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    The Yummy Bowl » Recipes » Fish

    Skillet Fried Salmon Patties

    Sep 10, 2022 · Modified: Feb 15, 2024 by Julia | The Yummy Bowl · 21 Comments

    1319 shares
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    Jump to Recipe
    Fried Salmon Patties

    These Skillet Fried Salmon Patties are golden brown and crispy on the outside with a flaked salmon center, mixed with creamy mayonnaise (or sour cream), lemon juice, garlic, diced red onion, and bell pepper.

    Fried Salmon Patties on a serving plate with parsley

    Served with delicious dill sauce, tartar, tzatziki or spinach dip makes a perfect, no-hassle dinner. The best salmon croquettes you ever tried!

    We love all kinds of fritters and patties for a quick weeknight dinner. From our Healthy Zucchini Fritters, Chicken Zucchini Fritters to our Vegetarian Patties With Broccoli and Cauliflower.

    These moist and flavorful fish cakes are loved by all ages and make an ideal snack with your favorite dipping sauce, or as a light lunch served with a green salad and fries. 

    Jump To
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Baked Salmon Patties - Oven instructions.
    • Recommended Equipment
    • Tips
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Freezing And Storing Instructions
    • FAQ
    • Easy Salmon Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments
    Fried Salmon Patties on a serving plate with parsley

    Ingredients

    My few comments on the ingredients + don't forget to read the Tips section!

    The full recipe and ingredients can be found in the recipe card below this post.

    • Salmon - For this salmon patty recipe I’ve used trimmed, skinless salmon but you can also use packaged or canned salmon instead. If using these, make sure that the meat is well drained before combining it with the other ingredients. Same cooking instructions can be easily applied to tuna or crab cake recipes too.
    salmon fillet before dicing
    • Breadcrumbs - Make your own breadcrumbs or use your favorite packaged ones. For a more crunchy exterior, try Panko breadcrumbs instead. Since I’ve added my own seasoning to this recipe, I didn’t feel it necessary to purchase seasoned breadcrumbs but you could as a way to adapt the recipe for extra flavor.  
    • Eggs - These help bind the salmon cake mixture to keep the cooked cakes from falling apart. Medium or large eggs.
    • Vegetables - Diced red onion, diced bell pepper (either red or tricolor), and garlic are included in the salmon cake mixture to add delicious crunchy texture and flavor.
    • Sour cream or Mayonnaise - Both of these options add tangy flavor and moisture to the salmon cakes. We love using a slightly healthier option such as Vegan Mayonnaise.
    • Lemon juice - A touch of citrus is the perfect addition when it comes to fish and seafood. For the best taste, use the juice from a fresh lemon, not bottled lemon juice. Lime or orange

    Instructions

    This is an easy recipe for making both thick and thinner salmon patties to enjoy with your favorite garnishes or to serve inside burger buns. All these are delicious.

    Prep. Dice the salmon fillets or fillet into small pieces (skin removed). Set aside.

    diced salmon fillet on a plate

    In a large skillet, over medium heat, add olive or avocado oil. Saute diced onion and bell peppers. 

    onion and bell peppers sauteing in a pan

    In a large mixing bowl make patty mixture adding salmon, bell peppers, onion, and the rest of ingredients. Season generously with salt and black pepper.

    ingredients for salmon patties in a bowl before mixing together

    Form the mixture into 12 balls and flatten slightly. These patties are relatively medium sized, not as big as you'd serve in a burger.

    ingredients for salmon patties in a bowl after mixing together

    Place patties in the same pan and cook over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

    Transfer the patties onto a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the excess oil from cooking.

    salmon patties frying in a skillet

    Serve hot with chopped parsley, sliced green onions, lemon wedges or lemon zest and your choice of dipping sauce and garnishes.

    We like mashed potatoes.

    Fried Salmon Patties on a serving plate with parsley

    Baked Salmon Patties - Oven instructions.

