By Becky Hardin
Published Apr 4, 2024
I absolutely love salmon because it’s quick and easy to cook, totally delicious, and packed with health benefits. These easy Salmon Recipes are my favorite way to add this seafood favorite into my regular diet–proof that making a healthy meal can be simple! Plus I’ve gathered some side dishes to serve along with this list of salmon recipes for the ultimate lunch or dinner!
Truly Easy Salmon Recipes
Salmon is one of my favorite things to cook for dinner when looking for recipes that are quick, easy, healthy, and tasty! I’m always amazed by how fast this seafood staple cooks, so it’s great for last-minute meals and weeknight dinners. Plus it’s packed with nutrition, which makes me feel good about eating it so often.
All it takes to make these easy salmon recipes is whipping up a simple glaze or sauce, adding a few herbs and spices, and letting it cook. I like to serve these salmon dishes with rice, pasta, veggies, or really any of my favorite sides. It’s so simple, and if you can believe it, the kids love it too!
These are my favorite salmon dinner ideas, and I hope you’ll love them too. Choose from sheet pan dinners, grilled fish, and all kinds of salmon and veggie recipes. Bookmark these easy recipe ideas for weeknight meals, meal prep lunches , or special dinners that will wow your guests.
Sheet Pan Lemon Salmon with Asparagus
Healthy Salmon Dinner Recipes
Salmon is always a great idea for dinner if you’re looking for something healthy. It’s lean and filled with nutrients, so it’s easy to make a well-balanced meal with these salmon dishes at the center. The USDA actually recommends eating salmon or seafood 2-3 times a week for heart health, so you know it’s good!
- Sheet Pan Lemon Salmon : This quick meal idea comes together in about 30 minutes, and includes salmon and asparagus roasted in one pan. It’s a well-balanced dinner, and I love it for meal prep.
- Air Fryer Salmon : I can’t believe how quick and easy it is to make crispy salmon with my Air Fryer. And this seasoning mix makes for a really simple, tasty, and healthy recipe that you can serve with rice and veggies.
- Tequila Lime Salmon Salad : This is my go-to when I need a healthy lunch. This salad is filled with avocado, lettuce, beans, corn and more, then topped with marinated salmon and tequila lime vinaigrette.
- Air Fryer Miso Salmon : Flakey fish is cooked fast in the Air Fryer, along with fresh veggies, all coated in a tasty Japanese-inspired sauce. Serve salmon with rice to finish the meal!
- Salmon Burgers : Add a healthy (but still delicious) option to burger night ! This unique and interesting salmon dinner recipe will give you a whole new way to enjoy seafood.
Grilled Salmon
Grilled Salmon Recipes
With summer in the air and grilling season in on the way, these healthy grilled salmon ideas are the perfect thing to make for dinner right now.
- Grilled Salmon : This simple, quick, and healthy salmon recipe is about to be your go-to! The herb-filled, savory and citrus-y marinade creates the best flavor, and it cooks on the grill in 10 minutes.
- Garlic Butter Salmon : The garlic lemon butter gives the salmon such a simple but delectable flavor, and it pairs perfectly with lemon butter asparagus !
- Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa : This Whole30 approved recipe is so quick to put together, and it’s absolutely tasty. I’m obsessed with the avocado salsa!
Baked Salmon and Asparagus
Salmon Sheet Pan Recipes
I love sheet pan meals, and these recipes make it quick and easy way to get dinner on the table! Just combine flakey salmon with fresh vegetables, tasty glazes, and pop it in the oven. Done!
- Baked Salmon and Asparagus : The hoisin glaze adds so much flavor and it’s already paired with asparagus–a full salmon dinner, all baked in one pan!
- Honey Mustard Salmon and Potatoes : This easy salmon dinner idea is made with potatoes, green beans, and tomatoes for a veggie-filled meal!
- Herb Crusted Salmon with Goat Cheese Polenta : This baked salmon is so good, with a side of cheesy polenta and roasted tomatoes. It’s such an easy dinner recipe, with no lack of flavor!
Lemon Butter Salmon in Parchment Paper
Quick Salmon Ideas
Since fish cooks fast, you’ll never be in the kitchen long when you’re making salmon for dinner. These meal ideas are all so quick to make!
- Lemon Butter Salmon in Parchment : Salmon, asparagus, onions, lemon, and thyme are covered in a lemon butter sauce, and oven-baked wrapped in parchment paper. Yup, it’s a whole meal in one. And I love how tender and buttery the salmon gets!
- Miso Salmon : The salty and savory flavors of this miso glaze creates a delicious salmon dish that’s ready in less than 30 minutes.
- Baked Pesto Salmon : This basil walnut pesto is the perfect topping for flaky fish. It’s a simple recipe but it’s so flavorful! I always serve it with pasta.
- Pan Seared Salmon : Pan-searing is a quick and simple way to cook salmon filets for any meal. For this recipe, I added buttery garlic capers for extra flavor!
- Orange Glazed Salmon : The zesty, sweet, and savory orange glaze adds a kick of flavor, and like most salmon recipes, this dish is ready in less than 30 minutes.
- Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Salmon : The cilantro lime flavor is so delicious, and it’s ready in 25 minutes. This is an easy idea for any lunch or dinner.
Salmon Piccata
Flavor-packed Salmon Meals
These salmon dinner recipes are filled with flavor! Salmon isn’t boring when it’s so well-seasoned, cooked in delicious sauces, and served with your favorite side dishes.
- Salmon Piccata : The super creamy, tangy, garlic-y sauce makes this recipe absolutely delectable! Serve it with pasta or veggies.
- Caprese Stuffed Salmon : This salmon is literally filled with flavor! Mozzarella and tomatoes are stuffed right into the salmon, then it’s baked to perfection. Plus, the balsamic roasted tomatoes pair nicely on the side.
- Brown Sugar Salmon : The sweet and savory bourbon glaze is mouthwateringly delicious, and I just can’t get enough of this incredible flavor. And pecans add a crunchy texture that dresses up this simple salmon recipe.
- Honey Garlic Salmon and Asparagus : This is one of my all-time favorite salmon dinner ideas. The addition of asparagus and a tasty honey garlic sauce is just so delicious.
- Tuscan Salmon : Flakey fish and a creamy sauce with tomatoes, all cooked in one pan? It’s the most delicious Italian seafood dish for weeknight dinners!
- Blackened Salmon : My fave blackened seasoning is a mix of spicy and savory flavors, and it coats the fish in a crispy, delicious texture.
- White Wine Dijon Salmon : Coated in a crispy garlic Parmesan crust and covered in a white wine dijon sauce, I especially love this recipe for special occasions and dinner guests!
Honey Garlic Salmon and Asparagus
What to Serve with Salmon for Dinner
For healthy salmon dinner ideas, I like to serve it with some combination of grains and vegetables. A baked or grilled salmon fillet served over white or brown rice (like this Instant Pot basmati rice ), along with broccoli or asparagus is a delicious and simple meal.
But one of the best things about salmon is that it can easily be served with all kinds of veggies, side dishes, pastas, salads, and more. It goes well with grilled veggies , roasted baby potatoes , or cucumber tomato salad .
Now that you’ve got all these delicious salmon dinner ideas to choose from, you have no excuse not to make a healthy dinner tonight. And with so many tasty and easy salmon recipes, you’ll have meal ideas for weeks!
More Easy Dinner Ideas
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- 24 Shrimp Dinner Recipes
- 30+ Meatless Dinner Ideas
- 15 Ground Turkey Recipes
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
