon Patties)

Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh salmon filet*
- Garlic Salt - I use Lawry's brand
- Black Pepper
- olive oil
- 1 medium onion, 1 cup finely diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs, Japanese Style crumbs
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 3 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 425˚F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or a silpat. Place salmon skin-side down, brush with olive oil and season with garlic salt and black pepper. Bake uncovered for 10-15 min or just until cooked through (my thinner cut salmon was closer to 10 min). Remove from oven, cover with foil and rest ten minutes. Discard skin, flake salmon with forks, remove any bones, and cool to room temp.
- Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp butter and finely diced onion and bell pepper. Saute until softened and golden (7-9 minutes) then remove from heat.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled flaked salmon, sautéed onion and pepper, 1 cup bread crumbs, 2 beaten eggs, 3 Tbsp mayo, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp garlic salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 cup fresh parsley. Stir to combine then form into 13-14 patties. It's easy to portion patties using a flat ice cream scoop then pressing them into 1/3 to 1/2" thick patties.
- Heat 1 Tbsp oil and 1 Tbsp butter in a large pan over medium heat and once butter is done sizzling, add half of the salmon cakes and sauté 3 1/2 to 4 min per side or until golden brown and cooked through. If salmon cakes brown too quickly, reduce heat. Remove to a paper-towel lined plate. Add remaining 1 Tbsp oil and 1 Tbsp butter and repeat cooking remaining salmon cakes.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
I made the salmon cakes for dinner tonight and they were delicious! Definitely a keeper recipe. 1 lb salmon made 4 good sized patties on multi grain rolls with avacado, tomatoes and spinach. Yum!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This recipe was great!! My husband, who hates salmon, loved it, told me to put it in the rotations and is requesting it a second time already! My salmon concoction was a little runny, may have been the olive oil from the salmon filet and I didn’t use enough mayo! I added some shredded Parmesan cheese to the salmon mixture and it was delicious! I also added some seafood seasoning, red pepper flakes, paprika and chili powder to the tarter sauce and it was so delicious! I rarely review recipes I find but this was worth it!
Thanks so much!
So glad you loved this recipe, Nicole. Thank you so much for sharing that with us!
Can you freeze and reheat or freeze then fry them?
Hello Cheryl, I would cook the salmon to form the patties and then freeze before cooking the patties. We keep them in an airtight container separated by parchment paper. Hope that helps you.
When they are frozen do you fry them or bake them? What’s the difference in cook time from frozen? Thank you!
It is better to freeze them BEFORE cooking. Usually, fish that was made and cooked in advance and then frozen to be eaten at another time is not as flavorful nor as moist. (it is mostly dry and overcooked) Hope that helps you.
Love the original recipe! I am wondering if anyone has tried cooking these in an air fryer? Seems like it would work well but don’t want to ruin them by experimenting on my own.
Thank you so much, Donna. I haven’t tried this on an air fryer but others commented and shared this “I opted for the air fryer instead of frying and they were perfect! I prefer a lumpier Salmon patty so I kept the pieces a bit larger. Definitely, will make again:)” I hope that helps!
I don’t often leave comments on recipes but WOW these are amazing (and super easy). I had leftover salmon that was already seasoned, so I skipped on the suggested seasonings. Even my picky husband who doesn’t love fish devoured these. The tartar sauce is a must. Thanks for the great recipe!!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Liz!
OMG. These cakes are delicious! Our household has 90 lbs of salmon from a fishing charter in Alaska that we were just on recently, and this recipe is a wonderful way to use what we have on hand. So tasty and flavorful and the sauce is just as yummy!
WOW! That’s amazing! I’m so glad you tried this recipe!
I’ve made these cakes two or three times now, and I absolutely love them. Thanks so much! I’ve taken to adding a little dill and Old Bay Seasoning, and serve with an aioli made from mayo, crushed garlic, dill, Old Bay and lemon juice.
That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing that with me!
Hi Natasha
I made this for my family and they love this recipe!!!!! I will make for now on
Yay so awesome! Thank you for your great feedback, we appreciate it!
Hi Natasha, I always enjoy your videos and recipes, I have made this recipe many times. I love the ease of the tartar sauce.
I substituted ground pork skins in place of the bread crumbs, it still comes out great and tastes awesome.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me Pam! I’m so happy you enjoeyd that!
Looks great. The video is helpful. One note – please learn how to pronounce Worchestshire ;))
Worcestershire…. as I need to learn how to spell it!!
I definitely had to think about that one!
This is how I say it…..”what’s this here sauce.” Works every time – LOL
I’m so glad you enjoyed the video, I’ll work on my pronunciation.
Made them a big larger and my family loved them. I opted for the air fryer instead of frying and they were perfect! I prefer a lumpier Salmon patty so I kept the pieces a bit larger. Definitely, will make again:)
I’m so happy your family enjoyed this recipe, Cathy! That’s so great!
Awesome recipe! Even my 7 ur old daughters loved it!
That’s so great Joe! Thank you for that wonderful review!
If I’m using canned salmon do I put it in the oven for 10 mins or skip this step?
Hi Lisa, are you referring to step one to cook the salmon? Since you are using cooked canned salmon you can skip that step. Just be sure your salmon is well-drained.
Best foolproof recipe for fish cakes I have tried yet!!! They turned out exactly as shown!
So fantastic! Love it, thanks for sharing that with us!
Delicious!! I got everything ready, cooked the salmon and realized I didn’t have a red pepper!! I used 1 zucchini instead, it turned out awesome! Will make again!
I’m so glad it worked out Liz! Thank you for sharing that great review!
Really happy with how these turned out!
That’s o great! Thank you for this wonderful review Marie!
Omg they were amazing !!! What can I say…I try Natasha recipes and wow it always comes out amazing . I made it just as she stated and it came out terrific and she explained so good.. thank you
Next time I will try cod
Aww! That’s the best! Thank you for sharing that awesome review with us Tara!
I made these for dinner today and they were a hit! So delicious! Thank you
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Maria!
When I think of salmon cakes I think if the bready, gummy ones made with canned salmon and I’ve never liked them. Hubby asked me to make some so I used this recipe and followed it exactly except for halving it and omitting the parsley. These were absolutely delicious! Thank you so much for correcting my impression about salmon cakes!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you gave these a try!
I make your salmon patties. I always have a batch in the freezer
for quick meals. Baking fresh salmon is so easy and worth the effort. When my husband is given a choice for dinner he always wants the salmon patties. Thank you. I am going to make the crab patties now for a variety. Thanks
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you and your husband have enjoyed these salmon cakes! They are popular for good reason!!!
Hi Georgette, how do you freeze them? Before they are fried or after?
I am also wondering best way to freeze them?! Caught a big ol’ king salmon this week and wanted to freeze some patties!! Do you individually wrap? Layer with parchment paper? Tips are appreciated
Hi Lindsey, I would cook the salmon to form the patties and then freeze before cooking the patties. We keep them in an airtight container separated by parchment paper. Hope that helps you.