How to Cook Delicious Salmon Croquettes in an Air Fryer

These Air Fryer Salmon Patties are a great way to use up canned or leftover salmon and make something tasty.

Salmon croquettes are a classic and delicious way to enjoy salmon. Traditionally fried, salmon croquettes can be greasy and unhealthy. However, by making them in an air fryer, you can eliminate the oil while keeping all the flavor. Air fryer salmon croquettes are easy to make, delicious, and much healthier than deep fried versions. In this article, I’ll explain how to cook salmon croquettes in an air fryer for perfect results every time.

Benefits of Cooking Salmon Croquettes in an Air Fryer

Using an air fryer to make salmon croquettes has many advantages

Oil-free cooking. Air frying eliminates the need for submerging food in oil like deep frying. This removes a significant amount of fat and calories from the dish
Crispy texture without greasiness. The hot air moves around the croquettes and makes the outside perfectly crispy without making them greasy.
Quick cook time. Salmon croquettes cook fast in an air fryer usually 10 minutes or less. This makes them a quick and easy meal solution.
Consistent results. The controlled heat of the air fryer ensures your salmon croquettes turn out crispy and cooked through each time. No more dry or underdone batches!
Healthier than frying. Air-fried salmon croquettes have a lot less fat and calories than deep-fried ones because they don’t use as much oil.
Easy cleanup. Without dealing with a vat of oil, cleanup is a breeze after air frying.

How to Make Salmon Croquettes in an Air Fryer

Making salmon croquettes in an air fryer is simple. Follow these steps for perfectly cooked croquettes every time:

Ingredients

1 lb salmon fillet or 2 (6 oz) cans salmon, drained and flaked
3⁄4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1⁄2 cup diced onion
1⁄3 cup mayonnaise
1 large egg, beaten
Juice of 1⁄2 lemon
1 tsp dried dill or 2 Tbsp fresh dill
1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil or oil spray for the air fryer basket

Instructions

If using fresh salmon, cook the salmon fillets until just opaque and flake the fish into bite-sized pieces. Drain canned salmon.
In a medium bowl, combine the flaked salmon, panko, onion, mayonnaise, egg, lemon juice, dill, Old Bay seasoning, salt and pepper. Mix well until fully combined.
Form the salmon mixture into patties, about 1⁄4 cup each. Place patties on a parchment lined plate and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes. This helps them hold their shape better.
Lightly oil or spray the air fryer basket to prevent sticking.
Working in batches if needed, place salmon patties in air fryer basket without overcrowding. Air fry at 400°F for 5-6 minutes.
Carefully flip patties and air fry 5-6 minutes more until golden brown and cooked through.
Serve salmon croquettes warm with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, or remoulade sauce.

Tips

Use fresh wild salmon for the best flavor, but canned salmon works too.
Chilling the patties before air frying prevents them from falling apart.
Don’t overfill the air fryer basket. Air flow is crucial for even cooking.
Adjust cook times as needed based on size of croquettes and your air fryer model.
Try breading croquettes in panko before air frying for extra crunch.
Salmon croquettes are delicious in sandwiches, tacos, over salads, and with fresh veggies.

Alternative Cooking Methods

While air frying is the quickest and healthiest way to make salmon croquettes, you can also cook them using:

Baking: Place breaded patties on a greased baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes per side.
Grilling: Oil the grill grates well and grill over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side. Brush with oil to prevent sticking.
Sautéing: Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook patties 2-3 minutes per side until browned and cooked through.
Shallow Frying: Heat 1⁄4 inch oil in skillet over medium heat. Fry patties 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

No matter which cooking method you use, salmon croquettes are a tasty way to enjoy healthy salmon. The air fryer produces the crispiest, oil-free results in record time. I’m sure after making them once in your air fryer, you’ll never go back to deep frying salmon croquettes again!

how to cook salmon croquettes in air fryer

How to Serve Salmon Patties

Put salmon cakes and extra vegetables like cherry tomatoes and avocado on top of mixed greens or romaine lettuce in a salad.
Bowls: Serve them over rice with roasted or steamed vegetables.
To make sliders, put them between two potato buns and cover them with remoulade sauce.
This is what you should eat with the salmon patties for dinner: Parmesan asparagus fries, quinoa salad with kale and cranberries, or garlic butter mushrooms.

How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Patties

Begin by getting the air fryer ready. Put some parchment paper or oil spray in the basket of the air fryer.
In a medium bowl, mix the eggs, onion, dill, mayo, mustard, and Old Bay together. Mix in the salmon and panko. It will stay together better if you freeze it for 10 minutes. If it’s still too wet, add one more tablespoon of panko.
Air fry: Make six cakes out of the fish and put them in the air fryer basket. Air fry the salmon patties at 400°F for eight to ten minutes, turning them over once, until they are golden brown.
Don’t have an air fryer? If you’d rather bake them, follow the steps for my Baked Salmon Cakes.

Air Fryer Salmon Patties

FAQ

What temperature should I set my air fryer for salmon?

Line your air fryer with foil and air fry at 400°F for 5 to 7 minutes (no need to flip). Don’t overcrowd the basket — if needed cooked the salmon in batches.

Does salmon need to be flipped in the air fryer?

“You don’t have to flip the salmon, which you do in most other cooking techniques because it does cook so quickly.” Depending on the thickness of your fillet, air fryer salmon only takes about 10 minutes to cook, landing itself a spot on the easy weeknight dinners list.

How do you keep salmon croquettes from falling apart?

The trick to making salmon croquettes that don’t fall apart is making sure they have ingredients to bind them together. In this recipe, egg and flour keep them together. They are still a bit fragile but if you handle with care, they will cook up perfectly.

What temperature should salmon patties be cooked to?

When the salmon burger reaches 145 degrees F, it is done. – If you don’t have a thermometer, check that your burger is lightly crisp on the outside and that the meat inside is pink and flaky. It should not still look raw.

How do you cook salmon croquettes in an air fryer?

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper and spray with avocado oil. Working in batches if needed, place salmon croquettes into the prepared basket and spray the tops with avocado oil. Cook in the preheated air fryer until croquettes are golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

How do you cook salmon patties in an air fryer?

Combine. In a large bowl, combine the salmon, egg, bread crumbs, cornmeal, scallion, dillweed, and salt and black pepper to taste. Gently mix until well-combined. Form into 4 patties. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Lightly mist both sides of the patties with cooking spray. Cook. Arrange the patties in the air fryer basket.

How long do you air Fry salmon?

Form the salmon mixture into 8 equal-sized patties. Spray the basket of the air fryer with cooking oil to prevent the patties from sticking. Air fry at 380F for 4 minutes, flip the salmon patties over and spray the tops with more avocado oil cooking spray. Air fry for another 4-5 minutes, until golden and crispy. Go AD FREE!

Can you make croquettes in an air fryer?

Croquettes can come in rolls or even balls. However you choose to make them, they’re delicious and are great in the air fryer! Combine. In a large bowl, combine the salmon, egg, bread crumbs, cornmeal, scallion, dillweed, and salt and black pepper to taste. Gently mix until well-combined. Form into 4 patties.