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    Home » Seafood Recipes » Grilled Salmon

    Grilled Salmon

    Last updated: Sep 6, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    This easy grilled salmon recipe is ready in 15 minutes. Simply brush the fish with olive oil, sprinkle it with spices, and grill.

    The skin is the best part, and I'll share a few tips to ensure it comes out nice and crispy.

    Grilled salmon served on a black plate with a fork.

    Of all my salmon recipes, including salmon steak and blackened salmon, grilled salmon is one of my favorites.

    When accompanied by an easy, make-ahead side dish such as broccoli salad, it's one of the easiest dinners I make for my family. Much like this grilled mahi mahi, it's ready in 15 minutes, and it's delicious!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • Grilled Salmon Instructions
    • Expert Tip
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storing Leftovers
    • More Salmon Recipes
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    The ingredients list for making this recipe is delightfully short! The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    • Salmon fillets: I almost always opt for skin-on filets. The skin, fatty and crispy, is my favorite part.
    • Olive oil: This is my favorite oil - it's delicious. If you prefer an oil with a higher smoke point, use avocado oil. Melted ghee is another tasty option.
    • To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
    The ingredients needed to grill salmon.

    Variations

    • You can brush the fish with melted butter or ghee instead of olive oil.
    • Try adding more spices. Tasty options I tried and liked include ½ teaspoon of onion powder, paprika, or cumin, and a pinch of cayenne.
    • Sometimes, I slice a lemon, brush the slices with olive oil or butter, grill them alongside the fish, then serve them with the fish.

    Grilled Salmon Instructions

    Cooking salmon on the grill is fast and easy. Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

    • You start by heating your grill on medium and greasing it. You can use an outdoor grill, an indoor grill (including a dual-contact grill like the one I use in the video below), or a grill pan. Grease the grill thoroughly to prevent the fish from sticking.
    • Brush the salmon fillets with olive oil and sprinkle them with the seasonings. (Photos 1-2).
    • Place the fillets on the hot grill, skin side down. Cover and grill until the outside of the fish is crispy and the inside is fully cooked. This should take about five minutes per side. If using a dual-contact grill, it should take a total of five minutes. (Photos 3-4).
    A four-photo collage showing the steps for grilling salmon.

    Expert Tip

    When using skin-on fillets (as you should!), nothing gets the skin crispier than grilling. And crispy salmon skin is lovely - as you probably know, many Japanese restaurants serve salmon skin sushi rolls, considered a delicacy.

    In addition to making the skin crispy, grilling keeps the fish exceptionally juicy, as long as you don't overcook it.

    Recipe FAQs

    How long do you grill salmon?

    Five minutes per side over medium heat is perfect. To ensure the salmon is fully cooked, check with an instant-read thermometer. The FDA recommends cooking fish to an internal temperature of 145° F.

    What is a good seasoning for salmon?

    I like to season it simply, with olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

    Sage is also excellent with salmon but will char on the hot grill. So, in this particular recipe, I don't use it. But I use it when making pan-fried salmon.

    How do I make the skin crispy?

    Place the fillets on the grill skin side down and allow them to cook undisturbed for five minutes. Then flip them carefully and finish cooking the other side.

    How do I prevent the salmon from sticking to the grill?

    Fish skin tends to stick to cooking surfaces, so it's important to grease your grill thoroughly. If using a grill pan or a dual-contact grill, make sure they're nonstick - truly nonstick with no scratches - and oil them before using.

    Serving Suggestions

    Salmon is versatile. You can serve it with any side dish you like. I often serve it, as mentioned above, with broccoli salad.

    I also like to serve it with grilled portobello mushrooms, grilled broccolini, or grilled okra, grilling both the main dish and the sides simultaneously.

    It's also good with a side of microwave asparagus or with this cucumber tomato salad.

    Storing Leftovers

    You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power.

    You can freeze the leftovers wrapped in foil and sealed in freezer bags for up to 3 months.

    Instead of reheating and drying the leftovers, I sometimes flake them and use them as a salad topping. They're excellent as an added protein in this arugula salad and can be used instead of chicken in this Cobb salad.

    Two pieces of grilled salmon served with sweet potato and broccoli.

    More Salmon Recipes

    • Broiled salmon served with tomatoes and lemon.
      Broiled Salmon
    • Pan-fried salmon served on a white plate, topped with lemon slices.
      Pan-Fried Salmon
    • Baked salmon served on a platter with lemon slices.
      Baked Salmon
    • Poached salmon served on a white plate with lemon slices.
      Poached Salmon

    👩🏻‍🍳 I aim to publish a new recipe once or twice a month. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe today! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe Card

    Grilled salmon served on a dark plate with broccoli and sweet potatoes.
    4.98 from 36 votes
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    Grilled Salmon Recipe

    This easy grilled salmon recipe is ready in 15 minutes. Simply brush the fish with olive oil, sprinkle it with spices, and grill.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 346kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    Ingredients

    • Avocado oil for the grill
    • 4 (6 oz) salmon fillets 1-inch thick, skin-on
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or ½ teaspoon of any other salt)
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

    Instructions

    • Heat a grill, a nonstick grill pan, or a nonstick dual-contact grill on medium. Grease it well.
    • Brush each salmon fillet all over with olive oil and sprinkle it with kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
    • Place the salmon fillets on the grill, skin side down. Cover (you can loosely cover with foil if you don’t have a lid) and grill until the outside is crispy and the inside is fully cooked, about 5 minutes per side.
    • If using a dual-contact grill (like I do in the video below), grill 1-inch-thick fillets for a total of about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

    Video

    Notes

    • To ensure the skin comes out crispy, place the fillets on the grill skin side down and allow them to cook, undisturbed, for five minutes. Then flip them carefully and finish cooking the other side.
    • Fish skin tends to stick to cooking surfaces, so it's important to grease your grill well. If using a grill pan or a dual-contact grill, ensure they're truly nonstick with no scratches - and oil them before using.
    • The FDA recommends cooking fish to an internal temperature of 145° F. 
    • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave at 50% power. You can freeze the leftovers wrapped in foil and sealed in freezer bags for up to 3 months.

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    Nutrition per Serving

    Serving: 1fillet | Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.3g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 360mg
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    DisclaimersMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

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    More Seafood Recipes

    • Grilled scallops served with lemon slices.
      Grilled Scallops
    • Grilled mahi mahi served on a white plate with lemon slices.
      Grilled Mahi Mahi
    • Sautéed shrimp served on a white plate with a napkin.
      Sautéed Shrimp
    • Bacon-wrapped scallops served on a white plate.
      Bacon-Wrapped Scallops

    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Molly

      September 03, 2023 at 9:51 am

      5 stars
      I enjoyed this grilled salmon. Easy, minimal ingredients, and delicious, like all your recipes. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Vered DeLeeuw

        September 03, 2023 at 11:46 am

        You're very welcome, Molly!

        Reply
    2. Dan

      August 07, 2023 at 7:15 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious recipe. I used melted ghee instead of olive oil and added a pinch of onion powder. This was so good!

      Reply
      • Vered DeLeeuw

        August 07, 2023 at 8:01 pm

        Glad you liked it, Dan! I love using ghee. It's delicious.

        Reply

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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