Quick Skillet Fried Salmon Patties
With canned salmon and just 3 other basic pantry staples, you can make the BEST fried salmon patties! This salmon cakes recipe is perfect for making a light and healthy dinner.
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Fried salmon patties recipe
Weeknights can be very busy, especially if you have school-aged children. This salmon cakes recipe is great for the days when your schedule has you running from dawn until dusk.
I am excited to show you how to create these mouthwatering patties that will leave your family craving for more!
Why you’ll love this recipe
Ingredients
While you can certainly use additional ingredients, you only need 4 to get the job done.
- Canned salmon: There are different varieties, but we love Sockeye salmon. Trader Joe’s has a great price for really good quality.
- Eggs: The eggs bind the salmon patties together so they don’t fall apart in the skillet. I use pasture-raised organic eggs whenever possible
- Breadcrumbs: These make the salmon cakes a bit more fluffy and less dense. It’s super simple to make bread crumbs at home from stale, dry bread. Both regular and panko breadcrumbs are good choices.
- Oil: I like using avocado oil for frying the fish cakes, but any high smoke point oil will work. If you are trying to reduce the fat in your diet, you can use good quality non-stick cookware.
Simple substitutions
You can easily vary this salmon patty recipe:
- Salmon: If you don’t have a can of salmon, you can also you fresh salmon. It is easier if the salmon has been cooked.
- Crab: You can swap the salmon to make equally delicious crab cakes if you don’t like the salmon flavor.
- Other ingredients: I love the recipe just as it is but you may like to add some chopped green onions, chopped fresh herbs (parsley or dill), a chopped bell pepper (red is great for a pop of color), or some lemon zest.
- Seasonings: Again, there are lots of great additions such as some Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, a good helping of cracked black pepper, or some garlic powder.
Here are some ways to make salmon patties without breadcrumbs, so they are gluten-free or keto-friendly:
- Swap the breadcrumbs for gluten free cracker crumbs to make the salmon cakes gluten free
- For keto or low carb patties, use almond flour instead of the breadcrumbs
- Some people like to replace some of the breadcrumbs with cornmeal to make this a real Southern classic
How to make fried salmon patties
- Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Form the patties. To prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands, use water to get them wet.
- Cook them in a skillet or cast iron pan with 3 or 4 tablespoons of hot oil.
- After 5 minutes, flip them over and cook the other side.
Helpful recipe tips
- To prevent the salmon patties from burning, keep the burner heat at medium
- Feel free to add other ingredients such as chopped green onions, finely diced bell peppers or celery, and/or seasonings such as garlic powder or Dijon mustard.
- To meal prep this recipe, you can place uncooked patties on parchment paper and freeze them until they’re solid. Then, transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe container and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator before cooking them.
Watch the recipe video tutorial
FAQs about this salmon patty recipe
Quick Skillet Fried Salmon Patties
Ingredients
- 12 oz canned salmon
- 2 whole eggs
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 TBSP dried parsley or 2 TBSP minced fresh parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat a 12-inch frying pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add 3tablespoons frying oil of your choice, such as avocado oil. Use more if necessary, to cover the bottom of the pan.
- Add all remaining ingredients in a medium sized bowl and stir with a spoon to combine.
- Wet your hands lightly with water. Evenly portion the salmon patties mixture into 6 cakes.
- Add patties to pan or skillet. Fry on one side for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown. Use a heat-safe spatula to flip the cakes over and continue cooking for 3-5 minutes.
- Serve while they are still warm.
Notes
- for a gluten-free or keto version, you can use almond flour instead of the breadcrumbs
- feel free to add other ingredients such as chopped green onions, finely diced bell peppers or celery, and seasonings such as garlic powder or Dijon mustard
Nutrition
Serving suggestions
With some simple sides, these salmon patties make such an easy weeknight dinner. We love drizzling them with some lemon juice. A dollop of homemade mayonnaise or grainy mustard really brings out the flavor. Then you can serve them with a green salad and a good helping of tartar sauce.
They are also delicious with sweet potato fries, steamed green beans, roasted asparagus, classic coleslaw, or diced avocados. For a very healthy meal, you can even add some homemade sauerkraut.
Other seafood recipes
- Cold smoked salmon – This is delicious as part of a traditional German Breakfast (Frühstück)!
- Smoked trout dip – I serve this with squares of pumpernickel bread or sourdough crackers.
Cannot rate recipe yet but I’m sure it’ll be delicious. My mom (a Brit) made “salmon crocquets” very often growing up. I loved them and I wish I could remember what she served with them. 🤔 Have added some canned sockeye salmon to my azure order for next month. Can’t wait. Thank you so much for sharing your life skills with your followers. I make your sourdough banana bread weekly, using freshly ground spelt and it is gone in a flash. ❤️
My mom use to make salmon patties, haven’t made these for awhile. So I tried the easy quick recipe – and it came our so good!! First time in awhile couldn’t believe it! Will make more next time.
Nice! I am so glad to hear that ~ Anja
Just a note from an Alaskan: pink salmon is something we toss to our dogs. No one in Alaska will eat pink salmon if they don’t have to. You want coho, red, or king salmon. When chum or pink salmon is pulled from the river, the insides pretty much turn to mush. It’s considered our trash. Atlantic salmon has its own problems. Otherwise, yes, red salmon cakes are delicious and I’m glad to see the recipe here.
Thanks for sharing ~ Anja
Perfect recipe again, Anja. I have not made these in literally decades! Added to my shopping list.
Nice! I am so glad you’re reviving an old classic ~ Anja
These look fabulous! My son is going to love them. He’s a big salmon fan.
Perfect and thank you! I am sure he’ll love them ~ Anja
Love Salmon cakes! Can’t wait to try this recipe out!
Nice! I hope you like them as much as we do ~ Anja
I love salmon patties and make them often. I tried your recipe but I used dill in place of the chopped parsley in the patties. I did however garnish them with the parsley when I served them. Thank you for this great time saving recipe!
That sounds great! Thank you for sharing ~ Anja
Yummy! Love salmon and these salmon cakes look so good! Definitely trying this out fir an easy dinner! Thank you!
Great! I am so glad you like this recipe ~ Anja
These look so amazing. Delicious recipe.
Yum these look so delicious. We love salmon. So salmon crab cakes sound great!