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Old Fashioned Salmon Patties

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Old Fashioned Salmon Patties just like Grandma used to make! Golden brown and crisp on the outside, tender and moist on the inside, these salmon patties are easy to make and budget friendly. Enjoy a recipe that stands the test of time!

A white plate of salmon patties served with slices of lemon and garnished with dill weed.

Crispy, crunchy, and irresistibly tender, Old fashioned Salmon Patties are a fantastic standby to serve any time of year! That being said, I usually find myself frying these up on Fridays during Lent. They are a great protein packed main dish that never gets old! This simple salmon patties recipe only takes about 20 minutes to prepare and is a great option for any busy weeknight.

Canned salmon is great protein to serve without breaking the bank. It can be hard to keep up with the ever rising price of groceries, and frankly I think that salmon is an undervalued alternative for home cooks. These patties are full of flavor even though they only require a few ingredients! It’s hard to go wrong with a fresh batch of salmon patties.

Two salmon patties served on a white plate with a leaf of lettuce and a lemon slice.

Here are some more meatless meals to try!

 The best part about making this recipe is that it’s easy to serve with just about anything! But in our house we serve it up with Old Fashioned Tomato Macaroni just like Grandma Mickey did. And good heavens, when my kids hear what’s on the menu even the ones that have moved out make it over for dinner on those nights. Other great sides to serve with salmon patties include mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and slaw.

Another great part about classic salmon patties is that you don’t have to live near fresh salmon to enjoy this satisfying and delicious meal! If you’re using canned salmon with bones, you’ll need to prepare your salmon, which is the most time consuming bit of the whole recipe. To begin you first need to drain off all the liquid. “Picking” your salmon can be a bit of a personal preference, but I suggest removing all the bones, skin and the gray-brown layer of meat that you’ll find closest to the skin. While these are all edible, they will change the overall taste and texture of your salmon patties.

It can be a mess and a bit of a hassle, but this is the cheapest way to make salmon patties and my personal favorite. If you don’t want the hassle, then go with the boneless and skinless.

A white plate with two salmon patties and a wedge of lemon to one side.

What Do I Need To Make Old Fashioned Salmon Patties?

  • Two ( 14.75 ounce) cans of salmon or 6 (5 ounce) cans boneless skinless salmon
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 teaspoons Tony Charere’s cajun seasoning (or your preferred brand)
  • 2 teaspoons dill weed
  • Approximately 2/3 cup mayo
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 sleeve saltine crackers, divided
  • oil for frying

Step by Step Instructions:

Step 1: If you are using skinless boneless canned salmon, simply drain well.  If you are using classic canned salmon, remove the bones, skin, and gray-brown layer of meat closest to the skin. Place the salmon into a large bowl.

Step 2: Once you have all the salmon ready, add the chopped onion, cajun seasoning, dill weed, mayo, and eggs to the bowl. Next you’re going to remove approximately 10 saltines from the sleeve, crush them well and add them to the salmon. Using your hands or a spoon, combine all the ingredients well. 

The ingredients are added to a glass bowl and then mixed together.

Step 3: Crush the remaining saltine crackers and place them in a shallow dish for dredging. I always just use a paper plate for easy clean up.

The saltine crackers are crushed on a plate. Then a salmon patty is coated with the cracker crumbs.

Step 4: Gently scoop up a portion of the salmon and form it into a patty and then place it into the crushed saltine crackers, gently pressing the crumbs to cover on all sides. 

Set aside and repeat until completed.

A tray of salmon patties coated in crushed saltine crackers await their turn to fry in the oil.

Step 5: In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. You’ll know the oil is hot enough if when you place a wooden spoon in the oil, bubbles form against the spoon and float up. Or when a drop of water sizzles when added.

Step 6: Carefully add the salmon patties to the pan and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Remove to a paper towel lined rack to soak up any extra oil. Serve hot with your favorite sauce and a squeeze of lemon juice!

Five salmon patties are frying in the oil, then they are moved to a plate covered with a paper towel to rest.

This recipe makes a large batch of classic salmon patties, so feel free to half the ingredients if you only need a few!

A plate of two salmon patties served with a lettuce leaf and a lemon slice. One of the patties is half eaten, and a fork takes a bite sized piece from the plate.

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Old Fashioned Salmon Patties

Old Fashioned Salmon Patties

Yield: 16 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes

Old Fashioned Salmon Patties just like Grandma used to make! Golden brown and crisp on the outside, tender and moist on the inside, these salmon patties are easy to make and budget friendly. Enjoy a recipe that stands the test of time!

Ingredients

  • Two ( 14.75 ounce) cans of salmon or 6 (5 ounce) cans boneless skinless salmon
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 teaspoons Tony Charere's cajun seasoning (or your preferred brand)
  • 2 teaspoons dill weed
  • Approximately 2/3 cup mayo
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 sleeve saltine crackers, divided
  • oil for frying

Instructions

  1. If you are using skinless boneless canned salmon, simply drain well.  If you are using classic canned salmon, remove the bones, skin, and gray-brown layer of meat closest to the skin. Place the salmon into a large bowl.
  2. Once you have all the salmon ready, add the chopped onion, cajun seasoning, dill weed, mayo, and eggs to the bowl. Next you're going to remove approximately 10 saltines from the sleeve, crush them well and add them to the salmon. Using your hands or a spoon, combine all the ingredients well. 
  3. Crush the remaining saltine crackers and place them in a shallow dish for dredging. I always just use a paper plate for easy clean up.
  4. Gently scoop up a portion of the salmon and form it into a patty and then place it into the crushed saltine crackers, gently pressing the crumbs to cover on all sides. Set aside and repeat until completed.
  5. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. You'll know the oil is hot enough if when you place a wooden spoon in the oil, bubbles form against the spoon and float up. Or when a drop of water sizzles when added.
  6. Carefully add the salmon patties to the pan and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. 
  7. Remove to a paper towel lined rack to soak up any extra oil. Serve hot with your favorite sauce and a squeeze of lemon juice!

Notes

This recipe makes a big batch, so it can be halved if necessary.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 284Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 444mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 15g

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Old Fashioned Salmon Patties just like Grandma used to make! Golden brown and crisp on the outside, tender and moist on the inside, these salmon patties are easy to make and budget friendly. Enjoy a recipe that stands the test of time!

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