Easy Ritz Cracker Salmon Patties

Ok, y’all, I just discovered these easy Ritz Cracker Salmon Patties for kids, and I don’t know how I’ve made it through 5 years of motherhood without them!

My sister-in-law introduced me to these super simple salmon cakes, and my kids gobbled them right up. (Huge shout out to my SIL, Amy, and her mom Debbie who gave me the bones and tips for this recipe!)

Now when I tell my kids we’re having salmon patties for dinner, they actually get EXCITED.

And then they actually eat their dinner.

I know, it’s wild. WILD.

It makes sense, I guess – they’ll easily eat a sleeve of Ritz Crackers in one sitting any day of the week, so I shouldn’t be surprised that they’d love them when mixed up with canned salmon and eggs.

And of course, *I* love how healthy and full of good brain-growing fats salmon is, so if a sleeve of Ritz Crackers is what it takes to get them to eat it up happily and willingly, then I’m here for it.

How to Make Ritz Cracker Salmon Patties

This salmon recipe is really so, so easy. It only requires five basic ingredients, which you probably already have in your pantry.

The only ingredient you may not have is the canned salmon. If you have a Costco membership, I highly recommend their Kirkland Signature canned salmon, which comes in a pack of six, so it’s easy to always have some at-the-ready!

Start to finish, the whole thing takes less than 20 minutes, so you can get your kids from hangry to full in no-time flat.

Salmon Patty Ingredients

Like I said, BASIC ingredients, right?

• 1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers
• 2 cans of boneless, skinless salmon
• 1-2 eggs
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning (or your favorite seasoning blend – I often use Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute with delicious results!)
• 1/2 cup cornmeal

(I forgot the cornmeal in the pic… my bad!)

Steps to Make Salmon Patties

Again, this really couldn’t be simpler. I even made a quick video so you could see it in action:

1. Crush up the Ritz Crackers, and mix with the canned salmon (drained), 1 egg, and seasoning.
2. Form into small (2-to-3 inch round) patties and roll in cornmeal to coat.
3. If the mixture is too dry and crumbles when you try to form patties, add the other egg.
4. Heat 1 tbsp canola oil (just enough to coat the bottom of the pan) in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add salmon cakes in batches and pan-fry for 3-4 minutes per side.
5. Place on a paper towel-lined plate to cool, then enjoy!

Air Fryer Salmon Patties

Can you make salmon patties in the air fryer? Heck yes, you can!

You just mix everything up and roll the patties in cornmeal, and then place the salmon patties straight in the air fryer. Give them a little mist of oil over the top to help them brown. Set the air fryer to 375 for 8 minutes, flip halfway through, and voila!

I use the Instant Pot Air Fryer lid, so I just place my Ritz Cracker Salmon Patties in two layers using the divider tray, and they crisp up great.

Air Fryer vs. Pan Fried Salmon Patties

You can easily make salmon patties in the air fryer or in the pan, and truthfully, they both have pros and cons.

In the air fryer, you can get them all done at once, without babysitting them, and without the mess of splattering oil. However, they don’t get as nice and brown as they do in the pan – but they are still crisp!

In the pan, they get beautifully brown, and have that perfect fried texture to them. But they do take a smidge longer, since you have to batch cook them, and you’re pretty much tied to the stove while they’re cooking.

Here’s the side-by-side comparison – pan-fried salmon cakes on the left, air fryer salmon cakes on the right:

What Can You Serve Ritz Cracker Salmon Patties With?

Ritz Cracker Salmon Patties go well with, legit, anything. I’ve served them with frozen french fries, mashed potatoes, saffron rice, mac & cheese, any and all vegetables… these are so neutral and customizable that anything goes for sides!

How Do I Store Leftover Salmon Cakes?

Store leftover salmon cakes in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. They make for great, quick lunches in the microwave for my kids.

Let me know in the comments if y’all have more questions, and I’ll add them here.

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