If you've never had Salmon Cakes, think of them as crab cake's cousin from a couple of blocks down. Made with canned wild salmon, they are juicy on the inside and have a beautiful seared crust on the outside!
What did you call these in your family? Salmon Cakes? Salmon Patties?
I actually grew up calling them Salmon Croquettes. My mom would make these on special occasions and it would always be SUCH a treat when I would see that red can of salmon in the pantry! These make a great meal option for breakfast/brunch, lunch, OR dinner. They are super versatile, plus only cost about $6 to make a full batch!
The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving: $0.76
- Total Cost (8 patties): $6.08
- Those Other Guys: $16.99 per serving
Ingredients
- Canned Salmon - We aren't using fresh salmon in this recipe; canned is the way to go for salmon patties! Be sure to get the kind without bones or skin. It's a PAIN to get those small bones out of tuna.
- Green Bell Pepper - To add a bit of crunch (and some extra veggies) to our salmon croquettes, try adding chopped green bell pepper! I like to sauté the peppers for a few minutes before mixing them in, but that's totally optional.
- Panko Bread Crumbs - Panko bread crumbs (plus an egg) are going to help keep everything together during cooking.
- Old Bay Seasoning - Old Bay is a great all-purpose seafood seasoning for our salmon patties! Just a tablespoon gives us all the flavor we need.
- Mayonnaise - This adds moisture to the seafood cakes.
- Vegetable Oil - If you want to pan fry these, we'll use a skillet and a thin layer of oil.
How to Pan-Fry Salmon Cakes
Salmon croquettes are one of my favorite low-maintenance meals because you essentially just dump everything in a bowl, mix, and form your patties. Chill in the fridge for about 10 minutes, then cook!
Step 1: Start off by flaking your canned salmon with a fork. Then, add all of your ingredients to a mixing bowl.
Step 2: Stir together, and taste to adjust any seasonings to your preference.
Once it tastes great, add the egg and mix well.
Step 3: Form patties and add them to a parchment-lined tray.
Chill in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes.
Step 4: Heat up a thin layer of vegetable oil (like avocado or grapeseed) in a skillet.
Pan fry for about 12 or so minutes, or until golden brown on each side. Serve with a homemade remoulade sauce.
Recipe Pro Tips
- Grab the right can. Make sure you grab the canned salmon with no bones - it can be really hard to pick those out from the meat!
- Shred with a fork! I like to shred the salmon with a fork before adding in the rest of the ingredients. This helps evenly distribute the meat throughout the bowl.
- Taste first. Before adding the raw egg, taste your mixture so you can adjust any seasonings to your preference.
- Let 'em rest. After forming the salmon patties, add them to a parchment-lined pan and chill in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. This helps them keep their shape when pan frying.
Recipe FAQs
Yes you sure can! I include detailed air fryer instructions below, but you essentially just spray the basket with some non-stick spray and cook until golden brown.
You definitely can! It's a bit more effort than just opening the can, but simply cook your salmon, shred, and add to the mixing bowl.
Because the canned salmon is already cooked, we don't need to cook these to a specific temperature. You just want them to be sturdy patties with a nice golden brown crust.
There is an egg mixed into the raw mixture, but that cooks really fast!
You can add these to an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
When you're ready to eat, you can microwave, air fry, or sear in a skillet to warm them through. These are also tasty to eat cold!
These are super versatile!
For breakfast/brunch: try serving them over some creamy grits or alongside breakfast potatoes and scramble eggs.
For lunch or dinner: have them over some fresh lettuce leaves to make a salad. Or, serve alongside seasoned rice and veggies in a bowl.
You can also make these for a quick appetizer and serve them with a creamy bang-bang sauce! The possibilities are almost endless.
Other Tasty Seafood Meal Ideas!
If you tried this Salmon Cakes Recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Thanks for visiting!
Easy Salmon Cakes (Pan-Fried or Air-Fried)
Equipment
- Chef's Knife
- Can Opener
- Mixing Bowl
- Parchment Paper
- Sheet Pan
- Large Skillet with Deep Sides
- Spatula
Ingredients
- ½ count green bell pepper chopped, about ⅓ cup
- 14.75 ounces boneless, skinless salmon canned
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 count egg
- vegetable oil for frying - skip if you are using the air fryer!
Instructions
- Dice the green bell pepper into even-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, pour in the canned salmon and flake it with a fork.
- Add in the bell pepper, breadcrumbs, mayo, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire, and hot sauce. Stir with a fork until combined.
- Taste the mixture and adjust seasonings to your preference if necessary.
- Add in the egg and stir again until well combined. Form even-sized patties (about 60 grams each) and set them on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Chill the uncooked patties in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
If pan-frying:
- Coat a non-stick skillet with a thin layer of vegetable oil.
- Sauté on medium heat for 7 minutes on one side until golden brown, then flip and cook for another 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and serve. Enjoy!
If air-frying:
- Spray the air-fryer basket/bottom with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the patties on the basket, and spray with a little more vegetable oil or nonstick spray.
- Cook on 375°F for 10-12 minutes until golden brown, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. Enjoy!
TJ says
I love air frying these salmon cakes! The best of both worlds.
Shani W. says
Thank you for your comment TJ!
Rachel C says
Tastes just like how granny used to make! Thanks for this nostalgic dish.
Shani W. says
Yes, I'm glad to hear! Thank you for trying and commenting 🙂