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A white plate piled with golden-brown salmon balls garnished with parsley and capers, served with lemon slices and a small bowl of green sauce.

Pan-Fried Salmon Balls

Chef Jenn
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.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 434 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds fresh salmon skinless and deboned
  • ¾ cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup shallots finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons parsley chopped
  • 1 tablespoon capers finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons oil

Lemon-butter pan sauce

  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 tablespoons parsley chopped
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes

Instructions
 

  • 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.
 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 4ballsCalories: 434kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 32gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 621mgPotassium: 824mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 535IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 2mg

A Note on Nutritional Information

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.

Keyword crispy salmon bites, easy salmon recipe, Pan-Fried Salmon Balls, salmon balls
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