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These keto salmon patties (sometimes called keto salmon cakes) make a wholesome and healthy seafood meal, without breaking the bank – or even a trip to the grocery store. If you need a recipe that makes do with what you have, low carb salmon patties are probably it. They are super quick to make (15 minutes, seriously!), because they’re made with canned salmon, meaning no need to cook the salmon separately. And, you need just 8 common pantry ingredients total, which you probably already have at home.
Serve this keto salmon patty recipe with a slice of lemon and an easy veggie side (and find more ideas for serving further down below). Perfect for a simple last-minute dinner, or even an appetizer.
What Are Salmon Patties?
Salmon patties are kind of like salmon burgers, with plenty of seasonings added, along with egg and breadcrumbs to hold it all together.
To keep the recipe keto friendly, we make a simple swap by making these low carb salmon patties with pork rinds. They are very similar to keto crab cakes.
Ingredients In Salmon Patties
This keto salmon cake recipe is made with just 8 pantry-staple ingredients:
- Yellow onion – Grating the onion is key, so that the low carb salmon patties don’t have big chunks of onion.
- Canned salmon – Can’t make the best salmon cake recipe without the salmon. 😉
- Eggs and mayonnaise – These act as a binder for the keto salmon patty recipe.
- Crushed pork rinds (these are my favorite!) – Instead of the typical breadcrumbs, we’re using pork rinds as a low carb alternative. You can also replace the pork rinds with almond flour if you like, though the texture is a bit different.
- Seasonings – Italian seasoning and smoked paprika add flavor to the salmon keto cakes.
- Olive oil – This is used to fry the low carb canned salmon patties.
Which canned salmon is best for salmon cakes?
Any canned salmon will work for this low carb salmon cake recipe, as long as it’s boneless, but I recommend wild caught for the nutritional value.
This canned wild Alaskan salmon is great quality, sustainable wild-caught, and affordable. Triple-win.
Is canned salmon already cooked?
Yes, canned salmon is already cooked. That’s one of the reasons this keto salmon patty recipe comes together so fast.
How To Make Salmon Patties
Making low carb salmon patties is super quick, with just a few easy steps:
- Grate onion. As I mentioned above, we’re grating the onion instead of dicing it so that there aren’t big onion chunks.
- Mix keto salmon cakes mixture. In a medium bowl, combine onion, salmon, egg, mayonnaise, Italian seasoning, salt, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Form low carb salmon patties. Using your hands, form mixture into 6 patties and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let mixture stiffen.
- Cook salmon patties. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and cook patties for 3-4 minutes per side.
How do you know when salmon patties are done?
Salmon patties are done when they are golden brown on both sides. As long as you have heat on medium, they will cook through inside by the time they are golden brown on the outside.
Are Salmon Patties Healthy?
Yes, this keto salmon patty recipe is very healthy! In addition to being a great source of omega-3 fatty acids (also known as healthy fats!), these salmon patties are a great source of protein and very low in carbs.
Are salmon patties low carb?
Traditional salmon patties contain bread crumbs, so they are not low carb.
But these salmon patties have just 1g net carb per patty! The full nutrition stats can be found below the recipe card.
How To Store & Reheat Keto Salmon Patties
Can you make salmon patties ahead?
Yes, you can definitely prepare salmon cakes up to 1-2 days in advance. Store the uncooked patties in the fridge until you’re ready to fry them.
How to store salmon cakes
Store these keto friendly salmon patties in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat in a hot skillet for best results.
Can salmon patties be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze this keto salmon patty recipe. Store in a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in a hot skillet, until heated through.
Tools To Make Low Carb Salmon Patties :
Click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- Folding Grater – This grater folds down on itself, which can save you major space in the kitchen.
- Hard Anodized Frying Pan – Your keto salmon cakes won’t stick to these pans! I use these in my kitchen almost daily.
How To Serve Keto Salmon Patties
Serving salmon patties doesn’t need anything fancy. Here are some basic ideas:
- Serve plain, over leaf lettuce. A lemon wedge, plus a side of sour cream or Greek yogurt goes nicely.
