Grilled Salmon
Fire up the grill! This grilled salmon recipe is the best! Fresh wild-caught salmon is coated in a flavorful seasoning blend, then grilled to golden perfection. A super easy, healthy dinner option that will earn you rave reviews! It’s a seafood meal that includes just a few simple ingredients and cooks up in just about 10 minutes.
Grilling is one of my favorite ways to cook up a meal! Grilled chicken tacos, stuffed burgers and this super tasty grilled salmon are in my regular dinner rotation.
Salmon is my very favorite variety of seafood and I enjoy it often. Whether it’s a side of salmon big enough for a crowd, or smoked salmon for brunch, you can almost always find salmon in my house. One of my absolute favorite ways to eat salmon is this grilled salmon served with lemon dill sauce. It’s fresh, easy and absolutely delicious.
You guys are going to LOVE this grilled salmon recipe! It’s seriously the best! I’ve been using this seasoning blend and cooking method for years and it’s just a foolproof, all around delicious recipe for grilled salmon.
Seasoning Grilled Salmon:
Salmon already has plenty of flavor and heart-healthy fats on its own. Its natural oils also act to intensify any seasonings you add. So, I like to keep it simple with my spices. This salmon rub highlights the fish without adding much fat and gives the salmon such great flavor. Plus, this blend uses spice rack staples that you probably already have on hand. Serve the grilled salmon with my easy lemon dill sauce for even more deliciousness!
- Salt & pepper. A must for really bringing out the delicious flavors in your salmon.
- Oregano. Adds a savory richness to the seasoning mix.
- Garlic powder. A staple in most pantries, feel free to add as much or as little garlic powder as you wish. You can also sub this with garlic salt and then use less regular salt.
- Paprika. Use regular or smoked. I really like the deep, smoky aroma and flavor that the smoked paprika brings to the salmon.
- Cayenne pepper. Use a dash of red pepper if you like your grilled salmon a bit on the spicy side. You can also add red pepper flakes for a kick of heat.
How do you make grilled salmon?
This entire dish can go from fridge to table in under 20 minutes and it’s truly SO super tasty.
- Prep the grill. Making sure the grill grates are clean and coated with oil is an important task. This will help create a nonstick surface for the salmon. You’ll also want to preheat the grill to between 450ºF and 500ºF.
- Make the spice rub. Mix seasonings together in a small bowl or shake them up in a zip-top baggie.
- Season the salmon. Brush olive or avocado oil over both sides of the salmon. Rub seasoning mix evenly over the flesh side of the salmon. Squeeze 1 whole lemon over the top of the salmon.
- Grill the salmon. Place the salmon, flesh side down over direct high heat with the lid closed for about 4-6 minutes or until salmon can easily be lifted off the grates. Flip the salmon and cook another 3-5 minutes or until fully cooked.
How do you know the salmon is fully cooked?
There are a few things to look for when testing to see that your salmon is fully cooked. You definitely want to avoid overcooking the salmon because it will become dry and not very enjoyable to eat.
When fully cooked:
- The salmon will easily lift away from the skin with a flat spatula or fork.
- Fish will flake easily with a fork in the thickest part of the fillet.
- The inside color will change from red to pink, but may still look a little translucent.
- To ensure salmon is fully cooked, use an instant-read thermometer to measure the thickest part of the salmon. Depending on the desired doneness, target 125ºF for medium-rare, 140ºF for medium.
Tips For Making Grilled Salmon:
- Use a zip-top sandwich bag to mix your spices. You can shake it to combine the spices and throw away the bag when you’re done. No extra bowl and spoon to wash!
- Make sure your salmon fillets are all about the same size, so they cook evenly.
- Remove excess moisture from the surface of the salmon with paper towels. If the salmon is not dry when it is placed on the grill, it will take more time to evaporate the water instead of instantly charring.
- Don’t move the fish after adding it to the hot grill grates. A nice crispy crust will form, creating the dark char, and that is when the fish will naturally release from the grates.
- Leave the skin on the fish while it cooks. Once cooked, the skin is very easy to remove with a fork.
