Salmon Patties are appetizers or a main dish made with freshly baked salmon that is seasoned, formed into patties, and pan-fried. If you love salmon, be sure to try my Blackened Salmon with Avocado Corn Salsa, Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon, and Spinach Stuffed Salmon.
Salmon Patties
Salmon is a super-food, loaded with vitamins and nutrients. Plus, it’s packed with protein and has major health benefits. These salmon patties are perfect when you don’t want a salmon dinner, but are just craving a healthier snack. They are a perfect appetizer to share. And, they are so delicious, even those who are not huge fans of salmon may enjoy them!
Ingredients
Salmon: This recipe starts with baking a salmon filet. It is easy to do and only takes about 20 minutes. I will also let you know how to make these with canned salmon.
Patties: The salmon is mixed with an egg and bread crumb mixture to hold them together. I used old bay seasoning and salt to season the patties.
Baking the Salmon
To make the patties, I started with a one-pound salmon filet. Leave the skin on for best cooking; I will explain more about that later. Place the salmon filet, skin side down, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle the filet with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake the salmon for 15-20 minutes, or until flaky. I go into how to tell if the salmon is done cooking below.
Once baked, remove the salmon from the oven and let it cool long enough to touch. When the salmon is cool enough to touch, use two forks to pull it apart (shred), or flake it. Place the pieces of salmon into a large bowl, discarding the skin and any bones you may find.
How to Make Salmon Patties
With the salmon baked and flaked (hey, that rhymes!), it’s time to mix it with the other ingredient and get the patties formed and pan-fried. To the flaked salmon, add the eggs, garlic, onion, bread crumbs, old bay seasoning, and salt. Combine the mixture and form it into 8 equal-sized patties (about 2 inches wide and 1/2-inch thick).
After the patties have been formed, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, place the patties in a single layer in the skillet. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may have to work in batches. Brown each side for 3-5 minutes.
Once browned, place the patties on paper towels to drain. Serve warm with a little bit of optional lemon juice drizzled on the patties. Make some homemade tartar sauce for dipping! These are a tasty appetizer or could be served as a main dish with a wedge salad, Gruyere Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or Roasted Carrots, just to name a few. Add a basket of dinner rolls to the menu to complete the meal.
How to Know When Salmon Is Done Cooking
Salmon is a food that has so many health benefits, so the more recipes with salmon, the better. (Generally, eating salmon twice a week has the most benefits.) However, it can be tricky to cook. First of all, let the salmon sit out at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before cooking it. This will help it cook more evenly.
Officially (according to the United States Department of Agriculture), salmon is cooked through when the thickest part of the filet is 145°F on a meat thermometer. But, you can remove salmon from the oven, skillet, or grill closer to 130°F for a medium-cooked salmon; it will continue to cook after being removed from heat.
If you don’t have a thermometer, salmon is done cooking when it is a bit flaky when using a fork. Be careful to not overcook salmon; that will make it dry. The outside should be an opaque pink when cooked. In addition, the cook times will vary depending on the cooking method and the size of the filets. If possible, I would definitely recommend a meat thermometer.
Can I Use Canned Salmon?
Yes. If you don’t want to bake a whole salmon filet, you can use canned salmon in this recipe, which is already cooked. You may want to remove the bones and skin from the salmon (if using canned salmon with bones and skin), but you don’t have to. If you use canned salmon, drain it and mix it with the eggs, garlic, onion, bread crumbs, old bay seasoning, and salt. Stir to combine and form into patties. Then, cook them as instructed.
How to Store Cooked Salmon Patties
These salmon patties are best served immediately, but you can definitely keep leftovers refrigerated for up to 3 days. To freeze the patties, let them cool completely. Then, place them in the freezer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Once they are frozen, place them in a freezer-safe container, labeled and dated, for up to 2 months. Let them thaw in the refrigerator before reheating them.
