Croquetas de Salchichón Recipe: Spanish Sausage Croquettes 2026

Croquetas de salchichón are the kind of Spanish tapa that disappears from the plate before anyone has finished their first drink. A silky onion béchamel is enriched with small cubes of salchichón sausage, then chilled, shaped, breaded and fried until the shell cracks under your teeth.

The filling stays creamy and full of savory sausage flavor, while the panko coating delivers that unmistakable crunch. Serve them warm as an entrante or as part of a spread of tapas, and watch how quickly 20 croquettes vanish.

Making them at home is a patient but simple process: cook the béchamel, fold in the sausage, let the dough chill overnight, then shape and bread each croquette. The reward is a batch of golden, crunchy bites that taste far better than anything from a freezer bag.

Ingredients for Croquetas de Salchichón

Makes 4 servings (about 20 croquettes).

• 50 g butter
• 1 onion
• Salt
• 50 g wheat flour
• 500 ml whole milk
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Nutmeg
• 150 g salchichón
• 100 g wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• 150 g breadcrumbs or panko
• Mild olive oil for frying

How to Make Croquetas de Salchichón Step by Step

1. Sauté the onion in butter

Start by heating 50 g of butter in a skillet. Once it begins to melt, add 1 finely chopped onion and a pinch of salt. Cook the onion over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, until it turns golden.

2. Add the flour and toast it

Next, add 50 g of wheat flour and cook it with the onion for a couple of minutes so it toasts lightly, forming the roux. Stir constantly so the flour cooks evenly and does not burn.

3. Pour in the milk to make the béchamel

Slowly pour in 500 ml of hot milk, stirring constantly until it is fully incorporated. Once all the milk is in, cook the béchamel over low heat until it pulls away from the sides of the skillet.

4. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg

Adjust the salt, then add freshly ground black pepper and a little nutmeg. Stir well so the seasonings are evenly distributed through the béchamel.

5. Cut the salchichón

Cut the salchichón into small pieces so it blends into the béchamel without tearing the croquettes when you shape them. Keep the pieces roughly the same size for even distribution.

6. Add the salchichón to the béchamel and mix

Fold the chopped salchichón into the béchamel, making sure it is well mixed. The result is a savory filling with creamy béchamel and little bursts of sausage.

7. Chill the dough in the refrigerator

Pour the croquette dough into a wide container and refrigerate it for about 4 hours, though leaving it overnight covered with plastic wrap is preferable. The cold dough firms up and becomes much easier to shape.

8. Shape the croquettes and coat them in flour, egg and breadcrumbs

When the dough is cold, set up a bowl with 100 g of wheat flour, another with 2 beaten eggs, and a final bowl with 150 g of breadcrumbs or panko. Use a spoon to shape the croquettes, then pass them first through flour, then egg, and finally breadcrumbs.

9. Chill the breaded croquettes

Once the croquettes are formed, refrigerate them for 1 hour before frying. This brief rest helps the coating set so the croquettes hold together in the hot oil.

10. Fry the croquettes

Fry the croquettes in batches of 3 or 4, turning them as they cook so they brown evenly. Transfer the fried croquettes to paper towels to drain off excess oil.

11. Serve

Serve the croquettes immediately after frying, while they are still hot. The contrast between the crisp shell and the creamy sausage filling is at its best straight from the pan.

Tips for the Best Croquetas de Salchichón

Cook the béchamel until it pulls away

A thick béchamel is the key to croquettes that hold their shape. Keep stirring over low heat until the dough cleanly separates from the sides of the pan, then chill it thoroughly before shaping.

Chill at every stage

Cold dough is easier to shape, and chilling the breaded croquettes for an hour before frying helps the coating adhere. This prevents them from opening or leaking filling into the oil.

Fry in small batches

Frying 3 or 4 at a time keeps the oil temperature steady, so the croquettes turn evenly golden and crisp. Crowding the pan lowers the heat and makes them greasy.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to rotation that covers cozy comfort plates, well-known dishes from around the world, and sweets that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, my picks are usually this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

Tapas and Mediterranean cooking are a mood I return to often, and I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, these crackly Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This chilled Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also makes the table when I feel like something a bit more elevated.

Come lunch or a slow dinner at home, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When hunger runs bigger, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, golden Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also work nicely as a light starter or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a jug of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or ending with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of trying, tweaking, and remaking dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the ones that stick around are built on straightforward steps, methods you can trust, and serious flavor.

What follows is the set of recipes I keep circling back to—whether it's a fast plate just for me or a bigger spread for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something that feels fancy without much fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and uncomplicated, I'll usually reach for the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for heavier comfort plates, my usual picks are the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm just as happy sharing dishes with roots in other countries, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's own Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I use all the time, since it cuts down on effort while still giving you excellent results. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a baked pasta classic can still be creamy, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

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