Salmon works for breakfast or lunch—in dishes like salmon egg scrambles, smoked salmon bagels, salmon salads and salmon sushi—or as a healthy dinner idea baked, steamed and broiled. For a more decadent meal, there’s always salmon in creamy sauces, salmon Wellington (baked en croûte in puff pastry) and salmon pasta. More on our favorite salmon recipes below, but first things first: the best ways to cook salmon.
How to Cook Salmon
Salmon is one of the easiest fish to cook, because it can be done so many different ways. You can steam salmon, grill it, sauté, bake and air fry salmon. You can also cook salmon in the slow cooker and Instant Pot, or make salmon kebabs on skewers and throw them on a grill pan. Salmon can also be cooked on cedar planks for an out-of-this-world smoky flavor, baked en papillote, cooked in tin foil over an open flame—even prepared sous vide style.
How Long to Bake Salmon In the Oven
Baked salmon made in the oven is so simple and requires practically zero effort. Place the salmon on a sheet pan (either on parchment paper or a Silpat silicone baking mat sprayed with a little olive oil), then bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes. Cook a little longer for more well-done salmon, or a little shorter for rarer in the center salmon.
Best Salmon Recipes
In addition to baked salmon, some of the top recipes include: salmon patties and cakes, grilled salmon, salmon croquettes, blackened salmon, teriyaki salmon and honey glazed salmon. There are a million ways to marinate salmon and then there are no-cook dishes like salmon ceviche, salmon poke bowls, salmon tartare, crudo, hamachi, sushi, etc. We’ve included plenty of these recipes below as well. Give these 65 best salmon recipes a try the next time you’re scrolling through Instagram or Pinterest, looking for inspiration. We promise you’ll have so many delish salmon suppers in your future, that you won’t know where to begin!
Oven-Steamed Salmon
This salmon is cooked briefly in a very low-temperature oven filled with steam, emerging tender and incredibly moist. Pass a fork through the fish and you’ll meet no resistance. Pro tip: a center-cut piece of wild-caught Alaskan king or sockeye salmon yields the best results. Get the recipe
Maple Salmon with Polenta Fries and Green Salad
Sweet maple syrup gives these salmon fillets a beautiful honey-colored glaze. Get the recipe
TikTok’s Salmon Rice Bowl and An Ice Cube
What Is the TikTok Salmon Rice Bowl you ask? The latest viral food trend—Emily Mariko’s Salmon Rice Bowl—is just as adaptable as it is tasty. Perhaps the most genius part of the recipe is the ice cube trick that prevents food from drying out in the microwave and makes it fresh, soft and steamy. Get the recipe
Pan-Seared Salmon w/ Sweet & Spicy Orange-Coconut Sauce
This Pan-Seared Salmon w/ Sweet & Spicy Orange-Coconut Sauce comes together in less than 30 minutes and will have your guests thinking they’ve been magically transported to some gourmet, five-star dining establishment. The sauce is quite simple; combine all the delicious ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer for about 10 minutes till it becomes syrupy and intensely flavored. Get the recipe
Brown Sugar and Bourbon Salmon
She’s known as the Cake Mix Doctor, but in her book, Anne Byrn Saves the Day, Byrn has a prescription for easy meals like this Brown Sugar and Bourbon Salmon. Get the recipe
Savory Smoked Salmon Bagel Bake
A classic breakfast—bagels and lox—gets an easy one-dish spin with just a handful of ingredients in this Savory Smoked Salmon Bagel Bake. Feel free to swap in diced ham or chopped bacon instead of salmon. Get the recipe
Corn Chowder with Salmon
This hearty chowder will feed and warm your whole family in just 25 minutes. Get the recipe
Bridget Jones’s Pan-Fried Salmon with Pine Nut Salsa
“This is the dish Patrick Dempsey’s character tells Renée Zellweger’s Bridget Jones that he would have brought her on their imaginary second date in Bridget Jones’s Baby,” says Israeli-British chef Yotam Ottolenghi. “The recipe didn’t even exist on our menu, so this is a retrospective acknowledgment.” It’s life imitating art, deliciously." Get the recipe
Fresh Salmon Burger
Pro-tip for making the best salmon burger: when pulsing the salmon in the food processor, do not let it get mushy. Allowing some texture to remain will make a better burger. Get the recipe
Grilled Salmon and Pickled Veggies
