25 Delicious and Healthy Salmon Recipes That Make Eating Better So Easy (2024)

Versatile and healthy, there's a lot to like about salmon, which is why this fish has inspired us to create so many delicious recipes for family-friendly weeknight meals. If you're on the hunt for more healthy—but never boring!—salmon entrées to feed your family, you're in luck. Here, you'll find some of our very best healthy salmon recipes, including baked, broiled, pan-seared, sautéed, and steamed options.

Types of Wild and Farmed Salmon—and the Best Ways to Enjoy Them

What makes this beloved fish such a great option at dinnertime? Salmon is packed with omega-3s, selenium, and vitamins A and D. This fatty fish has 26 grams of protein per every 4-ounce serving, which can help you fill up, curb cravings, and stay satisfied. Then there is that color: The brilliant pink hue of a piece of salmon on your plate is so appetizing (after all, you eat with your eyes first!) and sets off any vibrant green vegetables you choose to pair it with. What's more, salmon's rich, full flavor stands up to bold ingredients—or it can hold its own when used in simpler preparations. There's no need for creamy sauces or cheesy toppings. Salmon simply has a lot going for it.

Small fillets are the cuts we use most, since they (along with salmon steaks) cook quickly—another reason why they're the ultimate weeknight main or less-stress entrée for entertaining. Try them in sheet-pan suppers, in a hearty stew, or as the star in salads, which are heavily featured in our recipe collection.

29 Healthy and Delicious Dinners You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less

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Slow-Baked Citrus Salmon With Carrots

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Stunning, delicious, and nutritious, this is a must-make entrée. Don't let the "slow" part of this dish put you off; it only takes 10 minutes of prep and 40 minutes total.

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Steamed Salmon and Vegetables

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Healthy and quick, this one-pot dinner calls for steaming sliced sweet potatoes and broccolini, then adding salmon filets to the steamer. In the few minutes they take to cook, whip up a miso vinaigrette to drizzle over everything.

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Healthy Salmon Patty Wraps

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Use canned salmon for this tasty take on the fish burger. Add capers and mustard for some lively seasoning, and then wrap them in tender chard leaves rather than a bun.

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Curried Lentil-Salmon Salad

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Not only is this superfood dinner salad healthy, it comes together fast. It takes just 30 minutes to prepare.

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Wild Salmon With Edamame-Cauliflower Rice

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Here's how to incorporate more vegetables into your dinner: Turn the cauliflower into rice, then add edamame to the mix. By the time you bring in the heart-healthy wild salmon, it's an all-around winner on the good-for-you meal front. Bonus: This is a one-sheet pan dinner, which means the oven does all the work. The rice comes out deliciously crispy and cleanup is kept to a minimum. If that's not appealing, we don't know what is.

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Smoky Salmon-and-Potato Stew

Two pantry staples—bottled clam juice and canned tomatoes—make an unbelievably delicious broth for potatoes and salmon when simmered with fresh fennel, celery, and garlic.

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Slow-Baked Salmon and Cherry Tomatoes

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A low oven temperature means tender, perfectly cooked salmon every single time. A simple accompaniment of cherry tomatoes, garlic, and basil is all you need to make the dish sing.

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08of 25

Crisp Grilled Salmon With Fennel-Olive Relish

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A quick sauce made of fennel, green olives, red onion, parsley, lemon juice, and chile de arbol gives this flame-kissed salmon a serious flavor punch.

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09of 25

Wild Salmon, Asparagus, and Shiitakes in Parchment

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When cooked in parchment, salmon steams in its own juices—it's a neat and healthy way to cook. In this recipe, asparagus and shiitake mushrooms imbue the salmon with their flavors as well.

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Baked Salmon Sushi

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Yes, you can make sushi at home! This family-friendly version used baked salmon to delicious results.

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Grilled Salmon Salad

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Fresh sugar-snap peas are excellent partners for rich grilled salmon in this delectable main-course salad.

