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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
Loved this! I have always wanted a good recipe for left over salmon. This was perfect. I didn’t have the Lawreys – but used equal parts salt and garlic powder. It was a hit!
Yay! That’s great news, thanks for sharing this feedback with us, Diana.
We eat a lot of salmon here in the PNW. This is my go-to Salmon Cake Recipe! I use leftover salmon, prepare the recipe then freeze. They make a perfect lunch or light dinner with a fresh green salad!
I’m so glad you found a favorite on my blog, Suzanne! Thank you for sharing your excellent review ith me.
I make this recipe all the time! Definitely my go to for a light dinner or entertaining! One thing I’ve found helpful is putting the patties in the freezer for about 20 minutes before cooking. Helps them set and not fall apart in your pan!
Great idea! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
These salmon cakes are delicious!! I grill a whole salmon filet (marinated with Lawry’s herb and garlic marinade).I follow recipe from that point as stated.I make the cakes and freeze some-(from frozen just thaw and saute). My husband will only eat salmon now if I make these cakes! Your homemade tartar sauce is a must! Thank you for such a wonderful recipe!
Love it! Thanks a lot for sharing that with us, it is inspiring for me to do more recipes for you all who appreciate my recipes.
I am in love with these salmon cakes!!! The flavor and texture are perfect. You can serve them hot or cold and they taste delicious. I try to have all ingredients on hand to make them, but I’ve had to improvise. I’ve substituted red pepper for grated carrots and not added the parsley. They still tasted amazing!!!!
Love it! Thanks for sharing your review and feedback with us, we appreciate it!
This recipe is delicious. I didn’t change a thing. I can’t wait to make it again. Thanks for this great recipe Natasha👍😊
You’re welcome, Betty! Happy to know that you love this recipe.
Love that there is a recipe for the leftovers! I’m on my way to the kitchen right now!
I hope you love it, Vicki!
I’ve made these a couple of times with leftover salmon. They are really delicious. I want to prepare them ahead of time and freeze individually on a cookie sheet then cook the day l need them. Will this work?
Thank you, Vicki! I’m glad you want the recipe. These can be made ahead, and frozen 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. Here is what one of my other readers said, “I always freeze them after cooking (initially frying them to a golden color so when I defrost and reheat in the frying pan they do not get too brown). I wrap each patty individually in saran wrap and then put it into a freezer bag. I usually take them out of the freezer in the morning of the day I intend on cooking them.” I hope that help
Sounds like a great recipe. I have one question before I start making them: Did you use a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop or a smaller one?
Hi Marvin, we used this exact scoop here. It makes 2-1/4 inch scoops.
10/10 and I was missing garlic and red pepper. This will become a regular on my rotation. Thank you!
You’re welcome! So glad it was enjoyed.
Hello,
This recipe looks wonderful. I have a question, I would like to make these mini patties for a bridal shower lunch. If I cook the salmon the day before and make the patties, should I cook them the day before and then just reheat the next day(day of luncheon)? Or would you put them together and refrigerate over night and cook the morning of the luncheon?
Thank you!
Lori
Hi Lori! making ahead should be fine. They reheat great. 🙂
can make up the batch the day before cooking for a baby shower trying not to have too much to do on the day of? i will cook them on the day make up the batch day before?
Hi Vivian, I haven’t tried leaving the mixture uncooked in the fridge but we usually eat them within a day or 2 of being made. They would last 3-5 days in the refrigerator but I also think they would be safe to freeze after they are cooked.
Made these for dinner again tonight, they are always so yummy! We love them. Tonight I served them with the garlic aioli, which was really good. With all the lemon in it it was a nice addition. Can’t beat the tartar sauce either though.
Sounds good and I’m glad that you enjoyed it!
I mostly followed the recipie, added in some old bay for seasoning and then took the patties and dunked them in some extra dry panko for extra crunch. Came out very nicely, I think the sautéed onion and pepper added some nice flavor and color.
Good to know that you enjoyed it!
I made this recipe tonight (followed it exactly) using wild caught sockeye, and these were SO GOOD. A friend recommended your recipe; she makes them regularly – so will I! Thank you!
That’s so nice to know, thank you for sharing that with us!
these are grrrrreat, but my husband and I are watching our calories, etc. How many servings are in one batch? I get 14 cakes, but dk how many equals one serving. Thank you for all your terrific recipes!
Hi Susan! This recipe makes 13-14 Salmon Cakes (depending on how large you make them) and the nutrition facts listed are for 1 serving. So glad you enjoy my recipes, thank you! 🙂
I am an avid fisherman. I always cook more fish than I expect the family and guests will eat. This is a perfect use for leftover salmon. It’s also a great way to reduce waste – I scrape salmon off the bones when cleaning and get up to a pound of meat that would have been tossed away. This recipe is a hit as it is but I often add a finely diced jalapeno or habanero pepper just for some extra kick. So good!
Yes, this recipe is perfect for you! I think that’s a good idea too.
I am an avid fisherman. I always cook more fish than I expect the family and guests will eat. This is a perfect use for leftover salmon. It’s also a great way to reduce waste – I scrape salmon off the bones when cleaning and get up to a pound of meat that would have been tossed away. This recipe is a hit as it is but I often add a finely diced jalapeno or habanero pepper just for some extra kick. So good!
So glad you enjoy this recipe! Absolutely a great way to reduce waste. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I made these last night, with a few adjustments…they were fantastic. This is a great recipe, thank you!
That’s great to hear! So glad they were enjoyed. 🙂
This was absolutely delicious! I am super lucky to have fisher friends and family who have the salmon carcasses for me to scrape the “spoon meat” off the spine after the salmon are fileted. (just run a spoon down the spine and voila you have an amazing amount even if they did a great job fileting). Therefore my salmon was raw. After mixing your recipe, I let it set in the fridge for a couple hours. The patties bound together wonderfully. I did have a tiny bit of celery and carrot I wanted to use up so added that chopped up as well. I will definitely make this again. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you for the feedback, Theresa! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. 🙂
Made this tonight for dinner, along with your home-made tartar sauce recipe. I didn’t have any red bell peppers so I decided to swap it out with chopped up celery instead. It was a hit! Very delicious recipe. Thank you!
Happy to hear that the recipe was a huge hit! Thank you for the review, Gina.
I’ve made these many times with Canned Alaskan Salmon and they are always delicious. Today I needed to use up some fresh salmon in the frig and they came out fabulous. I didn’t have red pepper so I substituted diced carrots for a little flavor and color. Perfecto. I also made a half dozen mini appetizers with the left over mix. Thanks Natasha!
Awesome, good to know that you loved the result!