This sandwich, based on the classic Vietnamese banh mi, swaps salmon for the traditional pork, but keeps the crunchy pickled vegetables. Get the recipe
Smoked Salmon Dip
For University of Washington Huskies fans, tailgating is truly unique. They take to Lake Washington for “sailgating” in Husky Harbor, sandwiched between the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Range in what’s arguably one of the prettiest game-day settings. So when it comes to food, it’s no surprise that menus are inspired by the water. And this being the Pacific Northwest, salmon is a particular favorite—grilled on a cedar plank, in burgers and smoked in a dip. Get the recipe
Grilled Salmon with Mustard BBQ Sauce
Fire up your grill and feel your taste buds explode with this heart-healthy favorite salmon recipe. Get the recipe
Parmesan- and Panko-Crusted Salmon
Meet your new favorite weekly dinner: Panko-Crusted Baked Salmon. Pair it with a light pasta tossed with summer squash and dig in! Get the recipe
Crispy Salmon Nuggets
This grown-up take on nuggets swaps salmon for chicken, with delicious results! This easy salmon recipe comes together in a matter of minutes, so it’s great for busy weeknights or as a fun weekend meal with the kids. Get the recipe
Joanna Gaines’ Grilled Salmon with Meyer Lemons and Creamy Cucumber Salad
This recipe, from Joanna Gaines’ cookbook Magnolia Table, is a delicious and easy way to welcome grilling season. A cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange, Meyer lemons have thin skin and sweet, floral juice and zest—and go great with salmon. Get the recipe
Super Greens and Grains with Roast Salmon
This wintery dish pops with flavor, color, texture and heart-healthy nutrition, thanks to the salmon, kale, quinoa, avocado, orange and nuts. Pro tip: massaging the kale with the dressing helps make it tender for the salad. Wild Alaska salmon is a particularly good choice, nutritionally speaking. It’s it has fewer calories and less fat overall (especially saturated fat), and is higher in minerals than farmed salmon, yet boasts comparable protein. Get the recipe
Smoky Salmon Dip
Jennifer Segal (Once Upon a Chef) serves this creamy dip during the holidays. It comes together super quickly, so you won’t miss out on the party. Get the recipe
Al Roker’s Grilled Salmon with Maple-Ginger Glaze
“When it comes to cooking, I’m pretty much a traditionalist,” says Roker. “I’ve been making this dish for at least 10 years. Salmon’s a flavorful fish, and it stands up well to other flavors. So if you put a little maple on it, plus salt and pepper, you get a sweet and savory dish. And it’s family-friendly—kids like it.” Get the recipe
Dilled Smoked Salmon Tart
Wow unexpected guests with this quick appetizer. Get the recipe
Smoked Salmon Potato Bites
Smoked Salmon Potato Bites are made with simple ingredients in this easy-to-make appetizer and yogurt takes the place of the cream cheese that’s traditionally used with smoked salmon. Get the recipe
Pan-Seared Salmon On Baby Arugula Salad
Baby arugula is sold prepackaged in markets and is wonderful with salmon, because of its clean, sharp flavor. Get the recipe
Tortilla-Crusted Salmon with Tropical Fruit Salsa
Ever wonder what to do with that big bag of tortilla chips before they go stale? Try crusting fish with them! Corn tortillas add a distinctly salty corn flavor and crisp texture to salmon. The refreshing salsa combination of mango, papaya, and pineapple makes the perfect partner. Get the recipe
Soft Scrambled Eggs with Avocado, Chia Seeds, Salmon and Kale
Even though this dish can come together quickly on a weekday morning, it’s perfect for a leisurely weekend brunch. Chia seeds give the eggs an especially creamy texture, as does just a bit of grass-fed butter. The combination of avocado and salmon makes this satisfying enough to hold you over until dinner. Get the recipe
Honey Pecan Salmon
Take salmon up a notch with this amazing honey pecan topping. Get the recipe
Salmon Burgers in Pita Pockets
Celebrity chef, cookbook author and Las Vegas restauranteur (rm Seafood, Rx Boiler Room) Rick Moonen, has long been known for creating memorable meals and fabulous comfort food. Test out his salmon burger and you’ll see why his creations always get applause. Get the recipe
Giada’s Baked Salmon with Arugula Salsa Verde
