25 Best Salmon Recipes for a Light and Tasty Meal
Try this popular fish grilled, baked, fried, or smoked.
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There's so much to love about salmon. Not only is the healthy fish packed with omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and B vitamins, but it also cooks quickly, which means you can get a tasty, good-for-you dinner on the table even on busy weeknights. Looking for some new salmon recipes to add to your rotation? You'll find plenty of inspiration in this collection.
Another great thing about salmon is that there's no one "right" method for cooking it. Ree Drummond is a big fan of baking it on a sheet pan in the oven, but you can also throw salmon fillets on the grill or pan-fry them in a skillet. The recipes in this list include all of these techniques (and more). Need healthy lunch and dinner ideas? You'll find plenty of salmon-topped grain bowls and salads. If speed is a priority, you'll love quick, complete meals like Ree's Sheet Pan Salmon Puttanesca and her Blackened Salmon with Edamame Succotash. Seafood fans will appreciate creative recipes for salmon tacos, salmon BLTs, and salmon kebabs. Meanwhile, we also rounded up some recipes designed to please non-fish lovers (like Ladd Drummond), including tasty salmon burgers and salmon cakes.
Keep reading for a closer look at the best salmon recipes. And for more weeknight dinner ideas, check out these guides to the best shrimp recipes, the best pasta recipes, and the best fall recipes.
Honey Soy Salmon
If you're in the market for an easy, reliable salmon recipe to make again and again, look no further. Ree's go-to method involves pan-frying the fish, then using the same skillet to make a sticky, flavorful glaze. The whole process takes just 15 minutes!
Greek Salmon Couscous Bowls
Looking to use salmon in a healthy family meal? Top couscous with baked salmon, bell peppers, cucumber, olives, and tzatziki.
Salmon Burgers with Sesame-Soy Glaze
These tasty burgers couldn't be easier to make: They cook on a sheet pan under the broiler for about 6 to 8 minutes—no grilling or flipping required! Brush the patties with a sticky, savory sesame-soy glaze, then top the cooked burgers with a homemade cucumber salad for some added crunch.
Chipotle Caesar Salad with Grilled Salmon
Grill up some salmon to serve over your favorite salad. In this version, both the fish and the buttermilk dressing get some heat from adobo sauce. It's also topped with easy homemade croutons.
Mediterranean Salmon-Veggie Grain Bowl
You can have this healthy lunch or dinner on the table in just 30 minutes. The lemony quinoa is topped with flaky chunks of baked salmon, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, feta, and a quick homemade dressing.
Blackened Salmon with Edamame Succotash
Borrow Ree's sheet-pan method for making blackened salmon and you'll have this tasty, flavorful dinner on the table in just 30 minutes. This fish pairs perfectly with a side of buttery sautéed vegetables.
Everything Cucumber-Smoked Salmon Bites
Serve this refreshing, low-carb appetizer for your next brunch. You can use a store-bought everything bagel-inspired seasoning mix or make your own.
Kale Salad with Salmon
This is no boring kale salad. The greens are tossed with salty roasted almonds, crumbled goat cheese, and sautéed mushrooms, and the salmon gets a brush of balsamic glaze after it's finished baking.
Sheet Pan Salmon Puttanesca
Sheet pan dinners like this one are ideal for busy weeknights (or any time you just don't feel like washing a bunch of pots and pans), and salmon is the perfect protein for them because it cooks so quickly. You'll love how it tastes with crispy bread cubes and homemade puttanesca sauce.
Perfectly Cooked Salmon with Potatoes and Asparagus
You'll never have to worry about overcooking salmon again once you try this smart parchment paper method. The fish cooks right on top of the vegetables, and the whole meal is ready in less than 20 minutes.
Get the recipe from Heather Christo.
Thai-Inspired Salmon Salad
This easy recipe calls for pan frying the salmon fillets in a cast iron skillet (it takes just 6 to 8 minutes). Serve over salad with crunchy ingredients like sliced almonds and desiccated coconut, and drizzle with a tasty homemade peanut dressing.
Get the recipe from Erica Kastner.
Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad
Another super easy method for preparing salmon: Cook it in a foil packet on the grill. Remove the fish when it flakes easily with a fork and is just barely cooked through. Once it cools, serve over salad with homemade caesar dressing.
Get the recipe from Natalie Perry.
Homemade Gravlax
Gravlax is one of those fancy-seeming foods that's actually pretty easy to make at home—you just need a little patience! This method involves curing the fish for two or three days with a simple rub of lemon, salt, sugar, and dill.
Get the recipe from Natalie Perry.
Smoked Salmon & Dill Breakfast Hash
Smoked salmon lovers, this one's for you. Just break up the smoked fish and add to a skillet of sautéed potatoes and onions for a tasty and filling breakfast (or lunch, or dinner!).
Get the recipe from Dara Michalski.
Salmon Cakes with Mango Salsa
Even salmon skeptics will love these pan-fried cakes, which get a satisfying crunch from panko breadcrumbs, green onions, and bell pepper. Serve them with fresh mango salsa and buttery white rice.
Get the recipe from Erica Kastner.
Salmon BLT Sliders with Chipotle Mayo
Whip up some next-level mini BLTs by layering broiled salmon with bacon, lettuce, and tomato on slider buns. Slather with an easy two-ingredient chipotle mayo for some added heat.
Get the recipe at Damn Delicious.
Salmon Tacos with Juicy Citrus Salsa
A simple chili powder rub amps up the flavor in these salmon tacos. Top with a refreshing salsa made with oranges, avocado, jalapeño, and lime juice.
Get the recipe at Gimme Some Oven.
Air Fryer Salmon
Yes, you can cook salmon right in your air fryer! This method takes just ten minutes, and you'll need only one tablespoon of olive oil for four six-ounce fillets. Serve with your favorite grains or veggies.
Get the recipe at Feel Good Foodie.
Jerk Salmon Bowls
The homemade jerk marinade in this recipe takes baked salmon to a whole other level of flavor. Marinate the fish overnight for best results, and customize the bowls with your favorite toppings.
Get the recipe at Butter Be Ready.
Asian Salmon Kabobs
These beauties would make a great addition to any cookout spread. The salmon chunks are marinated in a flavorful soy sauce mixture, then threaded with pineapple, red onion, and zucchini. Throw the skewers on the grill and they'll be ready in just 5 to 7 minutes. (And if you don't have a grill, you can use a grill pan.)
Get the recipe at Damn Delicious.
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