- Wrap patties in a lettuce wrap. Smear with some extra mayo or aioli inside.
- Make keto salmon sliders. I actually like to use keto dinner rolls. (I also have another burger bun recipe in my Easy Keto Cookbook.)
What goes with salmon patties?
I love serving this low carb salmon patty recipe with a slice of lemon and a low carb veggie side or salad. Here are a few ideas:
- Roasted Asparagus – With its bright flavors, it’s the perfect pairing.
- Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms – These mushrooms make a tasty side to keto salmon cakes.
- Cauliflower Potato Salad – An easy side dish to make ahead, great in the summer especially. If you have family members who aren’t low carb, make them regular potato salad.
- Whole Roasted Cauliflower – Let the cauliflower roast while you fry up the best salmon patty recipe!
- Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad– Fresh, vibrant, and so beautifully simple.
Reader Favorite Recipes
The recipe card is below! Readers also made these similar recipes after making this one.
RECIPE CARD
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Low Carb Keto Salmon Patties Recipe (Salmon Cakes)
Low carb keto salmon patties (a.k.a. salmon cakes) are ready in 15 minutes, with simple pantry ingredients. This keto salmon patty recipe is a budget-friendly way to enjoy healthy fish.
Recipe Video
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Instructions
Get RECIPE TIPS in the post above, nutrition info + recipe notes below!
Click on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except olive oil. Mix until just combined, but don't over mix.
Using your hands, form mixture into 6 (1/2-inch thick) patties and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Patties will feel wet and sticky. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add salmon patties to the skillet without touching each other, and cook for 3-4 minutes, until golden brown on the bottom. Flip patties and cook for another 3-4 minutes, until browned on the other side.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 salmon patty
Video Showing How To Make Salmon Patties:
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Nutrition Information Per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Net carb count excludes fiber, erythritol, and allulose, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. (Learn about net carbs here.) We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
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41 Comments
Linda
Tried this and loved it. This is easy and delish. Thanks for sharing.
Ruth Butcher
I made this recipe for 2 friends I was staying with and they both loved it so much they asked for the recipe. How encouraging is that. Thanks Maya. I also tried your meatloaf with pork
rinds and it was sooo good too. Something about pork rinds gives a very good flaovor.
emmyjoyful
I made these for lunch today. We found 2 cakes each to be plenty. I added some dehydrated swiss chard, and used more italian seasoning than the recipe asked for. I also used almond flour .. about 1.5 cups .. instead of pork rinds, as my husband doesn’t eat pork They were delicious. We had home-pickled green beans on the side as well as a fresh cranberry salad left from Christmas. I also used some (not hotdog style) hot mustard on my salmon cakes. They were delicious. Hubs had his beloved rice with it. I think next time I will try adding the pickled beans or pickled garlic or whatever pickle is open at the time, right into the patty mix and a bit of pickle juice .. maybe a tablespoon, if that, in this size recipe. A small amount of pickle juice really brightens a lot of recipes, giving it just that little extra zing. This is a nice recipe as is, and can handle some personal touches as well.
Janet Henry
I found that the crispier you get them, the better they taste! Will definitely make them again.
Jill Madigan
I’m sorry that you made no comment on the difference between the flavor of canned pink salmon (‘fishy’ tasting) and more tasty and pricey red sockeye salmon.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Jill, My recommendation is linked in the recipe card, but feel free to use the salmon you prefer in the recipe.
peggy belasco
They were bland and tastless!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Peggy, I am sorry this recipe didn’t suit your taste. Feel free to experiment with the seasonings if you wish to try the recipe again, or maybe pre-seasoned pork rinds.
Karen
I loved this recipe! The only change I made was substituting 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning for the salt. The pork rinds give a hint of balcony flavor. So good!
cindy
Can the patties be baked in the oven?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Cindy, Baking these in the oven won’t get the crispy exterior. These salmon patties are best pan-fried.