A traditional Italian green sauce gets even greener and more vibrant with the addition of chopped arugula; it’s kind of like a salad and sauce in one. This delicious baked salmon recipe from Giada De Laurentiis makes a perfect meal for Lent—or really any day of the year. Get the recipe
Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon
Nothing beats grilled seafood for dinner! It’s so much better, and better for you, than hamburgers and hot dogs. This Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon has a nice, smoky flavor, but make sure you keep a spray bottle of water next to the grill in case of flare-ups. Get the recipe
Baked Honey-Orange Salmon
Serve this baked salmon with veggies, rice and potatoes on the side, or pair it with a fresh summer salad, like Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad. Get the recipe
Mustard-Baked Salmon
Dijon mustard adds a pleasant tanginess to baked fish. Get the recipe
Crispy Salmon Skin “Bacon”
Crispy. Salmon. Skin. Bacon. We’ll let those words sink in for a moment. “If you love crackly crisp salmon skin, make this recipe,” says Diane Morgan, author of Salmon: Everything You Need to Know + 45 Recipes. Get the recipe
Seared Salmon with Coriander-Orange Beurre Blanc
This tasty recipe was created by Brian Riggenbach, Executive Chef and Partner of The Mockingbird and “Chopped Champion” from the popular Food Network series, using ingredients that his dinner guests chose. Get the recipe
Baked Salmon with Mango and Avocado
This is just the kind of recipe we could all use in our repertoire: an easy, wonderful salmon dish to feed your family, which can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a crowd. Get the recipe
Salmon Kebabs
Get in the swim of eating more fish with this quick dinner-on-a-stick (perfect for Lent). Let everyone pick their own dipping sauce—choose from bottled teriyaki, hoisin or sweet chili. Get the recipe
Egg and Salmon Breakfast Scramble
Celebrity fact: Fairbanks, Alaska is the home of the Alaskan salmon bake and the birthplace of Justin Buchholz, a famous mixed martial artist and UFC fighter. Get the recipe
Grilled Garlic Dijon Salmon Skewers
A bright and savory marinade makes these kebabs an effortlessly elegant summer supper. Serve over rice, couscous or a salad. Get the recipe
Marcus Samuelsson’s Salmon Skewer with Grilled Corn
Samuelsson, the youngest chef ever awarded a three-star restaurant review from The New York Times, shares his delicious recipe for salmon skewers and grilled corn. Get the recipe
Healthy Lemony Salmon
A fish dish that will reel in your kids. Get the recipe
Salmon Chowder
Featuring the Pacific Northwest’s famous fish, this chowder is rich and satisfying. Get the recipe
Honey-Mustard Salmon
This sweet and tangy dish makes a quick, healthy supper. Get the recipe
Melissa d’Arabian’s Salmon Cakes
These savory salmon cakes are healthy, easy, and oh yes, delicious. Get the recipe
California-Style Smoked Salmon Caviar Pizza
No single feature defines California-style pizza aside from the willingness to break the rules and try something new. This is a gloss on the recipe that made California Pizza Kitchen famous. Get the recipe
Wahlburgers’s Fresh Salmon Burgers with Wasabi Aioli
Check out this delicious, easy-to-make recipe for one popular item on the Wahlburgers menu, a freshly ground salmon burger with wasabi aioli, Asian slaw and pickled cucumber. Get the recipe
Masala Salmon
Tandoori masala is a blend of ground spices—typically paprika, cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic, turmeric and cayenne—but it varies a bit from one cook to the next. It’s delicious on this salmon (especially wild Alaska salmon), as well as on lamb, chicken and vegetables. Get the recipe
Salmon with Spinach
Pro-tip: for super-picky salmon eaters, leave off the glaze and let everyone add it if they want to. Get the recipe
Asian Salmon Burgers with Green Onion-Soy Mayonnaise
These burgers, from Salmon: Everything You Need to Know + 45 Recipes by Diane Morgan, are great on the grill or in a pan, and this recipe is easy to double or triple to feed a crowd. You also can form the mixture into little meatballs for a cocktail-party appetizer. Get the recipe
Cashew-Crusted Salmon Skewers
Salmon, nuts and seeds are a home-run combo of flavor, nutrition and simplicity in this recipe from the cookbook The Game of Eating Smart: Nourishing Recipes for Peak Performance Inspired by MLB Superstars. Get the recipe
Heart-Healthy Salmon Tacos
