These Classic Salmon Patties are kid-approved and an easy weeknight entree for busy families who need to get dinner on the table quickly.
Classic Salmon Patties
While we were growing up, our mom served salmon patties on a regular basis, especially on Fridays during Lent. Barbara still serves them to her family on a regular basis, and we have been known to invite ourselves to dinner when our mom fixes them.
They are definitely one of those meals that bring back some good memories for us, and we hope they will do the same with our kids. We remember our mom working to make sure all of the bones were removed from the canned salmon, and then she would mix the eggs, seasonings and cracker crumbs into the salmon with her hands.
Barbara’s daughters fully approve these Classic Salmon Patties adapted from a recipe in the Pot O’Gold Cookbook published by the St. Patrick Altar Society in Imogene, Iowa.
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Notes about Classic Salmon Patties Recipe
- You can use whatever type of cracker you have on hand. They act as a binder to help form the salmon patties.
- This recipe makes six good-sized salmon patties.
- Barbara substituted the shortening in the original recipe with olive oil or butter, and she uses a combination of both to fry her salmon patties.
- Serve them on a bun with lettuce and tomato or as is with a side of ketchup. Barbara’s daughters prefer the latter.
These would pair great with this Simple Mango Farro Salad.
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Our Best Fish Recipes (Recipe Roundup)
These Classic Salmon Patties are kid-approved and an easy weeknight entree for busy families who need to get dinner on the table quickly.
- 14.75 oz. can salmon
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup fine cracker crumbs
- 6 Tablespoons olive oil or butter
Drain salmon and remove bones and skin.
- Mix eggs and milk, and then add salmon.
- Add salt, pepper and cracker crumbs.
- Form into large patties.
- Melt olive oil or butter in skillet.
- Brown patties on both sides.
You can use a combination of olive oil and butter.
Linking up to Weekend Potluck.
Cathy Noble says
September 15, 2017 at 10:56 pmAbsolutely great recipe. Easy, quick and delicious. We have these 2-3 times a month with baked tater tots or fries, coleslaw or salad.
Megan says
September 20, 2017 at 7:14 amThanks for the note! It’s a favorite in our families as well!
Kathy says
February 26, 2018 at 2:09 amCan you use fresh salmon instead of canned?
Megan says
February 26, 2018 at 3:56 pmYou can definitely use fresh salmon to make “burgers” or “patties” but we’ve never tried it so I’m not sure what modifications you should make. I bet there are recipes out there using fresh salmon!
PL Packer says
May 30, 2018 at 9:28 pmI use fresh salmon that’s leftover from another meal…..i.e. cooked then flaked and made into patties.
Megan says
May 31, 2018 at 11:53 amThat sounds like a great idea! We’ll have to try it…if we ever have any leftover fresh salmon!
Bob Maucione says
May 30, 2019 at 11:17 amAbsolutely! It is much better than the canned, but more expensive; you are worth it!
Cook the fresh salmon first in a frying pan about 3/4 done. Then let cool and mix the ingredients with the salmon into parties and fry. Delicious!!
Megan says
May 30, 2019 at 12:47 pmThanks for the tip, Bob!
Ken says
October 9, 2018 at 7:14 pmCan you substitute bread crumbs for cracker crumbs?
Megan says
October 10, 2018 at 12:41 pmYou should be able to!
Sharlene says
January 6, 2018 at 4:38 pmI grew up on these. My mom was a great cook and the receipe is the same. We’d have the patties with rice and a great salad with vinegar and oil dressing. Yummy!
Joann says
September 25, 2017 at 11:58 amThese are the ones I make that my mother used to make except she & O put in chopped onion also. Yum! My grandson loves to take them to work for lunch. 🙂
Joann says
September 25, 2017 at 11:59 am*She and I (auto correct)
Megan says
September 25, 2017 at 10:16 pmLove to hear all the variations of these classics!
Karen says
November 1, 2017 at 8:37 amI have been making salmon patties over 40 years. Our recipes are similar with the exception I add a little sprinkle of old bay seasoning.
Marsha says
January 26, 2018 at 3:25 amThis was my mom’s recipe as well. I serve cheese sauce with peace over rice. A family favorite.
