When your taste buds are craving something crispy and tender, this Salmon Croquette Recipe needs to be put on your menu. This is one hearty meal that is oh-so-full of flavor!
Salmon Croquettes are a southern classic. Full of salmon, peppers, onions and seasoning, this versatile dish is sure to be loved by all! This is a great recipe for busy weeknights, but fancy enough for holidays and special events.
What are Salmon Croquettes?
Some might even refer to them as salmon cakes or a salmon patty, like a crab cake, but with salmon! A salmon burger, but without the bun.
Like crab cakes, seasoning is everything for the Salmon Croquette recipe. This recipe uses a blend of garlic, cilantro (my secret ingredient!), seasoned salt and Worcestershire sauce and is then pan fried for a nice brown crisp.
Salmon croquettes can be served as an entree, side dish or appetizer. If serving as an appetizer, I suggest making them slightly smaller in size.
Salmon patties are also great with your favorite dipping sauce. There are many homemade sauce options available, but here are some of my favorites:
- Use this Sriracha Sour Cream Sauce for zest and tang.
- Homemade Tartar Sauce is another option for this beautiful salmon creation.
- Add fresh lemon juice with wedges or slices.
- If you have kids, ketchup is probably a viable option as a dip for these Salmon Croquettes.
- And of course, Spicy Cocktail Sauce or Remoulade for Crab Cakes are always an option.
- Plain Greek yogurt is also a great and healthier option.
Simple Ingredients
The ingredients for this salmon croquettes recipe are pretty simple and some are easily omitted or swapped.
- All-purpose flour– Or other flour alternative to make them gluten-free.
- Yellow Cornmeal- I like the texture of yellow cornmeal, but white cornmeal or even cracker crumbs, like saltine crackers or club crackers, can be used. I highly recommend giving them a quick whirl in the food processor for a fine crumb.
- Canned salmon- Fresh salmon and leftovers can also be used, it just needs to be cooked. Farm raised can be a tad fattier compared to wild salmon fillets and may require more binder (flour or cornmeal).
- Veggies– Red bell pepper and sweet onion- but feel free to use red onion, yellow pepper or green pepper. As long as they are finely minced to blend into the mixture, it is fine. Carrots and celery are also welcome.
- Large Egg– To help it all bind together.
- Worcestershire sauce– For complexity and depth of flavor, a little goes a long way. Don’t have any in the fridge? Make homemade worcestershire sauce!
- Seasoned salt– Using a seasoned salt adds a little more of a flavor profile than just salt, although that is totally acceptable. Use a coarse kosher salt if going the plain route. Old Bay seasoning is another option for some east coast flare.
- Ground black pepper– Freshly grinding packs the most punch. For a less peppery route, opt for ground white pepper.
- Garlic powder– More subtle than fresh garlic, but still complements. Onion powder can also be swapped.
- Mayonnaise– Another binder. I’ve tried this with sour cream and plain Greek yogurt and while both give a nice tang, they create a fragile product since they don’t have egg to help bind. Try your hand at homemade mayonnaise too!
- Cilantro– Our secret ingredient- this gives unexpected flavor and oodles of it. If someone doesn’t care for cilantro, omit it or use flat parsley (Italian Parsley) or other fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme or fresh dill.
- Oil for frying – Our original recipe, and many others, call for olive oil to pan fry, but this has a lower smoke point that other neutral oils like canola, peanut or vegetable oil.
Add crushed red pepper flakes or diced jalapenos for more heat and great flavor. A dab of Dijon mustard adds acidity and grated lemon zest, brightness.
How to Cook Salmon Croquettes
Are you ready to jump to the recipe for fried salmon patties and start the process of cooking this delicious meal for your family?
- Gather Ingredients. Gather all the ingredients for the salmon mixture. I like to measure my ingredients out beforehand, that way everything is ready and all I have to do is dump into bowls.
- Mix Dry Ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and cornmeal so it is evenly combined and you will avoid overmixing when the wet ingredients are added.
- Make Salmon Cake Mixture. Add the bell peppers, sweet onion, seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, cilantro, and egg. You will want to mix until well combined.
- Form Patties. From there, you can shape into about 6-8 patties. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook. Once the skillet is hot, go ahead and cook the patties for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until they are a golden brown color. They will be fragile, so using a fish spatula is best for the delicate nature.
- Serve. Remove them to a paper towel lined plate or a warm oven until you are ready to serve. Serve the salmon croquettes while they are warm and don’t forget your favorite sauce!
Salmon cakes can be made year-round. Because salmon is such an affordable protein, you may find that you really enjoy cooking with it. Let us know what you think of this recipe.
Can I u=Use Fresh Salmon?
You can use canned salmon or fresh salmon, the choice is yours. I’ve made this recipe with both types and they have both turned out delicious.
