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
Going to make these for dinner tomorrow with friends. What would you serve with it?
Hi Deborah, you can serve with salad and rice of course. We also really enjoy this with our creamy Mashed Potatoes!
Hi Natasha, can I prepare the patties the day before? What can I substitute the mayo with? Thanks a lot
Anto
Hi Anto, 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. You can also use Plain Greek Yogurt instead of mayo. If you experiment, let me know how it goes!
Look so good! Can these be frozen?
Hi Joan, 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!
I love every Recipe that I have made from watching you and Copying your recipes. I have never been disappointed thank you so much
I’m so glad you enjoyed that recipe!
Wonderful Salmon patties along with the tarter sauce. Very easy. 5+stars
Love it! Thank you so much for your great review.
Made these last night; also made the homemade tartar sauce. Loved both recipes. Will definitely make again!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
I eat a Paleo diet – do you think the recipe would work using almond flour in place of the breadcrumbs? This recipe looks soooo good! TIA
My hubby said “This is a keeper.” This was one of my top 5 meals ever!!! Thank you so much for sharing and I look forward to more good recipes.
That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Karen!
The best salmon patty recipe I’ve used and my husband agrees. Moist but holds togethor well. Very flavorful! I will definitely make again. Next time I will make the sauce to go with it.
That’s so awesome Michele! Thank you for sharing that with me!
Your nutrition label says 145 calories…how many patties is that?
This makes about 4-6 servings, depending on how big you make them.
Made this several times & my husband & I are in love with it . The sauce is a must & make extra!!! I froze a few extra uncooked cakes in ziplock baggies for another meal . Defrost in fridge . Let sit on sheet pan for 30 mins before pan searing . Perfect .
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Recipe was great, but why, why, why does EVERY recipe on the internet waste a second sheet of paper to print one line of copyright information. It’s like all web chefs get a kickback from the paper companies.
Hi Stephen, Most recipes print on one sheet. Are you using the printable recipe option on our blog?
Hi do we have to cook the salmon in the tin. We hardly get the fresh one?
Hi Wendy, several of our readers have reported great results used canned salmon. I recommend looking through the comments for tips and advice.
These are absolutely amazing. I make them once every other week now. We just love them.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
hi Natasha, just tried your salmon cake recipe tonight and it was soooo delicious!! My family just loved it even without tartar. We eat fish regularly and I am constantly looking for new recipes, especially for salmon that we buy often from Costco. This is for sure the best salmon recipe I’ve used recently! Thank you so much for sharing it. Hope you have a wonderful day!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Made this a few weeks ago and truly that even a person who doesn’t eat salmon will love it. My boy don’t like salmon but when he tasted it he asked me to make again.
So nice to hear that, Venus! My kids love this too just like your son.
These were absolutely delicious with the homemade tartar sauce recipe…my family ate them before we could finish talking about it. Even with canned salmon which is all I had during the pandemic—the perfect pantry gourmet!
I’m glad you and your family enjoyed it!
One word AMAZING!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
These are fabulous!
Made them without the red bell pepper (I do not have one) and they were still excellent!
A couple of crab cakes I added tiny bit of blue cheese and they were just as good if not better than than the ones I buy fresh at the super market.
This will be a staple recipe in our house!
That is awesome to know, Mayla! Thanks for trying this recipe and for giving a wonderful review!
I’m making these today….can’t wait to try they look delicious! I was wondering, can I freeze some of them before frying to save for another time? Thank you!
Hi Nancy, 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!
Holy moly these are DIVINE! Soooo delicious!
Isn’t the flavor amazing! I’m so glad you enjoyed that!