Seafood cakes, whether that means salmon patties, crab cakes, or fish cakes built around potato and salmon together, are one of those categories that's more versatile than people give them credit for, because they work just as well as a weeknight dinner as they do as an appetizer or a showstopping surf-and-turf plate. This roundup brings together 14 recipes that cover the full range, from old-fashioned comfort-food versions to air fryer and Ninja Foodi adaptations, a harissa-spiked twist, and crispy crab cake bites inspired by a restaurant classic.
Jump to:
- What makes these recipes special?
- Top Tips
- Low Carb Salmon Patties ~ Ninja Foodi Recipe
- Crispy Crab Cake Bites Recipe (Cheesecake Factory Copycat)
- Air Fryer Salmon Patties
- Crab Cake Filet Mignon
- Salmon Patties (Easy Recipe & Tips)
- Old Fashioned Salmon Patties Recipe
- Harissa Salmon Patties
- Easy, Step by Step Potato and Salmon Fish Cakes (Salmon Patties)
- Crab Cakes Recipe with Creamy Crab Cake Sauce
- Best Skillet Fried Salmon Patties (Easy Recipe)
- Quick and Easy Salmon Patties
- Old Fashioned Salmon Patties Recipe
- Baked Salmon Patties + Tutorial
- Salmon Patties
- Comments
What keeps this format so consistently appealing is that the base technique, mixing seafood with a binder and pan-frying or baking the results, translates across so many different flavor profiles and protein choices without requiring much in the way of special equipment or advanced cooking skills. Salmon patties in particular show up here in a range of forms, from a quick and easy version when you need something fast, to an old-fashioned style that leans into classic comfort food, to a potato-based fish cake version that gives the patty a heartier, more substantial texture.
Crab cakes have their spot too, with Crab Cake Filet Mignon making a surf-and-turf statement that goes well beyond the usual appetizer format, and the Crispy Crab Cake Bites inspired by the Cheesecake Factory menu making a case for the smaller, snackable approach. If you want something with a bit more kick, Harissa Salmon Patties brings a spiced-up variation that takes the standard patty in a noticeably different direction without asking much more of you in the process.
What makes the recipes in this roundup special?
- The recipes were created by a real person—not generated by AI.
- The photos show the actual recipe, made and photographed in real life.
- The blog is run by a human being—not an AI avatar or bot-run site.
- The recipe is original and created by the blogger—not purchased or republished content.
- All recipes in this roundup have earned a star rating of 4 stars or higher from readers or reviewers.
Top Tips
- Chill the mixture before shaping. Refrigerating your patty or cake mixture for at least 30 minutes before forming them helps the cakes hold together during cooking and reduces the chance they fall apart in the pan. This is especially important with wetter mixtures.
- Don't skip draining canned salmon or crab thoroughly. Excess moisture is one of the main reasons seafood cakes crumble or turn soggy. Press the fish in a strainer or paper towels before mixing to help the binder do its job properly.
- Handle patties gently and flip only once. Every time you move a patty in the pan you risk it breaking apart before the crust has set. Let each side cook undisturbed until it releases naturally from the pan surface before flipping, and use a wide spatula for support.
- A hot pan with a thin layer of oil produces better crust than a cool one. Adding patties to a pan that isn't fully preheated leads to steaming rather than searing, which gives you a soft exterior instead of the golden crust that makes these recipes worth making. Medium-high heat and patience before the first patty goes in makes a real difference.
- For baked versions, a rack on the baking sheet helps. Elevating the patties off the sheet pan allows hot air to circulate underneath, which prevents the bottom from sitting in its own released moisture and gives the exterior a better texture all around.
Low Carb Salmon Patties ~ Ninja Foodi Recipe
Low-carb salmon patties in the Ninja Foodi make a leaner spin on a comfort food classic that skips the carbs without skipping the satisfaction. This is an easy, yet delicious version for anyone watching their carbohydrate intake.
Photo credit: The Salted Pepper
Crispy Crab Cake Bites Recipe (Cheesecake Factory Copycat)
Copycat versions of the Cheesecake Factory crab cake bites bring a restaurant appetizer staple into your own kitchen in crispy, bite-sized form. A fun, smaller take on crab cakes that works well for sharing.
Photo credit: The Slow Roasted Italian
Air Fryer Salmon Patties
Air fryer salmon patties cut down on the mess and oil of the stovetop version while still producing a crisped-up exterior. A practical adaptation for anyone who prefers the air fryer over a pan.
Photo credit: Recipes From A Pantry
Crab Cake Filet Mignon
Crab cake served alongside filet mignon turns the usual appetizer into a full surf-and-turf dinner that makes a strong impression. A pairing that puts two standout proteins on the same plate.
Photo credit: Cooking With Curls
Salmon Patties (Easy Recipe & Tips)
An easy salmon patty recipe packaged with practical tips for getting the best results from the process. A solid reference for anyone new to the format or looking to refine their technique.
Photo credit: Delicious Meets Healthy
Old Fashioned Salmon Patties Recipe
Old-fashioned salmon patties lean into the classic, straightforward version of the dish that doesn't try to reinvent anything. A comfort food recipe that holds up for exactly the reason it's been made for generations.
Photo credit: Crinkled Cookbook
Harissa Salmon Patties
Harissa brings bold, spiced heat to salmon patties that pushes the format well past its comfort-food baseline. A version for when the standard patty feels too familiar and something with more kick sounds right.
Photo credit: Kitchen Gone Rogue
Easy, Step by Step Potato and Salmon Fish Cakes (Salmon Patties)
Potato and salmon fish cakes make for a heartier patty than the salmon-only versions in this list, with the potato adding body and texture that changes the whole character of the dish. Step-by-step guidance makes the process straightforward even if you haven't made fish cakes before.
Photo credit: Christina's Cucina
Crab Cakes Recipe with Creamy Crab Cake Sauce
Crab cakes with a creamy sauce built right into the recipe means you don't have to figure out separately what to serve alongside them. A complete preparation where the cakes and their sauce are developed together.
Photo credit: Chili Pepper Madness
Best Skillet Fried Salmon Patties (Easy Recipe)
Skillet frying gives salmon patties a well-crisped exterior that the oven and air fryer versions approach differently, and this recipe focuses entirely on that stovetop method. An easy take on the classic pan-fried format.
Photo credit: Dizzy Busy And Hungry
Quick and Easy Salmon Patties
Quick and easy puts the focus on getting salmon patties on the table without making the process longer than it needs to be. A no-fuss version that keeps the weeknight dinner angle front and center.
Photo credit: CopyKat Recipes
Old Fashioned Salmon Patties Recipe
Another take on the old-fashioned salmon patty brings a familiar, timeless approach to a dish that doesn't need updating to be worth making. A classic weeknight version that delivers reliable comfort food results.
Photo credit: The Cookin Chicks
Baked Salmon Patties + Tutorial
Baked salmon patties skip the stovetop entirely and the tutorial format walks through the process in detail so nothing gets left to guesswork. A hands-off method that delivers solid results with less active cooking.
Photo credit: Recipes From A Pantry
Salmon Patties
Salmon patties in their simplest form, without a method or angle in the title getting in the way of just making a good patty. A clean, uncomplicated version that stands on its own without any added framing.
Photo credit: Good Dinner Mom
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