Looking for healthy, easy salmon recipes? As a chef, I am always amazed by salmon’s versatility in the kitchen. It can be pan-seared on the stovetop in minutes, slow-roasted in the oven, crisped in an air fryer, or grilled to perfection. Serve it over a salad, turn it into a comforting soup, or make salmon burgers. So many options! Scroll to the bottom for our Chef’s Tips for perfectly cooked salmon and our Salmon Guying Guide.
Table of Contents
- Grilled Salmon Recipes
- Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon
- Perfect Grilled Salmon
- Salmon Burgers
- Salmon Rub
- Mediterranean Grilled Salmon
- Huckleberry Salmon
- Baked Salmon Recipes
- Salmon Wellington
- Baked Szechuan Salmon with Scallion Green Beans
- Baked Moroccan Salmon
- Baked Teriyaki Salmon
- Baked Pomegranate Salmon
- Rhubarb Salmon
- Citrus Baked Salmon
- Dijon Salmon
- Baked Miso Salmon
- Baked Salmon with Dill Sauce
- Easy Salmon Dinners
- Blackened Salmon Sandwich
- Salmon with Braised French Lentils
- Salmon Tacos
- Blackened Salmon
- Salmon cakes
- Air fryer Salmon
- Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Salmon Rice Bowls
- Japanese Salmon Rice Bowls
- Greek Salmon Rice Bowls
- Miso Salmon Rice Bowls
- Salmon Salads
- Grilled Salmon Salad with Avocado Salsa
- Arugula Salmon Salad
- Smoked Salmon Salad
- Savory Salmon Soups
- Spicy Miso Salmon Ramen
- Salmon Chowder
- Salmon Sinigang
- Unique Salmon Recipes!
- Hand Roll Sushi (Temaki)
- Chia Crusted Salmon
- Salmon Lox
- Tea-Smoked Five Spice Salmon
- Salmon Faqs
- How to Shop for Salmon
- Chef’s Tips For Perfectly Cooked Salmon
- Storage
- More Recipe Collections you may like:
Grilled Salmon Recipes
Back when I was a caterer, we would grill thousands of pieces of salmon each summer! Grilling is by far our favorite way of cooking it and here are a few ideas…
Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon
Cedar Plank Salmon is easy, delicious and healthy! Salmon is infused with subtle smoke using a cedar plank on the grill—no fuss, with easy clean up.
Perfect Grilled Salmon
Wondering about the best way to grill salmon? Here is a little step-by-step guide with tips and tricks to elevate your salmon grilling skills. Try this miso salmon!
Salmon Burgers
Healthy delicious Salmon Burgers are easy to make with fresh salmon! Grillable and flavorful with the best texture.
Salmon Rub
This quick and easy Salmon Rub is made with five simple ingredients. Savory, smoky, and sweet, this combo accentuates wild salmon’s fresh flavor. It’s perfect for the grill or smoker!
Mediterranean Grilled Salmon
Mediterranean Grilled Salmon with grilled veggies over a bed of quinoa, fresh greens, and topped with a dollop of creamy Tzatziki Sauce.
Huckleberry Salmon
Grilled Salmon with Pickled Huckleberry Relish. A fresh and summery meal, perfect for entertaining on dinners on the patio.
Baked Salmon Recipes
Baking salmon is hands down one of the easiest ways to prepare it. It doesn’t take much; salt, pepper, and olive oil– but here are a few more ways to elevate!
Salmon Wellington
This Salmon Wellington recipe, also known as salmon en croute, is made with wild salmon, and a fresh spinach filling enhanced with lemon zest and fresh dill, baked in a golden puff pastry crust.
Baked Szechuan Salmon with Scallion Green Beans
A tasty recipe for Szechuan Salmon with Green Beans all baked on a sheet pan in the oven. A flavorful healthy weeknight dinner!
Baked Moroccan Salmon
Simple delicious salmon filets brushed with olive oil and rubbed with Moroccan spices, orange zest, kosher salt and black pepper and baked until fork tender. The taste is lovely!
