• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
West Coast Kitchen Garden
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipe » salmon » Easy Old Fashioned Salmon Patties-A Southern Classic

    Easy Old Fashioned Salmon Patties-A Southern Classic

    Published: Apr 28, 2023 by Sabrina Currie · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Ever think Grandma made the best food? Yeah, me too! And these old fashioned salmon patties are no exception. Simple ingredients, wholesome foods and lots of love make these salmon cakes the very best recipe there is. These easy salmon patties are done in just 20 minutes!

    Jump to:
    • Why I Made This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Variations + Substitutions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Step By Step Instructions
    • Storing + Reheating Salmon Patties
    • Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Get My Free Book
    • 10 Herbs 10Ways
    • 💬 Community

    Why I Made This Recipe

    I grew up eating salmon and especially canned salmon (my dad was a fisherman). I admit there were times I was sick of it but now as an adult I crave it and eat it often. It's easy, tasty and sooo good for you! (Here's What To Serve With Salmon Patties)

    I mainly ate canned salmon in sandwiches but there are so many more ways to use it. In pasta, on salads, as croquettes or meatballs and so much more. Canned salmon goes great with lots of flavors like dill, lemon and Old Bay seasoning. This old fashioned salmon patty recipe includes these all, along with crushed cracker crumbs and an egg to bind it all together. It's a really flavourful recipe.

    If you're a salmon lover too, I've got lots of yummy salmon recipes and meal ideas. Try my Miso Glazed Salmon, creamy Pasta Alla Salmone or Hawaiin Furikake Salmon. For delicious appetizers, bright Salmon Carpaccio or Salmon Crudo are easy and spectacular.

    Breakfast on your mind? Top 20+ Easy, Healthy Salmon Breakfasts and 35+ Best Smoked Salmon Recipes For Breakfast And Brunch are guaranteed to help you find the perfect salmon breakfast or brunch recipe.

    Ingredients

    I love that this recipe uses pantry staples. Tinned salmon, crackers, herbs and spices are all easy to keep on hand. These fresh salmon patties get dropped into a frying pan with no need to coat them in crumbs.

    This recipe makes 8 medium sized patties or 4 large, burger sized patties. It uses almost no oil, eliminating the need for paper towels.

    Labelled ingredients for old fashioned salmon patties recipe. Shown is dry dill weed, green onions, red onion, an open tin of canned salmon, mayonnaise, eggs, round crackers, a lemon, old bay seasoning and garlic powder.
    • Can Of Salmon - I use a can of pink salmon that has its skin and bones. All parts are edible and nutritious. If you have larger bones in yours (a great source of calcium), you can pick them out or crush them up. You can also use skinless, boneless pink salmon, sockeye salmon or any other canned salmon.
    • Eggs - The perfect binder to hold these patties together. Large eggs are the size used in this recipe.
    • Crackers - Ritz crackers are part of what makes this old fashioned recipe. Salted saltines or dry fine bread crumbs make a good substitute. Crush them well so they blend into the salmon mixture without any big lumps.
    • Herbs + Spices - This recipe is similar to Southern salmon patties with the addition of Old Bay seasoning. Dried dill weed is in this recipe too and both together make a delicious fish cake. Although you could use one or the other, I strongly urge you to use both for the best flavor. This traditional recipe calls for dried herbs which was common in days gone by. Fresh herbs can certainly be used instead.

    Variations + Substitutions

    There are some easy substitutions and variations you can do with this salmon patty recipe.

    1. Fresh Salmon - Fresh cooked salmon works equally well for this recipe. Use an equivalent amount and make as directed.
    2. Crispy Coated - If you want a crispy coating, you can spoon the uncooked fish mixture into a plate of corn meal or panko bread crumbs before adding to the pan and frying. You will need to use a little more oil (1-2 tablespoons) to get them to cook properly.
    3. Tuna Patties - Swap out your salmon for tuna, an easy switch if you're out of salmon and want to avoid a trip to the grocery store.

    Serving Suggestions

    Old fashioned salmon patties are a great appetizer on their own with some tartar sauce or hot sauce. But they are also a great main dish for a delicious dinner.

    Try mashed potatoes or rice and a vegetable side dish like peas or green beans for a tasty and healthy dinner. A simple pasta alfredo or mac n cheese with a garden salad is another great meal combination.