More Seafood Recipes
Salmon Patties
Ingredients
Salmon
- 1 pound fresh salmon filet
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Patties
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- ¼ cup yellow onion, chopped
- ½ cup dry bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon old bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- lemon wedges, for garnish (optional)
- tartar sauce, for serving
Instructions
Salmon
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the salmon on the baking sheet, skin down. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Bake 15-20 minutes, or until flaky. (Salmon is fully cooked when a meat thermometer reaches 145°F.) Remove the salmon from the oven and let it rest until cool enough to touch.
- After the salmon has cooled a bit, use two forks to flake the salmon, and set it in a large bowl. Discard the skin and any bones.
Patties
- To the bowl, add the eggs, garlic, onion, bread crumbs, old bay seasoning, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Form the mixture into 8 patties that are about 2 inches wide by ½-inch thick.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the patties in the skillet in an even layer. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may have to work in batches. Brown for 3-5 minutes, and then flip over and brown the other sides for 3-5 minutes.
- Set the cooked patties on a paper towel to drain.
- Serve warm with freshly squeezed lemon and homemade tartar sauce (optional).
Did you make this recipe?
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Thank you 🙏
It all looks great, hope it taste great.
So Good
If you use canned salmon, how many cans for this recipe?
I use mashed potatoes instead of bread crumbs. They are so good.
are they instant mash potatoe flakes?
I often added corn and/or thin strips of red, yellow, and green peppers
My grandmother made this when we were growing up and I still make them for family ( I’m not a big salmon fan), but we use cornmeal instead of bread crumbs
My mother always made this recipe; but she used Kellogg’s Corn Flake Crumbs instead of bread crumbs and put in a couple teaspoons of sour cream. I use canned salmon and often use the pink salmon (boneless and skinless). I grate in a carrot, sauté the onion along with a chopped green pepper. I serve the Salmon Croquettes with mashed potatoes or buttered noodles along with a green vegetable.
So glad to see this recipe. My Mother in law used to make these every other week. I LOVED them and I never watched her! So stupid on my part! So I was super excited to see your recipe! Thank you!
Love these make them quite often.
I make them with canned tuna also, only difference is canned tuna instead of canned salmon
I love salmon Pattie’s.
This is great. Thank you so much. Haven’t had these since my mom passed away 50 yrs ago. I missed them as we use to have them at least twice a week.
I serve mine with Mash potatoes and white sauce with sweet peas over all.
That’s how my mom used to make them …with creamed peas. So good!
I have been making my Mother’s Salmon loaf for many many years, and it is same recipe. However over the years I have modified to season with Lemon juice, salt pepper, ground sage and dill. My husband loves it and asks for it regularly. I use canned Salmon and add 1/4 cup oatmeal also (to 1 can Salmon), Bake at 350 for 1 hour, then prior to serving make simple flour, butter, milk, white sauce and pour over it.
I have made similar ones for years but they just needed something….I think the old bay seasoning addition is just I was looking for to add taste. I love these with ketchup. I also make a sandwich on a brioche bun with mayo and ketchup 😋
You can use Cajun seasonings & sometimes I add a little garlic.
question you say use 1lb salmon for the patties – how does that equate to the canned salmon?
Two 8oz cans
a friend recommended adding more bread crumbs and a 1/4 c of V-8 juice to combine. the flavor is really good.
I’m not a salmon fan but, my grandson brought me some salmon from Alaska I think I’ll try this recipe. My sister loves salmon patties I’ve never made them or eaten them . Maybe I’ll become a fan !!
Celery seed adds a great flavor change but only use a pinch and I have used fresh dill to the patty also with many compliments.
Similar to what my mom fed us growing up from my Danish grandmothers receipe. We ate with white cream potatoes. Yummmmm!
My email doesn’t want to work!
wallacejoni@yahoo.com
Never thought to eat tartar sauce with them!!
I use canned Salmon and pop them in my Air Fryer.
Easiest meal ever, no fat and ready in minutes.
What kind of air fryer? What temp and how long?
I used 400 degrees; flip at 8 minutes (and rearrange trays, if needed); then cook a few minutes longer