Name: Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 42 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces fresh salmon (cooked and flaked); ½ cup panko breadcrumbs; ¼ cup all-purpose flour; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 1 large egg (lightly beaten); ¼ cup mayonnaise; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; ¼ cup chopped cilantro; ½ green bell pepper (finely chopped); ½ red bell pepper (finely chopped); 2–3 tablespoons avocado oil (or vegetable oil)

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Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes are one of those recipes I never expected to love as much as I do. Each patty gets beautifully golden and crisp in the air fryer with a tender, flaky inside packed with colorful bell peppers, fresh cilantro, and well-seasoned salmon. Wholesome, flavorful, and the kind of dinner you’ll keep coming back to.

Four air fryer salmon croquettes stacked on a white plate with a small bowl of creamy dipping sauce, garnished with herbs, with a pepper grinder, knife block, and a jar of fresh herbs in the background. — Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes. Photo Credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

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I make these for weeknight dinners, get-togethers and potlucks because they travel well and look great on a platter. I also love serving them as an appetizer when I have people over. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months and reheat straight from frozen in the air fryer.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

A tray of flaked salmon for air fryer salmon croquettes surrounded by prepped ingredients including diced green and red bell peppers, cilantro, flour, panko breadcrumbs, egg, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, avocado oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper on a light countertop. — Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes Ingredients. Photo Credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

How to Make Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes with Step-By-Step Instructions

Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.

These Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes are everything you love about classic salmon patties and salmon cakes, but made lighter and crispier in the air fryer. Whether you’re working with freshly cooked salmon or leftover salmon, the results are golden brown, tender, and packed with flavor.

Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, flour, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Add a pinch of Old Bay seasoning or bay seasoning to the dry mix, along with the garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, for an extra layer of savory flavor.

Stir everything together so the seasoning is evenly distributed throughout the dry mixture before you add anything else.

Prepare the Salmon Mixture

In a separate bowl, add your flaked cooked salmon, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, chopped cilantro, finely chopped green and red bell peppers, and the lightly beaten egg. I like using a large mixing bowl, which makes this step a lot easier to handle.

A squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a little lemon zest stirred into the salmon mixture brightens everything up. Pink salmon works great here if that’s what you have on hand.

You can also swap the cilantro for fresh parsley if that’s your personal preference. Mix everything together until it’s well combined, and the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Combine and Chill

Gently fold the salmon mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined. If you prefer bread crumbs over panko, they work just as well here.

Salmon croquette mixture with flaked salmon, diced red and green bell peppers, and fresh herbs in a white ceramic dish with a spoon. — Fold the salmon mixture into the dry ingredients, then chill until firm.

If the mixture feels too soft to shape, add a little more breadcrumbs a tablespoon at a time. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes to let the mixture firm up.

Don’t skip this step since the chill time makes a real difference in how well the croquettes hold their shape.

Preheat Your Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). I always use an oven thermometer to confirm my compact air fryer is actually reaching the right temperature before I start cooking.

Giving it a few minutes to fully heat up before you add the croquettes helps them crisp right away. If your model came with an air fryer tray instead of a basket, arrange the croquettes in a single layer on the prepared tray or basket.

Shape and Oil the Croquettes

Once the mixture is chilled, shape it into patties or balls of roughly even size. Olive oil spray, olive oil cooking spray, or vegetable oil spray all work here in place of avocado oil.

Six uncooked salmon croquette patties with red and green bell peppers and herbs arranged on a wooden cutting board, ready for the air fryer. — Shape the mixture into patties or balls, then lightly coat with oil.

You can also use a light drizzle of olive oil or cooking oil if you don’t have a spray on hand. An oil spray bottle gives you much better coverage than pouring oil directly.

Air Fry Until Golden

Place salmon croquettes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown on the outside and heated through.

Five uncooked salmon croquette patties arranged in a single layer on parchment paper in a black air fryer basket, ready to cook. — Place croquettes in a single layer in the air fryer without overcrowding.

Five golden-brown air fryer salmon croquettes with diced red and green bell peppers, arranged on perforated parchment paper inside a black air fryer basket. — Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and heated through.

Serve and Enjoy

Serve the croquettes warm with tartar sauce, lemon aioli, or spicy sriracha mayo on the side for dipping. Enjoy!

If you’re taking these to a potluck or gathering, an insulated casserole carrier keeps them warm and protected during transport.

Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes

Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes are my go-to when I want a wholesome, flavorful dinner that comes together fast. Each patty is golden and crispy on the outside, tender and flaky inside, and packed with colorful bell peppers, fresh cilantro, and well-seasoned salmon all the way through. The air fryer gets them perfectly crisp without the mess of pan frying. I make them for weeknight dinners and meal prep because they reheat beautifully and pair well with almost anything. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

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Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 12

Chill Time: 20

Total Time: 42

Course: Main Course

Keyword: Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes

Servings:

Calories: 269kcal

Author: Mandy Applegate

Ingredients

16 ounces fresh salmon cooked and flaked
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 large egg lightly beaten
¼ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup chopped cilantro
½ green bell pepper finely chopped
½ red bell pepper finely chopped
2–3 tablespoons avocado oil or vegetable oil

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
½ cup panko breadcrumbs, ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
In a separate bowl, combine flaked salmon, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, cilantro, chopped bell peppers, and egg. Mix until well combined.
16 ounces fresh salmon, 1 large egg, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup chopped cilantro, ½ green bell pepper, ½ red bell pepper
Gently fold the salmon mixture into the dry ingredients. If the mixture feels too soft, add a little more breadcrumbs. Cover and chill for 15–20 minutes to help it firm up.
Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
Shape chilled mixture into patties or balls and lightly spray with oil.
2–3 tablespoons avocado oil
Arrange in a single layer in the basket (do not overcrowd).
Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and heated through.
Enjoy warm with tartar sauce, lemon aioli, or spicy sriracha mayo.

Notes

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up from making these Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes more times than I can count.

Use freshly cooked salmon: Flaked salmon gives the best texture and flavor. Canned salmon can work in a pinch, but fresh really makes a difference in the final result.
Chop the peppers finely: The finer you chop the bell peppers, the better the mixture holds together. Large chunks can cause the croquettes to fall apart when shaping or flipping.
Don’t skip the chill time: Refrigerating the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes before shaping is key to getting croquettes that hold their form in the air fryer. If the mixture still feels too soft after chilling, add breadcrumbs one tablespoon at a time.
Spray evenly with oil: A light, even coat of avocado oil or vegetable oil on each croquette is what gives you that golden, crispy exterior. Make sure you spray all sides before placing them in the basket.
Don’t overcrowd the basket: Cook the croquettes in a single layer, leaving space between each so the hot air can circulate properly. Overcrowding leads to steaming instead of crisping, and you’ll lose that crunch.
Flash-freeze for easy storage: If you’re freezing a batch, place the cooled croquettes on a flat baking sheet and freeze for about an hour before transferring to a freezer bag or container. This keeps them from sticking together and makes it easy to grab just a few at a time.

Nutrition

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How to Store Leftovers

Let the croquettes cool completely before storing, then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. A good set of airtight glass containers keeps food fresh without absorbing fridge odors.

Leftover salmon croquettes reheat beautifully in the air fryer at 375°F for 3 to 4 minutes until they’re golden brown and crispy again. To freeze, arrange the cooled croquettes in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for about an hour, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag.

They keep well for up to 2 months. Reheat straight from frozen in the air fryer at 375°F for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

What to Serve With Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes

A simple green salad with a light lemon vinaigrette is one of my favorite things to serve alongside these croquettes, as the brightness cuts through the richness of the salmon. Roasted asparagus or steamed broccoli also pairs really well, keeping the meal feeling fresh and balanced. Lemon wedges on the side let everyone add a hit of fresh lemon juice right before eating.

For dipping, tartar sauce is the classic go-to, but remoulade sauce, lemon aioli, hot sauce, a dollop of sour cream, and spicy sriracha mayo all work beautifully here. If you’re serving these as an appetizer at a gathering, setting out a few sauce options at once gives guests choices and makes the spread feel a little more fun and interactive.

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About the Author

A woman with long brown hair is smiling and standing with her arms crossed. She is wearing a sleeveless, black and white diamond-patterned dress.

Hey there! I’m Mandy

Mandy Applegate is a home cook, food blogger, and writer who believes the best meals are the ones shared with the people you love.

She’s all about easy recipes that taste amazing, the kind that make ordinary days feel a little more special and remind you why cooking at home matters.

She has been published on NBC, the Daily News, the Boston Herald, and the Chicago Sun-Times, amongst many others.

Air Fryer Salmon Croquettes

Ingredients You’ll Need