Baked Teriyaki Salmon
This Asian Teriyaki Salmon with Bok Choy is easy and delicious! Made with a soy sauce-based marinade, all baked on a sheet pan. Serve over rice or on its own.
Baked Pomegranate Salmon
This Pomegranate Salmon recipe is so festive and delicious! Inspired by the flavors of Morocco, it is very easy to make, and worthy of your holiday table.
Rhubarb Salmon
Baked Salmon and rhubarb are roasted together on a baking sheet and then paired with wilted, garlicky chard. This is a fast and flavorful dinner, and it’s gluten-free!
Citrus Baked Salmon
Dijon Salmon
This Dijon Salmon is fast, easy and full of flavor! Bake a whole Salmon filet or individual pieces.
Baked Miso Salmon
Baked Salmon with Dill Sauce
This recipe for Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce and asparagus is so simple and easy, yet full of delicious flavor. Bake it in the oven, in under 30 minutes!
Easy Salmon Dinners
These salmon dinners are full of flavor and are incredibly easy to make!
Blackened Salmon Sandwich
Blackened Salmon Sandwich! A succulent, crispy-crusted cajun-spiked salmon fillet is tucked into a sourdough bun with fresh greens and drizzled with Dilly Ranch.
Salmon with Braised French Lentils
Roasted Salmon with Braised French Green Lentils- a simple, healthy weeknight dinner recipe!
Salmon Tacos
These cajun-spiced salmon tacos are healthy and delicious! Paired with a flavorful orange fennel slaw, pickled onions, and mashed avocado.
Blackened Salmon
How to make the BEST Blackened Salmon! Fillets of salmon are brushed with olive oil & rubbed with our homemade cajun seasoning, pan-seared to perfection! Zesty and flavorful, with a few “chef-perfected” tips to elevating this 20-minute dish!
Salmon cakes
Quick and easy salmon patties are designed for weeknight dinners when time is short. Here are three variations – Asian Style, Mediterranean style, and Nordic Style!
Air fryer Salmon
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Succulent and flavorful, Air Fryer Salmon Bites are served with a miso ginger dipping sauce and ready in about 15 minutes! Perfect for appetizers, bowls, salads, and snacks! Gluten-free.
Salmon Rice Bowls
Need a quick healthy dinner? Make salmon rice bowls- here are a few ideas!
Japanese Salmon Rice Bowls
Furikake Salmon Bowls are made with seared sesame salmon with Furikake Seasoning, shiitake mushrooms, avocado, green onions, and cabbage.
Greek Salmon Rice Bowls
These Greek-inspired Salmon Bowls are served with rice, tzatziki, microgreens, tomatoes, and cucumbers and a lemony herb dressing.
Miso Salmon Rice Bowls
This Salmon Bowl is brimming with healthy protein, healthy veggies, and savory Asian flavors. Salmon bites are paired with roasted shiitake mushrooms, edamame, avocado, and red cabbage drizzled with a delicious miso dressing.
Salmon Salads
These delicious salmon salad recipes will have you coming back again and again!
Grilled Salmon Salad with Avocado Salsa
Grilled salmon topped with an avocado cucumber salsa over little gems lettuce with a creamy cilantro lime dressing.
Arugula Salmon Salad
This Grilled Salmon Salad with arugula, tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, pepitas, and a creamy cilantro dressing is perfect for summer barbecues and outdoor gatherings.
Smoked Salmon Salad
Smoked Salmon, Avocado and Fennel Salad with Creamy Dill Dressing. Fast and easy, this hearty entree salad makes for a delicious lunch or dinner main.
Savory Salmon Soups
Spicy Miso Salmon Ramen
A delicious recipe for Spicy Miso Ramen with chili roasted salmon with bok choy, mushrooms and scallions.
Salmon Chowder
A delicious Salmon Chowder recipe made with fresh salmon, fennel and potatoes that can be made in about 30 minutes on the stovetop.
