Keto Salmon Patties
These keto salmon patties are a quick and easy dinner made with canned salmon! Ready in just 5 minutes, they are flavorful, juicy, and crispy on the outside!
Quick and easy keto dinners are my favorite.
Sure, I love something more elaborate and fancy, but when I need dinner on the table in ten minutes, I have a few standbys.
If I’m not making chicken parmesan or low carb tacos, I use a can of salmon and turn it into salmon patties.
Is canned salmon keto?
Provided the salmon is packed in oil, water, or brine, it is a fantastic keto friendly protein. It has zero carbs and moderate amounts of fat. Flavored salmon often contains added sugar and sauces.
Why this keto salmon cakes recipe will be a dinnertime favorite-
- Ready in 5 minutes. From prep to plate, these patties take just five minutes to cook. You can make it while someone sets the dinner table.
- Affordable. Canned salmon is much cheaper than fresh salmon and when used in patties, tastes just as good.
- Almost zero carbs. By swapping out bread crumbs for a keto alternative, these have virtually no carbs!
What I love about this recipe is how it NEVER tastes fishy. Canned fish has an unfair stigma to have a fishy odour or flavor but not this one- It tastes delicious that even non-seafood fans would love it!
How to make keto salmon patties
The Ingredients.
- Canned salmon– Use a good quality salmon packed in springwater or brine, NOT oil or flavored oils.
- Salt and pepper– To taste.
- Bread crumb substitute– I like using keto bread crumbs, but you can also blend up some toasted keto bread. If you don’t have either on hand, use almond flour.
- Eggs– room temperature eggs.
- Mayonnaise– Skip the sugar-laden store bought kind and make your own keto mayonnaise.
- Worcestershire sauce– Adds a lovely flavor and works so well with salmon.
- Parsley– Adds some greens and a lovely robust flavor.
The Instructions.
Make the salmon cakes mixture: Mix the salmon, salt, pepper, and keto bread crumbs. Adds the remaining ingredients and mix well until combined.
Shape the patties: Using lightly wet hands, shape the mixture into equal sized patties.
Cook and serve: Add oil or butter to a non-stick pan and place it over medium heat. Once hot, cook the patties for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway through. Once cooked, serve immediately.
Can I use cooked salmon?
If you’d like to use cooked salmon, make some air fryer salmon (or baked salmon) and let it cool to room temperature. Once cool. flake it with two forks and use in place of canned salmon.
How do you keep salmon patties from falling apart?
Adding a flour (like coconut or almond) or keto bread crumbs prevents the patties from falling apart. They soak up excess moisture, while keeping the patties juicy (never dry!).
Do you put egg in salmon patties?
Eggs help bind the patties and give them structure. If you’d like to make these without eggs, try an egg substitute.
Tips to make the best recipe
- Ensure you drain your salmon very well, to ensure that the mixture won’t be soggy.
- Do not use flavored can salmon or salmon in oil(s). This will affect the overall flavor and texture.
- Do not over-fry the patties or else you risk them drying out. Once they are golden around the edges and firm to touch, they are ready to eat!
- Change up the flavors for some fun. Add some curry powder, taco seasoning, or Cajun seasoning.
Storing, freezing, and reheating tips
- To store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to five days.
- To freeze: Place the cooked and cooled salmon patties in a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer for up to six months.
- Reheating: Microwave the patties for 10-20 seconds or reheat in the pan until warm and crispy around the sides.
What goes best with salmon patties?
Serve salmon patties with vegetable side dishes, like a spinach salad or coleslaw. If you are watching your carbs, try one of these keto side dishes.
Our favorite way is as a sandwich or wrap. Toast slices of keto bread or wrap everything up in a keto tortilla.
More salmon recipes to try
Frequently Asked Questions
There is just 1 gram of net carbs in each of these homemade salmon patties.
Yes, enjoy salmon patties as part of a weight loss diet. They are packed with protein and healthy fats, two key nutrients that keep you satisfied and full.
There is no need to remove bones from canned salmon. The bones are brittle and can be consumed. Having some bones in the patties will make no difference.
Keto Salmon Patties (Salmon cakes)
Ingredients
- 15 oz canned salmon in water or oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup keto bread crumbs or almond flour
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add the salmon, garlic salt and pepper and mix well. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until a thick batter remains.
