Salmon Patties - Simply Recipes

Why Make This

  • Canned salmon and simple pantry staples make these patties quick to prepare.
  • Fresh dill, green onion, and lemon zest add bright flavor to each bite.
  • Enjoy your salmon patties for dinner or lunch with salad, slaw, or tartar sauce.

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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

More Fish Cake Recipes to Try

  • Tuna Patties
  • Fresh Salmon Cakes with Spicy Mayo
  • Classic Crab Cakes
  • Fish Cakes with Tarragon Mayo
  • Shrimp Cakes

Tag » What To Eat With Salmon Patties