Easy Salmon Cakes Recipe

These oven-fried salmon patties are super easy to make and so delicious! You can use canned salmon, which is budget-friendly, as well as other ingredients that you probably already have on hand. I’ve found the oven-fried version to be less messy … at least for me.

However, if you want to fry it on top of the stove, you can. You can also try my friend Julie’s recipe for salmon patties from her Back to My Southern Roots blog. You can actually make patties with almost any kind of seafood, from salmon and tuna to crab and lobster.

Ingredients

You can start with either cooked fresh salmon or canned salmon. I used the canned version because it is quicker, easier, and less expensive. However, if you have some leftover fresh salmon, use that.

Also, you’ll need some flour or Bisquick. I have to be gluten-free, so I use either almond flour or gluten-free Bisquick. Keep in mind that Bisquick has baking powder in it, so they’ll rise a little bit if you choose that over the flour.

Here is the full list of ingredients for this salmon recipe:

• Salmon (6 ounce can)
• Flour (almond flour, all-purpose flour, or Bisquick)
• Diced onion
• Egg
• Cooking oil
• Prepared mustard (yellow or dijon mustard)
• Old Bay seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Black pepper

I added a printable recipe card to the bottom of this post for your convenience.

Alternative Ingredients to Make Salmon Cakes

You can add a variety of other ingredients. Some that you might want to try include chopped celery, shredded carrots, spinach, bell pepper, jalapeno peppers, and cajun seasoning.

If you have fresh or canned crabmeat, you can make crab cakes using basically the same ingredients. I’ve done this often, and it always turns out great!

Directions

Since you’re using your oven, preheat it to 400 degrees F before you begin. If you use an iron skillet, add oil to it, and swirl it around to make sure the bottom is coated.

Stick your skillet in the oven to it can get sizzling hot before you add the salmon patties. I like to do this because it helps form a crunchy crust on the outside of the patties. While the oven heats up, combine all of the remaining ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Mix until everything is coated.

Next, form 4 equal sized patties from the mixture and set them aside. After the oven reaches 400 degrees and the skillet is hot, remove the skillet from the oven. Be super careful not to burn yourself on the handle. Then place the patties in the bottom of the skillet and return it to the oven.

After 10 minutes, turn the salmon cakes over and cook them another 10 minutes. Be careful when you flip the salmon because the hot oil might splash and burn you.

Remove them from the oven and set the skillet on a trivet or pad to protect your countertop. The total cooking time for these salmon cakes is 20 minutes.

When you remove them from the oven, you should see a beautiful golden crust on the outside. These salmon cakes should be delicious without anything on them.

However, if you like a little extra flavor, try this delicious homemade tartar sauce. When I was a child, my favorite sauce for salmon croquettes was ketchup right out of the bottle. Or you might prefer serving these with zesty cocktail sauce. We also enjoy them with plain ol’ ketchup.

Tips

Whether you fry on top of the stove or in your oven, these tips will help deliver the best and crispiest salmon patties. Here are the tips:

• Whether you used the canned or fresh version, start with the best quality salmon that you have access to.
• Use seasonings that you know your family will like. My family prefers the classic salmon patty with Old Bay seasoning.
• If you have an herb garden, look there for inspiration. There’s nothing like a homemade salmon patty with fresh herbs.
• Don’t overcook the salmon patties. The best way to get crispy on the outside without drying out the inside is to cook in a preheated skillet using high heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’ve never made salmon patties, you might be curious about a few things. Here are some common questions and answers.

How Do You Make Salmon Patties on Top of the Stove?

If you want to use the stovetop, that’s fine. The list of ingredients and first several steps are the same. The only thing you’ll need to add is more oil because the only exposure to the heat will be in the skillet. Heat the oil on medium-high. Add the salmon patties and turn the heat down to medium. Cook them for 10 minutes on each side. It may splatter, so be super careful.

How Long Can You Store Leftover Salmon Patties?

After you cook these leftover baked salmon patties, you can store them in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. When you’re ready to eat them, heat them up in the microwave. Or you can put them in a skillet and heat them up on low heat.

If you’re not planning to eat them over the next couple of days, you can freeze them for up to 2 months. Secure them in plastic wrap or put them in an airtight container before freezing them.

What to Serve with Salmon Patties

Most of the time, we enjoy a salad with any seafood meal. My husband loves this BLT salad, while I prefer this Greek olive salad. Both are delicious, so you really can’t go wrong with either of them.

We like a salmon patty with a side of creamy coleslaw. This is a wonderful but easy recipe. Or if you prefer, make this delicious zesty pasta salad.

Do you like potatoes or rice? If you prefer potatoes, make these amazing honey mustard roasted potatoes.

But if you like rice, make this super quick and easy onion-seasoned rice. It goes perfectly with any seafood or meat.

Another favorite at our house is this classic baked mac and cheese casserole. It’s especially comforting at the end of a long day.

Easy and Affordable Salmon Patty Dinner

After you see how easy these salmon patties are to make, you’ll certainly want to add them to your dinner rotation. Although canned salmon is inexpensive compared to other meats, I recommend stocking up when it goes on sale.

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