Air Fryer Old Fashioned Salmon Patties

You can make these Old Fashioned salmon patties from fresh fillets right at home. Baked in the oven, air fried or cooked on the stove you’re going to love these as an appetizer or meal. If you have ever made our homemade crab cakes and fallen in love, you’re going to think these fish cakes are wonderful too.

Air Fryer Salmon Patties

There are a few different ways you could cook these. If you have made burgers or tuna patties you know that is the case with those too. In a patty you would initially think of the grill. If you want to cook outside you could certainly do that but I would use a bit of non stick foil or a griddle on the grate so it doesn’t stick and fall apart.

Set in a cast iron pan with a bit of olive oil does the trick too if you’d rather. This way you can get a bit of a crisp and sear on the outside. Want to know what our favorite method is though? Um these make a great air fryer recipe for beginners who want to eat more seafood. Not as delicate as a fillet but you get the same yum.

Ninja Foodi Salmon Patties

Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer? You can and should for these in certain baskets because they kinda’ fall apart without it. Don’t worry you can still get the crispy outsides you want because you’re going to flip them over. If you just put them directly into the basket, even with cooking spray, machines that have large holes in the bottom will kinda’ get stuck in those crevices. Use your judgement.

1. You are first going to cut the whole fillet into salmon bites
   • we cut the same size for salmon kabobs
2. Breadcrumbs
3. Dijon mustard
4. 1 egg
5. Dill
6. A pinch salt and pepper
7. 1 tbsp olive oil

You’ll want a large bowl to blend together the mixture after you have used a food processor to break down the fish into more of a paste texture. From here it is a bit like you were making meatloaf essentially. Needing a binder of some kind to absorb some of the moisture, seasonings and your main protein.

With a Foodi you could use the pressure cook function really but that wouldn’t be the desired outcome. It would in fact bring the insides to a safe temperature but they would be soft and a bit slimy on the outsides. Using the attached lid and air crisp button is what you want.

Baked Salmon Patties

If you want to bake salmon patties in the oven you should use a muffin tin for best results. Seriously, one of many great muffin tin recipes we love. Once you have your mixture formed you’re going to do the following steps to get them cooked to flaky moist perfection;

1. Add 1/3 cup of your blended salmon mixture into each muffin cups coated with cooking spray
2. Bake at 425 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160 F.

You could use a baking sheet with parchment on the bottom alternatively but they would break apart more than if it was contained in muffin holes. I use this pan a lot for more than just desserts. I have done this same thing when making meatloaf bites, mini pot pies, and I bake brownies in them more often than using an 8×8 square pan.

BUT below I am sharing our favorite cooking method of all, my AirWave or Cosori air fryer is the bomb for these y’all. You will get a tender middle that remains nice and moist while the outer rim, top and bottom will give you a bit of a crunch. Similar to frying in a pan but without the oil, added fat and all.

Fried Salmon Patties

If you want to pan fry salmon patties in a skillet you can, I would not deep fry these and they will definitely fall apart submerged in the oil and become a hot mess. Add olive oil into skillet over medium heat. Add patties and cook for 4-6 minutes on each side until browned and cooked thru to the middle.

• Put half of the sockeye salmon fillet (or your choice of type) in a blender or food processor and add mustard
• Pulse to combine the ingredients, and then transfer to a bowl.
• Put the remaining salmon in a blender and add the egg, chop and transfer to the same bowl.
• Add bread crumbs, chopped dill, salt and spices.
• Gently fold it all together.
• With wet hands form small round patties that are all the same size and thickness.
• If you are going to air fry you want to start off by preheating air fryer to 360 degrees F.
• Spray the air fryer basket with olive or vegetable oil and place salmon patties in the air fryer.
• Air Fry salmon cakes for 12 minutes cook time.
• The patties will be plump and fried on top.
• Turn them over to the other side and fry for another 5 minutes until golden brown.

Beyond that there are many ways to serve these babies. You may be enjoying these as an appetizer or side dish or a main course. In either case we really like some sort of creaminess on the top. For lower calories you can just squeeze some fresh lemon juice on there with diced green onions. A sauce is yummier though. 😉

Sauce for Salmon Patties

We have made this a few ways depending on what I have in my fridge honestly. My kids love them with fish bang bang sauce. Regular sour cream dollop out of the container is probably the fastest but a dill sauce is the bestest if you ask me.

1. 1/4 cup of sour cream
2. 1 teaspoon Dill weed, fresh diced fine is best but bottled / dried can be used
3. 1/4 teaspoon of Garlic powder
4. A pinch of Sea salt to taste

You can print the recipe card for our old fashioned salmon patties recipe below or just come back time and time again when you are ready to make them another time. If you do have leftovers they save quite well and can be reheated the next day, or within 48 hours or storing in the fridge. Keep in an airtight container or bag so they don’t dry out.

Then spoon just a tad of broth over the top and microwave for 1 minute to add a bit more moisture. Then add your sauce again on the top and have them two days in a row friends!