    You can also bake this patties in oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

    For oven, follow the recipe instructions as they are but instead of skillet, transfer shaped patties onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

    Don't press down, leave them as they are shaped into balls and spray lightly with cooking oil.

    bite shot of fried salmon fish cakes

    Bake for 10-12 minutes and then flip. Spray with oil again. And bake for another 5 minutes or until patties have a golden brown exterior.

    Recommended Equipment

    Nonstick skillet - fish cakes tend to stick to the pan very easily and a good nonstick pan would be essential.

    Measuring Cups and Spoons - measure like a pro! Easy to wash!

    Tips

    • This is a very simple recipe and it's a perfect way to use up that leftover salmon you have. Any leftover baked, grilled, or steamed salmon from last night's dinner is the best base for many recipes. There are so many things you can make with it - patties, salmon croquettes, served in a salad, buddha bowls, or in an omelet.
    • Place your pan-fried salmon cakes on a paper towel for a minute or so that any excess oil is soaked up prior to serving.
    • I recommend using an oil with a neutral taste and a high smoke point when pan-frying these salmon cakes. Something like vegetable oil or canola oil works really well. High-quality olive oil is perfectly fine here too.
    • Serve these salmon cakes with tartar sauce, spinach dip, Tzatziki sauce, guacamole or fresh salsa. 
    • You can add a kick of heat to these salmon cakes by including some cayenne pepper or red chili flakes in the salmon cake mixture. 
    • It’s normal for the salmon cakes to lose some moisture once cooked, stored, and then reheated. And also important not to overcook the patties.
    • Fresh herbs for patties. Anything such as finely diced parsley, green onion or scallion slices, cilantro, and basil is great here. Herbs add more flavor and freshness to the dish. For my son, I like to add just a little (a pinch) parsley but for the rest of the family, I usually add a lot more parsley or cilantro.
    • Try this recipe for making delicious salmon burgers. Make a larger patty (cooking time will need to be adjusted in this case) to serve between scrumptious toasted burger buns and toppings. Fresh and healthy burgers as they come.
    Fried Salmon Patties

    Serving Suggestions

    Serve these salmon patties on their own with a dipping sauce and a side salad. To make it a main course, add portion of rice, Mashed Potatoes, or Fries (Sweet potato fries).

    Green beans, asparagus and broccoli are excellent for serving with seafood too.

    Dipping sauces. For dipping, we love guacamole, spinach dip, avocado crema, Pico de Gallo, dill sauce, or literally any creamy-based sauce works so good!

    Avocado Crema With Jalapeno
    Avocado Crema With Jalapeno

    Side Salads. A healthy side dish we also love here is this Cabbage And Cucumber Salad or Mexican Coleslaw.

    Family friendly. And kids love these patties with a side portion of sweet potato fries or regular french fries (with or without truffle oil). Homemade is best, especially if you have an air fryer!

    Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries with parsley and mayonnaise
    Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

    For a quick lunch, serve these patties between gluten-free (if using) buns, with more toppings of veg like tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots. And cheeeese.

    I like to toast the buns on the grill or oven adding a slice or two of melty cheese like Cheddar, Gouda or Colby jack cheeses.

    Freezing And Storing Instructions

    Store cooked but cooled salmon fish cakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

    To freeze, do the same and freeze for up to 2-3 months. But, for best and more fresh results freeze uncooked patties instead (just cook how much you'll eat in one go).

    Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the pan over medium heat with a little butter and cooking oil. Or alternatively, oven at about 350 F works well for reheating these patties. Usually, in a preheated oven it shouldn't take more than 10-12 minutes to reheat those.

    FAQ

    Can I use leftover cooked salmon for these salmon cakes?

    It’s certainly a good way to use up any leftover salmon, I do recommend taking the extra time to cook fresh salmon specifically for making these salmon cakes - it will seriously elevate the flavor and texture.

    Are these salmon cakes gluten-free?

