Easy Salmon Patties – A Low-Carb Salmon Patties without Bread Crumbs
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These low-carb salmon patties feature just a few simple ingredients but a big on flavor.
Easy Salmon Patties have the flavor of the classic salmon patty recipe without bread crumbs or crackers. What’s even better? This recipe only takes 6 ingredients, and that includes salt and pepper.
Easy Salmon Patties
Our Classic Salmon Patties recipe is number one on our blog and our Pinterest boards. Maybe we should start calling these the BEST SALMON PATTIES! But we love this low-carb version even better. That’s because these salmon patties are fast, easy (only 6 ingredients), delicious, kid-approved, and diet-friendly, whether it be low carb, keto or gluten-free.
Barbara makes salmon cakes quite often – they are a favorite of her daughters (her husband isn’t as big of a fan). So Barbara usually plans to make them when her husband has an evening meeting or is traveling for work. She invites our cousin Janet to dinner on these evenings as she’s a HUGE fan of Barbara’s salmon patties!
Our mom also made this exact salmon patties recipe without breadcrumbs using canned salmon growing up. The delicious aroma of these frying up on the stove top take us right back to our childhood.
Low-Carb Salmon Patties Ingredient List
- Canned Salmon, bones and skin removed
- Egg
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Butter (for frying)
- Olive Oil (for frying)
Salmon Patties without Bread Crumbs
While our Classic Salmon Patties are “classic” for a reason, Barbara actually makes these Low-Carb Salmon Patties just as often as the others.
Actually, she says she can give you a thousand reasons to make these:
- They are delicious
- They are fast.
- Canned Salmon is affordable. (Never seen/bought it? Here are some options.)
- Canned Salmon can be a staple in your pantry. Staples are great for quick meals.
- These are kid friendly
- Canned Salmon is a good source of calcium.
- Canned Salmon is high in protein and Omega 3’s.
- You can get it at Aldi, our favorite grocery store.
- This recipe fits the bill for those of you on a low-carb diet, like Ketogenic (or gluten-free).
- You can eat these with a fork or as a sandwich!
Ok, that’s 10 reasons. But, we think that’s enough!
How to Make Low-Carb Salmon Patties
Step By Step Instructions
- Drain canned salmon into a bowl, removing the bones and skin. Reserve some of the salmon liquid.
- Add egg, black pepper and salt, and mix with your hands until incorporated. The mixture should be slightly wet and sloppy. The reserved juice can be added if necessary.
- In a medium skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat until it is sizzling.
- Divide the salmon into 4 patties, and add to the skillet.
- Cook on each side 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Resist the urge to move or flip until a golden brown crust has formed.
Full recipe steps and ingredient amounts for these quick Salmon Patties can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Recipe FAQs
- These salmon patties without bread crumbs and without crackers means they are low carb.
- Reserve a little bit of the juices from the canned salmon. This keeps the salmon patty flavorful and also helps hold the salmon patty together.
- Use your clean hands to mix all the ingredients together and form a salmon patty.
- Do not add the salmon patty to the butter and olive oil in the pan until it is heated up. Also, do not touch or flip the salmon patty until you see the bottom edge is browned well. This prevents the salmon patty from falling apart.
- Eat alone with lots of ketchup or mustard or you could eat as a sandwich. Tartar sauce is also optional.
- My favorite way to eat these is with fried potatoes and creamed peas.
What to eat with salmon patties?
Check out these 10 side dishes that go perfectly along side salmon patties.
- Creamed Peas
- Cottage Cheese
- Red Hot Cinnamon Apples
- Simple Coleslaw
- Applesauce
- Fruit Salad
- Creamed Corn
- Ambrosia
- Cornbread
- Broccoli Rice Casserole
Recipe Variations
- If you really feel the need to add a binder, try using crushed saltine crackers.
- Fresh dill or parsley makes a nice addition.
- Try adding diced onion for more flavor.
- Lemon juice brightens up the flavor.
Our Favorite Seafood Recipes
We pulled together our canned salmon recipes in this post.
- Mom’s Tuna Casserole
- Tuna Pasta Salad
- Easy Baked Tilapia
- Canned Salmon Chowder
- Cold Crab Dip with Shrimp
- Hot Crab Dip
- Grilled Shrimp and Smoked Sausage Kebabs
What can I use instead of breadcrumbs for fish cakes?
Any type of crushed crackers such as Saltines or Ritz, cornflakes, panko bread crumbs or just a plain, raw egg can replace breadcrumbs in fish cakes.
Can I make salmon croquettes without bread crumbs?
Yes, my mom never used bread crumbs for salmon croquettes. Instead use a raw egg as the binder. Be sure the oil is hot enough before placing the salmon mixture in the skillet. Do not mess with the croquettes until it’s golden brown on the bottom. Only flip once!
Easy Salmon Patties – A Low-Carb Salmon Patties without Bread Crumbs
Ingredients
- 14.75 ounces Wild Alaskan Pink Salmon canned
- 1 egg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Drain salmon into a bowl, and reserve the liquid. Remove bones and skin from the salmon.
