These air fryer salmon patties come together with minimal ingredients, cook in under 10 minutes and deliver a crispy, golden exterior that pan frying honestly cannot compete with.
If getting a nutritious, protein packed dinner on the table on a weeknight feels like a challenge, this air fryer salmon patty recipe is the answer you have been looking for. Canned salmon keeps it affordable and accessible. The ingredient list is short enough to memorize after one cook, and the air fryer gets the golden and crispy in under 10 minutes without the mess of frying. Lemon and dill keep the flavor bright and fresh and the whole thing comes together so fast it will genuinely surprise you the first time you make it.
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.
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
More recipes to try
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)
Video
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.
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.
Hi, I'm Annie. With a Bachelor of Science degree, a minor in nutrition and nearly 20 year of both classical training, and self-taught experience, I've spent my career proving that home cooking can be practical, delicious and inspiring. What started in 2013 as one food blog has grown into a full-time business. Today, my husband Clayton and I run five food websites that connect with millions of home cooks every month.
When I'm not in the kitchen or behind the camera, I'm using fueling my love of travel, or chasing down new ideas that keep food fun and fresh.
Jan Alfano says
Well, that was exc! I adjusted the recipe because I only had 5 oz of canned salmon, but it was easy. I did add a bit of chopped celery because I like crunch. No leftovers; this will be my go to recipe.
Amy says
These taste wonderful! So much like my Grandmother's, and she fry's her patties in a very old cast iron skillet. I was a little scared at first because they are so wet, it was a little tricky shaping them and placing them on the air fryer cooking sheets (I have an oven style air fryer).
Thank you so much for sharing. By popular demand, these have made our family's dinner rotation menu. 😉
Starr says
Thank you... I used this as a basic recipe. Instead of salt I used a teaspoon of lemon pepper and a teaspoon of smack yo mama. Lol also known as cajun seasoning. They were great for fish and grits this Sunday morning. I also made shrimp eggs with cheese.
Stephen Smith says
This is one of the most comprehensive recipes I have seen on-line. Turned out great! Perfect at high temp. I did mine at 400 degrees in a basket air fryer for 7 minutes. I did turn 1/2 way through to get it crispy on both sides. I also added red bell pepper and onion. Perfection.
Saddiyah says
My family enjoyed the different taste of the air fryer. I will be doing more recipes.
Patricia says
Great instructions and recipe
Rona Harris says
FYI this makes 4 large super delicious salmon cakes. Served with hollandaise sauce
Sandra Glaman says
Perfect Recipe!
Christina Velinov says
Very tastey. We made our patties on the thin side so they only took about 6 minutes in the Ninja basket air fryer. Will make again
Liz says
Delish, and common pantry staples, healthy eating👍🏻
ken says
Great simple recipe .salmon very moist.
Jackie Seiwell says
Great recipe! My husband and I really enjoyed the salmon patties! Will surely add this to our favorites!
Marnie says
So good! Used fresh salmon because it was holiday time and we had too many proteins, what an incredible way to turn leftovers into an elegant appetizer or main on salad. Thank you
Becky says
Simple & delicious. Everyone said they're the best salmon patties they've ever had.
Rita says
These were a hit! I always struggled with making salmon patties (not sticking together). These turned out great! TY
👏👏👏
Debbe says
This was easy to do and I was quite pleased with how it turned out. I did substitute Old Bay seasoning for the salt and next time I will try Panko for the breadcrumbs.
whitney spaulding says
These were fabulous. My friend just mailed me an air fryer as a surprise - how lucky am I. This was the first thing I have made. They came out crunchy and light. I paired with a simple arugula salad (olive oil, lemon, pepper & fresh parm) was a super quick and easy dinner. Can’t wait for my frozen left overs!
Dawn says
What is the recipe for the sauce shown in the photos?
Denise Bustard says
Hi Dawn! It's been awhile since I photographed these so I can't completely remember. It's either the lemon dill sauce from here: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/lemon-pepper-sheet-pan-salmon-prep-ahead/ or the tzatziki sauce from here: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/tzatziki-sauce/
Kimberly Jackson says
I can't wait to try this recipe. Both my fiancée and I are looking for the meals we love with less fat and grease. This fits perfectly.
su says
really enjoyed the salmon patties. Will make again and again!
Denise Bustard says
I'm so happy to hear this! Thanks for reporting back 🙂
Becky says
I’m making these tonight!
I have 3 5 oz cans of salmon. Will I need to add more of the other ingredients, or will it be fine to use the amounts in the recipe?
Maybe make them heaping when I measure?
I’m excited to try these!
Denise Bustard says
Hi Becky, thanks for your patience with my reply. You should be fine, but if you find the flavors lacking, you could try to add a touch more of the add ins next time?