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Salmon Croquettes are pan-fried and packed with so many great flavors. These make a quick and easy weeknight meal and are delicious with a tartar sauce! 

Salmon is one of my favorite things to make. For some more easy salmon recipes, be sure to make this Garlic Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon, this delicious Sheet Pan Thai Salmon, or this easy Baked Sesame Teriyaki Salmon.

Salmon croquettes stacked on top of one another.

Salmon Croquette Recipe

Salmon lovers, this recipe is for you! If you don’t know what salmon croquettes are, you are in for a treat. This recipe uses canned salmon along with a host of delicious seasonings and ingredients that flavor the salmon to perfection. Once formed into patties, they are pan-fried in a skillet until golden brown.

Not only are these insanely delicious, but they make a great side to any meal or a quick, on-the-go meal if you are short on time. Don’t forget to dip them in some delicious Tartar Sauce! It really elevates these delicious croquettes, and the combined flavor is so delicious that you won’t be able to stop at one!

Ingredients in Salmon Croquettes

These ingredients are simple, and I bet that you can already find most of them in your pantry! This recipe uses classic ingredients to really grab hold of the delicious flavor of salmon and make it taste its best. Go ahead and check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all of the exact measurements.

  • Panko Bread Crumbs: The breadcrumbs help to form the perfect crust.
  • Flour: I used all-purpose flour in this recipe.
  • Bell Peppers: These are optional, but I love the added color, crunch, and flavor they bring to the croquettes.
  • Canned Salmon: Using canned salmon saves so much time!
  • Garlic Powder: This is so delicious with the salmon.
  • Salt and Pepper: These enhance all of the flavors in the recipe.
  • Egg: The egg binds all of the ingredients together making it easy to form patties.
  • Mayonnaise: This also helps bind the ingredients together and adds a creaminess to the base.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: This added flavor is out of this world!
  • Fresh Cilantro: If you aren’t a fan of cilantro (it seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it ingredient), then you can leave it out!
  • Vegetable Oil: I use the oil to cook the croquettes in the skillet. It helps them get that golden brown color.

How do You Make Salmon Croquettes?

  1. Combine Ingredients: Add panko and flour to a bowl and mix. Add bell peppers, canned salmon, garlic, salt, pepper, egg, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce and cilantro. Mix until incorporated.
  2. Form Patties: Shape into 6-8 patties and heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Cook: Add patties to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
A collage of the prepping process of the croquettes before and after  cooking.

Can I Bake Salmon Croquettes?

Yes! Place the croquettes on a baking sheet and cook them for 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping once halfway through. They are done when they are golden brown and an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Close up of Salmon Croquettes in a frying pan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few frequently asked questions about this salmon croquettes recipe!

  • Can I use fresh salmon instead of canned salmon in this recipe? Yes, you can substitute fresh salmon for canned salmon if you prefer. Just make sure that you cook and flake the fresh salmon before adding it to the mixture.
  • Can I use a different type of breadcrumb instead of Panko? Yes, you can use regular breadcrumbs or crushed crackers as a substitute for Panko if you don’t have it on hand!
  • How do I know when the croquettes are cooked through? The croquettes are done when they are golden brown on both sides and have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. I always like to use a meat thermometer to double-check the temperature.
  • Can I use a different type of oil for frying the croquettes? You can use vegetable oil, canola oil, or any other neutral-flavored oil to fry the croquettes.
Salmon Croquettes on a white plate with freshly slices lemons.

How to Store Leftovers

These salmon croquettes taste just as good (if not better) the next day. You can store leftovers or make them ahead of time so they are ready to heat up whenever you need them!

Make them ahead of time: You can make the croquettes ahead of time and refrigerate them for a day or two. When you are ready to eat them you can reheat them in the oven or on a skillet.

Sides to Go with Salmon Croquettes

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Easy Salmon Croquettes

4.91 from 32 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
Salmon Croquettes are pan fried and packed with so many great flavors. These make a quick and easy weeknight meal and are delicious with a tartar sauce!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
  • (3) 5 ounce cans salmon
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions 

  • Add panko and flour to a bowl and mix. Add bell peppers, canned salmon, garlic, salt, pepper, egg, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce and cilantro. Mix until incorporated.
  • Shape into 6-8 patties and heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add patties to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

Video

Notes

Originally Posted on October 8, 2018
Updated on September 28, 2023

Nutrition

Calories: 123kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 340mgPotassium: 100mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 446IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
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About Alyssa Rivers

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.

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80 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I tried this recipe last night and changed a few things.
    I added 1/2 cup of finely chopped onions(many other recipes have them) and swapped cilantro for dried parsley, less than 1/4 cup.
    I did not add the red or green peppers either as I did not have any and frankly thought they would be better without them.

    They were phenomenal. You are talking about testers who have eaten them for years and one since almost birth. Veteran salmon croquette eaters from the South.
    I almost burned them but that simply turned out to be more flavor. I mixed it and let it sit in the refrigerator for about an hour to hydrate and meld flavors first and made 4 large patties from this batch. And they did not taste fishy either, not sure what to attribute that to but my wife’s version always did, these did not.
    With the changes I outlined I will be making these regularly.

  2. 5 stars
    Followed recipe, put my spin on it with my additional seasonings and they came out perfect!!!! Thx so much will use this same recipe in the future and pass it along…

  3. 5 stars
    So delicious!! The cilantro really topped them off. I used 3 cans of tuna and a pack of smoked salmon. They were great cold too.

  4. 3 stars
    I followed recipe as written. Too much flour and bread crumbs. I could barely taste the salmon at all. The flour and bread crumbs killed the flavor. IF I were to make these again I would cut both those ingredients in half.

  5. 5 stars
    Love these. Love the peppers. Added chopped onion. Also added some heat: shaker peppers and cayenne pepper. Used df/gf “cheez” crackers for the bread crumbs so everyone in my fam could eat them. YUM

  6. What does “3 5 ounce canned salmon” mean? Is that 3.5 ounces? 3 5ounce cans? I tried 3.5 ounces, and there was way too much panko and flour. ???

    1. The recipe allows for adjustment based on the number of servings needed. I used a 14.5 oz. can of salmon & will probably still reduce the amount of panko & cornmeal. Otherwise it was still pretty tasty!

  7. 5 stars
    Made these tonight. They were delicious! And I don’t even like fish, including salmon. I just made them because my husband likes salmon and I know o need to since it’s good for you. I didn’t have red pepper so I just increased the green a little and also added a 1/4 c finely minced onion. I didn’t have cilantro, so I subbed about a 1/2 tsp or so of dried dill weed. I also served the croquettes with a delicious dill sauce from another site. I’ll be making again. Thank you!