43 Salmon Dinner Ideas for Slammin’ Weeknight Meals
Every home cook needs some tried-and-true salmon recipes in their arsenal, and the ones below are some of our favorites. In fact, we think salmon is one of the easiest and most fail-proof proteins to make on a weeknight or special occasion: You can prepare a stunning whole salmon fillet to feed a crowd with as much effort as it takes to cook off two or four individual pieces. It’s as versatile as chicken: Arrange a few fillets on a sheet pan with asparagus. Drizzle a fillet with some silky beurre blanc. Sear a piece of salmon on the stovetop to create a crackly, crispy skin. Cube the fish and bake (or air fry) it, nugget style. Douse it in olive oil and slow roast until it confits into a butter-soft texture. You get the idea.
Salmon shines with simple ingredients. A little olive oil, lemon, salt, and black pepper might be all you need, but the flaky, mild-tasting fish also pairs well with bold flavors, from tangy Dijon mustard to Thai curry paste or a teriyaki glaze. In short, salmon is a protein superstar. So find yourself a nice fillet (check out our expert video for tips on buying farmed and wild salmon) and let’s get into it.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova1/43Baked Salmon With Lemon and Thyme
For a salmon dinner recipe that feels like a no-brainer, arrange fillets on a baking sheet, then dress them with olive oil, lemon zest, French herbs, and salt and pepper. Once baked, use a spatula to gently remove the meat from the skin for a continuous, soft texture throughout (or eat the salmon skin, if you prefer).
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Liza Jernow4/43Salmon Croquettes With Dill Sauce
Simple, budget-friendly salmon cakes start with canned salmon, which is a handy pantry staple to have around. Serve them over a grain bowl or alongside a Greek salad to make them a meal.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce6/43Qaliyeh-e Khorma (Spicy Sweet-and-Sour Salmon With Dates)
This easy fish recipe from Najmieh Batmanglij uses luscious, syrupy date molasses and pitted, sliced dates for a rounded sweetness. You’ll need a full cup of fresh herbs to serve alongside it—and rice, of course.
Photo by Nigel Parry8/43Salmon Strudel
Pull off this high-octane salmon dinner idea with minimal ingredients. Instead of baking the phyllo-wrapped salmon the way you would apple strudel or a savory pie, you’ll pan-sear the large packets before slicing them into small, rosy squares.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova9/43Easy Grilled Salmon in Foil With Lemon-Garlic-Herb Butter
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart10/43Spring Sheet-Pan Salmon With Roasted Artichoke Hearts and Leeks
We love this sheet-pan recipe for its elegant simplicity. However, it’s the lemon yogurt sauce that really shines. Make a little extra for serving (or to save for roast chicken or vegetables).
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson12/43Salmon Burgers With Red Pepper Mayo
If you keep a jar of roasted red peppers, a can of tinned salmon, and a few pantry staples around, you can make these salmon patties on the fly. And while we love them stacked on a burger, you could also pan-fry them and serve atop mashed potatoes covered in gravy.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews13/43Spicy Salmon Teriyaki With Steamed Bok Choy
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell14/43Salmon Rice Bowls With Coconut-Ginger Broth
While there are many ways to achieve crispy salmon skin, this comforting recipe calls for showering each fillet in a spiced panko mixture before baking. The result: crunchy bites that hold up against the gingery coconut broth.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht15/43Lemony Salmon With Potatoes
For the brightest baked salmon, brush each piece with a tangy-sweet lemon curd before popping them in the oven. Store-bought curd works brilliantly here, but if you have any leftover from last night’s dessert, this is a great way to use it up.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell16/43Lemon-Roasted Salmon With Escarole, Asparagus, and Potatoes
Photo and Food Styling by Joseph De Leo18/43Yogurt and Spice Roasted Salmon
These tacos deploy one of the quickest and most reliable ways to prepare salmon. The key is cutting the salmon into cubes so it crisps on the outside without leaving a big raw center. It’s one of our best salmon moves for a weeknight dinner—and now it can be yours too.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt19/43Salmon and Bok Choy Green Coconut Curry
For a flavor-packed, one-pot wonder, nestle salmon fillets into a simmering curry and let them cook through—bonus, it all takes less time to cook than the rice you’ll serve with it.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime, Food Styling by Sue Li21/43Lemony Salmon and Spiced Chickpeas
Plan for this recipe to be a hit; as one reviewer notes, “Big problem with this recipe. My daughter ate three servings, so there’s not enough for me and my wife.” You can easily increase the amount of chickpeas and salmon to have enough for your child, yourself, and the week ahead.
