36 Best Salmon Recipes

Salmon is a superfood extraordinaire. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins B6 and 12, salmon has been proven to promote heart health, support bone health, and even improve mood (via WebMD). And, of course, it's delicious. Buttery and rich, the bright pink fish is full-flavored without being overly fishy, standing up well to a variety of savory, sweet, or even spicy seasonings.

Of course, not all salmon are created alike. Sockeye salmon is also known as red salmon thanks to its deep color. The more orangey hue of Coho is more delicate in flavor with a firmer texture. King salmon is rich and meaty with a higher omega-3 fat content than other salmon. These varieties are further subdivided into two major categories. Farm-raised salmon has a milder flavor and tends to have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids than wild, which is usually leaner and can have a deeper pink hue.

Unlike more delicate fish, salmon stands up well to high-heat cooking methods like grilling — especially when it's given a bit of help in the flavor department, as it is in this recipe. To start things off, you'll brine the salmon in saltwater for 10 minutes to ensure it's seasoned all the way through. While the salmon sits, you can fire up the grill and prep the herb- and lemon-infused butter that will serve as both a cooking fat and a base for the sauce. Next, simply place the brined salmon on a sheet of foil, add half the butter and even more lemon, and grill to perfection.

The remaining lemon butter is more than enough of a sauce for serving this luscious salmon, but if you really want to gild the lily, you could also prep a quick mango salsa for even more fresh flavor. Grill a few halved lemons to squeeze over the top, and you'll be wowing your dinner guests for sure.

Recipe: Easy Grilled Salmon

Fatty salmon pairs perfectly with the brightness of citrus, so this salmon with citrus butter recipe is a real no-brainer. The fish itself is slow-roasted at 250 F, a super low temperature that ensures the fish retains all of its tenderness and moisture — even with nearly an hour of oven time.

The citrus butter itself boasts three different zests — lime, orange, and lemon — which are worked into softened butter to form what is known as a compound butter. Only once the salmon emerges from the oven is it sliced into rounds and placed on top, melting to create a luscious, rich sauce. Serve it with a side of cilantro-lime rice to echo the vibrant flavors in the fish, and soak up any excess sauce. Save any remaining butter to enjoy spread on your favorite toast.

Recipe: Slow-Baked Salmon and Citrus Butter

Canned salmon is just as versatile as fresh, if not more so, as this salmon cake recipe shows. With an ingredients list that's almost exclusively made up of pantry staples, this recipe comes together in a matter of minutes. The result is a patty that's tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, and will prove just as tasty fresh out of the air fryer or cold in a sandwich.

The base recipe for these salmon cakes uses canned salmon combined with breadcrumbs, mayo, egg, green onion, and Old Bay. But once you've mastered the techniques, you can change it up with other flavor combos. A Spanish-inspired version might use onions and paprika, or a Greek-inspired iteration could include briny Kalamata olives and feta. Let your creativity (and your pantry) be your guide.

Recipe: 15-Minute Air Fryer Salmon Cakes

Surprisingly for anyone who spends much time in sushi restaurants, salmon sushi is not actually traditional Japanese fare — it actually hails originally from Norway. So, you don't need to feel bad about deviating even further from tradition in crafting this baked salmon sushi, a surprisingly delicious play on the dish more typically made with raw fish.

To make this sushi, baked salmon is rolled into seasoned sushi rice alongside cucumber, carrot, and avocado, which imparts even more flavor and texture. With its nori wrapper and toasted sesame seed garnish, it's the perfect maki to serve to those avoiding raw fish for any reason. It pairs perfectly with wasabi and pickled ginger, but you could also opt for a homemade sriracha mayo for a bit of a kick.

Recipe: Baked Salmon Sushi

Salmon, lemon, and dill are a trio to be reckoned with as you'll soon see once you've tried this Swedish-inspired dish. Salmon is first seared in a pan before being set aside so that any fond can be used to form the base of a sauce. First deglazed with wine and lemon juice, the pan then welcomes the heavy cream, salt, and pepper. The salmon finishes cooking in the rich sauce before being generously garnished with fresh dill.

