Air Fryer Salmon Patties are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Made with canned salmon and packed with flavor. Kids love dipping them in their favorite sauce!
These Salmon Patties are quick, easy, and packed with SO much flavor. The combination of the panko breadcrumbs, Mexicorn, canned salmon, and spices makes this the best salmon patty recipe. Plus, the recipe comes together in just 20 minutes from start to finish.
This recipe uses the air fryer to get a nice crisp crust on the outside. We have really been loving air fryer recipes. If you’re looking for more you’ve gotta try our Air Fryer Drumsticks, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Thighs, and Air Fryer Chicken Legs.

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HOW TO MAKE
- Add salmon, Mexicorn, 1/2 cup panko, egg, greek yogurt, lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. seasoning salt, garlic powder, and onion powder to a medium-sized bowl. Stir well.
- In a medium-sized flat bowl, mix 1 cup panko with 1/2 tsp. seasoning salt.
- Scoop 1/4 cup of salmon mix and form into a patty.
- Place patty into the panko crumbs and coat well, gently squeezing the patty to get the panko to stick well. Let patties sit for 10 minutes.
- Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees.
- Spray tops of salmon patties with cooking spray and cook for 7 minutes.
- Flip the patties and spray again with cooking spray. Cook for 8 minutes or until nicely browned.
- Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce or serve on top of a salad

INGREDIENTS
- 14.75 oz. canned salmon, drained
- 1.5 cups panko, divided
- 7 oz. can Mexicorn, drained
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp. plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. seasoning salt, divided
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- non-stick cooking spray (such as avocado oil spray)


Add salmon, Mexicorn, 1/2 cup panko, egg, greek yogurt, lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. seasoning salt, garlic powder, and onion powder to a medium-sized bowl.
INGREDIENT SWAP: I use Mexicorn for added color and flavor. If you do not have Mexicorn in your pantry, swap with a can of corn.


Scoop 1/4 cup of salmon mix and form into a patty.
In a medium-sized flat bowl, mix 1 cup Panko with 1/2 tsp. seasoning salt.
Place patty into the Panko crumbs and coat well, gently squeezing the patty to get the Panko to stick well. Let patties sit for 10 minutes.
Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees.
Spray the top of each salmon patty with cooking spray. I use avocado cooking spray.


Flip the patties and spray again with cooking spray. Spraying both sides will help create an extra crispy salmon patty. Arrange the patties on the air fryer tray in a single layer. I usually can fit 6-8 patties.
PRO TIP: Place a slice of lemon under each patty to prevent the patties from sticking to your tray.
HOW LONG TO COOK
Cook for 8 minutes on each side or until nicely browned in the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Oven. Remember that each air fryer model will cook a little differently.
Since this recipe uses cooked canned salmon, focus on the color & texture of the cooked patty. Once it is browned to your liking, remove the air fryer tray from the oven.
Remember if using fresh/frozen salmon, the internal temperature of the salmon patties needs to be 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
TIPS & Tricks
- PREHEAT YOUR AIR FRYER: This allows for even cooking and ensures crispy salmon patties. If your air fryer does not have a preheat setting then let it run for 5 minutes before adding your patties.
- SPRAY WITH OIL: Spray the top of patties with a non-stick cooking spray. I prefer an avocado oil spray. You could take the extra step of brushing melted butter, canola oil or olive oil on the top of each chicken thigh before placing in the oven.
- MAKE THE SAME SIZE: Make each patty the same size to allow for even cooking and crisping.
- FLIP HALFWAY: Flip halfway through cooking. This allows both sides of the patties to become crispy.
- LAY PATTIES IN A SINGLE LAYER: Make sure you do not overcrowd your air fryer tray by stacking the salmon patties. This will cause uneven cooking and crispiness.
PRO TIP: When the salmon patties are done frying, I will place on a serving platter to let cool a bit before serving.
FAQ
Yes! If using frozen salmon, you will need to defrost first. Once defrosted, mince and add to a bowl with the other ingredients. Here’s How to Defrost Salmon.
Fresh salmon is definitely an option. If using fresh salmon, you will need to mince it. Remove the bones and skin, then mince using a knife. Do not use a food processor as this will make your fresh salmon too mushy.
PRO TIP: If using fresh or frozen salmon, the internal temperature of your salmon patties needs to reach 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to picking a side dish. Check out these tasty recipes that would pair well with salmon: Kale with Lemon & Garlic, Roasted Parmesan Green Beans, Roasted Tomatoes, or Zucchini Crisps.
Our salmon patties have 303 calories in 2 patties.
Salmon patties are so versatile. You could turn them into a salmon patty sandwich by placing them between slider buns or serve on top of a fresh salad. We love serving them with a dipping sauce, steamed vegetables, and a whole grain roll.
DIPPING SAUCES FOR SALMON PATTIES
There are so many different sauces that pair well with these crispy salmon patties. Here are a few homemade sauces to try: Lemon Dill Aioli Sauce, Creamy Mustard Sauce, Tartar Sauce, Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce
PRO TIP: Not a fan of dipping sauces? Add these air fried salmon patties to the top of a salad!

More seafood recipes
- Baked Cod Fish Tacos
- How To Make Tuna Sushi Rolls
- Canned Tuna Pasta Recipe
- Mexican Ceviche Recipe
- Gluten Free Salmon Cakes
- Homemade Lemon Vinegarette + Simple Tuna Salad
- Salmon Buddha Bowl
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Air Fryer Salmon Patties
Equipment
- non stick cooking spray
Ingredients
- 14.75 ounces canned salmon, drained ✅
- 1.5 cups gluten-free panko, divided
- 7 ounce can Mexicorn, drained ✅
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt, divided ✅
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder ✅
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder ✅
Instructions
- Combine the salmon patty ingredients. Add salmon, Mexicorn, 1/2 cup panko, egg, greek yogurt, lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. seasoning salt, garlic powder, and onion powder to a medium-sized bowl. Stir well.14.75 ounces canned salmon, drained, 1.5 cups gluten-free panko, divided, 7 ounce can Mexicorn, drained, 1 large egg, 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon seasoning salt, divided
- Combine the panko and salt. In a medium sized flat bowl, mix 1 cup panko with 1/2 tsp. seasoning salt.1.5 cups gluten-free panko, divided, 1 teaspoon seasoning salt, divided
- Form the patties and coat them with panko. Scoop 1/4 cup of salmon mix and form into a patty. Place patty into the panko crumbs and coat well, gently squeezing the patty to get the panko to stick well. Let patties sit for 10 minutes.
- ⭐️Cook. Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees. Spray tops of salmon patties with cooking spray and cook for 7 minutes. Flip the patties and spray again with cooking spray. Cook for 8 minutes or until nicely browned.
- Serve. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce or serve on top of a salad.
Notes
Nutrition
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Brittany says
Wow. These were delicious! I used the left overs on a salad. So good!
Terese Farkas says
Found this years ago on damn delicious website for teriyaki salmon with sriracha cream sauce, we double/triple the recipe for other dipping foods aka salmon patties/balls (party finger food idea), french fries and sandwiches spread etc Etc!! Multi purposed addictive sauce. Thx for the salmon Patty recipe. Love trying new ideas in my airfyer or instaPot. Go Kid!!