    This recipe calls for the use of breadcrumbs as a way to hold the salmon cake mixture together so that the pan-fried cakes don’t fall apart. You can use gluten-free breadcrumbs in this recipe to make it safe for anyone with gluten sensitivities. 

    Can I cook these salmon cakes in an air fryer instead of pan-frying?

    Absolutely! Frying salmon cakes in the air fryer reduces the amount of oil you need to use which is always the healthier option. Simply brush the air fryer basket lightly with oil and add the salmon cakes, evenly spread out on the basket so that sufficient air circulation crisps the outer edges. Cook the salmon cakes for 8 minutes at 400F, flipping them halfway through.

    Can I make these fish cakes with a different type of fish?

    Yes! I love these salmon cakes for so many reasons but you can use this recipe with a different type of fish. Traditionally, fish cakes are made with salted fish so feel free to use cod, haddock, or even pollock. 

    Easy Salmon Recipes

    See our all our recipes in the Recipe Index here.

    • final shot of a shredded baked salmon ina bowl with lettuce and vegetables
      Mediterranean Salmon Salad
    • Salmon Avocado Eggs Benedict (Eggs Royale)
      Salmon Avocado Eggs Benedict (Eggs Royale)
    • Cream Cheese Stuffed Baby Bell Peppers with Salmon
      Cream Cheese Stuffed Baby Bell Peppers with Salmon
    • salmon salad bowl in a white bowl with parsley and cabbage
      Salmon Salad With Cabbage (Grill or Oven)

    I would appreciate it so much if you left a comment about this recipe below! Subscribe to join the TYB newsletter and receive free recipes straight to your inbox! Let's connect via Facebook, IG & Pinterest!

    Recipe

    Fried Salmon Patties on a serving plate with parsley

    Skillet Fried Salmon Patties

    Julia | The Yummy Bowl
    These Skillet Fried Salmon Patties are golden brown and crispy on the outside with a flaked salmon center, mixed with creamy mayonnaise (or sour cream), lemon juice, garlic, diced red onion, and bell pepper.
    5 from 31 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 patties
    Calories 121 kcal

    INGREDIENTS
      

    • 1 lbs salmon, trimmed, skinless
    • ½ cup gluten-free bread crumbs, or regular, panko works too
    • ½ cup red onion, finely diced
    • 2 tablespoon sour cream or mayonnaise, we like to use vegan mayonnaise (healthier)
    • 2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 3 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
    • 1 pinch salt
    • 1 pinch black pepepr
    • ½ cup bell pepper, red or tricolor, diced small
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 medium garlic clove, or substitute with garlic powder about 1-2 teaspoons
    • 2 tablespoon cooking oil

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Dice the salmon fillets or fillet into small pieces (skin removed). Set aside.
    • In a large skillet, over medium heat, add olive or avocado oil. Saute diced onion and bell peppers.
    • In a large mixing bowl make patty mixture adding salmon, bell peppers, onion, and the rest of ingredients. Season generously with salt and black pepper.
    • Form the mixture into 12 balls and flatten slightly. These patties are relatively medium sized, not as big as you'd serve in a burger.
    • Place patties in the same pan and cook over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Transfer the patties onto a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the excess oil from cooking.
    • Serve hot with chopped parsley, sliced green onions, lemon wedges or lemon zest and your choice of dipping sauce and garnishes. We like mashed potatoes.

    VIDEO

    NOTES

    These Skillet Fried Salmon Patties are golden brown and crispy on the outside with a flaked salmon center, mixed with creamy mayonnaise (or sour cream), lemon juice, garlic, diced red onion and bell pepper. The best salmon patties you ever tried!

    ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 121kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 10gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 71mgPotassium: 133mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 434IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?@theyummy_bowl and tag #theyummy_bowl! Thank you!

    Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.

    Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.

    « Hamburger Foil Packets - Easy Hobo Dinner (Oven or Grill)
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julia | The Yummy Bowl

      September 10, 2022 at 6:23 pm

      5 stars
      The best kid friendly patties served with dipping sauce and a portion of fries are sure to be praised by your kids.

