By: Annie61 Comments
Posted: 11/23/20 Updated: 2/11/25

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Golden and crispy, these air fryer salmon patties cut down on the oil and deliver big on flavor! Made with canned salmon, they are a great way to cook from your pantry.

The air fryer is such a great way to get crispy food while cutting back on oil. From air fryer chicken wings to french fries and these salmon patties, there are so many delicious possibilities!

stack of air fryer salmon patties topped with yogurt and cucumbers

These air fryer salmon patties, also called salmon croquettes are golden, crispy, and so flavorful! I love that they are made with canned salmon, yet jazzed up with fresh lemon zest and dill. I think you're going to love them!

Reasons you’ll ♡ salmon patties

They are made with canned salmon, which helps keep them budget friendly.
They're golden and crispy yet made with a fraction of the oil as pan-fried salmon patties.
You can prep them up to 24 hours ahead, making dinner easy.

Recipe video

Watch the video below to see how simple it is to prep. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

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ingredients required to make salmon patties

Ingredient notes

Salmon- canned salmon makes these patties affordable and is a great way to cook from your pantry; we are using three 125 g/4.4 oz cans. Some people prefer to remove the bones and skin to improve the texture, though they are a great source of calcium and other nutrients.
Eggs- essential to bind the patties together; egg alternatives have not been tested
Breadcrumbs- provide structure and make the patties easier to handle. You can use traditional, gluten-free, or panko breadcrumbs.
Mayonnaise- adds flavor and moisture to the salmon patties; I use avocado mayo, but regular would work as well.
Dill- while I've used fresh dill in these photos, dried dill will work as well. I think dill pairs much better with salmon, but if you have an aversion you can use fresh parsley.
Lemon- we are just using the zest of the lemon to add bright citrus flavor. However, I save the whole lemon and slice it into wedges. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the crispy patties adds amazing flavor.

Step by step directions

Scroll to the recipe card for ingredient quantities.

Mix ingredients together- in a large bowl, use a spatula to mix together the salmon (drained, mashed, and skin/bones removed if you'd like), eggs, mayo, salt, breadcrumbs, lemon zest and dill.
Measure out patties- using a ½ cup measuring cup, firmly pack the salmon mixture into the cup, then tap it out into the palm of your hand.
Form patties- pat gently to form a patty that is no more than 1 inch thick and is of equal thickness across the patty.
Cook the patties- heat air fryer to 390°F. Spray the basket with cooking spray, then add patties into the basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer you may be able to cook 2-4 patties at a time. Spray the tops of the salmon patties. Air fry for a total of 8 minutes (no need to flip).

Recipe notes

Form equal sized patties

In order to get these salmon patties to cook through at the same time, it's important to form equal-sized patties. I like using a measuring cup to do this, as it's more consistent than eyeballing it.

You also want to make sure that the patties are of equal thickness all the way across. Use your hands to gently tap them into the shape you want.

Do not overcrowd

It’s crucial that you do not overcrowd your salmon patties in the air fryer, as this would block air circulation and prevent them from crisping up. For the crispiest salmon patties, ensure that there is space between each and that they are not touching. This means that, depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.

Use high heat

When testing this recipe, I found that lower temperatures resulted in dryer and less crispy salmon patties. When using the highest temperature on my air fryer (200°C/390°F), the outside crisped up beautifully while the inside was still tender and delicious.

Spray twice for extra crisp

Another tip for crispy salmon patties? Spray the patties with oil at the start of the cook time (helps them to not stick to the basket and get golden while cooking), and another time during the last 1-2 minutes of cook time. This boost of oil restores a bit of moisture to the exterior of the patty and helps them get even more golden brown.

Basket vs oven air fryers

This recipe was tested in both a basket-style Phillips air fryer (similar to this one), and an Instant Pot vortex air fryer oven, and the cook times were very similar in each.

Air Fryer Basket- 8 minutes, no flipping
Air Fryer Oven- 8 minutes, rotating trays half way

Keep an eye on the salmon patties in the air fryer oven, as depending on the position in the oven, they may cook through in slightly different amounts of time.

Meal prep + storage

Cook ahead

Note that after cooking, storing and reheating, the salmon patties do loose a bit of moisture.

Cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Heat air fryer to 350°F, then put salmon patties into the basket. Spray with oil. You may want to do a second spray just before serving.
Heat for 5 or so minutes, until warmed through. Enjoy!

Find my favorite meal prep containers here!

Form patties + store

My favorite method to prep these ahead is to store before cooking. This way, when you cook, it's for the first time and the patties are just as tasty as if they were cooked right after forming them.

Fridge- form the patties, and arrange in a large meal prep container. If you stack them, place pieces of wax paper between them. Store for up to 48 hours, then cook as directed in the recipe card. If patties are cold when you place in the air fryer, add an extra minute onto the cook time.
Freezer- form the patties, and arrange on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Freeze for 2 hours, until frozen solid, then transfer to a meal prep container or freezer bag, placing wax paper between the patties. Squeeze out as much air as possible, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw, then cook as directed in the recipe card.

Find my favorite freezer containers here!