If you use fresh salmon, make sure to cook it before you add it to the recipe. Baking it for 10-15 minutes at 350°F should do the trick. Make sure the fibers easily separate with a fork and you are ready to go!
Make it a Meal
They are super versatile, so basically anything goes, but here are my favorites.
- Side salad – doesn’t a green salad go with almost anything? My kale salad is always a favorite.
- Side of potatoes – whether the potatoes are baked, fried, or made into fries, this is an excellent option. Try my Cheesy Slow Cooker Potatoes!
- Sauteed veggies – take what veggies you have on hand and sautee them with salt, pepper, and olive oil. So yummy!
- Surf & Turf- or make it a surf and turf with a tenderloin or eye of round roast.
- Dipping Sauces- Yum yum sauce, horseradish sauce, aioli sauce, garlic butter sauce, crab cake sauce and even cocktail sauce are all good picks. As is a dollop of plain Greek yogurt, sour cream or hot sauce.
- Pasta– A side of linguine or instant pot mac and cheese.
- Rice– Tomato rice or stick of butter rice are great ideas!
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Can I Freeze Salmon Cakes?
You can! Make sure they are cooked so they hold together better. Wrap them individually in freezer paper, aluminum foil or plastic wrap. They can stay frozen for up to 6 months.
Can I make salmon cakes ahead of time?
Yep. Either form them and place them in the fridge until you are ready to cook or you can cook them and reheat when ready to serve. Leftover salmon cakes can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
I suggest reheating them in a skillet over medium heat or for 2-3 minutes in an Air Fryer. My husband would even argue that they are better the next day.
More Salmon Recipes
Salmon is one of our favorites for weeknight meals- it takes little prep and cooks super quick.
Salmon Croquettes Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup yellow cornmeal
- 15 ounces canned salmon
- 1 red bell pepper , finely chopped
- ½ cup sweet onion , diced
- 1 large egg , beaten
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup cilantro , chopped
- Olive oil for frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl whisk together flour and cornmeal.
- Add salmon, bell peppers, sweet onion, seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, cilantro and egg. Mix until well combined.
- Shape into about 6-8 patties. Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat.
- Once skillet is hot cook patties for 2-3 minutes on each side or until they are a golden brown color.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings!
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EXCELLENT RECIPE!!! I doubled it & added a bit more seasonings for my husband’s taste. The cornmeal made the difference from my dad’s recipe. YOUR RECIPE make me look like the best home cook ever!!! Big Thanks!!! 😉
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback!
I have never had good luck with making salmon patties and having them turn out well and hold together. This recipe was a game changer. The only thing that I Did differently was to exchange a quarter cup of the flour for Panko breadcrumbs. I thought this might give a little more firmness to the salmon patties. They were delicious thank you for sharing your recipe!
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed and thank you for coming back to let us know!
I loved these, they were fantastic and I’d make them again! Used the garlic aioli dipping sauce.
Addition of cilantro is a good idea. I also add capers. However, I think this recipe calls for too much flour. I am going to try cutting in half next time. I like mine less dense and crispier (the cornmeal makes them crispy). May also consider the cornmeal in larger quantities and little or no flour. Other binders like Flax Seed may work better. Need to experiment.
Thanks for the feedback.
Hi what sauce are yours topped with in the picture?
Hi Candace- homemade aioli sauce.
Best salmon croquettes I’ve ever eaten
Thanks so much and thank YOU for taking the time to come back and let us know!
I don’t make salmon often, because I am allergic to fish. I use the red canned Salomon and the effects are not the bad. I always used my mom’s recipe, but I must say this one tasted much better and not as messy. Never thought to mix the flour and yellow corn meal together. It gave us the crunch we love. Sides Brown rice, green beans mashed sweet potatoes. My husband loved it. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome, I’m so glad to hear that, Andrea!!! And thank you for taking the time to come back and let us know.
I cannot thank you enough for posting this recipe!!! I had been trying to duplicate my grandmother’s recipe for these for the last 20 years and finally this was it!! Exactly the taste and texture I remember as a child. Granma never wrote it down before she passed because it was nothing special to have this on Saturday mornings when I stayed with her. I just know I loved it and she always used the red can of “sockeye salmon” when she could find it in the store, saying it was the best. I did leave out the cilantro, because we never used that and I had to make my own cornmeal by grinding some grits I had on hand. Still came out perfect. Thank you again!
Oh, yay! I’m so glad I could provide that for you, Monica!!! <3 And thank you for taking the time to come back and let us know.
Amazing. I did leave out the cilantro because I don’t care for it, but otherwise, it is a keeper!
These were delicious. Just like my momma made. Brought back Old Carolina days
Aw, thank you, Brittany. We are so glad we could pull those nostalgia strings. <3