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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
Made this for dinner tonight. They were a big hit. I will definitely make them again.
So glad to hear that!
This was so delicious! I accidentally added three tablespoons of buttter when cooking the peppers and onions but it turned out amazing! Thank you for this recipe. I used my leftover smoked salmon from the night before and it was even better than THAT!
That’s great, Amy! So glad you enjoyed it.
I plan to make these in a few days. I was wondering if I made a double batch with the plan to freeze half, should I freeze the uncooked patties or freeze them after they are cooked. Do you have any advice?
Hi Ben! Here is what one of my viewers said, “We have found that you can prep the patties in advance and freeze them, then cook them from frozen (takes a minute or so longer on each side) for an easy weeknight meal.” I hope that helps.
Perfect. Thanks for the info. I am looking forward to making them Wednesday.
You’re welcome! I hope you love it.
The put a ring on it salmon cakes were incredible. I was damn close to a proposal after that dinner experience 🙂
I made them for my partner and he raved all night. He had never used fresh salmon – what a difference it makes for just an additional 15 minutes.
Glad they were such a hit!
Hello, can you use cooked smoked salmon instead of fresh?
Thank you in advance!
Hi Amanda, I have this note in the recipe – 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. I hope this helps.
These were delicious I will defiantly make them again.. Thankyou fora wonderful recipe.. D
You’re very welcome, D!
I used canned salmon, because it is what I had. I added minced garlic to the sauteed veggies. My panko was seasoned (italian herbs). I made a sauce with sour cream, crunchy chili oil, harissa, lemon juice and salt. Spread it on the cakes. Wrapped it in a couple pieces of butter lettuce and kabammmm… my entire family (including my “eww fish” teenager and my 4yr old) ate two apiece. So good! Thanks Natasha!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Crystal!
SUPERB recipe … served with Skinnytaste Avocado dressing over arugula with radishes … I’ve been cooking for 45 years and I have to say, this combination was an A+ recipe destined for holiday cooking!!! These salmon patties are superb! We had 3 lbs of salmon that we cooked on the grill so had tons of left over salmon and decided on this recipe … good choice indeed!
Question, I plan on making these larger to serve for dinner. How much salmon would you recommend for three people? Also, if I want to make them ahead and reheat, how would I do that?
Thanks!
HI, if you click on the servings in the recipe card, you can adjust the ingredient list to reflect less servings.
This recipe is great! My husband hates salmon but he actually liked these. I didn’t have parsley so I used cilantro. I also got frustrated trying to make patties (I was in a hurry!) so I dumped the entire mixture into the pan and pressed it down with a spatula like one big pancake. I let it cook and then flipped it (in pieces of course). It wasn’t the prettiest but it still tasted the same! Thank you for sharing!
Happy to hear that your husband loved it! Thanks so much for sharing.
I made these salmon cakes today as a salad for lunch and placed them over spinach, cooked rice, and shredded carrots. I did not have any yellow onion, so used a chopped red onion and toasted whole wheat bread finely chopped. I pan cooked them and placed them on top of the spinach salad, and used blue cheese dressing instead, because I do not like tartar sauce. I cut up fresh peaches and placed them on the side. Everyone boasted how delicious this was.
So glad it was enjoyed!
Made your tuscan salmon on Friday (OMG soooo good) and used up the left-over salmon for these on Saturday. Both these recipes are outstanding. I love this recipe as I can make as much or as little as I want/need. Very Good. Thank You Natasha for all that you do. You’re a very Special and talented lady. HUGS from Canada
Hello Linda, great to hear that you enjoyed the recipes! Thanks so much for sharing that with us.
Awesome didn’t change a thing and tartar sauce perfect Love it
Thank you for following the reipe as it is we’re glad to hear that you loved it!
Delicious! Really delicious!
I made two batches, one following this recipe, one with the zest and juice of a small lemon. The lemon brightened the flavor a bit, but it really didn’t matter-without it these were fantastic. Served it with homemade pickled onion, homemade guacamole and Mexican crema. It’s now one of our favorite meals. Can’t say enough about this recipe. Thank you, Natasha!!
You’re welcome! Thanks so much for sharing your experience trying out this recipe, we’re glad that you enjoyed it!
Delicious, partner requested them for dinner again the next night. Added some chopped capers and tarragon
Great to hear that you both enjoye the Salmon Cakes!
This was spectacular. I added serranos to the onion and peppers. With fresh salmon leftover this was sublime.
Thanks for the recipe.
You’re very welcome, Wendy! Thank you for sharing.
I am cooking a large Sockeye salmon for dinner tonight. I know I will have salmon left over to use in this recipe for Salmon Cakes. I was wondering if they can be cooked in the Air Fryer in stead of fried in a skillet on the cook top?
Hi Karen! I haven’t tested the air fryer for this recipe but please let us know if you experiment with it.
Fantastic recipe! Opted out of oil & butter to cook the cakes, there was enough left in the pan from the onions & peppers.
I purposely make extra grilled salmon just to have enough leftover to make Natasha’s salmon cakes. They are amazing!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Carolyn!
One of our favorite recipes! We have found that you can prep the patties in advance and freeze them, then cook them from frozen (takes a minute or so longer on each side) for an easy weeknight meal.
That’s a great tip, Lauren! Thank you for your wonderful review!
Can I sub non-fat greek yogurt for Mayo? Husband won’t touch anything with mayo
I haven’t tested that to advise. If you do that as an experiment, we’d love to know how it goes.
Just finished having these for dinner. They were very good and I got to use up the leftover salmon. I will definitely be making these again. Again, Thank You for another great recipe. HUGS from Canada
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed these salmon cakes, Linda!