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
These were very good. I made a couple of small substitutions because of what I had on hand. Will defy be making every time wild caught salmon is on sale!
I froze some to make for a quick meal but they still didn’t last long!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Laurie!
Hi Laurie, I was wondering about freezing up some of these patties for later… did they freeze well for you?
This recipe was so delicious!! Using what I had in my pantry… in place of the fresh salmon I used 2 cans (5 oz each) of Starkist Pink Salmon and in place of olive oil, I used avocado oil. Will be making this one again soon. Next time I want to try your tartar sauce too!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that, Ramonda. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I am not finding the tartar sauce recipe.
Hi Patty, You can find it here.
Hi. What are the nutrition facts for these?
Kim, we are working on adding nutrition labels and metric measurements on all of our recipes. It’s a slow process since it is one recipe at a time. Until all of the recipes are updated, check out this nutrition analyzer – you can plug in the ingredients from any recipe, select the serving size and it will give you nutritional info, calories, etc. I hope that is helpful to you!
I am going to try these right away…looks delish! I can’t seem to find your homemade tartar sauce recipe tho…
Welcome to our blog, Sue! You can find the tartar sauce recipe here
it is highlighted in red in the print-friendly recipe
VRILLIANT .THANKS NATASHA🤗🤗🤗🤗🤣
Thank you for following our blog, Diane!
hi! I make these all the time and love them. Do you think they would freeze well? thanks!
Hi Michelle, 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!
they froze really well and tasted just as good when we ate them! I wrapped each burger in foil individually before freezing.
Hi! I want to make these but interested in using almond meal in place of panko. Has anyone tried to make these gluten free? Thanks in Advance.
Hi Erin, one of my readers wrote in with a very helpful review on that: ” Made this to the recipe – except I used almond meal instead of bread crumbs. It was a huge hit, as was the tartar sauce.” I haven’t tested it myself but you might start with using a little less of the almond meal since it is more dense than breadcrumbs so it doesn’t dry out your mixture.
I used ground up pork rinds instead of the panko and omitted worchestershire to make it keto friendly, then sauteed in avocado oil and butter. Really good.
This recipe is now in the regular rotation for weekly meals in my home. The husband loves them and the toddler loves them too. I use canned tuna and it works great! Thank you!
You’re welcome Tania! I’m glad your family enjoys the recipe as much as mine does. Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
Can’t stop drooling scroling through your facebook page!
My husband loves salmon so I had this recipe in my mind for a while and I made it today! I made the last one little bit bigger, kind of like a hamburger for him to take tomorrow to work! I bet he’s going to love it, I know I did! Thanks sooo much! Greetings from Spain
My pleasure Heather! I’m glad you enjoy the recipe just as much as I do. Thanks for following and sharing your great review!
I am having trouble printing your salmon recipe and the tarter sauce recipe.
I don’t have problems with others.
Hi SR, I am not able to replicate the issue. When I click the “print” button in the print-friendly section, I am seeing the print screen and then I click print and it prints. You will have to go to the tartar sauce recipe page to open and print the tartar sauce. I hope that helps! 🙂
Hello Natasha! Just made these for dinner tonight. It really has amazing flavor and my husband loved them! The only problem I had was the patties were falling apart. What can i do to make sure that doesn’t happen? I followed the recipe exactly so not sure if the mixture was sitting too long and maybe panko got soggy? I’m not sure.
Thank you,
Jacquelyn
Hi Jacquelyn, I’m so glad you loved them! Make sure to use the same proportions of ingredients in the recipe so it doesn’t get too dry. 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.
Everything you make looks delicious and me being Ukrainian and and I love to cook, cant help but make your salmon cakes tomorrow and try some of your other delicious looking receipies that I saw on line. Keep them coming..
Thanks for following Darka and please let me know what you think of the recipes!
Hi Natasha,
My son doesn’t like cooked bell peppers. What would be another ingredient to substitute?
Thank you,
Diana
Hi Diana, these should still work well without the bell pepper. If you wanted to substitute, some finely chopped celery might work well.
I made them it was delicious!! My boyfriend could not get enough of it… it will be at my table at my next birthday party..
I’m happy to hear how much you both love the recipe. Thanks for sharing your excellent review Hesra!
I haven’t tried these yet but i do prefer mashed potato’s instead of th
e panko
Hello would you happen to know the calories these salmon patties are ?
We are working on adding nutrition labels and metric measurements on all of our recipes. It’s a slow process since it is one recipe at a time. Until all of the recipes are updated, check out this nutrition analyzer – you can plug in the ingredients from any recipe, select the serving size and it will give you nutritional info, calories, etc. I hope that is helpful to you!
This tastes wonderful! I made it for my family for Easter and my mom loved them.
I’m glad to hear the recipe is a hit with your family! Thanks for sharing your great review Katie!
Made this tonight. My husband and I loved them along with the homemade tartar sauce that was also in this recipe. Apparently they were so good my father in law asked for seconds. He NEVER askes for seconds! Will be finding more recipes to try
Awesome! I’m glad to hear how much everyone loves the recipe. Thanks for sharing your excellent review Michelle!
Made these tonight with the homemade tartar sauce. Very good, thanks for the recipe
You’re welcome Tom! I’m glad you enjoy the recipe and the sauce. Thanks so much for sharing!
Made these last night. They were delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome Michael! I’m so glad you like them. Thanks for sharing your fantastic review!