Southern Salmon Patties (2024)

Southern Salmon Patties are an inexpensive meal and easy to make. The recipe costs less than ten dollars, and they can be ready to eat in about 20 minutes. I offer options for both fresh and canned salmon, and you can pan-fry, bake, or air-fry the patties to suit your preference. Get ready for a flavorful and satisfying meal in no time!

Fried Salmon Patties

You can find canned salmon at just about any grocery store, and it was very inexpensive at Aldi’s. With the exception of the canned salmon, I had all of the pantry staple ingredients here at the house, which helped make it a very inexpensive dish. Furthermore, I didn’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen, so I made this salmon patty recipe as easy as possible.

Add some 5-ingredient buttermilk biscuits from Year Round Recipes to your dinner.

How To Make Salmon Patties

1. Drain the juice out of the salmon patty can (reserve the liquid in case it is needed).
2. Check for bones. But you can also leave them in if you’d like because they are soft bones.
3. Add the onion, breadcrumbs, eggs, lemon, salt, and pepper and mix together.
4. Shape into patties.
5. Fry in vegetable oil for approximately five minutes on each side.

What Ingredients Do I Need For This Old Fashioned Salmon Patties Recipe?

Full printable instructions with measurements and instructions listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card

• 14.75-ounce can of pink salmon (or one pound of fresh cooked salmon)
• 1/2 onion (chopped)
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup of breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper

Step-By-Step Instructions for Easy Salmon Patties

Firstly, drain the juice off of the salmon can.I just used my hands and pressed against the salmon in the can as it drained off, so be sure to save the juice just in case the patties are a little dry after adding all of the ingredients.

Add the can of pink salmon to a large bowl.

TIP: There shouldn’t be any bones, but I did find a few small ones. I sort of squished the salmon between my fingers to find anything hard and removed it. At this point, it’s going to be rare if you find any hard bones. They’ve been in the can so long that they will be soft–and it’s ok to leave them in. A friend of mine said she always picked out the bones and ate them when she was a little girl while her mom was preparing the meal.

Secondly, add the chopped onions. I used my chopper for the onions. It’s a quick way to make them nice and small for the recipe.

Thirdly, add the eggs to the bowl.

How Do You Make Salmon Patties Stick Together?

The breadcrumbs will help keep the patties together, and the egg will also help bind the ingredients together as they cook.

Fourthly, add the breadcrumbs. You can use breadcrumbs, cornmeal, crushed Saltine crackers, Ritz Crackers, or panko breadcrumbs for this recipe. Panko breadcrumbs will add a crunchier texture to the patties.

Many people like salmon patties with crackers because they were raised eating them that way. Plus, it’s a very inexpensive addition to the meal.

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Fifthly, add the lemon juice.Lemon juice helps get rid of some of the fish smell and adds a little flavor to the Southern Salmon Patties recipe.

Lemon juice won’t totally remove the smell, but it will help. Burning a candle after you eat will also help. It’s not always easy to get the fish smell out of the kitchen afterward, but these easy salmon patties are worth it.

Finally, add the salt and pepper.Mix everything together well. I used my hands, so don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty with this recipe.Shape the mixture into patties.

Note: If they seem too dry, add a little of the salmon juice back into the mixture and reshape.

Heat up some vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.I filled the skillet up with enough oil that it would cover half of the patties.

I made my fried salmon patties kind of thick. It yielded about six large patties. But you can certainly make them smaller.

My husband ate two patties, and that was plenty. He ate one between two slices of bread and one without and loved it both ways.

Tip: Add a side of mayo or homemade tartar sauce to the Southern Salmon Patties for extra flavor.

Fry the southern salmon patties until they are browned. Flip them over and fry the other side until they are browned.

When you take them out of the skillet, place them on some paper towels to soak up the grease and sprinkle a little lemon zest or fresh dill right on top.

Cooking Options, Time, and Temperature

Baked: Baked salmon patties are a great recipe when you want to skip frying. Simply place the salmon patties on a greased baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes. Flip them over and cook another five to ten minutes or until they are golden brown.

Air Fryer Salmon: The air fryer is another great way to get that same great flavor but with less grease. Place the patties in the freezer for about 10 minutes to help them hold together while cooking. Then, add them to the air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until they are golden brown. Be sure to flip them halfway through the cooking period.

