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
Loved this recipe! Had to substitute dried parsley and used orange bell pepper because I didn’t have red but it was easy and delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that, Kay! Thank you for sharing that with me!
Just made these and they are delicious! I used canned salmon and jarred roasted red peppers but followed the rest of the recipe exactly. I also made a slightly different version of the tartar sauce and yummy is all I have to say! I’ll be making these again!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
How much of the jar roasted red peppers did you use?
Thank you , thank you! I just made these wonderful patties tonight! We loved it! I’ll definitely make them for ever!! Brava!
Elisabetta from Venice, Italy
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
These salmon patties are delicious. I’ve made them a couple times now and I’m never disappointed. Fresh salmon is the way to go! This last time I made the salmon the day before to help save some time during the week and it worked out perfectly. I also have to say the homemade tartar sauce that’s linked in this recipe is absolutely amazing! So simple to make. I let it sit an hour in the fridge before dinner. Everyone loved it! Definitely give it a try, you wont be disappointed!
That’s so great! Sounds like you found a favorite!
I made your delicious salmon cakes Friday they came out awesome thank you for sharing your recipe
The only thing I did different I did not have breadcrumbs so I used Ritz crackers
Mr. Husband love them
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you both enjoyed it, Linda!
I made these tonight and we loved them! So easy and the homemade tarter sauce went perfect with them. I will definitely be making these again.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
I love, love, love this recipe! I fry them and then put them in the freezer just until firm. Then put them in 4’s in foodsaver bags and freeze them. I usually make a double batch so I always have some on hand. They’re great for RV’ing also.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Planning on making these tonight. Do you have any suggestions for good side dishes for these?
Hi Stacy, you can serve these with salad and rice of course. Mashed potatoes will work too. Don’t skip the homemade tartar sauce.
Can you use canned salmon?
Hi Colleen, yes! Several of our readers have reported great results used canned salmon. I recommend looking through the comments for tips and advice.
Can you substitute canned crab for the salmon?
Hi Sandy, yes! Several of our readers have reported great results used canned salmon. I recommend looking through the comments for tips and advice.
Can these be frozen before cooking and thawed and cooked later?
I imagine cooked patties would freeze well but I’m not sure if the patties would fall apart or not if they are frozen before cooking. If you experiment, let me know how it goes!
Delicious.. we made it for dinner.. thank you!!
Thank you for the wonderful review, Veronica!
This was easy and filling. Even made your Homemade tarter Sauce was refreshing
Thanks for all these amazing recipes.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Cynthia!
DELICIOUS! Perfect way to use fresh, wild, Alaskan, sockeye salmon scraps left over from making uniform-sized smoked salmon strips that we preserve in jars.
I made a double batch and wonder if it’s better to cook patties and freeze, or freeze patty-sized portions… Any experience or advice?
Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!
~An
I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe! I imagine cooked patties would freeze well but I’m not sure if the patties would fall apart or not if they are frozen before cooking. If you experiment, let me know how it goes!
These are amazing!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that Caitlin!
Absolutely scrumptious ! Served with Rice once, Mashed Potatoes once and both times fresh shucked Peas and Coleslaw.m-m-m-m Good !
I’m so happy you enjoyed that Peter! Thank you for sharing that awesome review with us!
I am making these AGAIN for dinner tonite ! An amazing recipe ! Thank you … it never fails and everyone loves these cakes ! Going to try ur recipe for the Dijon salmon ASAP !
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Janette!
Hi Natasha, I made these salmon patties yesterday, however, I used a hamburger patty maker. The patties were about 4 inches in diameter and about 3/4 inches thick. I made four of them. They crumbled a bit on the edges in the frying pan, perhaps I need to use more mayo next time. The patties did take longer to cook, but they were filling. Do you think that adding more mayo would resolve the crumbliness or could I add an extra egg??
Hi James, Make sure to use the same proportions of ingredients in the recipe so it doesn’t get too dry. If it is too dry adding more mayo may help. Also, a good non-stick, well oiled pan helps and add them to a hot pan to keep them from sticking. If they aren’t sticking to the pan, they will be easier to flip and won’t fall apart as easilly.
I’m not a fish eater, but I love these! Can the extras be frozen?
Hi Barb, I imagine cooked patties would freeze well but I’m not sure if the patties would fall apart or not if they are frozen before cooking. If you experiment, let me know how it goes!
These are the best and so easy to make.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Kathy!
I just made these for lunch today. Amazing! I used yellow and green pepper, instead of red. Will try red next time. II was reading some other comments about substituting the mayo with yogurt, and maybe adding fresh lemon. I used jalapeno lime aioli from Costco for dipping. Very good!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
How do you make the cucumber dip?
Hi Linda, are you referring to this dip here?
Now a family favorite!
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review Kim 🙂
Has become my entire families favorite!!! Even the non salmon lovers!! Thank you, I have passed this recipe on to so many people always raving about your video recipes!
That’s so great! I’m so happy you found a favorite salmon recipe on the blog! & thank you for sharing this recipe with your family & friends!