This Salmon Patties Recipe makes flaky, tender, and flavorful fritters with crisp edges and plenty of flaked salmon, the hallmark of the very best salmon patties. These are so easy to make with leftover cooked salmon or canned salmon and work great as an appetizer, side, or main dish.

Salmon Patties on a plate with tartar dipping sauce.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Each week, my whole family gathers at my mom’s house for Sunday night dinner, potluck style. I love to bring easy-to-transport appetizers and sides, like my Jalapeno Poppers, Stuffed Mushrooms, and Grape Jelly Meatballs, that make it easy for a crowd of people to feast!

These Salmon Patties are perfect for our family meals since they travel well, stay crispy, and can be served using just your fingers (ok, you could also use a serving utensil, but that’s extra dishes!).

Easy Salmon Patties Recipe

My whole family loves to eat these easy salmon patties, especially served with my Homemade Tartar Sauce, and I love how easy it is to make!

If you’re looking to start with fresh salmon, you’ll love our Salmon Cakes Recipe, but this recipe for salmon patties is a smart way to make a quick batch on busy weeknights with either leftover cooked salmon or well-drained, canned salmon (or even salmon packets) which you may already have in your pantry.

These are such a treat, and even folks who don’t usually like salmon enjoy this recipe. They always disappear fast and are even faster to make.

Salmon patties recipe stacked on top of each other on a blue plate

How to Make Salmon Patties

  1. Cook the Veggies – Saute the onion and bell pepper in a pan for 7-9 minutes and then remove from heat.
  2. Mix the Patties – Mix salmon, peppers and onions, bread crumbs, egg, mayo, Worcestershire, garlic salt, pepper, and parsley in a large bowl. Then, use a heaping Tablespoon to measure the mixture and your hands to form patties.
  3. Cook the Patties – Melt oil and butter in a clean skillet, and place the salmon patties into the skillet in one layer, sauteeing each side for 3-4 minutes until browned. Place cooked patties on a paper-towel-lined plate, and then serve, garnished with fresh parsley.
Step by step how to make salmon patties

How to Serve Salmon Patties

You can also serve these salmon patties for lunch, dinner or appetizers – they are versatile and can even be served in Hamburger Buns as salmon burgers, simply form them a little larger in step 3. They also pair well with these dishes:

close up picture of salmon patties on a blue plate with tartar sauce for dipping

Make-Ahead

Cool any leftover salmon patties and store them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

  • To Refrigerate: place in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Freezing: freeze for up to 3 months
  • To Reheat: Thaw overnight in the fridge. You can eat the patty cold or reheat in a skillet or air fryer until heated through
fish patties on a blue platter with dipping sauce and parsley

This recipe for Salmon Patties will soon become your favorite appetizer or main dish. The crispy outside and moist, flavorful inside work perfectly with my homemade tartar sauce. Try this easy recipe today!

More Easy Salmon Recipes

Once you have tried this Salmon Patties recipe, check out these other delicious Salmon Recipes.

Easy Salmon Patties Recipe

4.97 from 535 votes
A blue plate with Salmon cakes garnished with parsley and a small bowl of tartar sauce
These salmon patties are flaky, tender and so flavorful with crisp edges and big bites of flaked salmon. They are also super easy to make with leftover cooked salmon or canned salmon. These salmon patties always disappear fast! Serve with tartar sauce.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 14 salmon patties
  • 14-15 oz canned salmon or salmon in packets, well drained
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 medium yellow onion, 1 cup, finely diced
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 Tbsp mayonnaise*
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic salt, or sub with 1/2 tsp fine sea salt and 1/4 tsp garlic powder, or season to taste
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup parsley, finely minced

Instructions

  • Set a medium skillet over medium heat with 1 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter. Add diced onion and bell pepper and saute until golden and softened (7-9 minutes) then remove from heat.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine flaked salmon, sautéed pepper and onion, bread crumbs, beaten eggs, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, black pepper, and chopped parsley. Stir to combine. Form into patties (about a heaping Tablespoonful each) and mold with your hands into 2" wide by 1/3 to 1/2" thick patties.*
  • In a clean non-stick pan, heat 1 Tbsp oil and 1 Tbsp butter until hot then add salmon patties in a single layer. Saute for 3 to 4 min per side or until golden brown and cooked through. If salmon patties brown too fast, reduce heat. Remove finished patties to a paper-towel-lined plate and repeat with remaining oil, butter, and salmon patties.

Notes

*You can substitute canned salmon with leftover cooked salmon. Be sure it’s boneless and skinless, and flake the salmon before using it in the recipe.
*If the salmon mixture is too dry to hold a patty shape, add an extra tablespoon of mayo and if it is too moist, add more bread crumbs.
To Store Leftovers – Cool and place salmon patties in an airtight container. Refrigerate for 3 days or freeze for 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and then eat cold, or reheat in a skillet or air fryer until warmed.

