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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
Excellent recipe! I had a huge piece of cooked salmon left over from a BBQ and turned it into these amazingly delicious cakes/burgers. I’m not a huge salmon fan but my husband is vegetarian and we both went crazy over how tasty and flavorful these babies were! There were so many layers of flavor and yet you never lose the delicate flavor of the salmon…Try it – you won’t be disappointed! Thank you, I will be making it again!
Thank you for this great review, Michael! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I made these twice so far and tonight I just added one egg and no mayonnaise to the mixture, much better as the first ones were too moist for my liking. Incidentally, in England Worcestershire sauce is pronounced Wooster sauce.
Good to know that the changes that you made worked out well! Thanks for sharing that with us, Charlotte!
I grew up calling it
wousta-sheer sauce…still do
I make these into salmon burgers and I sometimes I have the issue of them falling apart. (I do cool them before frying and sometimes even into the freezer for 5 mins) Any tips? I did the recipe exactly. Maybe because I do bigger patties for burgers it is more likely they will fall apart?
Hi Michelle, they shouldn’t fall apart, but size could be the reason why they did. It’s hard to say without being there.
My husband used to be a commercial salmon fisherman, so he can be particular about his seafood dishes, but this was a hit! We had some leftover salmon and found your recipe when I was searching for something new to make with it. My market was out of panko, so I had to use regular (seasoned) bread crumbs, but it was still great. I love tartar sauce (my husband’s “famous” recipe is quite similar to yours), but I thought this would be good with a sour cream based dill sauce instead, so that’s how I served it. My guests all went back for seconds (and thirds!). We will make this again. Thank you!
That sounds fantastic! I’m glad this recipe was a huge hit for you both. Thanks for your great feedback, we appreciate it.
These are absolutely amazing especially with the tartar sauce recipe….. 10 stars!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Joanne!
Can you freeze these? Before baking? or after baking?
Hi Sandee, yes, these can be made ahead, and freeze until ready to cook. I would cook the salmon to form the patties and then freeze them before cooking the patties. We keep them in an airtight container separated by parchment paper. I hope that helps you.
The recipe would be lovely, but the fish cakes fall apart too easily in cooking and in taking out of the pan
Hi Robine, it definitely helps to use a good non-stick skillet and be sure to grease the skillet. Also, make sure not to use too many bread crumbs. If using a finer crumb breading, make sure to use less.
This is by far the best recipe I have found for salmon cakes. I use regular homemade bread crumbs. Everyone loved them.
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Sally!
I’ve made these delectable salmon cakes about 10 times since I first tried this recipe recipe. Excellent every time!
That’s perfect! I’m happy that you’ve made this recipe a lot of times already and you always love it! Thanks for your great review and feedback.
What if all I have is frozen uncooked salmon?
Hi KP, I would defrost first to use fresh salmon.
Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe. It was great with the tartar sauce.
You are very welcome, Sharmin. Glad you liked it!
I added 1/4 cup of corn, zest of one lime and some cumin. I made a sauce out of Mayo, lime juice and cumin to taste. It was amazing!!! The lime freshens it up a lot! Just a great recipe!!! Thank you Natasha.
Nice, thanks for sharing that with us, Steven! Glad you loved the end result.
What is the serving size in relation to the nutrition label? 1? 2?
Hi Steve, The number of servings is at the top of the recipe card and in this case, it is per salmon cake, based on making 13 salmon cakes.
I made your salmon cakes last night. My husband said I need to have a cooking show. 🤣 I informed him that I can’t take credit; all the great recipes I’ve been making for him are from the fabulous Natasha!
Haha! I love this comment! I’m glad you’re both enjoying my recipes! Great job Tina!
These were amazing!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Yes these are just as delicious as the reviews say! I was so happy with how moist and flavorful they were. I used leftover cooked salmon, and regular breadcrumbs. I also made the tartar sauce from the site, but found it quite rich so lightened it up with a little Greek yogurt.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Kelsey! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe.
My husband who doesn’t like fish at all loved this salmon cakes. He requested to have them on a weekly dinner, also the tartar sauce is the best ever. I made many of your recipes and all of them are great
Wow, that is awesome! I’m happy to know that your husband loved this recipe. Thank you for sharing, Angelika.
I enjoy salmon and just wanted a variation of it one day. Chanced upon your recipe and have made these salmon cakes at least 4 times now for family! I always make extra so I have leftovers for the next day as well. They’re really delicious and more-ish despite having very wholesome ingredients. Even my dad who isn’t a salmon fan kept eating them at dinner. Thanks for this great recipe!
You’re welcome, Siyin! I’m glad you enjoyed them! These do make for the best leftovers.
I’ve been making this salmon cakes recipe for months. Its time to comment! This is one of our favorite dishes; my husband doesn’t even like salmon but he loves these salmon patties. I get wild caught salmon and serve these patties with a choice of 2 sauces – store bought Louisiana Remoulade and a simple tartar made of mayo mixed with Heinz Dill Relish and a squeeze of lemon juice. Fabulous. I also made the rice with vermicelli- really great complement to this dish. Thanks, Natasha, for such inspiring menus!!!
Hello Mara. that is a very nice comment and feedback. Thank you for your review, glad you loved the recipe!
Hi!
Can these salmon cakes before frozen after ingredients are mixed together, before frying them?
Thanks!
Hi Kathy, yes, these can be made ahead, and freeze until ready to cook.
Made these last week and they were Delicious. I used Old Bay seasoning instead of the garlic salt and Almond flour instead of the Panko. I used 3 cans of cooked Salmon from Costco. It came to 18 ounces for 3 cans.I also made your Tartar sauce recipe. This recipe is a keeper. Thank you!!
Perfect! Thank you for your great review, Jeanette. I’m so happy that you loved the recipe.
Mmmm, love the idea of using Old Bay seasoning – thanks!