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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
Yum yum yummy! Thank you for this great recipe!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Haven’t tried them yet but do you think they can be baked instead of fried?
Hi Diane, 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.
In my air fryer (no pre heating), I air fried mine at 200 degrees C 6 minutes on one side and another 2-3 minutes on the other side. It was good with some browning. It’s not baking but I guess baking would work too.
My family loves this recipe ! Simple easy go to for me. I use left over salmon pieces from whole side filet. I just cook the end pieces and use for salmon cakes. Great stuff ! Thank you !
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
Gotta say, I’m not usually a fan of leftover salmon. But we had a quantity left over from a gathering that had me feeling that I had to find a way to use it, rather than discard. This recipe was perfect…not fishy tasting, but still had great salmon flavor along with the other ingredients playing a great supporting role. I will definitely make again and the next time I’ll add a teaspoon of hot sauce!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Bill!
The salmon cakes were delish!!! Also, made the tarter sauce but added 2 cloves of minced garlic.Added both dill weed and parsley. Sooo good!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Karen!
I love to prepare leftover salmon into Salmon Patties, as my southern Daddy would call them!
Crazy question How do I measure after it’s cooked??
Thanks!
Rhetta
Hi Loretta, we used one pound for this recipe. So you can weigh it to see how much you end up with. We then scoop the mixture using this ice cream scoop. I hope that helps.
These are amazing as burgers!!!! Even my little toddlers loved them!
That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great!
Hello Natasha, Could I follow the recipe and bbq the salmon cakes?
Thank you for your consideration!
All the Best!!!
Hi, I haven’t tried that but I think they would get stuck and break apart on a grill. They do sell grill liners or you might consider grilling on a cast iron pan on the bbq.
I grill salmon all the time get the grill nice and hot 400f grill skin side down and it should stay together.
Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe; my family and I enjoyed these salmon cakes.
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
This is the Best fresh salmon recipe I have tried in a while.We eat alot of fresh Michigan salmon. I’m always looking for tasty recipes. I added a dash of cayenne for a little kick. Served with a side of Remoulade sauce.
That’s so great Dixie!! Thank you for that awesome review sand feedback!
I had two pounds of very over cooked salmon and this recipe came to the rescue. I doubled every ingredient because it was two pounds of fish, except the panko, I kept it at one cup to make it as moist as possible and it was killer! Mixed up a mayo, lemon juice and sriracha spread and put it on a toasted brioche bun. To die for!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and repurposed that salmon! Thank you for the wonderful review!
This was a lot better than expected
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Best salmon cakes I’ve ever had. Will fix these again and again. Used canned pink salmon. Used celery instead of pepper because that’s what I had on hand. So yummy!
Thank you for that amazing review, Christy!
Craving a salmon ‘burger’ tonight and remembered this recipe.
Going a touch bolder tho- added a sliced whole lemon around the salmon in the oven cooking process- then squeezed out the caramelized juices with a 1/4 tsp of fresh dill over the mixture and added a 2-bottom-tap of smoked paprika- letting mixture sit in the fridge for 30-45mins to firm before frying.
Thanku for providing possibly the bests salmon vehicle recipe to date! 🌟
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Christopher!
(UGH I don’t know if I put any stars on my review so I’m doing another one)
I made these with pork rinds instead of panko and they’re life changing. No fishiness at all. Just deelish. Try adding one to eggs benny – so good.
This is my favourite salmon cake recipe!
Thank you so much!!
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!!
I made these with pork rinds instead of panko. They are like crack. They’re amazing when you add one to eggs benny too.
Thank you so much for the recipe! There really is no fishiness – just deelish <3
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Carley!
Hello Natasha
This recipe won the heart of my picky eaters and would love to make this again and again. Sorry, I’ve only given 4 stars though as I am not so great with gluten, any alternative you can suggest? Also, have you tried freezing them cooked or uncooked? I wanted to have some handy for last minute meals. Definitely a keeper!
Thank you.
Hi Mary! Thank you for sharing that with us. Here is what one of our readers wrote substituting the bread crumbs “I’m gluten intolerant so I couldn’t use the panko crumbs so I substituted with grated cauliflower,they were absolutely the best I’ve ever had ..yummy they certainly will be on our menu” I hope that helps
Thank you for that. What about freezing them? Is it before or after frying/baking?
Hi Mary! 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
When frozen – do you need to defrost before cooking OR cook frozen?
Hi Debra, I would defrost first for even cooking or they might end up over-cooked out the outside.
Outstanding! I’ve tried a few versions of salmon patties/salmon cakes including oven baked versions that did not compare to this. I followed this recipe using cooked fresh salmon, and added some chopped roasted red pepper from jar and a teaspoon of lemon zest to the mix. Served with the homemade tartar sauce recipe over arugula with some jasmine rice seasoned with lime zest and cilantro.
Thank you so much for sharing that awesome review with us! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed that!
I’ve made these and froze them to cook at a later time. They were delish. I bring them to parties all the time. The homemade tartar sauce is a must. I use vegan mayo and love it and I’m not vegan.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us Marilyn!
I made this recipe after searching for what to do with leftover baked salmon. My mom, my husband and I all loved it!
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review Kendra!
I made these last night with left over roasted salmon I had on hand. OMG! My husband and I couldn’t get enough. This recipe is a “keeper”.
Hi Nancy! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for that awesome review, I love that you used left overs for this!
These cakes are splendid! A delicious way to serve leftover grilled salmon… on the other hand — your website is an absolute mess — assaulted by so many display ads and videos… I know the ads are the lifeblood of a free blog, but Geez!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that recipe Ricardo. Thank you for sharing that feedback with us!