Marsha says
January 26, 2018 at 3:25 am“Peas” darn auto correct
Megan says
January 26, 2018 at 1:54 pmAutocorrect is my enemy too! Cheese sauce sounds awesome!!
Roberta Gabor says
August 18, 2018 at 3:38 amI was just trying to figure out how that “peace” over rice would look. Ha, Ha, just kidding.
Cathy witthoeft says
April 29, 2019 at 10:48 pm😁♥️
steph says
April 16, 2018 at 9:10 pmme, too. my Northeastern grandma and great-grandmother used to make these every other week. a staple in my gastronomic arsenal.I am a great-grandmother now and I still enjoy them on occasion. Only thing better is a classic giant fried shrimp sandwich on the boardwalk. 😉
Megan says
April 17, 2018 at 1:36 amMan, we’d take one of those sandwiches too! Yum.
Correne says
November 15, 2017 at 10:53 pmThis is an easy recipe that my family loves. I dust my patties in cornmeal before frying to add an extra crunch. Yum!!
Megan says
November 16, 2017 at 2:33 amWhat a great idea!
Tara says
January 22, 2018 at 9:42 pmMy mom never removed the bones though??
Missy says
February 26, 2018 at 4:36 pmMy Mom didn’t remove them either. The bones are very soft and a good calcium source but they always kinda freaked me out to bite into one!
Michelle B says
April 3, 2018 at 11:20 pmOh wow, I’ve never heard of leaving the bones!! I am sooo OCD when going through my salmon making SURE not to leave any!! Lol, I was always told people could CHOKE On them! I am making these tonight! My recipe is just like this one I don’t like bread crumbs in mine! It just changes the whole taste of them to me
Megan says
April 4, 2018 at 1:27 amMichelle – We have a recipe without breadcrumbs too – https://www.theseoldcookbooks.com/low-carb-salmon-patties/ – we love both of them.
Angela says
April 5, 2018 at 4:59 amMine didn’t either. She left skin and bones in. They cook up enough that you don’t even notice.
Liz says
November 6, 2018 at 8:20 pmMine either. They crumble into nothing.
Annetta Winn says
February 14, 2018 at 2:56 pmIf you don’t like salmon try tuna instead. I like this with coleslaw and fried potatoes.
Anita says
March 25, 2018 at 10:54 pmVery good Salmon patties! I had never cooked them in olive oil and butter, but so good. Served with green peas, corn and mashed potatoes. Thanks for an easy recipe. Used Costco’s Salmon, which is skinless and boneless.
Megan says
March 26, 2018 at 12:07 amSo glad you liked them! Those sides sounds delicious too. Can’t beat the classics.
Patricia Gauthier says
January 26, 2019 at 4:12 amA dear friend in Kentucky told me his secret to a great salmon pattie was adding a can of tuna to the mixture. Next time I make some I will try the addition of a dusting of cornmeal, sounds yummy.
Megan says
January 26, 2019 at 4:56 pmNow, that’s an interesting addition. We’ll have to try it too! Thanks for sharing.
Rhona says
March 2, 2019 at 12:48 amHow would you oven bake or broil these patties?
Megan says
March 2, 2019 at 2:22 pmWe’ve never tried them in the oven so we aren’t sure of oven temp/timing!
Misplaced Texan says
March 19, 2019 at 3:14 pmGrowing up, my mother, a nurse, always crushed salmon bones between her index and thumb or by the back of a fork and also kept the skin in the mixture for healthier patties. Being from Texas, I also like to add additional seasoning of a couple of dashes of celery seed, chili and onion and garlic powders, old Bay and Tony Chachere’s blackened Seasoning. And always crushed saltines. While all those spices look hot, they are not, they just add umph not heat. Always have to make two size 15 cans so my son has some to take to work the next day. These are great hot or cold.
Megan says
March 19, 2019 at 11:01 pmLove all the additional seasonings…and the memories!!
Peggy Grant says
March 26, 2019 at 4:04 amMy mom always served salmon patties with macaroni and cheese and green peas. Sometimes fried potatoes too.
Megan says
March 26, 2019 at 11:08 amSounds like a good meal to us!