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Pink Owl Kitchen » Recipes » southern recipes » Easy Southern Salmon Croquettes

Easy Southern Salmon Croquettes

Published: Jan 19, 2023 · Modified: Oct 13, 2023 by Ashley Boyd · This post may contain affiliate links

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This is an old-fashioned soul food recipe for southern salmon croquettes that is easy to make and loaded with flavor. Salmon croquettes are a go-to dinner recipe in our home and they will quickly become a favorite in yours!

Southern salmon croquettes stacked on a wooden cutting board topped with sliced green onions.

Salmon croquettes are a staple in many southern homes, and my mama made them at least once a week for dinner when I was growing up. We would eat them with homemade buttermilk biscuits, white rice, and maple syrup most of the time and that is still one of my favorite meals today!

Canned pink salmon is combined with cornmeal, chopped veggies, and plenty of seasonings, making this recipe budget-friendly and easy. For more classic southern recipes, check out our Southern Soul Food Candied Yams, Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese, and Southern Green Beans recipes next!

Table of Contents
  • What Are Salmon Croquettes?
  • Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe
  • How To Make This Recipe
  • Variations and Substitutions
  • What To Serve With Salmon Croquettes
  • More FAQs
  • Make-Ahead and Storing Instructions
  • Recommended Tools For This Recipe
  • More Southern Recipes You Will Love!
  • 📖 Recipe

What Are Salmon Croquettes?

Salmon croquettes are a classic southern dish made with canned salmon, some type of breading – like cornmeal, flour, or breadcrumbs – and chopped veggies. The ingredients are shaped into patties and pan-fried until golden brown.

Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe

  • Cornmeal. To add texture, flavor, and structure. Cornmeal is a must-have ingredient for Southern-style salmon croquettes!
  • All-purpose flour. Also for structure.
  • Canned pink salmon. Be sure to remove the bones.
  • Red bell pepper. For freshness and texture.
  • Yellow onion. For delicious flavor.
  • Green onions. For a fresh, grassy flavor to balance the other flavors.
  • Egg. To bind the ingredients and keep the salmon croquettes from falling apart.
  • Worcestershire sauce. Adds delicious umami flavor and depth.
  • Salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, mustard powder, cracked black pepper, and cayenne pepper. To season the croquettes and bring out the flavors.
  • Vegetable or canola oil. For pan-frying the croquettes.
Southern salmon croquettes on a white plate with a silver fork.

How To Make This Recipe

  1. Heat the oil in a 10-inch cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add the cornmeal, flour, salmon, bell pepper, onion, green onions, egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, mustard powder, cayenne, and black pepper to a medium mixing bowl. Use a wooden spoon or gloved hands to mix all the ingredients together until well combined.
  3. Divide and shape the salmon mixture into 8 evenly sized patties with your hands. Place four patties into the hot oil and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown.
  4. Use a spatula to transfer the patties to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat the process with the remaining four croquettes. Serve the salmon croquettes immediately.
Step by step images for making southern salmon croquettes.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Feel free to use leftover or fresh cooked salmon instead of canned.
  • Feel free to try different veggies such as red onion, green or yellow bell pepper, carrots, or celery. Just make sure they are finely chopped.
  • You may use different herbs such as parsley or cilantro in place of the green onions.

What To Serve With Salmon Croquettes

Salmon croquettes can be served with many delicious southern side dishes to create a memorable down-home meal! Some of my favorites are:

  • Buttermilk Cornbread Muffins
  • Southern Collard Greens
  • Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
  • Creamy Southern Cheese Grits
  • Cajun Dirty Rice with Smoked Sausage
  • Creamy Southern Coleslaw
  • Fried Okra
  • Southern Fried Apples

Salmon croquettes also taste even more delicious when dipped in a tasty sauce like our Creamy Cajun Dipping Sauce, Mississippi Comeback Sauce, or New Orleans Remoulade Sauce!

Southern salmon croquette broken open on a white plate.

More FAQs

What is the difference between salmon croquettes and salmon patties?

Many people use the terms "salmon croquettes" and "salmon patties" interchangeably as there isn't much difference between the two. Salmon croquettes typically refer to the southern preparation of salmon patties made with canned salmon, cornmeal, egg, and veggies.

Salmon patties are typically made with fresh or leftover salmon, breadcrumbs, and veggies.

How do I keep salmon croquettes from falling apart?

The key to keeping salmon croquettes from falling apart is adding egg and enough binder (cornmeal and flour) to hold the patties together. If the patties fall apart when you are shaping them, try adding another egg or a couple of tablespoons of mayonnaise and reshaping the croquettes.

Is canned salmon cooked?

Yes, canned salmon is fully cooked! That is why these croquettes only need to cook for a few minutes per side.