    Or make these into burgers and top with lettuce, tomato, pickled red onions and some mayo. While these aren't quite a firm enough patty to BBQ, you can reheat them on the grill after they've been pan fried for a smoky flavor befitting a burger. Salmon burgers and French fries are a great summer time meal.

    Wondering how much to make per person? Check out A Guide To How Much Salmon Per Person For A Serving.

    Step By Step Instructions

    This classic recipe comes together fast. With egg and cracker crumbs as the binding agent, these simple salmon patties are a tender, moist family favorite.

    Canned salmon in a small bowl with a fork.

    1. Drain canned salmon and add to a medium sized bowl. Gently break up the salmon and any bones with a fork.

    On top of the canned salmon, chopped green onions, grated red onion, and the dried herbs and spices have been added but not yet stirred in.

    2. Add the grated red onion, chopped green onion, dried dill, garlic powder and Old Bay seasoning.

    A mixture of pink salmon, onion and herbs mixed up in small bowl.

    3. Stir through gently.

    Eggs and mayonnaise have been added on top of the salmon mixture.

    4. Add egg, mayo and lemon juice. Stir to combine well.

    Egg has been mixed into the fish mixture. It looks fairly yellow now.

    5. Season to taste with salt if needed and and a good pinch of black pepper. (I do not add salt, I find there is enough slat from the canned salmon and the crackers.)

    Cracker crumbs poured into the bowl, not yet stirred in.

    6. Add cracker crumbs.

    The fish patty mixture is finished in the bowl. It looks thick and moist and is a yellow-peach color.

    7. Stir gently just until combined.

    Fish mixture has been scooped into four mounds in a black frying pan. A spoon is patting one down to flatten it.

    8. Heat a non-stick pan on medium-low heat. Add a teaspoon of oil if desired and then add salmon patty mixture in 2-4 tablespoon sized dollops. Press down gently to flatten until ½" thick.

    Pan now has 3 larger patties frying.

    9. Fry until golden on one side. Flip and fry until other side is golden.

    Finished, golden brown salmon patties on a bed of lettuce on white plate with creamy mayo dip and lemon wedges beside them.

    10. Remove from pan and serve right away with tartar sauce, remoulade sauce or any other favourite condiments.

    Storing + Reheating Salmon Patties

    This old fashioned recipe stores and reheat well. Store any leftover fish cakes in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I don't recommend freezing them as they lose their nice texture and get crumbly after thawing.

    To reheat, you can place them on a plate in the microwave for 30 seconds +/- depending on your particular microwave. Alternately, you can reheat these in a frying pan set on low, for about 3-5 minutes.

    Related Recipes

    • Round bowl of cupped tortilla chips with a bowl of white, red, green and purple ceviche in the middle.
      Easy And Healthy Cod Ceviche With Lime and Jalapeño
    • Text, "Serving Size for salmon" with a round photo of a salmon bowl with avocado and red cabbage and another round picture of grilled salmon topped with lemon slices.
      A Guide To How Much Salmon Per Person For A Serving
    • Collange of 4 recipes including roasted multicolor carrots, lemon and herb couscous, peas with feta and mint and salmon patties with creamy white dipping sauce. Square shaped photo with title text over layed in the middle.
      What To Serve With Salmon Patties-Top 40+ Side Dishes
    • Title, "How long can you keep live crabs on ice" above a photo of live Dungeness crabs on crushed ice.
      How Long Can Crabs Be Kept On Ice

    I hope you love these good old fashioned salmon patties as much as we do!

    For more on what I'm cooking up, follow me on Instagram or Facebook. You might also like my FREE printable weekly meal planner.

    Cheers friends! Sabrina

    📖 Recipe

    A plate of 3 salmon patties with one broken open to see the texture inside. There is also a wedge of lemon, some greens and a small dish of mayonnaise topped with fresh dill sprig.

