Salmon Patties

With the help of canned salmon, these easy salmon patties make a perfect midweek meal.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated September 21, 2023
Elise Bauer

Raising six kids on a teacher's salary, my parents were always cooking on a budget. Being Catholic, with the requirement back then of meatless Fridays, Lent or not, this meant that we ate a lot of tuna macaroni salad and fried fish.

My mother often made tuna patties for us, and less frequently, because they were more expensive, salmon patties.

For several years, my father and I tried to talk my mother into making these salmon cakes again for us. For some unfathomable reason, she refused, even going as far as to claim that she never made salmon cakes in the first place.

After a while, we gave up and made our own version of the recipe.

How To Make Salmon Patties

Salmon patties, or salmon cakes, are wonderfully easy to make. You make salmon patties with just a base of canned salmon, shredded bread (or breadcrumbs or even saltines), chopped onion, and egg to bind it all into patties. Then, these salmon cakes are quickly fried.

In this easy salmon patties recipe, we dress up the salmon cakes with garlic, dill, bell pepper, paprika, lemon zest, and lemon juice. You could also add parsley, Old Bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, or cilantro. Feel free to improvise and make these salmon cakes your own!

Salmon patties set on a plate with a dip and lemon.
Ciara Kehoe

What To Serve With Salmon Patties

Salmon patties can be served with a wedge of lemon, or a dollop of mayonnaise or tartar sauce. Round out your meal with a simple side salad or a scoop of coleslaw.

Storing and Freezing Salmon Patties

Once cooked, leftover patties can be stored in the fridge for up to three days. Eat them cold, or warm them up briefly in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave.

Salmon patties also freeze well. Wrap them in plastic and foil, and defrost them in the fridge before reheating.

Salmon patties on a white background with a dip and lemon wedges.
Ciara Kehoe

Love Fish Cakes? Try These Recipes!

Salmon patties set on a plate with a dip and lemon.
Ciara Kehoe

Gluten-Free Salmon Patties? Here’s How

If you're following a gluten-free diet, you can easily make salmon cakes gluten free by substituting 1 cup of corn meal in place of the bread and flour.

Tips for Buying Canned Salmon

There are a variety of canned salmon options out in the marketplace, but we prefer those with sustainable fishing practices (they will be listed as such on the label). It's easier to use the ones without bones or skin for salmon patties, unless you like the texture of the bones and skin. We like St. Jean's Canned Wild Salmon sustainably farmed in the Pacific Northwest.

This recipe is bet with canned salmon, but if you have leftover cooked salmon, we have a patty for that, too.

Reader Variations

Over the years, many of you have shared your own twist on this versatile recipe. Here are just a few:

  • Jay Bee: "I only added some Old Bay and left out the zest and I didn’t even want to save any for the kids. Dipped them in remoulade sauce and they were fire."
  • Janean: "Served on a whole grain bun with avocado, fresh garden tomato & spinach. Who says eating healthy can't be fun?"
  • R Taylor: "In a bind I have used mackerel. It's a little stronger in flavor than tuna but it does the trick when you don't have salmon or tuna."
  • Phoebe: " Tweaked using fresh cilantro, very course almond flour (gluten-free option), a tablespoon of mayo and cayenne, then a black pepper lemon aioli over a big salad!!!"


From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Salmon Patties

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Chilling time 30 mins
Total Time 55 mins
Servings 4 servings

If the mixture is too wet to form patties, add a little more shredded bread (not the crusts) to the mixture. If too dry, add a tablespoon of water.

Ingredients

  • 1 (14.75 ounce) can salmon, drained of all but 2 tablespoons of liquid, flaked

  • 1 large slice bread , crust removed, shredded (1 cup, 50g)

  • 3 tablespoons green onion, chopped

  • 1 medium garlic clove, minced

  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried

  • 3 tablespoons minced green bell pepper

  • 1 tablespoon flour

  • 1 large egg

  • 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika

  • 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • Several turns of freshly ground black pepper

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Method

  1. Mix the patty ingredients:

    In a large bowl, gently mix together the salmon (including 2 tablespoons of the can liquid), bread, green onion, garlic, dill, bell pepper, flour, egg, paprika, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

    How to make salmon patties with the mixture in a bowl.
    Ciara Kehoe
  2. Form the patties:

    Form 8 patties, about 1/2 inch thick.

    How to make salmon cakes and portioned on parchment paper.
    Ciara Kehoe
  3. Chill at least 30 minutes:

    Cover the patties and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or up to several hours) to help them firm up.

  4. Brown in skillet:

    Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a large skillet. Cook the patties until nicely browned on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.

    Did you love the recipe! Leave a comment and give us some stars below!

    Canned salmon recipe being pan fried.
    Ciara Kehoe
    How to make salmon cakes and lifting the pan fried cakes out of the pan.
    Ciara Kehoe
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
299 Calories
17g Fat
9g Carbs
27g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 299
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 3g 14%
Cholesterol 133mg 44%
Sodium 612mg 27%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 27g
Vitamin C 9mg 43%
Calcium 329mg 25%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 426mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.