- Form the mixture into 12 equal sized patties.
- Add oil in a non-stick pan. When hot, add the patties and cook for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway through. Repeat the process until all the patties are cooked.
- Serve immediately.
Ah, to have fresh seafood every day! Ah-may-zing. Buying salmon is really expensive here in Malaysia too- not wild. Canned is expensive as well, because it’s imported. I do splurge on a big piece every week though for one of our dinners- because it’s too good (health wise and taste wise!) not to have in a weekly rotation.
I love this idea- I’ve never made salmon patties before, but I imagine the curry powder is a great addition! I’ll pin so I remember to try when I’m back in the States in Dec. (and to remember to pack my bags with canned salmon, lol!).
So glad that you treat yourself once a week on it 😉
YES- The curry powder really provides delicious flavours! (That would be a very interesting suitcase haha!)
i loveeee the idea of these patties!
So good! Hope you try it out!
Hurrah! Thanks for this recipe. It is definitely right up my alley. I am already a fan of your tuna patties so I’ve no doubt I’ll be happily chomping on these too. I eat canned tuna a lot, like almost everyday. Mercury be damned. It’s just so easy and versatile and delicious.
I do love salmon. I am from Seattle, after all. However, the best fish I ever ate was halibut cheeks. I only had them once. They were at a specialty food store and I hope to have them again. Phenomenal! Even my father, who is no fan of seafood, was impressed. Salmon is always pricey, even more so as we get into the winter months. I have purchased canned salmon on a couple of occasions (costs two or three times that of a can of tuna) and had to force myself to gag it down. (I hate wasting food.) However, I bet your recipe will solve the problem and then I can enjoy salmon year round. Happy Omega 3 dance! 🙂
YES! Let’s both enjoy our mercury poisoning together! Try finding canned salmon without the bones- they are ones which are great to start with!
When I was younger aka prevegan I was alllll over canned tuna. I would eat it with Wheat Thin crackers like nobodies business. That sounds really good right now actually…
…..Imagine if I could convert you out of veganism.
These look awesome! We don’t eat a lot of canned fish because we have a fish monger on speed dial. The A Team liked canned tuna. And our family’s favorite fish is salmon so you really need to come visit!
YES! I get so envious when I see salmon on your menus! I’ll be eating it as much as I can when I’m there!
A thousand “yums!” I love cooking with canned salmon. I tend to use breadcrumbs (eeks) but will try your version for sure! Thanks for another great recipe.
Ohhh nothing wrong with breadcrumbs Liz haha! My recipe adaption used breadcrumbs! 🙂
We LOVE salmon over here! This salmon patty recipe looks great~ I love all that spinach in there!
Thanks Kelly- a way to sneak in a tonne of greens!
i so wish you lived in the states so i could send you sizzlefish! you’d make an awesome addition to their recipe team! just sayin… MOVE HERE! hehe
I wish I did too 🙁 Lettuce know if sizzlefish want to hire an international kid :p
As much as I want to, if I brought cans of salmon into my dorm, I would probably be evicted.
Salmon is definitely my number one fish, and I love fish in patty/cake form! I want theseeeeeee.
LOL do it! And blame your room mate!
I love when you sneak veggies into things. This makes me want your Sweet Potato and Cheddar pancakes, with all their hidden veggie goodness (cauliflower, spinach, sweet potato, cheese…mmm, cheese). You have a knack for veggies my friend, even if you insist on non-veggifying them.
Ohhhhh buddy. I have a legit Meg-dedicated recipe coming up soon (I hope). It has four veggies hidden, cheese and all things… Meg.
These look awesome! Definitely pinning for later. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks, Chelsea- hope you enjoy it 🙂
I use both fresh or canned salmon. Your recipe sounds great #recipeoftheweek
Thank you! Hope you try it out, Claire!
I have wild caught canned salmon in my pantry and have been looking for a recipe…This recipe sounds perfect. Thank you! Do you think these would freeze well for later use? As in uncooked patties, freeze them and then cook as and when we want? My first time here …love it 🙂
Hi Sandhya! Thanks for stopping by! To be honest, I think they’d be best for you to cook then freeze- That’s what I do when I make a big batch. Freezing them prior would create too much moisture!
These look amazing…so amazing I might actually open a tin of salmon….
You had better 😉 Thanks Michelle! 🙂