20 Easy Salmon Dinner Ideas for Weeknights

Salmon is one of the easiest proteins to turn into a fast, healthy dinner, but it’s easy to get stuck making it the same way every week. These 20 salmon dinner ideas fix that: quick skillet and air fryer dinners, sheet-pan meals, grilled and slow cooker salmon, healthy bowls, and budget dinners with canned salmon. Most are ready in 30 minutes or less, and each one gives you the key amounts, times and temperatures, with a link to the full recipe when we have one.

Start with the quick basics below, then jump to the salmon dinner ideas that fit your night.

How We Picked These Salmon Dinner Ideas

• Weeknight-friendly: most take 30 minutes or less of active time.
• Everyday ingredients: nothing you can’t find at a regular supermarket.
• Different methods: skillet, oven, air fryer, grill, slow cooker and Instant Pot, so there’s an idea for every kitchen.
• Budget options: canned and frozen salmon work in several of them.

Salmon Basics for Busy Weeknights

• How much to buy: about 6 oz (170 g) of fillet per person. Center-cut fillets about 1 inch thick cook most evenly.
• Frozen is fine: thaw it overnight in the fridge, or seal it in a zip-top bag and submerge it in cold water for 30 to 60 minutes. Not sure which salmon to buy? Read our guide to wild caught vs farmed salmon.
• When it’s done: salmon is fully cooked at 145°F (63°C), when it’s opaque and flakes easily, per the FoodSafety.gov safe minimum temperature chart. Many cooks take it off at 125°F to 130°F for a moister center; cook it to 145°F for anyone pregnant, young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Our salmon internal temp guide explains the doneness stages.
• Pat it dry before seasoning. Dry fish browns; wet fish steams.

Quick Salmon Dinners (Under 30 Minutes)

1. Air Fryer Salmon

The fastest way to cook salmon with almost no cleanup. Brush 4 fillets with a mix of olive oil, a little honey, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper, and air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 7 to 10 minutes, skin side down, with no flipping. The top browns while the inside stays juicy. Get the full method and a time chart by thickness in our air fryer salmon recipe.

2. Honey Garlic Salmon Bites

Cut skinless salmon into 1-inch cubes, sear them in a hot skillet for a few minutes until browned, then toss them in a sticky honey, garlic and soy glaze. They’re ready in about 15 minutes and kids love them over rice. See our honey garlic salmon bites for the exact sauce.

3. Salmon Piccata

A restaurant-style dinner in 20 minutes: pan-seared salmon with a bright butter sauce of lemon juice, capers, garlic and a splash of broth or white wine. Serve it with pasta, rice or crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Our salmon piccata walks you through it.

4. Brown Sugar Salmon

Sweet, savory and caramelized: the fillets are coated with a brown sugar glaze, baked, then broiled for a minute or two so the top bubbles and darkens. It takes about 20 minutes and goes with almost any side. Get the glaze recipe in our brown sugar salmon post.

5. Pan-Seared Salmon With Lemon Garlic Butter

Pat 4 skin-on fillets dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, lay the fillets in skin side down, and press gently for 10 seconds so the skin stays flat. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until the skin is crisp and the flesh is opaque two-thirds of the way up. Flip and cook 1 to 3 minutes more. Move the fish to plates, lower the heat, and melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 minced garlic cloves for 30 seconds. Stir in the juice of half a lemon and 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, and spoon it over the salmon.

6. Homemade Teriyaki Salmon

Whisk ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons mirin, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 1 grated garlic clove and 1 teaspoon cornstarch. Sear 4 fillets in 1 tablespoon oil for 3 to 4 minutes per side, then pour in the sauce and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, spooning it over the fish until thick and glossy. Top with sesame seeds and sliced green onions and serve with rice and steamed broccoli.

7. Blackened Salmon Tacos

Mix 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano and Diamond Crystal kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper and ¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne. Coat 1¼ lb (565 g) skinless salmon with it. Sear in a very hot cast-iron skillet with 1 tablespoon oil for about 3 minutes per side, then flake into chunks. Serve in warm corn tortillas with shredded cabbage tossed in lime juice and a spoonful of mayo or Greek yogurt, plus avocado and cilantro. Turn on the vent fan; blackening is smoky.

8. Creamy Lemon Salmon Pasta

Boil 12 oz (340 g) penne or linguine. Meanwhile, season and sear 1 lb (450 g) skinless salmon for 3 to 4 minutes per side, then break it into large flakes. In the same pan, cook 2 minced garlic cloves in 1 tablespoon butter, add ¾ cup heavy cream and the zest of 1 lemon, and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in 2 big handfuls of spinach and ½ cup grated Parmesan, then toss with the pasta and a splash of pasta water. Fold in the salmon and finish with lemon juice and black pepper.

Sheet-Pan, One-Pan and Grilled Salmon Dinners

9. One Pan Salmon With Vegetables

Dinner and sides on one sheet pan: the vegetables go in the oven first to get a head start, then the salmon joins them for the last 12 to 15 minutes. Only one pan to wash. Follow our one pan salmon with vegetables for the timing.

10. Sheet-Pan Pesto Salmon With Potatoes

Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Toss 1½ lb (680 g) halved baby potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil and salt and roast for 20 minutes. Push them to the sides, add 4 salmon fillets and 1 pint cherry tomatoes, and spread 1 tablespoon basil pesto over each fillet. Roast for 10 to 14 minutes more, until the salmon flakes and the tomatoes start to burst.

