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Easy gluten-free salmon cakes that are full of flavor from Old Bay and dill, crispy on the outside with tasty bites of salmon with a creamy dill sauce. Dairy-free with a Paleo option.
Originally published April 2017, photos updated April 2018
Gluten-Free Salmon Cakes
I have been trying to find different ways to eat more salmon.
Salmon is so good for you because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are incredibly important for your body and brain. Fresh salmon (or even frozen), can be expensive especially for larger families like mine.
I decided I would create a recipe for gluten-free salmon cakes that I knew would help with my family’s food budget and be something everyone would enjoy. I also included an option for Paleo salmon cakes as well.
I tapped into my college days of living in Baltimore, Maryland and choose Old Bay as one of the main seasonings in the recipe. These gluten-free salmon cakes are so full of flavor from the Old Bay and dill.
They are crispy on the outside with tasty bites of flaked salmon.
How To Make Gluten-Free Salmon Cakes
These gluten-free salmon cakes are my easy go-to dinner meal when I want something fast and delicious. It only takes a few ingredients to make these delicious Old Bay salmon cakes.
They are easily whipped up and cooked in just 20 minutes. It takes only a few easy steps to make these gluten-free salmon cakes.
- Whisk the eggs with the dill and Old Bay seasoning in a medium-sized bowl. Add the drained salmon, gluten-free bread crumbs and sweet relish. Stir to fully combined.
- Start heating your oil in a large pan on medium/high. With your hands form patties and place on a plate.
- When the oil is hot, carefully place the salmon patties in the oil and fry on both sides until golden brown (3 or 4 minutes on each side).
Baked Versus Fried
These salmon cakes can also be baked for 10 minutes at 375° F. Make sure you turn them over after 5 minutes of baking so both sides will be golden brown.
I have also had a reader message me and let me know that they grilled the salmon cakes and they turned out perfect. I think that’s pretty awesome, but I have not tried it…yet.
I personally preferred the salmon cakes nice and crispy from being pan-fried.
Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Dill Sauce
I found an amazing dill sauce recipe from Taste of Home. I modified it a bit, and I only make it with the mayonnaise because my husband and I are dairy-free.
These gluten-free salmon cakes are a super easy meal to prepare and have become my husband’s favorite.
Looking for more easy dinner recipes? Take a look at these gluten-free dinner recipes.
Dill Sauce recipe adapted from Taste of Home.
Gluten-Free Salmon Cakes With Dill Sauce
Ingredients
Salmon Cakes:
- 1 cup vegetable or canola oil, , for frying (I like peanut oil the best for frying.)
- 2 cans of 5oz salmon
- 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon dill
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs, (I like 4C Crumbs Gluten-Free Plain)
- Paleo option: use 1 cup almond flour
- 2 tablespoons sweet relish, (optional, omit if Paleo)
Dill Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- Paleo option: use 1/2 cup Paleo Mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon dill
- 1 teaspoon horseradish sauce, (I use Silver Spring. If you don't have the sauce you can use 1/2 or 1/4 teaspoon of horseradish)
- Paleo option: 1/2-1/4 teaspoon horseradish
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
Instructions
Dill Sauce:
- Make this dill sauce first.
- Combine mayonnaise, dill, garlic salt, lemon, and horseradish sauce in a small bowl. Chill in the refrigerator while cooking salmon patties.
Salmon Cakes:
- Drain the canned salmon.
- In a bowl beat the two eggs, add the Old Bay, dill, bread crumbs and relish(optional). Mix until all ingredients are combined.
- Add the drained canned salmon and mix to combine the ingredients well.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium/high.
- Form 3-inch patties of salmon cakes 1-inch thick. You should yield 8 cakes.
- Pan Fried:
- Fry cakes until golden in a single layer 3 or 4 minutes on each side.
- Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Baked:
- Place the salmon patties on a parchment lined (or use cooking spray) baking sheet. Bake the salmon cakes for 10 minutes at 375° F. Make sure you turn them over after 5 minutes of baking so both sides will be golden brown.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These were Delicious. I didn’t have any gf bread crumbs so I used gf Panko instead. I loved the texture of it throughout the pattie Two thumbs up! 👍🏻 👍🏻 A must make again! 🤤
Is the dill fresh or dried?
Hi Dana, we used fresh, but if you only have dried, start with 1 teaspoon!
Thank you! I bought fresh dill but I had dried on hand just in case. I plan to try these this week. Could they be cooked in an air fryer?
We haven’t tried that, but it should work. I would recommend starting with 400°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Just made these for lunch. DELICIOUS!!! They taste better than the ones I used to make with whole wheat Ritz crackers (before going GF). Will be making these again very soon!
Made this tonight for dinner, was super easy to make and very tasty. I will definitely being making it again! My boyfriend is a meat and potatoes kind of guy and loved it just as much as me.
I’ve made this recipe twice. Delicious both times. I’m so excited to have another way to get healthy salmon into our diet!
So simple and delicious! And three out of three of my kids liked them! That’s unheard of.
Thank you so much for the wonderful 5-star recipe review. You just made my day! I totally understand how important it is to have all your kids like something (I have 4). I am so happy that everyone enjoyed the salmon cakes and the recipe was easy to mamke. Thank you again!