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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 had some leftover salmon I wanted to use and remembered a great recipe that included red pepper but I couldn’t remember where I’d seen it. After a bit of searching I found your recipe again. Your recipe is easy and really delicious – the red pepper adds SO much flavor.
I just looked at your fish taco recipe. I’ll be making that next. Thank you Natasha.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Kate!
This was a great starter recipie!! I made a few changes (because that’s what we cooks do). I did use 3 cans of tuna well drained and set in paper towels until ready to use. Used extra onion and caramelized with the bell pepper for extra flavor. Added about a 1/4 cup chopped green onion just prior to removing onion and bell pepper from flame (just prior to frying). Added ground pepper each step of the way, and a bit of Celery salt as well. Ended up using almost 7 tablespoons of mayo for the right consistency, but was using light mayo which does make a difference. These are very forgiving when pan frying when the consistency is right. Let sit at least 3 minutes each side before flipping on medium heat and repeat if not dark enough. The homemade tartar sauce is fantastic with these!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, L!
Yum! My fiancé seems to always think we need canned salmon. Great recipe to use it up! I wish I’d have had fresh fish and parsley (used dried) because it would have taken it to the next level. Two thumbs up, will make again. Served with your homemade tartar sauce.
Hi Kristina! Thank you for the feedback. I’m glad loved it! I’m sure the tartar sauce complimented this amazingly!
This was a great recipe that was easy to put together, using leftover salmon. Instructions were clear and results were delicious! Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad to hear that, Anita! Thank you for sharing.
Delicious! I’ve made with fresh and leftover and it’s always great. A great way to stretch a pound of salmon into 4 servings.
Can this be baked instead of sautéed?
Hi Lina! I’m glad you love these. I have not tested these in the oven though, please let us know if you experiment.
Can you cook the salmon cake in the air fryer as an alternative?
Hi Shannon! I haven’t tested the air fryer for this recipe. Let us know if you experiment with it.
okay, made this with canned salmon and have to say I would do it again! can’t wait to try with fresh salmon.
Hi Letty! I’m glad you loved the recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Love these and I’m wondering if I can freeze some of these for later?
If so, would I freeze the patties before or after they are cooked in the frying pan?
Yes, 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. I hope that helps you.
This recipe is excellent! Had some leftover broiled salmon that I used, and happened to have the red pepper and a sweet onion from 4th July grilling. Brioche crumbs were what I had on hand. Every thing else followed the recipe and this was sooo very light, moist and flavorful! Hubs actually ate three…and doesn’t usually like them at all! Def In rotation!!
Yay, so glad that it was a huge hit! Thank you for sharing that with us, Heather.
This recipe is simple and delicious. I have made it many times.
Hello Heather, thanks for your review. We’re happy to know that you have made our recipes many times and have always enjoyed it!
can I make these in an air fryer? and if so what temp and time? thanks! I love your recipes!
Hi Lisa, I have not tested this recipe in the air fryer to advise. Let us know if you experiment.
Make these all the time, thought I should finally leave a review! They are delicious!!! We make them about double the size as the recipe says and eat them as our main for dinner. Thanks for the awesome recipe.
Hi Jess! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. I’m so glad you love the recipe!
They were so delicious that I didn’t think about taking a picture until we ate them all. So easy and delicious. My husband is not a seafood eater but said please make these once a week from now on.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Debra!
These were amazing and easy to make. They were a big hit with my family and disappeared quickly. I will definitely be making them again very soon!
So glad to hear that, Karen!
I had leftover salmon from a filet I cooked the other night.
Found this recipe and so glad I did. The sweetness of the red pepper really came through. Will definitely make these again!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Carrie!
Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe! I had some canned salmon I needed to use up, so I used 3 6-oz cans and all I had were regular breadcrumbs instead of panko, but kept the rest of the measurements & ingredients the same. They came out PERFECT and were so easy to make!! Although it is salmon and not crab, they reminded me a lot of the crab cakes from one of my favorite restaurants. The rest of my family is not huge on seafood, but I will still be making these for myself! Excited for leftovers today and then I plan to freeze the rest.
I’m so glad to hear they came out perfect, Erin! That’s just awesome! Thank you for your wonderful review!
This is one of my favorite recipes. People even ask for me to make it when I’m hosting dinner parties. Last night I made Tuna steaks (not a popular fish in my kitchen but it was on sale) and sadly over cooked them. Today I thought ‘how could I make use of that even though it was overcooked?’ So I gave it a shot with this recipe. LET ME TELL YOU!!!!!!! It’s just as delicious. Not only will this always be a go to salmon dish, but it’s now become a go to leftover fish dish. Thank you!
Hi Jimmy! That’s wonderful to hear. Thank you so much for sharing your feedback.
Your salmon is my go too. The best tasting. Comes out perfect every time. I also use fresh salmon. Thank you for all the good recipes. 5 stars.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Cherie!
Thank you for the perfect review, glad that this is your go-to-recipe!
They tasted good but took closer to two hours to cook from fresh salmon to patties.
Hi, you are correct, I think when I first wrote the recipe, I was gaging the prep and cook time using cooked leftover salmon. I updated the recipe card to reflect the cooking time for a raw salmon filet as well. Thank you for sharing that feedback!
So delicious. My husband brings home freezers full of salmon from Alaska every year and I’m always looking for different recipe ideas. Have tried many other salmon cakes and these are the absolute best. Thank you! I add capers because hubby loves them but I’m sure they’d be as wonderful without 😊 thank you again
You’re so welcome, Lesley. We’re happy that you liked our recipe!
I didn’t have parsley and used cilantro instead. I also used a tablespoon of A1 sauce because I didn’t have Worcestershire. But the recipe was still delicious. Thank you for teaching us how to cook fresh from home.
Hi Rob! You’re welcome. I’m so glad you loved the recipe.