Growing up, eating fish meant one thing – my dad was out of town on a business trip. He detested the smell of fish – I mean detested.
So as a treat when he was travelling, my mom would get us frozen fish sticks.
Aside from an occasional can of tuna, that was the extent of my exposure to seafood as a child. In other words, not much.
Salmon Recipe Kids Love
Thankfully I wasn’t a picky eater. And even though my exposure was pretty limited, I did enjoy the taste of fish!
Now as a mom of four, I not only love fish (though not all seafood – I’ll pass on the odd-textured varieties), but I also want my kids to enjoy it.
While we don’t eat seafood often because it’s hard to find good quality fish that isn’t super expensive, I do try to include salmon in our diet regularly.
In order to keep it within our budget, I typically opt for canned salmon. I enjoy the variety with the bones and skin because it adds a lot of nutrients. But my twelve-year-old gags on it. So I go for the boneless and skinless variety.
If you have a selective eater or a child with texture issues, I recommend boneless and skinless canned salmon. It’s very meaty with no odd textures.
Making Salmon Cakes in the Air Fryer
When it comes to cooking, simple is always my goal. So salmon salad is my go-to recipe for serving fish. That being said, hands down our favorite way to eat salmon is in the form of salmon cakes (or salmon patties). You should see my kids’ eyes light up when I tell them we’re having salmon cakes! But with a family of six it becomes a lengthy process. Only so many fit in the pan at a time! I have to make several batches for one meal.
My solution? Make salmon patties in the Air Fryer.
No standing at the stove for 30 minutes flipping and checking the salmon cakes. The Air Fryer does all the work!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Salmon Cakes
In my house there is only one thing that goes with salmon patties. Homemade tartar sauce is our favorite dipping sauce!
Thankfully it’s super easy to make. I usually have my eight-year-old take that task since she’s one of my best kitchen helpers who’s been learning to cook since she was two.
To make tartar sauce, simply mix together mayonnaise (homemade if you have it; otherwise opt for avocado oil mayo) and either pickle relish or cut up pickles.
Take note – most pickles and relish contain food dye! I’m not sure why pickles need to be yellow, but that’s how it is accomplished. We cut up homemade sweet and sour pickles – a great fine motor skill task for budding chefs!
If you’re really in a hurry, plain mayonnaise will work just fine for dipping. Or you can eat them plain!
Then add your favorite side dishes like homemade French fries or layered salad. If you have more than one Air Fryer, you can serve the salmon cakes with Air Fryer squash fries, Air Fryer sweet potato tots, or Air Fryer Brussels sprouts with bacon. So many good options.
How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Cakes
For some reason I always complicate salmon patties in my head. I tell myself they are a lot of work. But in reality, gluten-free salmon cakes are very easy to make. That’s even more true now that I make them in the Air Fryer.
The end result is a delicious salmon patty that holds together well, uses simple ingredients, and has a delicate, crispy crust.
My five-year-old was my taste tester for this project. His comment: “These are great! Can I have more?” Isn’t that what we all want to hear when serving nourishing food to our kids?!
Print
Gluten-Free Air Fryer Salmon Patties Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air fryer
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Our whole family loves this healthy air fryer recipe for dinner!
Ingredients
Salmon Mixture:
- 2 – 6 oz. cans of boneless skinless salmon
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 c. quick oats
- 1/4 c. avocado oil mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp. unrefined sea salt (Use the code kitchenstewardship for 15% off of your first purchase)
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. dried dillweed
- 1/4 tsp. celery salt
Coating:
- 1/2 c. sorghum or brown rice flour
- 1/4 tsp. unrefined sea salt
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1/4 tsp. dried dillweed
- 1/4 tsp. celery salt
Instructions
- In a medium-size bowl mix the salmon mixture ingredients until well-combined.
- In a small bowl mix the coating ingredients.
- Scoop 2-3 Tbsp. of the salmon mixture and roll into a ball.
- Roll the ball in the coating mixture until thoroughly covered. Gently flatten into a pattie.
- Repeat this process with the remaining mixture.
- Heat the Air Fryer to 375-degrees F with the insert. Allow to heat for 3 minutes.
- Remove the basket and place as many salmon patties that will fit on the insert.
- Insert the basket and cook for 5 minutes.
- Flip the salmon patties and cook for another 4 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish.
- Repeat until all of the salmon cakes are cooked.
- Serve immediately with tartar sauce, mayonnaise, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
You can easily scale this recipe for a larger batch. Each 6 oz. can of salmon makes about 6 salmon cakes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 patties
- Calories: 229
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 544mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 73mg
Air Fryer Fish Recipe
The Air Fryer makes cooking fish so easy. Plus it cuts the cost by eliminating the need for oil.
I also love that cooking salmon cakes in the Air Fryer helps keep the kitchen cool in the summer. No need to stand by a hot skillet for 30 minutes.
Air Fryer salmon patties also make great leftovers! Make a big batch and store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can reheat the leftovers right in the Air Fryer! It only takes about five minutes. That’s what I call a quick summer lunch. Add some fresh fruits and veggies and you’re all set.
Are you looking for gluten-free salmon cakes that taste great AND hold their shape without strange ingredients? You’ve found them!
