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.
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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.
How to Make Salmon Patties
- Cook the Veggies – Saute the onion and bell pepper in a pan for 7-9 minutes and then remove from heat.
- 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.
- 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.
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:
- Strawberry Salad with Honey Vinaigrette
- Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Avocado Corn Salad
- Smashed Potato Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Oven Roasted Broccoli
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
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.
- Baked Salmon Recipe
- Honey Glazed Salmon
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon
- Teriyaki Salmon
- Tuscan Salmon
- Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon Butter
Easy Salmon Patties Recipe
Ingredients
- 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
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Made these in large patties for dinner and they were amazing!
I’m glad to hear that Shelby! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review!
Do you think canned chicken can be substituted for salmon
Hi Joice, I haven’t tried that but I imagine it could work.
I’m glad you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for following and sharing your thoughts! 🙂
Can this be made with canned salmon.
Hi Patty, yes that will work. Please see notes in the print-friendly section towards the bottom.
This was absolutely delicious, just like all your other recipes! You never disappoint me Natascha! I’ll have to make a double batch next time!!!
I’m glad you love it Julia! Thanks for sharing your fantastic review!
Has anyone tried making them in an air fryer? I just bought one today but i’m afraid to use it for these cause I might ruin them.
Hi Wayne, I haven’t tried that so I’m not sure. Maybe someone else has tried?? Thanks in advance! 🙂
I made them in the air fryer and they were great.
That’s great to hear! Thanks for sharing Wayne!
Natasha!!! These salmon patties look and sound so GOOD!!! I am planning to make them, can’t wait to bite into these yummy things!!! Hope you are having a crazy awesome day!!!:)
They are so easy AND so delicious! Please let me know what you think! 😀
Can you freeze the recipe?
Hi Andrea, I haven’t tried freezing but I imagine the cooked patties would freeze well.
Thanks so much! I will try and let you know!!
Andrea, did you try freezing the cooked patties? Wondering if I should try. I just made them for my one year old since it is a good texture for her and I tried them and they are great! She definitely can’t eat all of them that fast though, even if I help!
The salmon cakes look absolutely yummy. What is the dipping sauce consist of?
Hi there :). This is our homemade tartar sauce. Very easy and absolutely delicious ;). I have links in the recipe above for quick reference but here is the direct link to the tartar sauce. I hope you love it!
These look positively mouthwatering! Love that dipping sauce too.
They are popular for good reason! Please let me know what you think of the recipe if you decide to make them!
OMG I just made these for my family and let me tell you Natasha they were a huge hit. I used fresh salmon and but them inside a grandma biscuit. So yummy will definitely make again and again.
Oooh wow that sounds great inside a biscuit. Thank you for sharing that yummy idea and thank you so much for the amazing review! 🙂
I have a question. I don’t like a lot of filler so 1 cup of bread crumbs sounds like a lot of filler to me. Do you have any suggestions. Other than that it sounds delicious.
Hi Jenny, it doesn’t seem like alot once it is in the patties but you could try cutting it down if you prefer.
Thanks I will try a little less and see how it does and will let you know.
Made the salmon patties tonight for supper and made your tartar sauce too. I just had to add a few capers to the sauce, and I used leftover salmon. It turned out delicious and I would definitely make this again! Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe!!!
You’re welcome Cookie! I’m so glad to hear how much you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
So good!! And I highly highly recommend that tartar sauce! Thank you for the recipes! 🙂
Thank you so much for the wonderful review!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the salmon patties and the tartar sauce 🙂
<3 likes this and I will make this recipes can I have a Tartar Sauce recipes too * Thanking you always carmentorrijossorianogalang
Here is the direct link to the tartar sauce recipe, I hope this helps! https://natashaskitchen.com/2012/02/04/tartar-sauce-recipe/
Can this be made gluten-free . What can I replace for the bread crumbs
Hi Dee, I haven’t tried any gluten free substitutions. There was a question about whether or not quinoa could be used but I haven’t tried that to say if it works. You might just try gluten free bread crumbs. Sorry I can’t be more helpful. Maybe someone else has tried something? Please chime in if you have! 🙂
use a bit of rice flour for binding absorbtion purposes instead of wheat flour, easy
They have gluten-free panko. It’s yummy!
That’s a great substitution Ruselle!
I have made it with Gluten Free Panko breadcrumbs. Turns out delicious!!!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
The stores sell gluten free bread crumbs
Thank you for sharing!! 🙂
Can I bake the patties ?
Hi Patricia, one of my readers reported good results baking but I haven’t heard back with the details on bake time and temperature. If you test it out that way, let me know how you like it 🙂
Why the rating with a question? Maybe a mistake? This recipe was good!! I haven’t tried baking but per the recipe they are great! 🙂
Hi Natasha. Do you know by chance if I can replace fresh salmon with frozen Costco wild salmon burgers?
Hi Angelina, I haven’t tried that so I’m not sure but you will essentially be trading one patty for another. 🙂
Hi Natasha, Wondering if these could be frozen before cooking? Thanks. Really enjoy your recipes.
Hi Louise, I haven’t tried freezing them that way but I think it could work.
It works PERFECTLY. Aluminium foil it..then zip lock bag it. I live alone so wrks great for that “individualism’ effect. Just pull one out as needed. Now must say have only done this using CAN salmon..not sure bout fresh-type salmon. So glad found this recipe again..had yrs ago..lost it in a move. They were delicious!
I’m glad to hear that Felecia! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi, cooking the salmon patties tomorrow Saturday, but I want to make the tartar sauce will you give me your homemade recipe, thank you.
Jeanie, click here for the recipe. I also added a link in the post.
I did not see a recipe for the homemade tarter sauce
Hi Linda, sorry I added a couple of extra links to make it easier to find. Here is the direct link to our very popular tartar sauce recipe 🙂
Where is the recipe for the homemade tartar sauce?
Hi Nan, I have a couple of links in the post for future reference but it’s definitely easy to scroll past them 🙂 Here is the direct link to our very popular tartar sauce. I hope you love it! 🙂