Tina Pederson
I have never liked Salmon, but this recipe changed my mind. Love these patties so did hubby will be making these over and over again they are so good
Kathryn Pierce
This recipe is so good and easy to make. I would give it 10 stars if I could. The only problem is it takes all my will power not to eat them all up. Thank You
Beth
I somehow ended up with a lot of canned salmon so I asked a question on the Wholesome Yum Facebook page for ideas to use the canned salmon up. I had several really good suggestions, of which was to use this recipe for salmon patties. I am so glad I did! This was such an easy recipe, using ingredients that I had in my pantry. And the best part is that it was over the top delicious! In fact, we ate them before I was able to get a picture of the amazingly good salmon patty. The best part is that my husband really liked them too and said he would definitely eat them again so I knew this was a home run! I will definitely be making these again! Thank you Maya!
Susan
Finally,
DION
Delicious! Easy!
Ashley
Hi! I just noticed it does not say when to add the pork rinds? Do they go in the mix or on the outside? Thanks! Your recipes are great and so helpful! Thank you!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Ashley, The crushed pork rinds are added to the mix at the beginning of the recipe. Enjoy!
payme
It’s in the recipe card .. the first item says to put everything in a bowl except the olive oil and mix. You are right, in the pre-amble instructions closer to the beginning, pork rind instructions are omitted.
Ginger
Thank you for the recipe. I was looking for a replacement for cracker crumbs and that will work nicely. I was surprised that you specified no bones. Why? The bones add no carbs. I have cans of salmon with bones and the labels show zero carbs.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Ginger, The bones don’t affect the carb count, but it can change the consistency of the mixture if they aren’t soft enough. Feel free to use what you have on hand, but my preference is boneless.
Cindy
Love this recipe, very easy and tastes much more high end.
emmyjoyful
I just mash the bones in with the salmon and they pretty much disappear. Sometimes I eat them before mashing. Never discard the bones. They are excellent calcium.
Wendy
Hi, at the end you drizzle something on the top of the patties, I assume it’s lemon juice? If not, could you elaborate. These are DELISH!! 😉 Thanks –
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Wendy, Yes, it’s lemon juice! Enjoy.
Maribel W.
These were delicious, my kids devour them. The only thing that I would change is the salt. The pork rinds are salty enough in my opinion. Definitely a keeper! Thank you for a great recipe!
Jannine
The Salmon Cakes recipe in the video uses Avocado Oil and the recipe reads Olive Oil. Which is recommended?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Jannine, Either will work great. Use whichever you prefer the flavor of.
Tami
Can I air fry these?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Tami, I have not tested this, but I think they could be air fried. They would not brown as much. Please let us know if you decide to try it!
Cheryl Dabney
I made these for Breakfast for my family! They had grits as well. They enjoyed them a lot and was surprised that I used pork rinds instead of flour. Full disclosure: the ones I made for my family, I put a dusting of cornmeal on them before I fried them to get the crispy crunch they like. For their 4 patties, I used about a tablespoon cornmeal total to dust the patties; for my two l left as is. Very good recipe
Audrey
Do you have a sub for pork rinds?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Audrey, You can use 1 cup of almond flour in place of the pork rinds.
Catherine
Was looking forward to this recipe for dinner. Sadly I can’t have pork. I’m going to try another filler like nutritional yeast and parmesan with small amount of almond flour.
Kevin Hall
I love pork rinds but do they not make these a little salty ?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Kevin, I don’t think so, but if you are sensitive to salt then please feel free to scale the amount back the amount.
Jen
No one in my house will ever say NO to pork rinds. Wholesome yum for the win (again!).
Alison
YES, PLEASE. Love salmon cakes and especially now-at-days having to get crafty with pantry items. These look so moist and delish!
Marlynn
These are so flavorful, and I love that we can make them in advance!
Abigail Raines
So perfect for our Fish Friday menu! Love that in minutes I have a tasty and delicious dish!
Anita
These are so good, especially with the addition of pork rinds. I don’t always have pork rinds at home, but I’m guessing crispy bacon should be able to do replace pork rinds.