This dish's deliciousness is only magnified with a starchy side to soak up any excess sauce. Boiled potatoes, brown rice, or even pasta make the perfect accompaniments, but a crusty loaf of fresh bread is also a welcome addition!

Recipe: Salmon With Lemon Dill Sauce

Salmon sushi isn't necessarily the most traditional option out there. As we mentioned above, it wasn't invented in Japan, but rather in Norway! So, you shouldn't feel bad deviating from the classic raw fish filling with this smoked salmon iteration.

Easier to find than sushi-grade raw salmon, smoked salmon also lends a deeper flavor to this maki roll, which is otherwise quite traditional, pairing the fish with silky avocado and seasoned sushi rice. Serve it with your favorite soy sauce for dipping, or drizzle it with a squeeze of fresh lemon for something with a touch more vibrancy.

Recipe: Smoked Salmon Sushi

Salmon stands up so well to the slightly sweet flavors of teriyaki sauce. And with this recipe, you can say goodbye to overcooked salmon thanks to the use of the handy-dandy air fryer. According to recipe developer Kit Hondrum, using the air fryer to make salmon results in a slightly more delicate texture and is way more fail-proof for kitchen newbies.

This recipe is even better suited to inexperienced cooks thanks to its reliance on your favorite store-bought teriyaki sauce. But if you're looking for more of a challenge, you could also make your own teriyaki sauce at home. Either way, garnish with some sesame seeds and scallions for even more texture and a prettier final dish.

Recipe: Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

En papillote might sound snooty and fancy, but the reality of this technique — which is just French for "in paper" — will revolutionize the way you cook salmon. To make it, the salmon fillets are arranged on a sheet of parchment paper along with all of the aromatics — rosemary, dill, and garlic — as well as the halved grape tomatoes that will serve as both a side and the sauce. Once the edges of the parchment are crimped, the salmon and all of the seasonings are sealed in, creating a perfect pocket of savory steam that gently cooks the salmon to perfection.

The papillotes in this recipe cook in the oven — and indeed, that is the most traditional way to cook any fish en papillote. But in a pinch, you can actually carry out a very similar process on the stovetop, reducing the need to turn on the oven in the height of summer, when tomatoes are at their best.

Recipe: Herbed Salmon en Papillote With Grape Tomatoes

Canned tuna is a pantry staple, but it's high time we paid as much attention to canned salmon. Richer in healthy omega-3 fatty acids than its better-known cousin, canned salmon is also often more sustainable. And just like tuna, canned salmon lends itself particularly well to a creamy salad.

In this recipe, Greek yogurt stands in for mayonnaise, contributing more protein and less fat than the more traditional creamy base. With celery and red onion for crunch, and brightness from lemon juice and Dijon mustard, the resulting salmon makes the perfect sandwich filling.

Recipe: Canned Salmon Salad

Salmon stands up super well to more assertive flavors, and blackening spices are one wonderful option. This combination of onion, garlic, cayenne, parsley, and a touch of brown sugar for a hint of caramelized sweetness forms a delightful crust on these salmon fillets. Kissed in a pan for barely 15 minutes, all they need is a drizzle of lime to reach the peak of perfection.

This salmon has so much flavor it doesn't demand much in terms of sides. A bit of steamed white rice and some southern succotash will turn it into the perfect meal.

Recipe: Pan-Seared Blackened Salmon

If you're looking for a pasta dish to welcome spring, this creamy salmon pasta is the ideal, colorful offering. It pairs pink salmon with verdant asparagus in a garlic-scented white wine and cream sauce. A touch of Parmesan lends a bit more richness, while the juice and zest of lemon bring some vivacity and brightness to the final dish.

If asparagus isn't in season — or if you just want to change things up — you could definitely opt for another green vegetable. Sweet peas would be perfect, and since they're always delicious frozen, it transitions the dish from something seasonal to an everyday offering.

Recipe: Creamy Salmon Pasta

If you're looking to give your salmon an earthy, nutty flair, this seven-ingredient recipe is the perfect one for you. Marinated in sesame oil, garlic, ginger, salt, and pepper, the salmon is seared in olive oil before being topped with sesame seeds. The resulting dish brings out the best in salmon's rich, fatty flavor.

