These Southern Salmon Cakes have a crispy exterior and a moist, flaky interior thanks to the combination of bread crumbs, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard. The addition of green onions and lemon juice gives these cakes a bright tangy flavor that pairs perfectly with Worcestershire sauce. Serve them as an appetizer or as part of the main dish alongside some fresh Greek salad.

Whether you call them salmon patties , salmon croquettes, or salmon cakes -the facts are simple , they are simply delicious. I went with the Salmon cakes name because my recipe has similar ingredients that you would find in a crab cake. These southern salmon cakes can be served with grits and eggs for a southern breakfast or with a meal prep next to a veggie and starch. I love making them with grits and topping them with my Tomato Scallion Cream Sauce …simply delicious!
What are Salmon Cakes?
A southern twist on the classic salmon patty, these cakes are made with flaked, cooked salmon mixed with breadcrumbs and other seasonings. Served as a main dish or as an appetizer, they’re sure to please any palate. These southern salmon cakes can be pan-fried, baked, or even grilled. I even made Air fryer Salmon Cakes with this recipe but I used fresh wild salmon.
Southern Style Salmon Cakes are great because :
- Delicious and easy to make.
- Can be part of breakfast, lunch, or afternoon snacks.
- They can be made ahead of time.
Ingredients list
- 1 can Salmon (14.75 ounces can), drained and bones removed
- 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons red bell pepper, minced
- 2 tablespoons green onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Louisiana hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon old bay
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
How to make Southern Salmon Cakes






- pour salmon into a medium bowl and make sure bones are removed and juice is drained
- Add the breadcrumbs, red pepper, green onion, mustard, mayonnaise, Worcestershire, hot sauce, lemon juice, egg, old bay, and parsley
- Stir to Combine ingredients and form them into small patties
- Heat 1/2 cup oil in a large skillet over medium heat
- Sauté for 2-4 minutes on each side or until cooked through
- Place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain the grease
- Serve and enjoy!
Recipes variation and add-ons
- Don’t have canned Salmon? Use fresh wild salmon instead. You will have to ground it using a food processor. Hack (cut your salmon into small cubes and put them in the freezer until they are firm then blend them in a blender if you don’t have a food processor.
- You can also swap the green onion with yellow onion then add green pepper and a little bit of chopped celery as well.
- You may also sauté your veggies before adding them to the patties mixture bowl.
- And for a more southern twist, swap out breadcrumbs for crushed Ritz crackers or cornbread crumbs.
- Don’t have salmon on hand? These cakes can also be made with canned tuna, just make sure to drain any excess liquid before mixing in with the other ingredients. The possibilities are endless!
Glam kitchen Pro Tips
- If you want to use real salmon versus can salmon, feel free to-make sure it’s cooked and not seasoned
- I shape my patties into smaller sizes to mimic an actual small crab cake
Got any leftovers?
Put them in an airtight container and they will stay in the fridge for up to 3days. To reheat you can put them into a microwave for 2-3 minutes. If you have an air fryer, it will do a pretty good job as well.
Meal prep guide
Prepare your southern salmon cakes as normal then place them on a baking sheet then put them in the freezer until they are frozen. You will then put them in a zip lock back then back into the freezer for up to 3 months just ready for you anytime.
You can also freeze cooked Salmon croquettes for up to 3 months, they reheat very well in the microwave and are perfect in the air fryer.
FAQ
While Worcestershire is my favorite, the tartar sauce is a classic option as well. For a dipping sauce try mixing equal parts avocado or Greek yogurt with hot sauce for a spicy twist. For something more traditional, mix mayonnaise with chopped dill pickles and lemon juice. Experiment to find your favorite combination!
It depends on the ingredients used in the recipe. To make them keto-friendly, be sure to use low-carb breadcrumbs or substitute with almond flour, and opt for a keto-friendly alternative mayonnaise or Greek yogurt.
As usual, enjoy and let me know how it turned out for you . I’m always just a DM or email away!

Southern Salmon Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 Can Salmon (14.75 ounce can) , drained and bones removed
- cup Plain breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoon Red bell pepper, minced
- 2 tablespoon Green onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Louisiana hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
- 1 Egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon Old bay
- 1 teaspoon Parsley
- ½ cup Vegetable oil
Instructions
- pour salmon into medium bowl and make sure bones are removed and juice is drained
- Add the breadcrumbs, red pepper, green onion, mustard, mayonnaise, Worcestershire, hot sauce, lemon juice, egg, old bay, and parsley
- Stir to Combine ingredients and form them into small patties
- Heat 1/2 cup oil in a large skillet over medium heat
- Sauté for 2-4 minutes each side or until cooked through
- Place on a paper towel lined plate to drain the grease
- Serve and enjoy!
Just delicious! I tried the recipe tonight. A Big hit!
That is awesome ! I’m glad you enjoyed it !
Looks delicious! What are the measurements for the seasonings? Thanks!
Hi, and thank you ! Seasoning is a personal preference so I don’t list measurements for it sorry
What are your thoughts on sides to accompany this dish?
For breakfast I would make them with grits and as a lunch or dinner dish you could do a green veggies with them
Another wonderful recipe with little fuss. I TRULY appreciate how you take “simple” meals to another level.
Thank you so much
I made these today….simply delicious!!!! I’m also trying several other dishes this weekend. 🥰
Yasssss I’m so happy to hear that !!!
Omg I made these last night and enjoy them so much it knocked me out and I was sleep early….
Yasssss❤️❤️
Just made these and they are soooooo good! Thank you for sharing! I’m so happy!
Thank you for supporting ! And I’m so happy to hear that
Wow! This was great! We had leftover grilled salmon so thats what I used. I didn’t have dijon so I substituted with stone ground. Layed them on a bed of lettuce and made a creamy dill mustard sauce along with pineapple salsa and it was to die for!
Yummy !!! Sounds amazing !
Delicious…. But I am not surprised!! Your recipes are always a hit in my house.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it !