By Jonathan Cooper23/43Bourbon-Glazed Fried Salmon Nuggets
Step aside, Buffalo wings. These deep-fried salmon nuggets are ready to take their place as the next great bar snack. And if you want to toss a few atop your next salad, that sounds pretty good to us too.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone24/43Baked Mustard-Crusted Salmon With Asparagus and Tarragon
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophie Strangio25/43Salmon Tacos With Pineapple-Chile Salsa
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Emma Ringness26/43Sesame-Crusted Salmon Bowls
Coat salmon fillets with a tuxedo blend (that’s a combination of black and white sesame seeds) before searing to ensure nutty pops of crunch with every bite.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich28/43Cold Roast Salmon With Smashed Green Bean Salad
A slow-roasted, intentionally chilled salmon looks and feels oh-so lavish, but this recipe works just as well for a dinner party as it does for meal-prepping a weekday lunch with a make-ahead salad.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou30/43Crispy-Skinned Salmon With Whole Lemon–Sesame Sauce
Adding an entire lemon—flesh, pith, and peel—to the sauce provides brightness and texture. The nutty sesame oil and sweet honey offset any bitterness from the pith.
Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich31/43Slow-Roasted Salmon With Harissa
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou32/43Golden Fried Rice With Salmon and Furikake
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li33/43Salmon Burgers With Ginger and Quick-Pickled Cucumbers
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou35/43Turmeric Salmon With Coconut Crisp
As the fish bakes, it absorbs the warming flavors of fresh ginger and turmeric, making it one of our favorite salmon recipes. Plus, the delightfully crunchy coconut crisp adds pops of texture to the otherwise silky-soft salmon and chard.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop and Food Styling by Ali Nardi36/43Salmon With Caper-Anchovy Butter
How do you make quick broiled salmon fillets extra enticing? One reviewer says this recipe, which they “served at a dinner party and everyone raved about,” is the answer. The trick is a compound butter flavored with garlic, anchovies, capers, lemon juice, and parsley. “I made it exactly as written,” they claim, and “my guests loved.”
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott38/43Pan-Roasted Salmon With Grapefruit-Cabbage Slaw
Served with a creamy cabbage slaw inspired by California's Baja-style taco stands, this sunny dish can brighten even the chilliest of days.
Photo by Hirsheimer & Hamilton39/43Spiced Salmon Kebabs
Skewering chunks of salmon with lemon slivers adds brightness to this easy recipe that cooks in less than 10 minutes. Serve the kebabs at a summer cookout with a salad, over a grain bowl, or with warm tortillas.
Photo by Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott40/43Smoked Salmon Tartines With Fried Capers
Turn ready-made hot-smoked salmon into an elegant weeknight dinner (or lunch or brunch) by flaking and piling it onto crusty toasts with a few slivers of red onion. If you have leftover fish, consider a quick smoked salmon pasta later in the week.
Photograph by Matthew Keough, food styling by Drew Aichele, prop styling by Emma Ringness43/43Pastrami Salmon With Fennel Slaw
Some salmon recipes call for minimal intervention; this is not one of them. Like actual pastrami, this salmon dish gets robust flavor from a blend of paprika, brown sugar, coriander, and black pepper. Unlike pastrami, the fish is pan-seared, not smoked, so you only have to spend about 10 minutes over the heat.