      Reply
      • Kathy Jo

        September 21, 2023 at 1:17 pm

        5 stars
        Being born & living half my life in Alaska I've eaten hundreds of salmon patties. This is by far the BEST recipe. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you.

        Reply
        • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

          September 22, 2023 at 2:54 pm

          thank you Kathy!

          Reply
    2. Elizabeth

      September 13, 2022 at 10:13 pm

      Hi! How did you make the dipping sauce? There's no recipie for the dipping sauce here. I tried a couple from the internet in the past and they were not that good, so I am a bit confused as to what would be a good dipping sauce for salmon patties. I like the salmon patties I I make them good, my recipie is very similar to this one, but no luck on the sauce yet. I will try a tahini based one next, maybe that one will be better!

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        September 14, 2022 at 3:40 am

        hi Elizabeth! So for the dipping sauce, we do avocado crema or simple sour cream with ranch packet dressing and add some fresh dill inside. I don't really enjoy the tar tar sauce that many suggest because it is too overpowering. I have mentioned a few in the Serving Suggestions paragraph and I actually do have one nice Tahini based sauce: (https://theyummybowl.com/sweet-and-spicy-tahini-dressing-vegan/) but haven't tried it with these patties yet. What a great idea!!! if you do, let me know how it was? Thank you Elizabeth!

        Reply
    3. Farah Maizar

      January 23, 2023 at 9:28 am

      5 stars
      This looks so good! The photos are absolutely beautiful, and I love the idea of a light and delicious main meal. Can't wait to try these salmon patties out!

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        January 25, 2023 at 4:01 am

        Thank you so much Farah!

        Reply
    4. Ieva

      January 23, 2023 at 9:58 am

      5 stars
      We love this recipe. Made it twice already, and really enjoy these patties both warm and cold on top of salads the next day! Beautiful with zingy guacamole!

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        January 25, 2023 at 4:01 am

        oh yum! Thank you Ieva

        Reply
    5. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      January 23, 2023 at 10:37 am

      5 stars
      Such a delicious family dinner and this version makes a change from using mashed potato to bind the patties together. Delicious with the avocado crema too.

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        January 25, 2023 at 4:00 am

        We both like simple recipes, thanks Amanda!

        Reply
    6. Helen

      January 23, 2023 at 1:48 pm

      5 stars
      I think my family would love these! Bookmarking to give them a whirl sometime soon - yum!

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        January 25, 2023 at 3:59 am

        thank you!

        Reply
    7. Kushigalu

      January 23, 2023 at 3:10 pm

      WOW. Those patties look fantastic. Thanks for the great recipe.

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        January 25, 2023 at 3:58 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
        • Judy Hart

          January 20, 2024 at 9:22 am

          5 stars
          Can I use canned salmon for this recipe?

          Reply
    8. A Smyer

      September 10, 2023 at 2:07 pm

      Did you cook salmon before dicing& mixing to form patties?

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        September 11, 2023 at 9:22 pm

        No, never, otherwise salmon will become a dry overcooked mess. Just make sure to dice the salmon small or you can also process it in in food processor but then you'll need to cook the patties for less minutes.

        Reply
    9. Judy

      January 20, 2024 at 11:17 am

      julia can these patties be made with canned salmon?

      Reply
    10. Judy

      January 20, 2024 at 11:24 am

      5 stars
      Can these also be made with canned salmon? Great with fresh but would also like to use canned in a pinch.

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        January 20, 2024 at 6:57 pm

        yes, for patties this should be okay!

        Reply

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    the yummy bowl julia author

    I'm Julia and welcome to The Yummy Bowl. I share easy and healthier recipes for the whole family. Hope you enjoy! Love, Julia

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    the yummy bowl julia author

    I'm Julia and welcome to The Yummy Bowl. I share easy and healthier recipes for the whole family. Hope you enjoy! Love, Julia

    More about me →

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