Air Fryer Salmon Patties (Low Carb)

A delicious and easy air fryer salmon patties recipe in 20 minutes! Using pork rinds instead of bread crumbs for the crust results in a crispy outside and tender inside. Make ahead and freeze for later. Air Fryer Salmon cakes are healthy - high protein, gluten-free, low carb, and keto-friendly.

You'll Love Air Fryer Salmon Patties

Quick and Easy

Only 11 ingredients (including salt and pepper) and less than 15 minutes cook time in your air fryer, and you'll be enjoying these air fryer salmon patties.

No Oil No Mess

Making salmon cakes in an air fryer is a breeze - they are simple to make and easy to clean up (no oil to deal with).

Make Ahead Freezable

You can make air fryer salmon patties ahead of time and freeze for later. You can then cook the frozen salmon cakes in your air fryer when you are ready! Instructions for cooking frozen salmon patties in the air fryer are below.

Healthy

They're healthy! These low carb and keto salmon patties use crushed pork rinds instead of bread crumbs, making them very low carb - only 1.4 grams carbs!

What You'll Need

• Canned Salmon - canned cooked salmon is very convenient! Make sure to pick out any bones and skin if needed!
• Parmesan Cheese - Use the finely grated parmesan cheese.
• Mayonnaise - I used avocado oil mayonnaise but any favorite mayo will do.
• Egg -the binding ingredient in this recipe
• Fresh Chives - I used fresh in this recipe but you could substitute dried. You can also use finely chopped green onion. Rule of thumb for herbs: 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon dried
• Fresh Dill - fresh dill has a slightly better flavor than dried, but you can substitute dried dill.
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Kosher Salt or Sea Salt
• Ground Black Pepper
• Original Flavored Pork Rinds - I wanted a little more texture in this recipe so I used regular pork rinds and crushed them in a plastic bag. This gave me a variety of larger pieces and finely crushed - making the perfect crust! Feel free to use seasoned panko breadcrumbs if you are not following a low carb plan, or you can use pork panko that's already crushed.
• Olive Oil Cooking Spray - I use a good quality 100% extra virgin olive oil spray to coat the carb cakes evenly - it works like a charm! If you don't have spray, you can drizzle olive oil over the top.
• Optional - lemon wedges and Creamy Dill Dressing for serving with your patties

Substitutions and Variations

• Use crab meat in place of canned salmon.
• Add up to 2 tablespoons of finely chopped red bell pepper.
• Want a little more spice? You can add a few drops of hot sauce.
• Add 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard or lemon juice for a little more tang. Whether I add this depends on the brand of mayonnaise you use. Some mayo is tangy, so you don't need to add mustard or lemon juice. (I used Better Foods Avocado Oil Mayonnaise).
• Experiment with seasoning blends.
• Swap out different herbs. The dill is a key flavor in this recipe, so I don't recommend replacing it unless you don't like to dill it at all. Parsley makes a great substitute for chives if you prefer.

How To Air Fry Salmon Patties

Here's how to air fry salmon patties! You are going to love this recipe. 🙂

Crush The Pork Rinds

• Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees F for 5 minutes.
• Place 2 ounces of pork rinds in a plastic bag and crush using the backside of a bowl or a rolling pin until they are crushed.
• You can finely crush or leave some larger bits and pieces mixed in, which is my favorite way. You'll love the crunch they give to the salmon patties!
• Place pork rinds in a bowl.

Mix All Ingredients

• Tip: Be sure to remove any bones and skin from the salmon before making your patties.
• In a large bowl, mix the canned salmon, parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, egg, chives, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper together.

Make the Patties

• Divide mixture into fourths and firmly press together, forming 4 equal sized patties that are approximately 1" thick. (Be sure to firmly form the patties)
• Press each salmon cake into the bowl of pork rinds. Remove and then press the coating firmly into the patty. Repeat with the second side.

Air Fry

• Place the salmon patties in an air fryer basket and spray the tops with olive oil cooking spray.
• Air fry 5 minutes, turn the patties over, and spritz the other side with olive oil spray. Continue cooking an additional 5 minutes, or until golden brown and heated through.

• Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.