Easy Salmon Patties Recipe

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.

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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 some of my Best Salmon Recipes.

Easy Salmon Patties Recipe

4.96 from 575 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
4.96 from 575 votes (189 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Sue Nordman
    March 29, 2026

    I really enjoyed this salmon pattie recipe, but I didn’t scroll down far enough to see the amount of each ingredient! I was really close on my ‘guesstimates’. These are so yummy, and I was able to make 10 patties! Enough for 3 meals!! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 30, 2026

      Hi Sue, I’m glad it turned out well even with guessing. If you would like to find that ingredient list right away, At the top of the recipe post click “Jump to Recipe” and that will take you to the ingredients list and instructions.

      Reply

  • How
    March 28, 2026

    These were very tasty. I embellished a bit but stuck to the recipe for the most part. I was eating them right from the frying pan.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 28, 2026

      I usually can’t wait either and have to taste test straight from the pan. I’m so happy you enjoyed these.

      Reply

  • Lorna
    March 13, 2026

    Made as written but used some lower sodium Old Bay seasoning in place of half of the garlic salt…very yummy…served with a splash of lemon juice instead of tarter sauce. Made 7 good-sized patties. Will make again but will swap out butter for all olive oil and mayo for Greek yogurt just to make them a bit healthier! Hopefully will be as delicious. Thanks for a great salmon recipe!

    Reply

  • Gloria Brinker
    March 13, 2026

    This is the best salmon patty recipe I’ve ever made. It’s even better than my mom‘s and that’s saying a lot. I didn’t substitute anything, but I made larger patties, which made eight. Delicious!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 13, 2026

      I’m so happy to hear you loved these, Gloria. Thank you for your wonderful feedback.

      Reply

  • clarice
    March 12, 2026

    These were delicious. However the recipe makes 5 patties. Not 14. So nutrition data would be a little off. But they were so good. I didn’t have red peppers but were good with just onions

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 12, 2026

      Thanks for sharing, Charice. Serving size of this recipe is 14 salmon patties but of course it will be different if you measure per patty differently. I’m glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply

  • Rufino
    March 7, 2026

    This review is long overdue! I’ve made this recipe many times now, and it’s always a hit with my family. The tartar sauce recipe is fantastic—I’ve completely stopped buying store-bought because this one is so much better and super easy to make. Thanks so much, Natasha!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 8, 2026

      I’m so happy to know you’re loving this recipe, Ruffino. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment.

      Reply

  • Lisa Meyers
    March 1, 2026

    This is the best salmon patty recipe I have ever made. I have made it so many times and it is always delicious. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 1, 2026

      Thank you so much for your awesome feedback, Lisa!

      Reply

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