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
I didn’t have bell peppers on hand and didn’t use the onion, but I made this otherwise pretty much the same. After getting over (kinda) the bones and skin, this was AMAZING! Thank you for this!!!
Sounds perfect! Thank you for your awesome review and feedback, Melissa.
what is the dipping white sauce? please send me recipe
Hi, that is our homemade Tartar Sauce.
Just made the salmon patties and they were so good
Thank you for sharing you recipe and we love to watch your videos❣️
You’re welcome! Great to hear that you enjoyed this recipe.
I made these with some leftover steelhead trout that I had oven-baked the day before, and didn’t want to just reheat. I didn’t have red pepper on hand, so I subbed a mix of celery & fresh corn, & it worked great! For me, it was missing a little flavor, but that may have been b/c it wasn’t salmon & I didn’t use garlic salt when I baked the fish 🙂 So I added some Crystal hot sauce to the mix; & I might get some Old Bay seasoning to have on hand for next time too, b/c this one’s still a keeper! It made 6 burger-size patties; I fried 3 & froze 3 uncooked, to take out for a quick dinner sometime. I also made the tartar sauce linked here & it was so good! I might also try these w/ sriracha mayo sometime… Anyway, with a good salad & a bottle of wine, these made a great quick weeknight meal that felt like we splurged on a really nice dinner out!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this dinner, Jennifer. Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
FANTASTIC! I have been making salmon patties for years using canned salmon. SPEND the extra money and make them with fresh salmon….you won’t regret it. The best recipe ever. I can’t wait to make them again. Also, always make your own tartar sauce. You’ll never go back to prefab sauce again.
Thank you so much for sharing that wonderful review with me, Susan! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe.
I’m excited to say I’m making these again and was wondering if I could freeze half before they are cooked.
Hi Susan, that would work fine. Just be sure to keep them covered and refrigerated/frozen before cooking.
Turned out great. I used a bit more worcheshire sauce, and added a green onion and a bit more onion salt. Very good!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I love all your recipes. You Re my go to cook.
You’re so nice! Thank you!
I used less olive oil, no butter and air fried thee patties. Absolutely delicious with a little bit of crisp!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This recipe was the BOMB. I made this keto friendly by subbing almond flour for the breadcrumbs. I cant wait to make again.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Annemarie!
This recipe is a staple in our home, so delicious. I substitute panko crumbs for Almond four GF & don’t use as much. We also use if we want salmon burgers, or smaller portions if we want appt. Thank you for the wonderful recipe, so versatile.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me! I’m happy your family enjoyed this recipe!
First attempt at Salmon patties and they were DELICIOUS! Didn’t have dill pickles, so I substituted sweet relish and the tartar sauce was also quite good. Thank you for sharing the recipes. This is a keeper!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing that awesome review, Donna!
These are delicious! A favorite for my husband and me. Thank you!
Yay, perfect! Thanks for your awesome review, Jessica.
Made these tonight and everyone loved them!!! Thanks for another great recipe!!!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
They are really delicious
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
These are so delicious! My family loves these!
Great to hear that! Thank you, Rhonda.
Delicious! A nice change from just baked salmon. Great flavour and moisture! It made 8 large patties for me for dinner. Will have leftovers for a few days😜
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Hello, My husband and I made them for dinner tonight and they are awesome. We did not add the parsley or Worcestershire sauce. This are the best salmon patties we have ever had. Thank you for posting this.
Hi Sue, that is so heartwarming. I’m so happy to hear that, thank you so much for your good feedback!
This has become a favorite of ours. I used canned salmon, I didn’t have a red pepper, but I had a jar of pimentos, no need to sauté them as they are already soft, just drain well. These are great as an appetizer, as a sandwich, or main course of your meal, tonight making it with an Orzo Pilaf and a vegetable.
Sounds great, Kathleen. Thank you for sharing that with us. I’m happy that you liked it!
FYI: Worchestershire, common error, pronounced
‘Wus ter sheer’
Thank you!
She was just imitating Moe Howard of the 3 Stooges from the short “Half Wits Holliday.”
Just wanted to know if I could make these ahead of time, then fry them the next day?
Hi Bebe, that should work fine, just be sure to keep them covered and refrigerated.