Salmon Sinigang
Sinigang is a Filipino Sour Soup that is bursting with umami flavor. Quick to throw together and loaded with salmon and veggies, it is completely delicious.
Unique Salmon Recipes!
Hand Roll Sushi (Temaki)
Sushi Hand Rolls with Smoked Salmon, avocado, mushrooms, and cucumber. A Japanese-inspired crowd-friendly meal that is healthy, simple to make, and affordable!
Chia Crusted Salmon
Crispy, pan-seared chia-crusted salmon is served over cool and crunchy fennel slaw, topped with quick pickled onions and dill.
Salmon Lox
How to make homemade Salmon Lox with fresh wild salmon, salt and lemon. It is easier than you think!
Tea-Smoked Five Spice Salmon
Tea-smoked salmon with Five Spices and wok-seared bok choy: an easy stovetop smoking technique used in Szechuan cooking applied to salmon.
Salmon Faqs
Salmon is so versatile; it can be cooked in many different ways with good results! Grill it, pan-sear it, bake it, broil it, or simmer it in soups and stews. The secret is just not to overcook it.
You can never go wrong with serving salmon with a seasonal vegetable side dish. Asparagus, green beans, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli are all good options. Hearty green salads or tangy slaws also pair well. If you’re looking for a starch, consider creamy polenta, mashed potatoes, pasta, lentils, or fragrant rice.
Some of our favorite flavors to pair with salmon include: miso, teriyaki, Szechuan, citrus fruit, thyme, ginger, garlic, alliums, dill, mustard, honey, brown sugar and maple.
Arctic Char, Ocean Trout and Steelhead are close substitutes to salmon if salmon is not an option.
How to Shop for Salmon
Some of you may be wondering which salmon to buy. Here are some general guidelines to help you make an informed decision. Wild salmon contains no antibiotics or artificial colorings with higher amounts of Omega 3s- so I personally opt for seasonal wild salmon in the summer months, and frozen wild salmon in winter.
- Pacific Wild Salmon— In season from May- August, Pacific salmon is caught in the Northern Pacific Ocean, with five main varieties: King Salmon, Coho Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, Pink Salmon, and Chum. Pacific Salmon is mostly caught in the wild, either in the ocean or in freshwater rivers, although there are a few farmed salmon enterprises.
- Atlantic Salmon—Atlantic Salmon, originally from the Atlantic ocean, is now endangered in the wild, so all Atlantic Salmon are now farmed. Farmed Salmon that is not sustainably raised raised in high-density net pens) can have damaging effects on nearby coastlines and waterways, and the salmon itself is often treated with antibiotics, pesticides, and dyes.
- Sustainably-Farmed Atlantic Salmon are raised in closed tank aquaculture or in low-density net pens- which do less damage to the environment and create healthier fish. There are several sustainably farmed Atlantic salmon varieties available. Skuna, out of Vancouver Island offers up sustainably farmed salmon as well as Nordic Blu Salmon, which you can often find at Whole foods.
- Sushi: If using salmon for sushi, always opt for wild salmon. Frozen wild salmon also works here.
- Frozen Wild Salmon: If buying frozen salmon, opt for those that are flash-frozen and vacuum-sealed.
- Smell: Whichever salmon you choose, it should smell clean and fresh like the ocean. If it smells “fishy,” reconsider. 😉 You can always ask your fish monger how long the salmon has been in the case.
- Sustainability – learn more here: Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program.
Chef’s Tips For Perfectly Cooked Salmon
- Cook it to medium! Whether you grill, bake, poach, pan-fry, air fry, or pan-sear salmon, aim to cook it to “medium,” with an internal temperature of 135 F on an instant-read thermometer at the thickest part. A good rule of thumb is to turn off the heat when the internal temp reaches 125F, as salmon will continue cooking and can easily overcook.
- If new to cooking salmon- opt for fattier, oilier salmon like King salmon or Sustainably raised Atlantic salmon which is much more forgiving, as it is hard to overcook it or dry it out.