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Grapefruit, Salmon, and Avocado Salad

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Salmon's bright pink hue matches perfectly with slices of fresh grapefruit—both in terms of flavor and color! Creamy avocado softens this lively, flavorful salad.

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Roasted Salmon With Kale and Cabbage

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Make (okay, bake) this healthy salmon, kale, and cabbage dinner in just 30 minutes. Bonus: It's all made on one sheet pan, meaning less cleanup.

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Brown Rice With Salmon, Avocado, and Toasted Nori

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Think of this as deconstructed sushi. Cook the salmon (different from sushi, we know!), toast the nori, and toss all the elements in a bowl. Eating healthy never tasted so good or looked so beautiful.

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Salmon and Potatoes in Tomato Sauce

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Cook salmon fillets in a zesty tomato sauce for a light meal that tastes like pure comfort.

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Soy-Sesame Salmon

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Soy sauce, honey, orange juice, sesame oil, and ginger make a terrific teriyaki-like marinade and glaze for fresh salmon fillets. Serve with udon noodles and steamed bok choy.

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Salmon and Vegetable Stew With Harissa

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Canned chickpeas add heft to this harissa-spiked fish-and-vegetable stew. Serve over couscous, letting it soak up the addictive broth.

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Salmon Nicoise With Caper Dressing

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This magnificent dinner salad will brighten up your week. Make it and taste how the salmon pairs beautifully with creamy potatoes, briny olives, and tender green beans.

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Salmon With Fennel, Bell Pepper, and Olives

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From bright yellow bell pepper to soft green fennel fronds, this meal will add a burst of color to your dinner table. What's more, it can all be assembled in one pan, making cleanup a breeze.

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Wild Salmon and Romanesco Pilaf

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While salmon is the star of this healthy meal, the almond-studded basmati rice and tender florets of romanesco will keep you going back for seconds. The entire dish is brightened with a mix of fresh lemon, dill, and cilantro.

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Salmon With Cucumber-Radish Relish

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Ready in just 20 minutes, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you're craving something light. Salmon is drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper before being baked in the oven until it's just cooked through. Serve with a our cucumber, radish, and scallion relish for the perfect crunchy finish.

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Yuzu-Glazed Salmon

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It's worth seeking out yuzu, an East Asian citrus fruit that tastes like a cross between a lemon and a grapefruit, for this simple salmon supper. The juice makes a spectacular glaze when paired with miso, soy sauce, and maple syrup.

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Easy Skillet-Poached Salmon

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Poaching is a healthy cooking technique since it requires no fats. Try poaching a piece of salmon with herbs, lemon, and aromatics as this recipe does, then serve it hot or cold, perhaps with Miso Aioli or Gingery Tomato-Basil Sauce on the side.

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Salmon Salad With Parsley and Capers

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Like many foods, salmon is often best when served simply. Poach it to perfection, then serve with plenty of parsley and capers.

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Salmon and Citrus Rice Bowl

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Colorful, crunchy, and totally delicious, that's this rice bowl. The salmon is marinated in navel orange juice and spices, then broiled and served atop brown rice with orange slices, sugar snap peas, and mint.

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25 Delicious and Healthy Salmon Recipes That Make Eating Better So Easy (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest way to eat salmon? ›

Poached Salmon is the healthiest way to cook salmon and will be ready in just 10 minutes! Although it seems fancy, this poached salmon recipe is crazy simple and rewards a tender, delicate, flaky piece of salmon that is light and refreshing.

What is the secret to best salmon? ›

A dry brine gives you firmer, juicier fish fillets with kettle-chip-crisp skin. Credit... Gentl and Hyers for The New York Times.

What helps salmon taste better? ›

I'm talking about brining! Soaking salmon in a simple, quick brine for as little as 10 minutes (up to overnight, if you like planning ahead) is all it takes. To make it happen you need two very basic ingredients: water and salt. Combine 1 tablespoon of salt for every cup of water.

