These easy Salmon Patties are one of our favorite ways to enjoy a quick seafood dinner that the entire family loves. These veggie-and-protein-packed salmon cakes are ready in 20 minutes and are packed with flavor!

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What I Love About This Salmon Patty Recipe
Salmon patties, also called salmon cakes, are lighter than your typical salmon burger – they’re more like a crab cake. They’re made up of salmon pieces (use leftovers if you have them!), an assortment of chopped vegetables, and spices/seasonings. If you have children or picky eaters in the house, salmon patties can be a fuss-free way to introduce them to seafood flavors. Here’s what makes this salmon patties recipe the very best:
- Quick and Easy: Forming them will take you just 20 minutes, and then you’ll need 15 more or so to cook them.
- Flavorful: Flaked salmon is mixed in with sautéed peppers, onions, and celery, and seasoned with lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce.
- Summery: WhileI make these salmon patties all year long (one of the many perks of living in Florida), they’re especially delicious during the summer.
- Versatile: Serve them as an appetizer or as an entree with a side salad. There are plenty of ways to plate these patties!
Enjoy more of the very best easy salmon recipes like balsamic salmon, teriyaki salmon, and air fryer salmon.
Key Ingredients
Below you will find helpful notes for key ingredients used to make this recipe for salmon patties. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact amounts!
- Salmon: You’ll need 1 pound of cooked salmon with the skin removed and flaked into pieces.
- Olive Oil: Avocado oil also works well.
- Sautéed Vegetables: Mix up minced yellow onion, minced celery, and minced red bell pepper. Another color of bell pepper will also work just fine if preferred.
- Mayonnaise: This adds moisture to the patties.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed is the way to go!
- Dijon Mustard: This adds a nice touch of spice. You can swap it with plain yellow mustard if you want, but the flavor will be different.
- Hot Sauce: This is optional. I love it! Use whatever your favorite brand is.
- Breadcrumbs: Any kind will work – I like Panko.
- Eggs: You won’t taste them. They’re just used to bind the patties together.
How to Make Salmon Patties
This salmon patty recipe comes together with just a few easy to follow steps! Below is a quick recipe overview, but please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full instructions and to watch the step-by-step video.
- Sauté the vegetables: Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion, red pepper and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Combine the ingredients: Place all ingredients including the sautéed onion mixture in a large bowl and mix until well combined using a spatula.
- Form the patties: Scoop out about 1/3 cup of the mixture and form into patties using your hands. Place patties on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Cook: Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and butter to the same skillet over medium heat. Cook the patties in batches for about 4 minutes per side until golden brown.
Chef’s Tips & Variations
- Check for bones: If you’re using fresh salmon, check for any small bones that could have been missed before starting. Even if you are using canned salmon it’s never a bad idea to do a quick check.
- If it’s too dry: Don’t add water – add a little more mayonnaise instead!
- You can bake them: I recommend 18-20 minutes at 375°F. Flip the salmon patties halfway through to make sure both sides cook evenly.
- Canned salmon: You can use 14-16 ounces of canned salmon (that’s been drained) as a substitute for the pound of cooked salmon filet.
What to Serve with Salmon Patties
- Garnishes: Enjoy warm with lemon wedges and additional chopped parsley for garnish.
- Tartar Sauce: If you make these as an appetizer, this is an especially good idea.
- Salad: These salmon patties always pair well with Greek salad!
- Roasted Veggies: Roasted veggies are usually my go-to with salmon patties. Garlic roasted cherry tomatoes, parmesan roasted broccoli and roasted mushrooms are all great options.
- Fries: Crispy baked sweet potato fries, regular, curly, etc. – pick your favorite! You can also try these oven roasted potatoes.
Salmon Patties
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked salmon, skin removed and flaked into pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- ¾ cup minced yellow onion
- ¾ cup minced celery
- ½ cup minced red bell pepper
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce, optional
- ¼ cup minced fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Lemon wedges for serving
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Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion, red pepper and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Place all ingredients including the sautéed onion mixture in a large bowl and mix until well combined using a spatula.
- Scoop out about 1/3 cup of the mixture and form into patties using your hands. Place patties on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and butter to the same skillet over medium heat. Cook the patties in batches for about 4 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Enjoy warm with lemon wedges and additional chopped parsley for garnish.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Can canned salmon be used in this recipe? How many cans would equal to 1 pound fresh and cooked salmon? It looks delicious. Thanks.
Fran
Hi Fran! Yes, you can use 1 pound of canned flaked salmon as well. Just be sure to drain it well and weigh the meat after draining any juices!
Great recipe. Didn’t change a thing. Nice flavour. Will definitely make again.
Can I add an extra egg instead of mayonnaise, if not I will try the sour cream, but if possible. Maybe someone out there can make new ingredient that I can add, I know one thing , this recipe is making me Hungry…..Lol. thanks to all for suggestions
You can try using plain greek yogurt (I recommend full fat!) in place of the mayo!
Great recipe! I did not sauté the vegetables before adding to the salmon. I just chopped it up real small and put it in with the salmon. Everything else I followed! Turned out really really good
Glad you enjoyed them Chris! 🙂
could i substitute crab instead of salmon
Sure you can!
Good recipe. Love all of the different seasonings. I used canned salmon and drained the juice off. Next time I’ll keep the juice and possibly cut the bread crumbs a little. My husband liked them but thought they were a little dry. Will definitely make again.
Made this tonight with drained canned salmon. I baked some and fried the rest. Neither held together. Don’t know where I went wrong. I followed the recipe exactly but it was super moist and fell apart when flipped.
Do you have a version w/o mayo?
Sorry I do not as it’s needed to hold them together, but you could use something similar like sour cream!
I made this recipe today for lunch. It is amazing! Thank you for sharing with us. I encourage your readers to make this!