This taco recipe swaps fried fish for sautéed salmon, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids known for reducing blood pressure and triglycerides. The slaw adds extra crunch and nutrients, thanks to vitamin K-packed collard greens and vitamin C-rich jicama. Get the recipe
Hearty Salmon Salad
The salmon has a delicate flavor, but it’s still very hearty. The fennel and apple provide the perfect crisp and flavor and the blue cheese and walnuts add just enough fat to make this salad satisfying. Get the recipe
Maple-Glazed Salmon
This recipe was Army Sergeant Sarah Deckert’s go-to recipe when serving the army surgeon general, because it’s both healthy and delicious. Get the recipe
Quick and Easy Broiled Salmon with Honey and Soy
This marinade/sauce is so flavorful—it really complements the flavors of salmon perfectly. It’s a little salty, a little sweet, and the ginger and garlic really pull it all together. Get the recipe
Teriyaki Salmon
Try this teriyaki salmon recipe for a healthy and delicious dinner idea. This meal does require a bit of prep time since you’ll need to leave time for the fish to marinate in the fridge prior to cooking. But, once it’s done marinating, you’ll be ready to eat within 15 to 20 minutes! Get the recipe
Salmon with Tomatoes and Rosemary
The flavors of rosemary, lemon and tomato become infused in the salmon through oven steaming. Get the recipe
Salmon with Dill and Caper Sauce
This slimming skillet dinner is sneaky healthy given the caper sauce, but so addictive after one bite. Get the recipe
Kevin McKidd’s Salmon in Pastry
“My mum would make this on special occasions, and my dad, brother, and I would do the dishes. The aroma of the pastry would fill the tiny house we lived in. It was lovely. The mixture of the soft salmon and the crispy pastry is so decadent it almost feels like you’re having dessert!” Get the recipe
One Hot and Tangy Salmon
This salmon is hot because of everybody’s current favorite condiment: Sriracha. It’s hot. But it’s also sweet. And a little tart, too. Call it a dream salmon, if you will. Get the recipe
Southwestern Maple-Glazed Salmon with Pineapple Salsa
In this easy and elegant recipe, salmon fillets are generously dusted with a Southwestern spice rub, then broiled and glazed with maple syrup. The spices create a delicious top crust with a hint of heat and bitterness that balances out the sweetness of the syrup and richness of the salmon. Get the recipe
Perfectly Delicious Salmon Patties
Something about the crispiness of the salmon patties and the zesty tartar sauce—yum. This recipe calls for fresh salmon filets, but you can use canned if you’d like. Get the recipe
Smoked Salmon and Dill Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese
Everyone knows grilled cheese, the simple sandwich with melted cheese between two buttery, toasted slices of bread…the grilled cheese is a classic staple of the American diet! So how can we take such an iconic sandwich and take it to the next level of gourmet goodness? This Smoked Salmon and Dill Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese. Get the recipe
Wolfgang Puck’s Pizza with Smoked Salmon and Golden Caviar
Make Wolfgang Puck’s famous Smoked Salmon Pizza at home. Get the recipe
Tender Salmon with Quick Pickled Cucumbers
Quick pickling is an easy way to add bright, tangy flavor to salmon that’s easily baked in the oven. PARADE chef Jon Ashton suggests trying these pickles in your next sandwich wrap, on a burger or even atop a salad. Get the recipe
Ted Danson’s Poached Salmon With Fennel and Arugula
“One of my favorite fish is wild Alaskan salmon. If you can get it when it’s fresh, there’s nothing better,” says Danson. Get the recipe
Easy Fish Tacos
These salmon tacos are simple to prep and quick to bake, while the salsa just requires a little bit of chopping and throwing together in a bowl. Get the recipe
Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
All the elements of a traditional salmon platter are here—cream cheese, dill, capers and onion—and they combine together flawlessly in this hand-held appetizer bite. Get the recipe
Salmon Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette
Adding fruit—especially favorites like blueberries and oranges—is a great way to shake up your salad routine. “I love big salads for dinner in the summertime,” says blogger Amee Livingston of ameessavorydish.com. “It keeps my kitchen cool and makes cleanup a breeze.” Get the recipe