- When using salmon for sushi, always opt for wild salmon: look for “sushi-grade” wild salmon. Frozen wild salmon also works here.
- Cooking salmon too long or with too high of heat will cause white streaks or globs of a protein called albumin to come to the surface. Albumin is safe to eat, but not very pleasant to look at. Cook at lower temps to prevent this.
Storage
Cooked salmon will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Slowly reheat salmon on a rimmed baking sheet in a 300F oven, tented with foil, until the internal temperature reaches 130F. Alternatively, reheat on the stovetop in an oiled skillet over medium-low heat, skin side down. We do not recommend microwaving salmon.
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30 Fresh and Healthy Salmon Recipes
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: main, salmon
- Method: grilled, baked
- Cuisine: American
Description
Here are our 30 Best Salmon Recipes! Rich in healthy fats (omega 3’s) and an excellent source of protein, salmon provides so many amazing health benefits. Salmon is versatile, cooks up quickly and makes the whole meal feel more elegant: Easy Grilled Salmon.
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 medium lemon
- 1–2 garlic cloves (optional), finely minced
- 1 tablespoon thyme
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium.
- Cut salmon in to 4 pieces and place in a bowl. Lightly coat with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and zest from one lemon. Add the garlic and thyme, gently tossing to coat.
- Cut the lemon in half and place on the grill, open side down.
- Place salmon on the grill, skin-side down first, and grill 4-6 minutes, covering. The skin should release itself naturally from the grill. Flip and cook for 2 more minutes or until your desired “doneness”. Keep in mind thinker pieces may take longer, and thin pieces may take less time.
- Squeeze with the grilled lemon.
- Serve salmon immediately or refrigerate for mid-week meals for up to 3 days.
Notes
No grill? You can also bake the salmon in 375F oven until cooked to your liking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 193
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 10.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.4 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 22.6 g
- Cholesterol: 62.3 mg
So many great choices!
We have made so many of these salmon recipes through the years and have never been disappointed! Our favorites include the Grilled Salmon Salad, grilled miso salmon, huckleberry salmon and the baked teriyaki salmon. Can’t wait to try the cedar plank salmon
Thanks Sheryl- glad you are enjoying!
sooooooooo good
Sylvia I love your recipes! Which recipes do you think will work best with canned salmon? I keep the bones in for calcium – my doctor’s suggestion. I’m trying to eat salmon as much as possible so I don’t need to buy expensive DHA supplements.
I would try the salmon cakes- designed for canned salmon. I suppose the salmon chowder could work,but best with fresh.
Salmon salad with creamy lime cilantro dressing is amazing. The creaminess from the mayo balanced with the lime and cilantro was so perfect for the fresh veggies as well as the salmon. Even with mayo it’s light! Brought back some Copper River salmon from a recent trip to Northwest and all of these recipes looked amazing. Was hard to choose just one. Never disappointed by your recipes.
thanks, Kathy! Glad you enjoyed the salad!
Omg. That blackened salmon burger looks out-of-this-world. 🤤
It’s a good one!
We love salmon at our house and these will be a welcomed addition to the rotation
Thank you
Thanks Ruth!
cant wait to try all the recipes
Ok I don’t know why I’ve never thought about putting salmon on a sandwich but I might have to try the Blackened Salmon Sandwich! Every other recipe I’ve tried from you has been fantastic! Thank you!
Thanks Laura!
I can’t wait to try so many of these! I am a Pacific Northwest girl but now live in Bay Area Ca and was so happy to find your website and recipes last fall…now you are my go to favorite for ideas. Always fresh and yummy recipes! For Father’s Day I will try the Blackened Salmon Sandwich! I’m sure everyone will LOVE!
Thanks Sandy!
Salmon with cilantro lime dressing is delicious. I love all the recipes I’ve selected from your site. Thank you for generously sharing your expertise.
Thanks Dianne!