This salmon is lovely on its own, but it also pairs perfectly with rice and steamed veggies. Consider using bok choy or Chinese broccoli to temper the richness of the fish with the pleasant natural bitterness of these cruciferous veggies.

Recipe: Sesame Seared Salmon

For a simple salmon as good as something you'd find in a restaurant, look no further than this pan-seared salmon recipe topped with a velvety honey-garlic sauce. The sauce marries the savory saltiness of soy sauce with a touch of sweetness from honey. Garlic lends an umami kick, and lemon juice punches up the freshness and mouth-watering acidity. Cornstarch, meanwhile, acts as a binder, creating a luscious texture that coats the salmon beautifully.

This salmon is great all on its own, but given how tasty the sauce is, serving it with a side of steamed rice or rice pilaf will really take it to next-level deliciousness. (And possibly keep you from licking the plate.)

Recipe: Honey-Garlic Pan-Seared Salmon

Fresh ginger is a powerhouse of both flavor and nutrition. Rich in gingerol, a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, fresh ginger has been shown to contribute to weight loss, lessen the symptoms of osteoarthritis, and even fight infection (via Healthline). Plus ... it's delicious.

In this recipe, fresh ginger is paired with soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, mirin, and sriracha to make a succulent sauce for baked salmon. Drizzled atop the fillets of fish before baking, the sauce reduces down to a sticky, flavorful semi-glaze. Scatter the finished fish with sesame seeds and dig in!

Recipe: Fresh Ginger and Salmon

Jerk seasoning is a staple of Jamaica, a blend of sweet and hot spices uniting cayenne, paprika, allspice, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic, onion, and more. A store-bought blend does most of the heavy lifting in this recipe, which sees salmon fillets generously seasoned with the spice blend, and cooked in a pan until tender.

A sweet-and-savory slaw makes the ideal counterpoint to this spiced salmon. A shredded base of green cabbage is joined by small-diced mango and cilantro. Dressed with a simple combo of cider vinegar and olive oil, it provides welcome freshness and crunch — and served atop the spice-encrusted salmon, it makes for a pretty plate indeed!

Recipe: Easy Jerk Salmon

If you've got even a moderately well-stocked pantry and a baking dish, you can make this super easy baked salmon recipe. All you need to do is whisk together a combination of honey for sweetness, soy sauce for savoriness and salt, umami-rich garlic, and lemon juice for its bright acidity. Once the sauce is poured over the salmon, it's baked until flaky yet tender.

Once you've mastered this base recipe, there are loads of small tweaks you can make to jazz it up. Consider swapping the honey for maple syrup if you want something a bit richer. Lime can stand in for lemon, and chili flakes can easily join the party for a touch of heat. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds or fresh herbs for even more texture and color.

Recipe: Easy Honey Baked Salmon

You might think of your Instant Pot as a tool for making slow-cooked stews and braises, but it's also a godsend for those who want to make fish at home without stinking up their kitchen. This steamed salmon comes together almost sinfully quickly. All you need is to drizzle the salmon fillets with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and top with lemon. A cup of water in your Instant Pot creates the steam needed to help the salmon cook to a perfectly flaky, moist texture in just 3 minutes. Garnish with dill, and it's time to serve.

This technique is also great for batch-cooking salmon, which you can then use cold in salads or sandwiches. It'll definitely jazz up your packed lunch routine!

Recipe: Instant Pot Steamed Salmon

One-pot meals are perhaps the ultimate answer to the weeknight dinner conundrum, cutting down not just on dishes, but on the need for inspiration when coming up with sides to go along with your main. This recipe sees salmon, rice, and zucchini seasoned with garlic and chicken broth for a richly flavorful dish that nevertheless relies on minimal fat.

To make it, you'll first steam the rice in the garlic-scented broth, kissed with a touch of lemon, for about 15 minutes. A bit of butter is added to bring moisture to the rice, which is then topped with a layer of sliced zucchini and the salmon fillets. Covered and cooked for 10 minutes, the finished dish is ready to garnish with fresh herbs and serve — no side dishes required.

Recipe: One-Pot Salmon and Rice