These Southwestern salmon cakes are Whole30, Paleo, and Keto approved! No shortcuts here! We make our salmon patties from fresh wild-caught salmon served with roasted green chili aioli!
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Salmon patties are a great addition to your Whole30 rotation. Salmon is packed full of Omega 3's, making this a healthy dinner option.
We serve these low-carb patties with the best salmon cake sauce. Roasted green chili aioli!
Southwestern salmon cakes make for the perfect lunch meal prep throughout the week. If you are wondering what meal prep container I use, check these containers out.
In my opinion, the best salmon for salmon cakes is always fresh salmon. You can still use canned salmon, but it's not as good as fresh.
Our salmon patties are gluten-free. This recipe is made with almond flour instead of bread crumbs.
If you are looking for another delicious way to cook salmon check out our Keto Oven Baked Salmon. It's a quick and easy recipe during the week. If you are in the mood for a hearty meal this Easy One-Pot Salmon Stew is what you are looking for.
For a breakfast option, place my air fryer poached eggs on top.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- So easy to meal prep. Serve with a mixed green salad for a grab-and-go lunch.
- Whole30, Keto, Paleo, Gluten-Free, and low carb.
- An air fryer is a quick and easy way to cook these salmon cakes. Another salmon recipe to try is our Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon.
Ingredients
You can use canned salmon, but for the best results, we recommend wild-caught sockeye salmon.
Ingredient Notes
- Almond flour - is used in place of breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free
- Mayo - we recommend avocado oil mayo or make your paleo mayo
- Salmon - wild-caught salmon is the best look at that color
- Spices - a mixture of salt, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and garlic powder
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make southwestern salmon patties
Making Whole30 Salmon Cakes is so easy, here's how to make it:
Step 1: Bake salmon in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Step 2: Broil chilies for 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and wrap with plastic wrap. Peel and deseed the chilies.
Step 3: In a food processor, blend mayo, chilies, garlic, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro.
Step 4: In a large bowl, combine cooked salmon and the rest of the ingredients.
Step 5: Use a ⅓ dry measuring cup to form salmon patties. Place onto a parchment-lined baking tray.
Step 6: Bake salmon cakes in a 425°F oven for 20 minutes, flipping at the halfway point.
Substitutions + Swaps
- Salmon - If you are looking for a time saver and can't find fresh salmon, canned salmon works in a pinch.
- Eggs - Flour, almond flour, and flax eggs are eggless binders.
- Spices - This recipe has a southwestern flair, but you can change up the herbs and spices. Parsley, dill, and lemon is a great variation.
- Sauce - Lemon dill aioli, roasted red pepper aioli, or a cajun tartar sauce would be amazing.
How do you cook salmon patties?
There are different methods for cooking your salmon patties, here are a few:
Option 1: Baked salmon patties
- Preheat oven to 425°
- Place salmon patties on a parchment-lined baking tray.
- Bake for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and turn the salmon cakes over.
- Bake for another 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
Option 2: Air fryer salmon patties
- Spray your air fryer basket with avocado oil so the patties won't stick.
- Preheat the air fryer to 425°F and cook salmon cakes for 15 minutes.
Option 3: Pan-Seared Salmon Patties
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add 2 tablespoons of avocado oil and sear salmon patties for 5 minutes per side.
Equipment
- Food processor
- Baking Tray
- Air fryer
Storage
Place salmon cakes in glass airtight containers and store them in the refrigerator for 4 days. To reheat, place in the microwave covered with a damp paper towel on 70% power for 3 minutes.
Freezer: Place cooked salmon cakes on a small baking tray and flash freeze for a couple of hours. Transfer into zip lock bags for 2 months.
Chef Tips
- Salmon cakes are perfect for meal prep. They reheat great and pair well with salads and veggies.
- Chuck your salmon trimmings, and end cuts into the freezer for salmon patties.
- Salmon should be cooled down to room temperature before mixing. Hot salmon will scramble the eggs.
- Use canned salmon to make easy salmon cakes.
- If using fresh salmon, make sure to remove pin bones. These are the tweezers I use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Salmon patties freeze very well. I love doing this for an easy dinner at night when I don't feel like cooking.
Salmon is packed full of omega 3's making this a healthy recipe. We swap out almond flour for breadcrumbs making this a healthier recipe.
This recipe is Keto and Whole30 friendly. The combination of mayo, eggs, and salmon offers a lot of healthy fats.
Yes, gluten-free flour works as a binder. Almond flour is the best swap for breadcrumbs because it has a similar texture.
More Whole30 Recipes...
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📖 Recipe
Whole30 Southwestern Salmon Cakes
Equipment
Ingredients
Salmon Cakes
- 1 pound fresh salmon or 4 6-ounce cans of salmon
- 1 whole red bell pepper roasted
- ½ red onion diced
- 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- ¼ cup Mayo
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup almond flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin ground
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
Salmon Cakes
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place salmon onto a parchment-lined baking tray. Brush salmon with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature is 145 degrees.
- When salmon has cooled down to room temperature, break it apart in your hands and transfer it to a large bowl.
- Using a ⅓ measuring cup, scoop the mixture to shape 8 equal-sized salmon cakes. Place onto a parchment-lined baking tray.
- In a 425-degree oven, bake salmon cakes for 10 minutes, then flip and bake for another 10 minutes.
- Serve these salmon cakes with the Green Chili Aioli.
Green Chili Aioli
- Place chilies on a foil-lined baking tray and place them under the broiler. Cook until the chilies are shared and soft. Place chilies in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow the chilies to steam for 15 minutes. Peel, seed, and dice the chilies.
- In a food processor combine chilies, mayo, garlic, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro. Blend until smooth.
Notes
Mike's Tips
- Salmon cakes are perfect for meal prep. They reheat great and pair well with salads and veggies.
- Chuck your salmon trimmings and end cuts into the freezer for salmon patties.
- Salmon should be cooled to room temperature before mixing. Hot salmon will scramble the eggs.
- Swap 4 6-ounce cans of canned salmon for fresh salmon.
- If using fresh salmon, make sure to remove pin bones. These are the tweezers I use.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 390 °. Spray the basket with oil, then add salmon patties into the basket. Spray the tops of the salmon patties for better browning.
- Cook for a total of 10 minutes. Keep in mind that all air fryers cook differently.
Nutrition
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Cinda Goodner says
This recipe sounds so delicious and easy. Can't wait to try it!
Brenda says
I made these salmon patties tonight and they were delicious! I used 12 oz. Of canned pink salmon. I guesstimated on amount. Might be helpful to add amount of canned salmon to the recipe. I used my air fryer. The recipe wasn't clear on what temp. to set airfryer at. The highest temp. on my Corsori is 400 degrees. First batch was at 400 degrees for 15 min. The cakes were a bit over browned but still good. Next batch was better, I reduced cook time to 13 min. Recipe update on temp for air fryer would be helpful. These salmon cakes have super flavor and the aioli was amazing. We loved them. Thanks for a great dish.
mikecleavenger says
Hi Brenda,
I am so glad that you enjoyed these salmon cakes! I have updated my recipe card to specify the amount of canned salmon to use. I included air fryer cooking instructions in the recipe card as well. My Instant Pot has an Air Fryer attachment and I cook the Salmon Patties for 10 minutes at 390°F. Stay tuned for more great recipes!
mikecleavenger says
One of my favorite Whole30 and Keto recipes. It's so easy to meal prep for healthy lunches all week long. I also love to freeze these salmon patties for an easy dinner on nights I don't feel like cooking.