Serving Suggestions:
Grilled salmon pairs well with a variety of side dishes. My favorite way to serve it is over rice or quinoa with roasted broccoli and a drizzle of lemon dill sauce. You can also serve it over fresh greens. It would be a wonderful protein added to my favorite Italian salad. We also love to enjoy it over pasta dishes, like this easy pasta salad. Other tasty sides that work well with grilled salmon are: Cauliflower Au Gratin, Greek Pasta Salad, Greek Chickpea Salad, Potato Salad, Cheesy Potato Casserole, Roasted Red Potatoes and Jalapeño Pesto Pasta Salad.
Storage and Reheating:
- Storing leftovers. Grilled salmon is best enjoyed immediately, but you can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. If I have leftovers, I like to enjoy it cold, flaked over a fresh green salad. Try it over my Spinach Strawberry Salad, instead of the chicken!
- Reheating. The best way to reheat the salmon without it becoming too dry is to reheat it in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat until just warmed through.
This grilled salmon with lemon dill sauce is one of those dishes everyone will love! It’s:
Hearty
Healthy
Flavorful
Quick + easy
Gorgeous
Fresh
& Delicious
This grilled salmon recipe works great for a quick weeknight dinner, yet it’s elevated enough to serve to guests. It’s the best way to enjoy salmon!
Other Favorite Salmon Recipes:
Blackened Salmon with Strawberry Avocado Salsa
Seared Salmon Tacos with Avocado Crema
If you try this grilled salmon recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. It’s so fun to see what you’re cooking! Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Grilled Salmon
Ingredients
- 1 – 1 ½ lbs. salmon fillet, cut into 4 pieces
- 1-2 tablespoon(s) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 1 lemon to juice over salmon
Optional Lemon Dill Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the grill by brushing the cooking grates to clean and coat with oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray, close the lid and preheat to 450°F-500°F. A grill pan also works really well. If using a grill pan, preheat to high heat.
- Mix seasonings together in a small bowl.
- Dry salmon well using paper towels. Generously brush olive oil on both sides of the salmon fillets. Rub seasoning mix evenly over the flesh side of the salmon. Squeeze 1 whole lemon over the top of the salmon.
- Grill the salmon flesh side down over direct high heat with the lid closed, for about 4-6 minutes or until or until salmon can easily be lifted off the grates. Use a spatula to flip the salmon and cook another 3-5 minutes. To ensure salmon is fully cooked, use an instant-read thermometer to measure the thickest part of the salmon. Depending on the desired doneness, target 125ºF for medium-rare, 140ºF for medium.
- Remove grilled salmon using a spatula and place on a clean plate and serve with lemon wedges.
- While salmon is cooking or up to a day ahead of time, stir together ingredients for dill sauce in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
Notes
- Storing leftovers. Grilled salmon is best enjoyed immediately, but you can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. If I have leftovers, I like to enjoy it cold, flaked over a fresh green salad. Try it over my Spinach Strawberry Salad, instead of the chicken!
- Reheating. The best way to reheat the salmon without it becoming too dry is to reheat it in a skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat until just warmed through.
Did you make this recipe?
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Sounds amazing and that sauce is totaly obligatory in my modest opnion! HAhaha ! Dill fan here!
Yum! This made for the perfect summer dinner, making again next week, already excited 😉
My wife is going to love this recipe! Salmon is one of her favorites!
That lemon dill sauce for the gilled salmon sounds amazing! Right up my alley. I am giving this a go soon!
Salmon is also my favorite seafood, but I find it so hard to cook to the right doneness, I end up making it dry sometimes. I’ll be following your tips from now on! Thank you!
Yum! This recipe looks so delicious and tasty! My daughter and I love anything fish related. I can’t wait to try this!
I love grilled salmon and this lemon dill sauce pairs so well with it. Trying out soon again!
My new favorite way to make salmon! This was so good and the flavors are spot on. YUM!
I love grilling and I love salmon so this flavorful recipe is perfect. Can’t wait to try it!
It would be helpful if you were to identify which salmon you are using. There are several species of salmon and not all are available world wide.
I would definitely use wild-caught Alaskan salmon. But any salmon should work fine with this recipe.
This looks so delicious and healthy. Definitely my kind of dinner!