Salmon Patties with Canned Salmon

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Make Salmon Patties with Canned Salmon using this quick and easy recipe. Though I save time and dishes using an air fryer, this recipe also turns out great on the stovetop in a skillet. Enjoy this easy main dish with sides like our Red Skin Potato Salad and Collard Greens With Smoked Turkey for an easy meal.

Golden-brown salmon patties with a creamy mayo dip on a plate.

Why Make Canned Salmon Patties

There are so many reasons to make these salmon cakes with canned salmon. Here are my top two reasons:

Budget-friendly: using canned salmon instead of fresh salmon saves you money while still offering many of the benefits of eating salmon.
Air fryer or stovetop: this recipe works great in the air fryer, but you can also make it in a skillet with a little oil (in the same way that you’d make these Maryland crab cakes).

Ingredients Needed

Here’s what you need to know about the ingredients in this salmon patty recipe to make the dish successfully.

Canned Salmon: I buy this from my local grocery store in the canned food aisle. To save time, I get this boneless and skinless. These cans are smaller than the cans my mom used growing up, but they also don’t contain bones, lots of extra liquid, and salmon skin.
Shallots or red onions: you can use any onion that you have on hand. I prefer shallots or red onions though because they have a bit of a milder taste.
Green Bell Peppers
Garlic cloves: fresh garlic adds so much flavor, but you can also use garlic powder if that’s what you have on hand
Mayo: I use full-fat mayo in this recipe. It helps to keep the salmon patties moist as they cook.
Egg: a large egg helps to bind these together.
Parsley: I use chopped fresh parsley, but you can also use dried parsley
- Old Bay Seasoning: you can also use your favorite seafood seasoning if you don’t have Old Bay on hand. Shannon shares a recipe for homemade old bay seasoning in her Southern Seafood Boil recipe.
- Plain Breadcrumbs: I’m using unseasoned breadcrumbs. They are helping to keep these together and give them a golden brown exterior. They aren’t for adding flavor so be sure to get these plain.
- Cooking spray: I use avocado oil cooking spray to coat these evenly with oil in the air fryer. But, you can also use 2 tbsp of avocado oil to drizzle over the salmon cakes or put into a skillet before cooking.

Be sure to check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the exact ingredient amounts and full step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients for salmon patties with canned salmon in separate bowls: canned salmon, shallots, green bell peppers, garlic, mayo, egg, parsley, Old Bay seasoning, and breadcrumbs.

How To Make Salmon Patties with Canned Salmon

Whisk the mayo and egg in a small bowl
Add the remaining ingredients to a large mixing bowl and pour in the mayo and egg mixture.
Use a rubber spatula to gently mix to incorporate
Form about 6 salmon patties. Sprinkle the remaining bread crumbs on the tops and bottoms of the patties.
Cook in the air fryer or a skillet.

4 easy steps to make Crispy salmon patties using a canned salmon

Recipe Tips & FAQs

Let the patties rest before cooking: 10-15 minutes in the refrigerator before cooking will give these some time to firm up. I tend to do this if I have time to ensure that the patties don’t break apart.
Use the stovetop for a crisper exterior: I like the ease of making these in the air fryer, but cooking these in a skillet will give you a crisper, golden-brown crust.
Use parchment paper for an easy clean-up: you can add parchment paper to the bottom of your air fryer right before cooking. You can buy parchment paper for air fryers to match the shape and size of your air fryer basket.

Crispy salmon patties made with canned salmon, served with a side of mayo dip.

How do you keep salmon patties from falling apart?

This recipe uses an egg as well as some unflavored breadcrumbs to hold them together.

What is the best way to eat canned salmon?

I prefer to eat it cooked similar to this recipe, but you can also use it how you would cold tuna. One of my favorite cold salad recipes is this canned salmon pasta salad.

More Salmon Recipes

Here are some more delicious ways to enjoy canned salmon and fresh salmon:

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4 from 1 vote

Salmon Patties with Canned Salmon

Make Salmon Patties with Canned Salmon using this easy recipe. Ready in the air fryer or a skillet in less than 30 minutes.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 175kcal

Ingredients

12 oz canned salmon I used boneless skinless
1/4 cup shallots or red onions I diced these very small
1/4 cup green bell peppers diced small
1 tbsp minced garlic cloves or 1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup mayo
1 egg
2 tbsp parsley chopped or 1 tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
3 tbsp breadcrumbs unseasoned, save 1 tbsp to coat the patties in before adding them to the air fryer or skillet
Cooking spray or 2 tbsp of avocado oil

Instructions

Whisk the mayo and egg in a small bowl.
Add the remaining ingredients to a large mixing bowl and pour in the mayo and egg mixture.
Use a rubber spatula to gently mix to incorporate.
Form about 6 salmon patties. Sprinkle the remaining bread crumbs on the tops and bottoms of the patties.

Air Fryer Directions

Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees for 3-5 minutes.
Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Add the patties and spray them generously with oil (this helps them brown)
Air fry the salmon Patties for 12-14 minutes.

Skillet Directions

Preheat 2 tbsp of avocado oil in a large skillet.
Saute the salmon burgers for 4-5 minutes per side to cook them through and brown both sides. If they are getting a little toasty then simply turn your burner down a little so that you can continue to cook the patty through.

Nutrition