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Southern Salmon Patties combine canned salmon, cajun seasoning, and cornmeal in this easy crispy Southern style salmon patty recipe.

Easy dinner recipe of southern salmon patties
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Why this recipe works:

This recipe is a spin on my classic salmon patties. I changed out a few of the ingredients, including adding some of my homemade cajun seasoning, to give them a subtle spicy flavor and a crispy cornmeal coating. If you are a salmon patty fan, you’ll love this variation of the recipe!

Crispy Southern Salmon Patties are the kind of easy dinner recipe that is perfect for a busy weeknight.

First of all, you might just find that you already have the ingredients needed to make Southern Salmon Patties on hand. I’ve taken to buying the boneless skinless canned salmon at Costco. This allows me to avoid having to pick the bones, skin, and dark flesh out. I never let my pantry run out.

stack of salmon patties cooked in cornmeal with lemon

How to make this recipe:

You’ll see how easy these pan fried salmon patties really are to make.

The first step is to saute up some diced onion in butter. It was one of my readers, in fact, who told me to saute them first. This would not only make them more mild in the finished salmon patty, but it would allow them to not burn when cooking the salmon patty in some hot oil. You’ll want to set those sauteed onions aside and let them cool a bit.

Next step is to combine all of the ingredients except the oil and the cornmeal, including the cooked onions, in a large bowl. You can use a wooden spoon but you’re going to have to get your hands dirty to form the salmon patties, so you might as well get them in there to do the final mixing.

Form this mixture into four patties, then coat both sides in the cornmeal.

Using the same pan you used to cook the onions, heat the oil to just below the smoking point and cook your Southern salmon patties until they’re nice and crispy, turning only once.

You can eat them hot for dinner or eat them cold on a salad the next day!

bite of salmon patties made with canned salmon

What to serve with Salmon Patties?

With my traditional salmon patty recipe, I almost always serve them with brown rice and a salad. For this Southern version, I like to break out my favorite Southern sides.

You can’t go wrong with a good mac and cheese recipe on the side. How about grits? I think I may have made grits only once or twice, but they’d be great with these cajun salmon patties. Anyone like collard greens? Those would be fantastic as well.

To be honest, salmon patties are pretty versitile and easy side dish recipes that would taste great with them aren’t difficult to find.

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Crispy Southern Salmon Patties

Prep10 minutes
Cook20 minutes
Total30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Southern Salmon Patties combine canned salmon, cajun seasoning, and cornmeal in this easy crispy Southern style salmon patty recipe. 

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 yellow onion minced
  • 1 T butter
  • 12 oz salmon 2-6oz boneless skinless cans, drained
  • 1 tsp cajun seasoning
  • 1 T lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup saltine crackers crushed
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 egg slightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup cornmeal
  • 2 T olive oil more or less, depends on size of pan
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Instructions 

  • In large saute pan over medium high heat, saute onions in butter until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • In large bowl, combine salmon, cajun seasoning, lemon juice, crushed saltines, salt, pepper, egg, and the cooked onions. Stir well to combine. Form into four patties.
  • Place cornmeal in shallow dish and coat each patty on both sides.
  • Using same pan you cooked the onions, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the salmon patties and cook until crisp on both sides, about 5-8 minutes each side. Serve hot or cold.

Nutrition

Calories: 345kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 21g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 95mg, Sodium: 460mg, Potassium: 543mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 465IU, Vitamin C: 2.5mg, Calcium: 19mg, Iron: 2mg

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

Did you make this? Leave me a comment below

Hi! I’m Krissy.

I love to create the BEST versions of your favorite recipes. If you love to cook, love to eat, or just have a deep appreciation for good food, you're in the right place! Stick around... I have hundreds of recipes for you to make.

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20 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this with fresh salmon and your Cajun seasoning recipe and they were terrific! I made them a lot smaller and served them with a Caesar Salad.

  2. Salmon patties (We called themselves salmon biscuits,growing up here in the south) I grew up eating them with southern baked beans,mac n cheese,soupy potatoes,and cornbread.Sooo good,and I carried on this same tradition with my 7 children.They all love this meal.’Yummy’ for the tummy!!!

    1. Dana how do you make soupy potatoes? Mom made this meal and I can not figure out how to make soupy potatoes. I love them,please!

  3. These sound like they might be a notch up from my Grandmother’s (sacrilege 😮 ) I can’t wait to try them on a sandwich with some ketchup and mustard, but your thoughts on pairing them alongside grits sounds awesome too!! : D