Old Fashioned Salmon Patties Recipe (2024)

These Old Fashioned Salmon Patties are both easy and delicious to make! Flaky salmon is combined onions, mustard, mayo, crumbs and more to make a tender on the inside, crispy on the outside salmon patty! Salmon lovers must put this recipe on their bucket list. Really. I am not kidding.

We are always asked for this salmon recipe every time we serve it! It truly has the perfect amount of everything in them.

I have tried so many fresh or canned salmon cakes and have not found a recipe I enjoyed as much as I LOVE this one. It's even better when served with my lemon garlic aioli.

If you love this salmon cakes recipe, you definitely need to try my smoked salmon cakes recipe!!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Versatile recipe. Great to serve salmon patties as a main dish, on a bun as a sandwich, or as an appetizer with a dipping sauce.
• Prepared with just a few simple ingredients. Perfect to whip up a delicious meal in no time.
• A classic comfort food recipe loved by adults and children alike, making it a great go-to meal for your entire family.

Ingredients

Here's a look at the key ingredients you will need to make this recipe.

• Salmon: Use canned salmon to make these salmon patties.
• Breadcrumbs: I prefer to use panko breadcrumbs because they are crispier but regular breadcrumbs work fine too. You can also use crushed crackers or crushed croutons.
• Green Onion and Onion: This combination adds a balanced flavor of onion but you can use any combination of yellow, white or red onion instead.
• Mayo: This helps to bind the salmon patties together and also serves as the base for the tartar sauce. You can use any brand you prefer.
• Mustard: I prefer dijon for a bit more flavor but yellow mustard works too.
• Lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed if possible.
• Sweet pickle relish: Adds a bit of sweetness and pickle flavor to the homemade tartar sauce.

How much fresh salmon should I buy?

If you buy a salmon fillet with the skin on you will need to buy a bit extra. I suggest buying 1 ⅓ pounds. That way once you remove the skin you will have the proper amount needed to make the salmon patties.

See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.

Substitutions and Variations

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this salmon patty recipe.

• Spicy: Add a bit of chili pepper flakes, diced jalapeno pepper, ourjalapeno powder,smoked jalapeno powder, orchipotle powderto the salmon mixture for a bit of heat. You can also serve up ourhomemade hot pepper sauceon the table as well for everyone to add to their patties.
• Make Them Mini: Make salmon patties the size of flat golf balls and serve on crackers or a baguette slice with a dollop of tartar sauce. These work great when serving as a party appetizer.
• Salmon Fillet: Use 1 ⅓ pounds of fresh raw salmon with skin or 1 ¼ pounds without.
• Add Flavor: You can add some finely diced sweet bell pepper, celery, garlic powder or Worcestershire sauce to add a bit more flavor to your patties.
• Prefer not to fry? No problem! You can bake them in the oven too!

How to Make Salmon Patties

Are you ready to get cooking? Here's a look at the main steps in this recipe but be sure to check the recipe card for all the details.

1. Combine the salmon with the mayonnaise, lemon juice, green onion, onion, mustard, parsley, crumbs, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
2. Mix together until all the ingredients are combined.

3. Shape the salmon mixture into six patties an inch and 3 to 4 inches wide.
4. Place the breadcrumbs on to a shallow bowl or plate and carefully coat each salmon patty in crumbs. Be sure to get the top, bottom and sides.

5. Place them after they're breaded on a plate or parchment lined tray.
6. Cook the salmon cakes in hot oil. I usually cook 3 at a time.

7. Cook the salmon cakes without moving, until a nice golden brown forms, usually about 3 minutes per side and then flip them to cook the other side.

PRO TIP: I usually nudge them a little to make sure they aren't sticking to the pan. Also, I lift the edge after cooking for two minutes to check in order to make sure I don't burn them.

8. Place the cooked cakes on a paper towel lined plate or platter to drain. Continue cooking the next batch until they're all golden brown.

PRO TIP: If your mixture is too moist to form and hold its burger shape, add some more crumbs, a little at a time, until they hold their shape. If the mixture is too dry add a little extra mayo, one tablespoon at a time until they hold their shape.

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our Red Lobster Crab Cakes.

Storage

• Leftovers: Allow the patties to cool completely and place in an airtight container inside your fridge for up to 3 days.

• Reheat: Heat them in the oven or in a skillet. For the oven, preheat to 350 degrees F and prepare a rimmed baking sheet covered in tinfoil. Cook until the outside is crisp and they are hot enough to serve, between 10 and 15 minutes.

  If you prefer a skillet, heat a small amount of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Gently re-fry the patties on each side until golden brown and heated through over medium heat.

Can you freeze salmon patties?

Yes, salmon patties work fine to freeze for up to 3 months. I usually defrost them in the fridge the night before I need them. Then, they're ready to reheat as noted above.

What to Serve with Salmon Patties

These patties work great as an appetizer or as a main dish for dinner. Here are some ideas!

• Lemon and Tartar Sauce: Freshly squeezed lemon juice and tartar sauce make a classic pairing. Works great no matter how you plan to serve them.
• In a Bun: Make a salmon burger sandwich on your favorite bun and sandwich toppings.
• On a Salad: Serve these cakes, broken up, on top of a salad or bed of your favorite greens with a light vinaigrette like this mustard vinaigrette dressing, especially if you are a fan of mustard! Oh my goodness is it delicious!
• Potato or rice: Just about any preparation works! Check out some ideas for starch side dishes for some ideas.
• Sauce: If tartar sauce doesn't interest you serve with garlic mayo, tzatziki, salsa, honey mustard, and onion ketchup.
• Vegetables: Everything from fresh broccoli, frozen mixed vegetables, or corn on the cob. Really, it all works.
• Salmon Pattie Sides - To make things easier for you, Ken and I created this list of what to serve with salmon patties to give you some great ideas if needed. To check out even more great ideas, go to What to Serve With Eggplant Parmesan.

Tips

• Wild-caught salmon tends to have more flavor than farmed or canned salmon.
• Using canned salmon? Be sure to drain it well.
• Do not flip salmon patties frequently while cooking. Let them cook to golden brown on one side before flipping them over.
• Salmon mixture too moist to hold its burger shape? Add some more crumbs and if the mixture is too dry, add extra mayo.
• Remove any salmon bones. While their bones are soft and edible removing them improves the texture of your patties.
• Aim for even sized patties. This will make cooking more even.
• Use a good frying oil. A neutral oil with a high smoke point like canola or vegetable oil is best for frying salmon patties. Avoid using olive oil which doesn't work well for pan frying.

FAQ

Simple Salmon Cakes Video

More Salmon Recipes

Do you like salmon? Here some recipes you may also like to try.

Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

This post was originally published in October 2019. It has been updated with new images and content.

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