Nutrition Per Serving

1patty Serving94kcal Calories3g Carbs7g Protein6g Fat2g Saturated Fat2g Polyunsaturated Fat2g Monounsaturated Fat0.1g Trans Fat40mg Cholesterol314mg Sodium134mg Potassium0.4g Fiber1g Sugar311IU Vitamin A8mg Vitamin C91mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Easy Salmon Patties Recipe
Serving Size
 
1 patty
Amount per Serving
Calories
94
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
6
g
9
%
Saturated Fat
 
2
g
13
%
Trans Fat
 
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Cholesterol
 
40
mg
13
%
Sodium
 
314
mg
14
%
Potassium
 
134
mg
4
%
Carbohydrates
 
3
g
1
%
Fiber
 
0.4
g
2
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
7
g
14
%
Vitamin A
 
311
IU
6
%
Vitamin C
 
8
mg
10
%
Calcium
 
91
mg
9
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Salmon Patties, salmon patties recipe
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 94
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.97 from 535 votes (189 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • JANICE L CHENEY
    June 9, 2025

    These sound delicious and all the reviews are highly positive. I will not be making them, however, because 14 salmon patties are way too many for this single person. Wish I could figure out how to decrease the ingredients into a more manageable quantity – like 4 or 6 patties🤷‍♀️

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 9, 2025

      Hi Janice, I recommend clicking “Jump to recipe” at the top of the post, it will take you to our printable recipe where you’ll have the option to change the number of servings. Hover over the number of servings highlighted in red and slide it to how many servings you would like to make. I hope that helps!

      Reply

  • Carm
    May 31, 2025

    Oh my goodness! I made salmon patties in the past and the recipes I’ve tried were just okay so I didn’t expect much from this but boy was I wrong! Perfect recipe!
    I had to change the recipe a bit since I didn’t have all the ingredients.
    I didn’t have bell pepper so I skipped it and I substituted soy sauce for Worcestershire sauce. I also used dried parsley and fresh garlic. I sautéed the fresh garlic with the onion. Yummy! Next time I make it, I’ll make sure I have bell peppers! 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      June 1, 2025

      I’m so happy to hear that you loved the Salmon Patties and they exceeded your expectations. It sounds like you found a new favorite!

      Reply

  • Alisa
    May 29, 2025

    Yummmmmmmmy. Made in air fryer. Add two tablespoons of oil to recipe for air fryer.
    Cooked for 5 min each side. Perfect.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 29, 2025

      Thank you for sharing that with us, Alisa!

      Reply

    • Lisa
      June 6, 2025

      Excellent for left over salmon! Made according to the recipe, except I used Italian bread crumbs instead of Panko. Made in the air fryer at 400 for 10 min, 5 per side. Added a TBL of oil as a commenter said, since its in the air fryer. Delicious! I won’t be afraid to get a big slab of salmon anymore, because I only like it the first day and don’t want to waste it

      Reply

  • Fran
    May 28, 2025

    Natasha, you are an awesome chef! So glad I found your site! Salmon patties are sooo good! 👍☺️

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 28, 2025

      You’re so nice! Thank you, Fran! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Raquel
    May 27, 2025

    I used regular salmon, two small filets. Obviously I had to cut the measurements way back. I used all the ingredients other than dill cuz I don’t like it. I did substitute ritz crackers for the panko. This was by far the best salmon burger I’ve ever had!! I had it yesterday and want it again today. The 2 small filets equaled one large patty and one very small one. I allowed my brother the small and and he want to fight for mine :).

    Reply

  • DJ
    May 26, 2025

    Incredibly amazing! I didn’t have high hopes for this at first; I had made salmon patties before and I just didn’t like them. But my son requested them and I picked this recipe.

    These are amazing. There’s /so/ much flavor in them, and making them in the silver dollar size I think is a great idea. They hold together just well enough and they are very quick to make on a weeknight. So very good; these are going into a regular rotation. Don’t need tartar sauce or anything else on them. Just perfect as is.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 26, 2025

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, DJ!

      Reply

  • Emelyn
    May 24, 2025

    I trust Natasha’s recipes and I’ve made many of them. This one is another delicious “keeper” that I highly recommend

    Reply

  • Joan Hedstrom
    May 20, 2025

    Did some changes, but this is a great base recipe to start with. My guy said these were the best he ever had. The best I ever made. TY

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 20, 2025

      So glad he enjoyed them!

      Reply

  • Yolanda
    May 16, 2025

    Delicious! Easy, tasty, fast. I added a chopped Serrano pepper for a slight kick and was perfect!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 16, 2025

      So happy you loved it!

      Reply

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.