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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
Great recipe. And fun to make. Thx
Thank you for sharing that with me Patricia! I love that you had fun with this!
This is the ONLY salmon cake recipe I’ve tried that does not fall apart. It’s going to be my go-to recipe from now on. It’s delicious. Thanks!!
Hi Melissa! I’m so happy you found a new favorite!
DH came home from Trader Joe’s with a random 1 lb can of crab, and I decided to make crab cakes. After comparing all your fritter/fried “cake” recipes, I went with this one, substituting crab for salmon, plus a cup of grated cheese which simply needed using. Really, really good! We enjoyed the crab cakes with your lemon aioli, from the shrimp fritter recipe. I use a #30 scoop (I think that’s 1.06 oz) for most fritters and meatballs … bite size, and good for finger foods. (Plus, this size really appeals to my granddaughters, for whatever reason!)
Thank you for the great review and sharing that with us, Chris!
Absolutely delicious, family not big on Salmon but loved these, crisp bottoms. Thank you
That’s so great! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
when I was young, my parents sometimes made great salmon cakes. Now into my 50’s, I can’t stand the strong taste of salmon, but…I think back fondly of those salmon cakes. I’m replying to your post because you say that your family isn’t a big fan of salmon and I wanted to ask you….is it a strong salmon taste? Would your family ask you to make them again? I’d love to give it a try, but so apprehensive as I don’t want to waste money on the ingredients if I’m not going to eat them :/
Hi Marianna, this one didn’t have that strong salmon taste. Salmon is not my children’s protein of choice and they only eat it when the recipe is really good and they really enjoyed this one 🙂
Not strong at all. may depend on the product you use , I use fresh baked salmon. Delish!
would the salmon cakes not be dry since you’ve cooked them twice?
Hi Tina, the combination of ingredients keep them moist. It’s a great way to use leftover salmon. I hope you love the recipe! 🙂
Yes, there’s no reason to cook the fish first you’re destroying it.
I can’t imagine using raw salmon to make salmon cakes. The whole purpose of the salmon cake recipe is to use up leftover salmon to prepare a second delicious new dish.
Delicious! Used canned salmon instead and swapped the parsley for some dill. Quick, easy and toddler liked it too!
I’m happy to hear you and your little one enjoy the recipe Amanda! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review!
These are so good this is our go to recipe. We added a 1/2 cup of celery. We did bake them for 25 min at 350 them the last 10 min we broiled them turning after 5.Thank You
You’re welcome Bobby! I’m happy to hear this recipe is a favorite of yours. Thanks for sharing!
Hey Natasha
Can I bake? this cakes because my husband has high cholesterol and we changed his diet and I try not make greasy food as much. Thank you. God bless.
Hello Yana, I have not baked these myself but I have had readers report baking them with much success.
Hi Yana, One of my readers reported good results baking but did not share the details on bake time and temperature. If you test it out that way, let me know how you like them baked.
I did bake them and the last 5 min. I
broiled them. Just watch them closely.
Thank you so much
Amazing!!!
Thanks! I’m glad we agree! 🙂
Can you make ahead and then freeze?
Hi Camile, yes you can freeze it. The best way to freeze any fish cake is to wrap it in saran wrap uncooked and freeze. It is better to freeze them BEFORE cooking. Usually fish that was made and cooked in advanced and then frozen to eaten at another time is not as flavorful nor as moist. (it is mostly dry and over cooked) Hope that helps you 🙂
Hi,
Thanks for posting this. I can’t have crab but I was thinking fish cake and bam you have a recipe. Yeah!
My pleasure Marina! I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know what you think!
Can these be made ahead before cooking?
Hi Susan 😀. Yes, these can be made ahead, just refrigerate until ready to cook.
This is a great recipe and your absolutely right about the tarter sauce it’s not the same if it’s not homade anymore ! I’ve been changing the recipe at home and made an Asian style with a spicy broccoli slaw to eat on top !
Do you have any of the nutrition facts off hand for this recipe , I’m doing weight watchers and trying to calculate points! Thanks for your wonderful recipes !
Hi Nikki, we are slowly working through the recipes (it takes awhile since it’s one at a time), but we are working on putting nutrition cards on each one. I should have this one up in a week or two (I hope!) 🙂 Thank you for being patient. 🙂
Made this for my family, but my son doesn’t eat mayonnaise. I substituted mashed avocado in an equal amount and it worked very well. Thanks for a great recipe!
You’re welcome Vivian! I’m glad to hear the recipe was a success. Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers!
Top notch,
I’m glad you love it Erica!
Will this work with canned salmon?
Hi Diana, you can use well-drained packaged or canned salmon if that’s what you have on hand.
Made this to the recipe – except I used almond meal instead of bread crumbs. It was a huge hit, as was the tartar sauce.
I’m glad to hear the recipe was a success! Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers!
Fabulous! These were fantastic! The only thing that I did different was I used garlic powder instead of garlic salt to cut down on sodium. My family really enjoyed these! I might broil them the next time I make them. Have you ever tried them broiled? Great recipe!
Hi Dorene, I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂 I haven’t tried baking them but one of my readers reported the following: “I made 1/2 of the batch in the fry pan & the other 1/2 in the oven (using foil with grape seed oil). Both turned out perfect.”
Hi Natasha – I made these again and this time I broiled them on the low setting for about 12-15 minutes. I kept an eye on them throughout the cooking time. I raised the temp to the high broil setting for the last minute or so to give a crispy top. They were still fantastic! I will definitely make again but I will broil. Thanks again for the recipe!
My pleasure Dorene! I’m glad to hear the recipe was a success. Thanks for sharing!
This was so delicious! Made the tartar sauce to go with it, and the whole family loved it. Thanks for a great recipe
You’re welcome Amanda! I’m happy to hear the recipe is a HIT! Thanks for sharing your great review!
I clicked on the link you provided for the tartar sauce but it is not longer there? Can anyone help?
Here is the direct link to the recipe, I hope this helps JL! https://natashaskitchen.com/2012/02/04/tartar-sauce-recipe/