20+ Best Salmon Recipes for Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner

These salmon recipes will show you how to transform this wonderful fish into delicious, easy, and healthy meals! From perfectly baked salmon to beautifully charred grilled salmon, and creative ways to use smoked salmon, there’s no shortage of meal ideas!

Why You’ll Love These Salmon Recipes

I’m such a fan of salmon for its flakey, moist texture, refreshing flavor, and abundant health benefits—gotta love those omega-3s! It’s honestly the fish I cook most often in my house, so I’m always devising new and creative ways to serve it. Here’s what you’ll love about these recipes:

• They’re incredibly easy. Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, these salmon recipes are quick and simple to whip up. Each method is foolproof and well-tested, guaranteeing flaky, moist salmon every time.
• There’s several cooking methods. Whether you want to bake, poach, grill, or slow roast your salmon, I’ve got a tasty salmon dish that ticks that box.
• They’re protein-packed. Salmon is not only full of nutrients but it’s also protein-packed to keep you satiated in a healthy way!
• They’re perfect for all occasions. These recipes work for both busy, no-fuss weeknight dinners and fancy, hosted dinner parties (the pistachio-crusted salmon is always a hit!).

The Easiest Baked Salmon Recipes

For a fast and healthy dinner, nothing beats baked salmon. All you need is a simple sauce or marinade and a quick pop in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. The results are always moist, juicy, and perfectly flakey with the recipes below.

Best Baked Salmon: This is a foolproof salmon recipe that you should know how to master. A simple lemon garlic butter sauce is all you really need to enhance a solid piece of fish.

Dijon Baked Salmon: This herbed Dijon spread is so simple, yet so flavorful. And while this recipe calls for a whole salmon, you can also use salmon fillets.

Salmon Patties: Transform a simple baked salmon into incredibly flavorful and moist salmon patties. Mix the flaked salmon with herbs, onion, bell pepper, mayonnaise, and a few other ingredients, then bake the patties until perfectly golden. Then dip them into my lemon dill mayo or tartar sauce!

Slow Roasted Salmon With Fennel and Orange: For an incredibly tender salmon, you can’t beat this slow roasting method. Plus, the fennel orange topping is the perfect citrus summer flavor pairing.

Pistachio Crusted Salmon: This is for all the pistachio lovers! Salmon fillets are coated in a crunchy, nutty, and semi-sweet topping that’ll instantly elevate a basic baked salmon dinner.

One-Pan Salmon Recipes

Want to cook salmon on the stovetop? Grab your favorite pan to whip up these easy recipes. They’re done in a jiffy.

Poached Salmon: Poaching is a great way to serve up healthy, super tender, and delicious fish in just 20 minutes.

Blackened Salmon: This 15-minute salmon dinner is a taste of the best kind of Southern comfort food. These filets have a buttery inside with a blackened crust loaded with Cajun/Creole spices.

Orange Glazed Salmon: With the help of orange juice, honey, tamari soy sauce, and thyme, this citrusy sweet glazed salmon comes together fast.

Grilled Salmon Recipes

For a subtle charred yet smokey vibe, try grilling your salmon. You can use an outdoor grill or indoor grill pan, it’s up to you!

Grilled Salmon Steaks: These grilled salmon steaks are super moist, have a deliciously smoky char, and taste magical with a drizzle of the creamy mustard chive sauce.

Salmon Tacos: You can thank the salsa verde and chipotle sauce in this recipe. They’re what make these grilled salmon tacos so unbelievably good!

Cedar Plank Salmon: If you’re worried about your salmon sticking to the grill – fear not! A cedar plank easily solves that issue, and results in a smokey, moist, and super flavorful fish.

Air Fryer Salmon: If you’ve got an air fryer, this is a salmon recipe you won’t want to miss. It’s quick and easy to make with a Dijon seasoning that enhances the salmon beautifully.

Fresh and Healthy Salmon Salads

Salmon is a delicious and light way to amp up the protein in your salads! Choose from pan-seared, smoked, or baked, and toss it with fresh veggies for a delightfully filling meal.

Salmon Salad: Mix flaked baked salmon with celery, red onion, radishes, herbs, and a creamy, lemony dressing for the best summer salad ever. Eat it with a spoon or serve it up in lettuce wraps!

Salmon Avocado Salad: With a perfectly pan-seared salmon, all you really need are a few simple ingredients to let it shine. Layer it on a bed of spinach, diced cucumbers, red onion, tomatoes, and avocados tossed in a lemon vinaigrette.

Smoked Salmon, Avocado, and Arugula Salad: Come spring, this salad is always on repeat. It’s easy, flavorful, ultra-refreshing, and visually stunning.

Salmon Asparagus Salad with Blistered Tomatoes: This is a warm, juicy, and fresh combination loaded with the best spring vegetables.

Smoked Salmon Recipes

Sure, smoked salmon and cream cheese are the ultimate combo, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Add smoked salmon to frittatas, salads, and other fun appetizers. Your guests will be raving and going back for seconds!

Smoked Salmon Frittata: In need of a winning brunch idea? Serve this frittata filled with smoked salmon, leek, goat cheese, and tons of fresh herbs.

Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs: Smoked salmon never tasted so good! A twist on classic deviled eggs—this stunning appetizer is a mix of fresh dill, briny capers, and bits of salty and smoky salmon.

Smoked Salmon Avocado Cucumber Bites: This is what healthy appetizer dreams are made of! Just slice cucumber rounds, dollop guacamole, add a slice of smoked salmon and top it off with fresh chives and black pepper. Now tell me that doesn’t sound fresh.

Smoked Salmon Cheese Ball: This show-stopping appetizer is a grown-up version of everyone’s favorite party snack – cheese balls!

Smoked Salmon Pinwheels: For another crowd-pleasing appetizer, these pinwheels are always a winner. Roll up smoked salmon with spinach and a creamy chevre mixture in soft tortillas (or my cassava flour tortillas).

Sweet Potato Toast with Smoked Salmon: This is a crazy delicious way to dress up your basic sweet potato toast for breakfast! Just add avocado, cucumber, smoked salmon, and a poached egg.

More Easy Dinner Ideas

This salmon recipes roundup was originally published February 2021, but updated to include new recipes I know you’ll love!