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!
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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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
- 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!
Serve it with
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower
- Apple, Fennel, Brussels Sprouts Slaw
- Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic Butter
- Perfect, Fluffy Rice
More air fryer recipes
- Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Golden Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
- Seriously Crispy Air Fryer Gnocchi
- Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Crispy Balsamic Air Fryer Broccoli
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Air Fryer Salmon Patties (Golden + Crispy)
Ingredients
- 12 oz canned salmon (or 3 125 g cans); drained, mashed, skin and bones removed if desired
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup mayo
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- lemon zested
- ½ teaspoon dried dill or 2 teaspoons fresh
serving suggestions
- fresh dill
- yogurt or tzatziki
- lemon wedges
- fresh cucumber
Instructions
- 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 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 oil, then add patties into the basket. Spray the tops of the salmon patties. Cook for a total of 8 minutes. Spray a second time 1-2 minutes before the patties are cooked through. See note 1 for differences between oven and basket air fryers.
- Serve- top the patties with the serving suggestions, and enjoy!
Tips:
- 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.
- freezer- form the patties, and arrange on a parchment- 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 above in the recipe card.
Video
Nutrition Information
© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Monique says
So easy to make and delicious!
Ben | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Monique, thank you for sharing.
Cj says
I made these and added paprika and chopped onion. They turned out nice and crispy on the outside and moist inside. Served with broccoli, rice and cheese casserole. I had gotten a late start for dinner, about 6:30, but we were at the dinner table by 7:00!
Ben | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Cj,
It is great to know you enjoyed this Air Frier Salmon Patties recipe. Quick and tasty, Win-Win!
KevinM says
Very good taste, but very easy to overcook. Not the fault of Denise, she did warn me to keep an eye on them.
Ben | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Kevin,
I also have made the mistake of not watching the Air Fryer closely. We are happy to hear you enjoyed them.
Ericka says
These were delicious!! I used lemon juice vs. the lemon zest. It may the patties a little mushy so I did let them cook about 9-10min. I also flipped them about the last minute or two. It still came out perfect! Thanks so much!
Ben | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Ericka,
Thank you for sharing your tips to get out of a squeeze. We are happy to hear they still turned out well for you.
Kyla Antonakis says
Sooo good and easy to make quickly! Used lemon juice instead of lemon zest as no lemons in house.
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Kyla, so glad you enjoyed! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a rating and review!
Caprice says
Loved this recipe! I cooked 6 minutes, flipped them over, and cooked an additional 6 minutes. Mmm!
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Caprice, so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing your feedback and review!
Leasha says
Quick, easy and tasty!
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Leasha, the ideal combination!! 🙂 So glad to hear that you enjoyed these air fryer salmon patties! Thanks for leaving a rating and review!
Diane says
Did you use red salmon or pink?
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Diane, any kind of canned salmon should work for these salmon patties! Pink or sockeye 🙂
Joseph says
Outstanding....excellent prep notes
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Joseph, so glad that you enjoyed it, and appreciated the notes! Thanks for leaving a rating and review!
Janet says
Absolutely fantastic! I added a few more things yo make them more bougie and they were awesome! They turned out perfect! 10/10
drdeb says
This is one of our favorite recipes. There are 2 of us and we freeze the extra patties. This provides a super quick dinner. Thanks SO much!
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi there! We're so glad to hear that this has become a favorite recipe in your home! Thanks for leaving a rating and review 🙂
Ada dela Motte says
I made these and they turned out perfect. I left the bones and skin in because that's good calcium.
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Ada, happy to hear that you enjoyed! THanks so much for leaving a rating and review 🙂
Sonya says
Thank you for sharing this recipe. It will be delicious tonight 😊
I can agree with another post here, when I opened up the salmon it kind of appeared unappetizing with those bones and slimy cooked skin. My mom made similar ones years ago and they were good. Thanks again.
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Sonya, we hope you enjoy! Please report back to let us know how they turned out 🙂
Lorraine C says
I Love this recipe ♥️
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Lorraine, so glad you enjoyed these air fryer salmon patties! Thanks for leaving a rating and review 🙂
Kristy says
They take way longer than 8 minutes in my emiril legasse air fryer. More like 15 to 20
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Kristy, thanks for reporting back with details on your air fryer model! Did you heat to 350ºF? Perhaps heating to a slightly higher temp would help with cutting down the cook time!
Randolph Leidman says
Wow these were delicious and came out pefect! I subbed in lite mayonnaise and opted to leave the bones in (loved the extra crunch!! 😋)
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Randolph, glad that these air fryer salmon patties came out perfectly for you! Thanks for taking the time to come back to leave a rating and review!
Deb says
One of our "go to" recipes. I add a little lemon juice VS zest if I am in a hurry.
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Deb, we are so glad to hear that you enjoy these air fryer salmon patties on the regular! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave a rating and review 🙂
James says
Pretty good air fryer salmon patties! I followed the recipe (which I usually can't do) and they turned out great. I did run for 9 minutes instead of 8 and flipped them at 4. Very good. Thanks for the recipe!
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi James, so glad to hear! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave a review.
Laura says
These were really good. I did omit one egg and put in a 1/4 cup of whole grain mustard instead. I didn't realize how gross canned salmon is though. It kinda grossed me out and I wasn't sure I would like the end product but the crispy cakes were pretty tasty and made me forget my earlier trauma.
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Laura, we're so glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! I'm glad that it worked out with your substitution. Canned salmon does have a strong smell, but always tastes delicious, especially in this recipe! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave a rating and review.
Katie says
These salmon patties are so good! I mixed in a bit of tuna because I was a little short on salmon but it tasted really good! This was my first meal I made in my new air fryer (wow I love the air fryer!) and it was simple, delicious and very filling! I served mine with grainy Dijon mustard and it was super yummy. I’m excited to start making my way through your other air fryer recipes because every recipe I make of yours is always 10/10! Thank you so much!
Jayne says
Hello and Thank you,
What sauce are you serving this with?
Lisa Kouwenhoven says
This looks so yummy! I don’t have an air fryer, could these be baked in my oven? Or pan fried?
Denise Bustard says
Hi Lisa! Apologies for my late reply. I haven't made salmon patties in the oven, but I have made them in a frying pan. You need more oil, and can fry them over medium heat for around 4 minutes per side.