The Best Crispy Salmon Patties
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, this Easy Salmon Patties recipe is quick and simple. A fantastic weeknight dinner, leisurely lunch or casual brunch dish thatโs easy to dress up or down. The Lemon Dill Sauce takes it over the top!

When the weather gets chilly and youโre craving seafood, it may be hard to come by. But there is always my favorite standby, salmon, that is readily available all year long. Itโs one of my favorite varieties of fish to serve my family because the flavor is mild enough to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. And these Baked Salmon Patties are nothing short of fantastic.
Ingredients
- Salmon โ Instead of canned salmon, we start the recipe by roasting a salmon filet. It really is the best way to make salmon patties.
- Mayonnaise โ Mayonnaise helps hold together the salmon cakes without adding too much filler.
- Dijon Mustard โ Mustard adds a hint of tang to the binding agents. You can leave it out if you prefer.
- Worcestershire Sauce โ The salty umami flavor you need for all seafood recipes, you can sub with fish sauce or soy sauce if thatโs what you have on hand.
- Eggs โ Eggs are the magic glue that holds everything together.
- Bread Crumbs โ Panko bread crumbs are my favorite because theyโre light and airy creating a tender salmon cake thatโs not dense. If you prefer, you can also use crushed crackers, we love saltine crackers or ritz crackers for their mild flavor.
- Seasonings โ kosher Salt, black pepper and parsley is all we use here but you can add your favorite seasonings to suit your taste. You can add a pinch of Old Bay Seasoning for a Maryland style flavor.
For a full list of ingredients, see the printable recipe card at the bottom.

How to Make Salmon Patties
No need to grab a can of salmon when you can serve your family something fresh from the sea (or seafood counter.) BUT you can also make these with canned salmon if time is short during the week. I wonโt judge.
- Preheat oven.
- Line a baking sheet with foil and place the salmon on the baking sheet.
- Drizzle with olive oil and roast for 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Cool to room temperature.
- When the fish is cool enough to handle, flake the roasted salmon into bite sized pieces using a fork and transfer to a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, dijon, worcestershire sauce, egg, pepper and parsley.
- Add the mayonnaise mixture to the salmon and, carefully, fold together being careful not to break up the fish too much. Gently fold in the breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs.
- Form the salmon mixture into 6 patties and transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment. Chill for 15-20 minutes.
- While the salmon cakes chill, make the sauce.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the salmon cakes and cook over medium high heat until golden. Turn the salmon cakes over with a spatula. Cook until golden brown, crispy and cooked through.
I tend to favor the fresh fish over the canned or tinned fish, but if time is short this recipe totally is just as great with an equal amount of canned (and very well drained) salmon. But FRESH Salmon Patties are much better in my opinion. What you end up with is the most tender and moist Salmon Patty recipe youโll ever taste. With a crispy crust thatโs a great contrast to the buttery salmonโฆ.seriously amazing.

How to Make Salmon Patty Sauce
The Lemon Dill Sauce whips up in about a minute with just a handful of simple ingredients, including fresh lemon juice and fresh dill. I whisk it together in a small bowl while the salmon is roasting then pop it in the fridge until Iโm ready to serve the Salmon Cakes.
These southern Salmon Patties are also fantastic with this simple Roasted Garlic Aioli or Homemade Tartar Sauce. To be honest, the sauce is best if made a bit in advance because the longer it sits the better it isโฆ..itโs like giving it more time for all the flavors to mingle and introduce themselves.
AND the recipe for the Lemon Dill Sauce makes a ton so youโll have some leftover to spread on just about anything you can get your hands onโฆ.like tomorrowโs tuna salad sandwich. Mmmmmhmmmm.
What are Salmon Patties?
My grandfather has a โfamousโ fish cake recipe that the family has adapted over time and this is my version of Grandpopโs Fish Cakes, this Easy Salmon Patties Recipe with Lemon Dill Sauce is so totally fabulous and made completely from scratch.
Also known as Southern Salmon Croquettes or salmon cakes, theyโre generally made with canned salmon, egg, panko breadcrumbs and herbs then fried until crisp. Theyโre a super easy option for a weeknight dinner.
If you like my crab cakes, youโll love these salmon cakes, too. We also make our Tuna Patties in much the same way.

How to Store Leftovers
Transfer leftover salmon patties to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Leftover patties can be reheated in a large skillet over medium heat until warmed through or in the oven at 425หF for 10-15 minutes.
How To Freeze Salmon Patties
One more thing that makes these simple salmon patties even more amazing is that you can assemble them and FREEZE them in advance.
AND you donโt even have to thaw them before cooking making a weeknight dinner super snappy!!! Seriously, whatโs better than a home cooked meal that comes together faster than a frozen pizza.
The answer is nothingโฆ.nothing is better than a home cooked meal that comes together faster than a frozen pizza. Right?
Serving Suggestions
Some of my favorite side dishes to serve with easy Salmon Patties are:
- Easy Scalloped Potatoes are a family favorite
- Simple, savory German Potato Salad...amazing.
- Keep it simple with Classic Coleslaw!
- Super Southern Black Eyed Pea and Corn Salad (SOOO GOOD!)
- Easy Brown Butter Peas with mint

Get the Recipe: Easy Salmon Cakes Recipe
Ingredients
For the Salmon Patties
- 1 pound salmon filet
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 large egg , lightly beaten
- 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Lemon Dill Sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 skillet
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with foil and place the salmon on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and roast for 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Cool to room temperature.
- When the fish is cool enough to handle, flake the salmon into bite sized pieces using a fork and transfer to a large bowl. If any juices begin to collect in the bottom of the bowl, drain the fish before moving forward with the remainder of the recipe.
- In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, dijon, worcestershire sauce, egg, pepper and parsley.
- Add the mayonnaise mixture to the salmon and, carefully, fold together being careful not to break up the fish too much. Gently fold in the breadcrumbs.
- Form the salmon mixture into 6 patties and transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment. Chill for 15-20 minutes. (Salmon cakes can be frozen at this point. Wrap each cake tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Unwrap and cook from frozen by following the instructions below.)
- While the salmon cakes chill, make the sauce by combining the mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, mustard, salt, pepper and dill in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the salmon cakes and cook over medium heat until golden, approximately 3-4 minutes. (Longer if frozen) Turn the salmon cakes over with a spatula. Cook until golden brown, crispy and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes.
- Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately with lemon dill sauce and lemon wedges, if desired.
Notes
- Salmon Cakes can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
- To cook, thaw completely and then follow instructions for pan searing at recipe line #8.
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7 Comments on โThe Best Crispy Salmon Pattiesโ
Delicious! Didnโt make the sauce, we ate the Salmon cakes on hamburger buns with mayo/Dijon . Will definitely make this recipe again.
Love that idea! They do make great salmon burgers.
The perfect looking meal!! Looks so tasty! Thanks!
This is one of my favorite salmon recipes!
Yum! I love salmon. Thanks for sharing!
These were such a huge hit for dinner!! Loved it!
Diiiiiivine!! So flavorful, thanks for sharing!