Southern salmon croquettes stacked on a wooden cutting board topped with sliced green onions.

Make-Ahead and Storing Instructions

The salmon croquette mixture can be made up a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you are ready to shape and fry the croquettes. You can also shape the patties and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap until you are ready to fry them.

Leftover salmon croquettes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat salmon croquettes in the microwave but I recommend reheating them in a skillet to get a crispy crust!

Southern salmon croquettes on a white plate with a silver fork.

Recommended Tools For This Recipe

  • Mixing bowl
  • 10-inch cast iron skillet
  • Spatula
Southern salmon croquettes on a white plate with a silver fork.

More Southern Recipes You Will Love!

  • Southern Smothered Chicken
  • Southern Fried Catfish
  • Southern Homemade Chicken and Dumplings
  • Sweet Potato Cornbread
  • Sweet Potato Biscuits
  • Southern Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
  • Cajun Crawfish Etouffee
  • Chocolate Gravy
  • Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
  • Southern Pecan Pralines
  • Southern Buttermilk Pie
  • Peach Sweet Tea

📖 Recipe

Southern salmon croquettes stacked on a wooden cutting board topped with sliced green onions.

Southern Salmon Croquettes

Ashley Boyd
This is an old-fashioned soul food recipe for southern salmon croquettes that is easy to make and loaded with flavor. Salmon croquettes are a go-to dinner recipe in our home and they will quickly become a favorite in yours!
4.67 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prevent your screen from going dark
Servings 8 servings
Calories 175 kcal

Equipment

  • 10-inch cast iron skillet

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup yellow cornmeal
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1, 14.75 ounce can pink salmon - drained and bones removed
  • 1 small red bell pepper - seeded and finely chopped
  • ½ medium yellow onion - finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons green onions - finely chopped
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika - smoked or sweet
  • ½ teaspoon mustard powder
  • ¼ tespoon cayenne pepper
  • Cracked black pepper - to taste
  • ½ cup canola oil - or vegetable oil

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a 10-inch cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the cornmeal, flour, salmon, bell pepper, onion, green onions, egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, mustard powder, cayenne, and black pepper to a medium mixing bowl. Use a wooden spoon or gloved hands to mix all the ingredients together until well combined.
  • Divide and shape the salmon mixture into 8 evenly sized patties with your hands. Place four patties into the hot oil and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown.
  • Use a spatula to transfer the patties to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat the process with the remaining four croquettes. Serve the salmon croquettes immediately.

Notes

  • Leftover salmon croquettes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • You can reheat salmon croquettes in the microwave but I recommend reheating them in a skillet to get a crispy crust!

Nutrition

Serving: 1Patty | Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 12.5g | Protein: 13.5g | Fat: 7.8g | Saturated Fat: 1.8g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 359mg | Potassium: 286mg | Fiber: 1.4g | Sugar: 1.9g | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Tag @thepinkowlkitchen on Instagram! And don't forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and review!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shirkey

    May 06, 2025 at 2:10 am

    5 stars
    I love , love ,love this recipe the flavoring that you have brought out of a humble can of Salmon I use honey Boy Red Salmon more flavorful than the pink salmon. My mama made the best salmon croquettes. Ever and yours are just as good. I look forward to trying more of your delicious recipes. All the best to you❤️

    Reply
    • Ashley Boyd

      May 16, 2025 at 6:06 pm

      What a beautiful compliment! Thank you for trying the recipe and I'm honored to hear they taste as amazing as your mom's recipe!

      Reply
  2. Jessica

    June 19, 2023 at 10:51 pm

    I have a question. Does it matter what type of yellow cornmeal? Should I use regular yellow or jiffy mix?

    Reply
    • Ashley Boyd

      June 22, 2023 at 5:54 pm

      Hi Jessica. You want to use regular, plain yellow or white cornmeal. Jiffy mix has leavening agents and other ingredients added to it so it wouldn't be the best option for this recipe. Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Meg

    January 19, 2023 at 3:35 am

    5 stars
    This recipe is so easy and tastes incredible! These are just like the salmon croquettes my grandma made when I was young. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
    • Ashley Boyd

      January 19, 2023 at 3:36 am

      I'm so happy you love the recipe! Thank you for giving it a try!

      Reply
      • Mary Ellen

        April 30, 2024 at 7:42 pm

        should we drain the can of salmon?

        Reply
        • Ashley Boyd

          April 30, 2024 at 8:34 pm

          Yes, you should. This has been added to the recipe.

          Reply
4.67 from 6 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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I’m Ashley, the wife, mama, and heart behind Pink Owl Kitchen. Cooking brings me so much joy, and I love sharing the comforting Southern flavors that shaped my childhood. My hope is that each recipe fills your home with warmth, love, and the sweet presence of Jesus.

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