Can I Use Fresh Salmon?

Yes, you can use fresh salmon in this recipe. You will need about one pound of fresh salmon. Cook it in the oven at 450 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. You will want to grease a cookie sheet and place the salmon skin side down. Bake it, let it cool, and flake it with a fork after it cools. Then, you will add the salmon to the recipe.

Can Salmon Patties Be Frozen?

Yes, you can freeze salmon patties. But I would freeze them before you cook them. Be sure to place them on some parchment paper or wax paper and then inside a freezer-safe bag or an airtight container.

Why Do Salmon Patties Fall Apart?

Salmon patties need bread crumbs to hold them together. If your patties are too wet, they will fall apart. If they seem like they are too wet, add some more breadcrumbs and mix them in, and you should be in good shape.

How To Store Leftover Salmon Patties

Store any leftover patties in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Variations and Additional Flavor Options

Salmon patties are delicious all on their own, but you can try different variations and flavor options. Here are a few ideas:

• Spicy salmon patties: Add a little kick with chopped jalapeños or red pepper flakes. Just add them to the salmon mixture for some spicy flavor. Top the salmon burgers with some hot sauce and a little bit of fresh parsley.
• Asian-inspired salmon patties: Add a little bit of grated ginger, soy sauce, and chopped scallions to the salmon patty mixture for an Asian twist. Make some rice on the side for this delicious meal.
• Mediterranean salmon patties: Mediterranean flavors are always fun. So you can add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese to the salmon mixture for a Mediterranean flavor profile. It’s so good!
• Smoked salmon patties: Get some smoked salmon instead of canned to add a smoky flavor. You can either fry them or add them to a baking sheet in a single layer and cook them in the oven. The smokiness is a great way to add flavor.
• Use some fresh salmon, Old Bay seasoning, and fresh herbs, and cook the salmon cakes until they are golden brown. One of our favorite things is to dip the southern classic in some Worcestershire sauce or mayo.

Try one of these today. Each recipe is perfect for those busy weeknights.

What To Serve With Salmon Patties

• Add a side of moist Jiffy Cornbread to your table along with the Southern Salmon Patties, as well as some Crock Pot corn on the cob, oven baked potato wedges, or mashed potato cakes.
• If you need a little more food to go around with your salmon patties, make some Jiffy corn dressing, a little bit of homemade creamed corn, or some Jiffy hush puppies, which are some of our favorites. You can also add some crab cakes to the table, as well.
• And don’t forget about dessert with some super delicious chess squares or some buttermilk Texas sheet cake.
• Or find more here at what to serve with grilled salmon.

The Best Ever Salmon Patties

Salmon patties are a budget-friendly and easy recipe to make for the family. The canned salmon patties recipe can be made quickly and in the skillet, fried in no time. Make dinner easy and get the recipe below!

Salmon Patties

Yield: 5-8 patties

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Southern Salmon Patties are an inexpensive meal and a simple recipe to make. The canned recipe costs less than five dollars and is quick to get on the table. This Deep South dish is made with breadcrumbs and is one of the easiest ways to get a weeknight dinner on the table fast.

Ingredients

• 1 - 14.75 ounce can pink salmon
• 1/2 onion (chopped)
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

Instructions

Add vegetable oil to a skillet and preheat medium to medium-high. Add enough oil to cover half of the salmon patty.

1. Drain the juice off the can of salmon. (Save in case the juice is needed later)
2. Check for bones.
3. Add the chopped onions, eggs, breadcrumbs, lemon juice, and salt and pepper.
4. Mix together and shape into patties.
5. Fry in vegetable oil for approximately five minutes on each side, or until each side is browned.
6. Place on a paper towel to soak up the grease.

Notes

• You can use Panko or regular breadcrumbs. Some people love to use Saltine cracker crumbs.If the patties are too dry, add a little bit of the reserved juice. If they are too wet, add some more breadcrumbs.
• Have some lemon wedges nearby to squeeze a little on top.
• You can use canned or fresh salmon (cooked). If you have leftover cooked salmon from another recipe, that would make great patties.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 pattiesServing Size: 1 patty
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 138Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1.3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 552mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 0.6gSugar: 1gProtein: 14g

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