How do you cook salmon without losing nutrients? ›

Baking may also be a better way to retain the vitamin D content of fish. One study found that baked salmon retained all its vitamin D, whereas fried salmon lost around 50% of this important vitamin ( 49 ). For these reasons, oven-baking is considered a healthy way to cook fish.

Is there a downside to eating salmon? ›

Eating large amounts of salmon and other fish could expose you to cancer-causing chemicals, or carcinogens. Fish get these chemicals by swimming in polluted water. Although both wild and farmed salmon carry this risk, the benefit-risk ratio for wild salmon is significantly greater.

Can you eat salmon every day and be healthy? ›

So, just how much salmon can you eat in a day or week? While there's no strict daily limit per se, two to three servings of fish per week is generally recommended by the FDA, according to Hill. On the flip side, if you're eating salmon every day, she says that you could also be at risk for a lack of nutrient variety.

What not to do with salmon? ›

5 Common Mistakes That We All Make When Cooking Salmon
  1. Not removing pin bones. Fact: Most salmon fillets have pin bones in them. ...
  2. Mistreating the skin. ...
  3. Using the wrong pan. ...
  4. Overcooking your fish. ...
  5. Reheating leftover salmon.
May 17, 2021

What to put on salmon before cooking? ›

You can salt fish just before cooking, but for best results, salt at least 30 minutes beforehand. Use a teaspoon of salt per pound of salmon. A light dusting of ground pepper after salting will lend a slight bite to the finished product. You can also add other common household spices to the mix.

Why do you soak salmon in milk? ›

Apparently, the proteins present in milk can bind to the fatty acids that have been exposed to air and give salmon its fishy odor or taste and mitigate them to be more neutral. (Fishiness is caused by the oxidation of fatty acids.)

Why do I feel so good after eating salmon? ›

Salmon is packed to the gills (pun intended) with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12, crucial elements to neurological function and cognition. It also contains a host of other brain-boosting elements like selenium and choline, which are important for overall brain health.

Is it better to cook salmon in the oven or on the stove? ›

For smaller, crispy, skin-on Salmon; a crispy pan sear is recommended. For bigger fillets, and succulent, skin-off King Salmon; the best method would be cooking in an oven.

What are three healthy cooking methods for salmon? ›

However, some people may prefer the texture of pan-fried or grilled salmon over steamed salmon en papillote. Some of the healthiest methods of preparing salmon are pan-frying (searing), roasting, grilling, poaching, and baking in parchment paper.

What goes well with salmon? ›

Sides for salmon
  • Puy lentil salad with soy beans, sugar snap peas & broccoli. A star rating of 4.9 out of 5. ...
  • Easy quinoa salad. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Perfect mashed potatoes. ...
  • Broccoli salad. ...
  • Smacked cucumber pickles. ...
  • Pasta primavera. ...
  • Quinoa, squash & broccoli salad. ...
  • Roasted asparagus & pea salad.

What to put on salmon? ›

How to Make the Best Salmon Seasoning
  1. Brown Sugar. An important component for the best salmon seasoning. ...
  2. Dry Mustard Powder. When it comes to what herbs and spices go best with salmon, dry mustard is at the top of the list. ...
  3. Smoked Paprika. For a touch of smokiness.
  4. Salt. ...
  5. Cumin. ...
  6. Ginger. ...
  7. Garlic Powder. ...
  8. Allspice.
Jan 13, 2024

Is salmon healthier baked or fried? ›

Baking salmon in parchment paper is one of the healthiest cooking methods. It's also easy to prep and clean up. However, some people may prefer the texture of pan-fried or grilled salmon over steamed salmon en papillote.

Is it better to bake or pan fry salmon? ›

If you enjoy a crispy exterior, then pan seared salmon is the way to go. Baking salmon is a great option for a larger piece of fish (try this Baked Salmon in Foil for an easy technique).

Is salmon skin on or off healthy? ›

Nutrition: Is Salmon Skin Good for You? Yes, salmon skin is good for you—and is actually one of the healthiest parts of the fish. Just like the flesh, salmon skin is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B and D, and minerals like niacin and phosphorus.

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