These Pan-Fried Salmon Balls are crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside, making them a delicious way to enjoy canned or fresh salmon. Perfect as a quick appetizer, lunch, or weeknight dinner, they come together with pantry staples and fry up in minutes. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce or over a fresh salad.
Cut the salmon into large chunks, then pulse in a food processor until finely chopped. Don’t over-process—you want texture, not paste.
Transfer salmon to a bowl. Add breadcrumbs, mayo, shallots, garlic, parsley, capers, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until combined.
Add a bit more breadcrumbs or chill briefly if the mixture feels too wet to firm it up.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to help the mixture hold its shape.
Shape into 1.5-inch balls—you should get about 20 to 24.
Heat butter and oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once hot and bubbling, add salmon balls in batches.
Fry, turning every few minutes, until golden all around and cooked through (125–130°F inside), about 6–8 minutes total.
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
To make the pan sauce:
Melt butter in a small skillet, then stir in olive oil.
Remove from heat and add parsley, capers, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes.
Stir and drizzle over the salmon balls before serving.
Notes
Chef Jenn's Tips
Fresh salmon is key. Canned salmon is too moist and needs adjustments.
Don’t skip chilling. It helps the mixture firm up and keeps the balls intact during frying.
Prep ahead by forming the balls and storing them (uncooked) in the fridge up to 24 hours.
Add dill or smoked paprika for a flavor boost.
Use medium heat so the outside doesn’t brown too quickly before the center is cooked.
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.