- Add egg, black pepper and salt to the salmon. Mix with your hands until incorporated. The mixture should be slightly wet and sloppy. If too dry, add some salmon broth back to the mixture.
- Add butter and olive oil to a skillet; heat over medium heat until butter mixture is sizzling.
- Make 4 patties out of salmon mixture; add to the skillet.
- Cook on each side 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition
Linking up to Weekend Potluck.
These salmon patties sound delicious!
I love how these are low-carb!
I make a salmon burger that is similar with regular filets and chop it up. but I also add some parmasian cheese, a little ginger, and some Dijon mustard as for some flavoring. We also use a sauce of half mustard/ mayo….mmmm it is so good! (I live in Juneau, AK so we catch quite a bit of salmon. I love cooking it like this!)
That sounds amazing!!
The mayo and mustard idea is brilliant. Didn’t want to use ketchup because of sugar. Thank you.
Christine, I love to have ur recipe for ur Salmon burger but I will b using can salmon so if u will please give me ur input PLEASE tks
These Salmon Patties looks amazing and are my favorites too!
I made them tonight and they were yummy. I did add a little bit of cracker crumbs I forgot I had. I also used butter and olive oil like she said. Will make them again.
Instead of crushed crackers that normally are used, use cornmeal as a binder
We’ll have to try that!
I add almond flour as a binder, still low carb. Adding diced onion and green paper with a squeeze of fresh lemon is amazing!
All of those additions sound good to us! Thanks for sharing.
I was thinking about adding almond flower too, but haven’t tried it yet. How did they turn out?
Thanks for sharing, Karen! This is perfect for me. I can’t have any grain so wandered of almond flour would work. Onions and bell pepper are a perfect addition.
These r so goood I just made them but I used a smaller can of Salmon
So glad you enjoyed them!
It looks so delicious.
Thank you! We love them.
Note being a fan of canned salmon, I’m wondering if you’ve ever made this recipe with canned tuna and would you change any of the ingredients if you do,
Thank you
There are recipes for Tuna Patties out there but we haven’t tried them. The ones I’ve seen have a couple of Tablespoons of mayo and/or dijon mustard added.
Thank you, Megan
Is there no binder necessary for these? Do they hold together well without it? If a binder is needed, any suggestions for one that still keeps it low carb. Something other than almond flour. I don’t have any.
Tom, you don’t need a binder. Our mom has been making them this way for years and we’ve never had an issue. Just be sure to not flip them too early so they have a nice “crust” on one side before flipping.
you could use pork rinds
I used the hot and spicy pork rids that i crushed myself today but will not use anything next time. ty Sherri B. Florida
I am going to try a little pork panko as a binder.
Those look delicious!
Thanks! They are!
Theses r delicious I have made then several times
So glad you enjoy them…they are a favorite of ours.
When i open the can i devour the bones. Only thing i toss out is the black skin. Liquid i add to the recipe, i just use more saltines and OMG. So delicious.
Instead of salt and pepper we use Old Bay seasoning. Yum!
That’s a great substitution!
I love these and have eaten them all my life. Very affordable and so delicious. Thank you for the recipe.
Donna – We love these too! Thanks for the note.
Tasty& easy recipe. We prefer the flavor of red salmon, so that’s what I always buy & use. As others, we use a little of Old Bay Seasoning instead of S & P. I also always add the tiniest pinch of garlic powder (which you don’t taste) but it livens up the other flavors. We enjoy this served just like it’s served back home in New England, with homemade French fries & Cole slaw. Especially nice to on Fridays during Lent.
We’ll have to try these with the red salmon…if we have a little leftover smoked salmon in the fridge, we’ll throw it in and that always makes them just a little better! Thanks for sharing.
These sound great. I’m diabetic and supposed to eat low-moderate carbs, but also moderate fat and calories so this would fit in well. I can get my carbs in with other foods at the same meal. My one problem is it’s just me so 4 servings are too many at one meal. If a make a whole recipe, can I freeze some of the patties? If so should I freeze pre=cooked or cooked?
Judy, we haven’t frozen our salmon patties but you should be able to form the patties and place them on parchment paper on a cutting board or cookie sheet. Freeze them for a couple of hours and once frozen, wrap each salmon patty in plastic wrap or wax paper and store all of them in a large resealable plastic bag in the freezer. They should keep a couple of months. Just pull one out, thaw in the refrigerator and then cook. Thanks!
Everything is so nicely described that really helped. I am looking forward for more such delicious recipes in future too.
We ate them with the cracker crumbs in the mix growing up. Can’t wait to try them this way! I like to squeeze fresh lemon juice over mine, and eat with cocktail sauce. Good with green beans or stewed/creamed tomatoes! I also like to eat them cold right out of the fridge the next day 🙂
I like to add things to my patties…chopped onion, chopped bell peppers or radishes…anything non-carby!! I also like cocktail sauce on mine. Not a big tarter sauce or ketchup fan when it comes to fish…..