    Easy Old Fashioned Salmon Patties

    Flavorful, sweet and salty, these are the tastiest old fashioned salmon patties you'll ever taste! Made with crackers just like gramma did.
    Makes 2 main course servings or 4 appetizer or snack sized servings.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 121kcal
    Author: Sabrina Currie

    Ingredients

    • Canned Salmon 1 tin
    • ⅔ c Crushed Ritz Crackers (About 20 crackers or 1 cup before crushing)
    • 1 tablespoon Red Onion, Grated
    • 2 tablespoon Green Onion, Finely Chopped
    • ¾ teaspoon Dried Dill
    • ¾ teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
    • 2 Eggs
    • 1 tablespoon Mayonnaise
    • 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
    • 1 tsp Vegetable Oil
    • Salt + Ground Black Pepper To Taste

    Instructions

    • Drain canned salmon, add to a medium sized bowl and gently break up with a fork.
    • Add grated onion, chopped green onion, dill, garlic and Old Bay spice. Stir through gently.
    • Add egg, mayo and lemon juice. Stir to combine well and season to taste with salt and pepper.
    • Add cracker crumbs and stir gently to combine.
    • Heat a non-stick pan on medium-low heat. Add a teaspoon of oil if desired and then add salmon patty mixture in 2-4 tablespoon sized dollops. Press down gently to flatten until ½" thick. Fry until golden on one side. Flip and fry until other side is golden.
      Remove from pan and serve while warm.

    Notes

    Be sure to taste the patty mixture before adding any additional salt. The crackers, salmon and mayo often all contain salt so you may not need to add any more.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 143mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @wckitchengarden or tag #wckitchengarden!
    book cover titles 10 herbs 10 ways by Sabrina Currie West Coast Kitchen Garden over top of a white table full of various herbs.

    Get My Free Book

    10 Herbs 10Ways

    SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST + RECEIVE YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD OF

    10 HERBS 10 WAYS

    We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

    Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

    About Sabrina Currie

    Classically French trained cook, photographer and food stylist living on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Join Me On Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    Sabrina Currie in her kitchen

    Hi, I'm Sabrina! Welcome to my West Coast Kitchen Garden. I hope to inspire you to grow, forage and shop your local farmer's market with these easy and delicious recipes using whole foods.

    More about me →

    Most Recent Posts

    • Best (Easy) Vegan Rhubarb Crumble Recipe With Oats
    • Collage of four recipes with title in the middle. Shown is brie and blackberries baked in puff pastry, blackberry grilled cheese sandwiches stacked high and a plate of potatoes and veggies with blackberry glazed salmon and skewers of chicken with dark berry sauce.
      30 Best Savory Blackberry Recipes To Try This Summer
    • Collage of 4 celery recipes including creamy topped celery sticks, green celery juice, orange flecked cheese stuffed sticks and reindeer decorated celery topped with peanut butter and Nutella.
      Best Celery Snacks And Appetizers For kids And Adults
    • Round bowl of cupped tortilla chips with a bowl of white, red, green and purple ceviche in the middle.
      Easy And Healthy Cod Ceviche With Lime and Jalapeño
    • Collage of 4 recipes including a stack of green flecked fritters with sour cream on top, chicken yakitori skewers on a baking sheet, cauliflower and red pepper salad and yellow corn chowder in white bowls.
      What To Serve With Fritters For Dinner-55 Side Dishes
    • Collage of 4 recipes including long green broccolini, a chopped salad topped with hard boiled egg halves, a round loaf of bread and a white bowl of seafood fettuccini. Title text in the middle says, "30+ sides to serve with fettuccine alfredo."
      What Goes With Fettuccine Alfredo? Best 30 Side Dishes

    Follow to the bottom if you'd like to sign up for my latest shop sales, best cooking tips and newest recipes.

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Ooni Pizza Dough Cooking in the Fyra
      Ooni Pizza Dough Recipe
    • Chirashi Sushi Bowl Recipe
      Chirashi Sushi Bowl (aka Chirashizushi)
    • Miso Baked Oyster Recipe
      Miso Baked Oysters-A Quick And Easy West Coast Appetizer
    • A blue bowl of tortilla chips with a smaller black bowl of pink, red, green and purple rhubarb salsa in it. The background is all black.
      Savory Spring Rhubarb Salsa
    • Strawberry rhubarb oatmeal muffins on a flax colored linen tea towel with garden in background.
      Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal Muffins
    • White and red cabbage sauerkraut with simple airlock lids
      Red Cabbage Sauerkraut/Fermented Red Cabbage
    Close up of thinly sliced sockeye salmon drizzled with white mayo based dressing and topped with arugula and a sprinkling of capers and red onions all on a blue plate.
    Best Salmon Carpaccio

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    Sabrina Currie of West Coast Kitchen Garden
    Sabrina Currie of West Coast Kitchen Garden

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services
    • Media Kit

    Copyright © West Coast Kitchen Garden 2021 - All Rights Reserved

     

    Loading Comments...