Name: Salmon Patties - Easy Southern Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: (1) 14.75 ounce can pink salmon; 1/2 yellow onion, diced; 2 eggs; 3/4 cup breadcrumbs; 1 teaspoon lemon juice; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; oil for frying – I recommend vegetable oil or canola oil, do not use olive oil

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Southern salmon patties are an easy, inexpensive, and delicious meal perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. With just a few minutes of prep you can make these easy salmon patties right on the stove top and have dinner ready in just 15 minutes!

salmon patties on plate with tartar sauce and lemon wedge

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If you grew up in the South, there’s a chance salmon patties were on a regular rotation at your dinner table.

Now that I’m a busy mom feeding a family it’s not hard to see why this classic recipe is so popular: they are an easy recipe, fast to make, and a very inexpensive meal idea, only about $5! Exactly what I want for meals for busy weeknights.

Also referred to as salmon cakes, fish cakes, or salmon croquettes; salmon patties use canned salmon instead of fresh fish to make a burger-shaped patty similar to a crab cake.

Are salmon burgers and salmon patties the same thing?

While they may look similar salmon burgers and salmon patties are not the same. Salmon patties are closer to crab cakes, they use breadcrumbs or crushed saltine crackers and binders like eggs to hold the patty together. Salmon burgers usually use fresh salmon instead of canned and they don’t have the binders, cracker crumbs, or breadcrumbs.

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients for this recipe, if you have canned salmon you probably have everything you need!

can of salmon – no fresh salmon needed here, making this recipe convenient and inexpensive
diced onion – you can omit this if you have very picky eaters
eggs
breadcrumbs – plain or seasoned or panko bread crumbs all work well, you can also use crushed crackers
lemon juice
salt and pepper
oil for frying – vegetable oil or canola oil, do not use olive oil as the smoke point is too low

Step by step

Drain and reserve the liquid in the salmon can. Pick out any bones if necessary. (The bones are soft so don’t worry if you miss one, you won’t notice!)
Add the salmon, onion, eggs, breadcrumbs, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to a large bowl. Use clean hands to mix it all together. Shape the salmon mixture into 8-9 patties and place on a plate or cutting board lined with parchment paper. If the patties are too dry and won’t hold together add a little of the reserve liquid from the canned salmon back to the salmon mixture to help it hold together.
Heat oil enough to cover half the patties in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the patties into the oil and fry for about 4-5 minutes per side or until each side is golden brown. Do not crowd the patties, work in batches if needed.
Place patties on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil before serving.

salmon patties ingredients in white bowl

Variations

Once you master this basic salmon patty recipe you can have fun playing with the flavors! Experiment with adding fresh herbs or amping up the flavor with some Old Bay seasoning or a dash or two of hot sauce.

Serving suggestions

I like to serve my salmon patties with a side of dipping sauce like tartar sauce, ketchup, remoulade sauce, or comeback sauce and some chopped green onions. They are also tasty with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the top.

To round out your delicious dinner, there are so many great side dishes for salmon patties! Sweet potato fries, french fries, onion rings, and hush puppies are very common sides. You can also serve with a simple side salad, Southern green beans, roasted potatoes, or roasted bell peppers to lighten it up.

close up of salmon patties on white plate

Storage

Store leftover salmon patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for a fast reheat or for the crispiest (and best) texture reheat in an air fryer at 380°F for 3-4 minutes or the oven at 375°F for 8-10 minutes.

If you want to freeze salmon patties I recommend you freeze them before frying. Place on a parchment paper lined plate and freeze then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!