11. Baked Sockeye Salmon With Lemon Garlic Butter

Wild sockeye is leaner and deeper red than farmed salmon, so it bakes faster and needs a little extra fat. Our baked sockeye salmon uses a lemon garlic butter and a short, hot bake so it stays moist.

12. Cedar Plank Salmon

Soaked cedar planks give salmon a gentle, smoky, woodsy flavor and keep it from sticking. Brush it with a maple Dijon glaze and cook it on the grill or in the oven. See our cedar plank salmon for soaking and cooking times.

13. Grilled Salmon With Honey-Garlic Glaze

Grilling salmon is easy once you know three things: a clean, oiled, very hot grate, skin side down first, and no moving the fish until it releases. Our guide to how to grill salmon covers fillets, skin and the honey-garlic glaze.

Slow Cooker and Instant Pot Salmon Dinner Ideas

14. Slow Cooker Lemon Dill Salmon

Line a 6-quart slow cooker with a sheet of parchment paper long enough to lift the fish out. Lay a few lemon slices on it, add 2 lb (900 g) salmon fillets or a side of salmon, and season with salt, pepper, 1 tablespoon chopped dill and 1 minced garlic clove. Pour ½ cup broth or white wine around the fish, not over it. Cover and cook on low for 1½ to 2 hours, until it flakes easily; start checking at 1 hour, since slow cookers vary. The gentle heat makes it very moist, and it’s great for guests.

15. Instant Pot Salmon

Pour 1 cup water into the pot and set the trivet inside. Place 4 fillets about 1 inch thick on the trivet, skin side down, season with salt, pepper and garlic powder, and top with lemon slices. Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes for fresh fillets or 5 minutes for frozen ones, then quick release. If it’s not quite done, close the lid and let it sit for 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with rice cooked separately or a big salad.

Healthy Salmon Bowls and Salads

16. Salmon Poke Bowl

Cubes of raw salmon in a soy and sesame dressing over rice, with cucumber, avocado, edamame and a spicy mayo drizzle. For raw fish, buy salmon that’s sold for raw eating; our guide to sushi grade salmon explains what to look for. Then make our salmon poke bowl.

17. Salmon Avocado Salad

A no-cook dinner with leftover or canned salmon. Gently mix 2 cups flaked cooked salmon with 1 diced avocado, 1 cup diced cucumber, ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes, ¼ finely chopped red onion and a handful of dill or cilantro. Dress with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Serve over greens, in lettuce cups or in a wrap.

18. Miso-Glazed Salmon

Whisk 2 tablespoons white miso, 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon rice vinegar and 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil. Brush it over 4 fillets on a foil-lined sheet pan and broil about 6 inches from the heat for 6 to 8 minutes, until caramelized and cooked through. Watch it closely; miso burns quickly. Serve with rice and sautéed bok choy or a cucumber salad.

Budget Salmon Dinners With Canned Salmon

19. Salmon Patties

Canned salmon, breadcrumbs, egg, a little mayo and lemon, pan-fried until golden. They cost a fraction of fresh fillets and are ready in about 20 minutes. Our salmon patty recipe works with canned or fresh salmon.

20. Southern Salmon Croquettes

A Southern classic with a crisp cornmeal crust and a soft, savory center, often served with grits or rice and a green vegetable. Try our salmon croquettes recipe. For more pantry dinners, see our canned salmon recipes.

Tips for Cooking Salmon on a Weeknight

These habits make every one of these salmon dinner ideas faster and more reliable.

• Buy fillets of the same thickness so they finish together, or pull thinner pieces out first.
• Leave the skin on for pan-searing and grilling; it protects the flesh and peels off easily after cooking.
• Use a thermometer. Salmon goes from juicy to dry in a minute or two.
• Season simply. Salt, pepper and lemon are enough for good salmon; sauces and glazes are a bonus.
• Keep raw salmon cold and cook it within 1 to 2 days of buying, or freeze it.
• Cook once, eat twice. Make two extra fillets and use them for salads, bowls or pasta the next day. Cooked salmon keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge, per the FoodSafety.gov cold food storage chart.

What to Serve With Salmon

Mix and match these sides with any of the salmon dinner ideas above.

• Grains: white or brown rice, quinoa, couscous or orzo.
• Vegetables: roasted asparagus, green beans, broccoli or Brussels sprouts.
• Potatoes: roasted baby potatoes, mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes.
• Salads: cucumber salad, a lemony arugula salad or coleslaw.

Weekend project: make your own smoked salmon on the smoker. Want variety on other nights? Try our boneless skinless chicken breast recipes, or browse all our salmon recipes.

Salmon Dinner Ideas FAQs

What is the quickest way to cook salmon for dinner?

The air fryer (7 to 10 minutes) and a hot skillet (about 6 to 8 minutes) are the fastest. Broiling is close behind at 6 to 10 minutes.

How many salmon fillets do I need for a family of four?

Four fillets of about 6 oz each, or a 1½ to 2 lb side of salmon cut into portions.

Can I cook salmon from frozen?

Yes. Rinse off any ice glaze, pat dry, and add about 50% to the cooking time. Season after the first few minutes, once the surface has thawed. The air fryer and Instant Pot handle frozen fillets especially well.

Is salmon a healthy dinner?

Yes. Salmon is rich in protein, omega-3 fats and vitamin D, and it’s one of the FDA’s “Best Choices” for low mercury in its advice about eating fish.

What goes well with salmon besides rice?

Roasted potatoes, pasta, quinoa, couscous, crusty bread, or simply a big salad and roasted vegetables.