20 Delicious, Healthy Salmon Recipes That Make Eating Better So Easy
In addition to being rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, salmon is also a great source of protein. Make your weeknight meals even better for you by preparing one of our super tasty, nutritious salmon recipes.
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Versatile and healthy, there's a lot to like about salmon, which is why this favorite fish has inspired us to create so many delicious recipes for family-friendly weeknight meals. If you're on the hunt for more healthy—but never boring!—salmon entrées to feed your family, then you're in lucky. Here, you'll find some of our very best healthy salmon recipes, including baked, broiled, pan-seared, sautéed, and steamed options.
What makes this beloved fish such a great option at dinnertime? Salmon is packed with omega-3s, selenium, and vitamins A and D. This fatty fish has 26 grams of protein per four-ounce serving, which can help you fill up, curb cravings, and stay satisfied. Then there is that color: The brilliant pink hue of a piece of salmon on your plate is so appetizing (after all, you eat with your eyes first!) and sets off any vibrant green vegetables you choose to pair it with. We're particularly fond of a side of asparagus, as seen in the Miso Salmon with Asparagus and Carrots shown here. What's more, salmon's rich, full flavor stands up to bold ingredients or can hold its own when used in simpler cooking preparations. There's no need for creamy sauces or cheesy toppings because salmon has a lot going for it.
Small fillets are the cuts we use most, they and salmon steaks cook quickly, another reason they make good weeknight dinners or less-stress entrées for entertaining. Try them in sheet-pan suppers, such as our Wild Salmon with Edamame-Cauliflower Rice, or in a hearty stew, such as our Smoky Salmon-and-Potato iteration. And this wouldn't be a healthy recipes gallery without some salad—trust us, these are not to be overlooked. Whether you prepare something like our Curried Lentil-Salmon Salad (salmon plus fiber-rich lentils, protein-packed Greek yogurt, and warming curry spices make this an all-around winner) or the classy Grilled Salmon Salad that pairs our favorite fish with new potatoes, hard-cooked eggs, sugar-snap peas, and watercress, we're here to tell you that your favorite fish pairs exceptionally well with greens.
All of these recipes truly make it easy—and delicious—to eat healthy.
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Slow-Baked Citrus Salmon with Carrots
Stunning, delicious, and nutritious, this is must-make entrée. Don't let the "slow" part of this dish put you off, it only takes 10 minutes of prep and 40 minutes total.
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Steamed Salmon and Vegetables
Healthy and quick, this one-pot dinner calls for steaming sliced sweet potatoes and broccolini, then adding salmon filets to the steamer. In the few minutes they take to cook, whip up a miso vinaigrette to drizzle over everything.
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Healthy Salmon Patty Wraps
Use canned salmon for this tasty take on the fish burger. Add capers and mustard for some lively seasoning, and then wrap them in tender chard leaves rather than a bun.
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Curried Lentil-Salmon Salad
Not only is this superfood dinner salad healthy, it comes together fast. It takes just 30 minutes to prepare.
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Wild Salmon with Edamame-Cauliflower Rice
Here's how to incorporate more vegetables into your dinner: Turn the cauliflower into rice, then add edamame to the mix. By the time you bring in the heart-healthy wild salmon, it's an all-around winner on the good-for-you meal front. Bonus: This is a one-sheet pan dinner, which means the oven does all the work. The rice comes out deliciously crispy and cleanup is kept to a minimum. If that's not appealing, we don't know what is.
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Smoky Salmon-and-Potato Stew
Two pantry staples—bottled clam juice and canned tomatoes—make an unbelievably delicious broth for potatoes and salmon when simmered with fresh fennel, celery, and garlic.
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Slow-Baked Salmon and Cherry Tomatoes
A low oven temperature means tender, perfectly cooked salmon every single time. A simple accompaniment of cherry tomatoes, garlic, and basil is all you need to make the dish sing.
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Grilled Salmon Salad
Fresh sugar-snap peas are excellent partners for rich grilled salmon in this delectable main-course salad.
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Crisp Grilled Salmon with Fennel-Olive Relish
A quick sauce made of fennel, green olives, red onion, parsley, lemon juice, and chile de arbol gives this flame-kissed salmon a serious flavor punch.
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Wild Salmon, Asparagus, and Shiitakes in Parchment
When cooked in parchment, salmon steams in its own juices—it's a neat and healthy way to cook. In this recipe, asparagus and shiitake mushrooms imbue the salmon with their flavors as well.
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Baked Salmon Sushi
Yes, you can make sushi at home! This family-friendly version used baked salmon to delicious results.
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Grapefruit, Salmon, and Avocado Salad
Salmon's bright pink hue matches perfectly with slices of fresh grapefruit—both in terms of flavor and color! Creamy avocado softens this lively, flavorful salad.
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Roasted Salmon with Kale and Cabbage
Make (okay, bake) this healthy salmon, kale, and cabbage dinner in just 30 minutes. Bonus: It's all made on one sheet pan, meaning less cleanup.
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Brown Rice with Salmon, Avocado, and Toasted Nori
Think of this as deconstructed sushi. Cook the salmon (different from sushi, we know!), toast the nori, and toss all the elements in a bowl. Eating healthy never tasted so good or looked so beautiful.
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Yuzu-Glazed Salmon
It's worth seeking out yuzu, an East Asian citrus fruit that tastes like a cross between a lemon and a grapefruit, for this simple salmon supper. The juice makes a spectacular glaze when paired with miso, soy sauce, and maple syrup.
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Salmon and Potatoes in Tomato Sauce
Cook salmon fillets in a zesty tomato sauce for a light meal that tastes like pure comfort.
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Salmon Salad with Parsley and Capers
Like many foods, salmon is often best when served simply. Poach it to perfection, then serve with plenty of parsley and capers.
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Easy Skillet-Poached Salmon
Poaching is a healthy cooking technique since it requires no fats. Try poaching a piece of salmon with herbs, lemon, and aromatics as this recipe does, then serve it hot or cold, perhaps with Miso Aioli or Gingery Tomato-Basil Sauce on the side.
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Soy-Sesame Salmon
Soy sauce, honey, orange juice, sesame oil, and ginger make a terrific teriyaki-like marinade and glaze for fresh salmon fillets. Serve with udon noodles and steamed bok choy.
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Salmon and Vegetable Stew with Harissa
Canned chickpeas add heft to this harissa-spiked fish-and-vegetable stew. Serve over couscous, letting it soak up the addictive broth.
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Salmon Nicoise with Caper Dressing
This magnificent dinner salad will brighten up your week. Make it and taste how the salmon pairs beautifully with creamy potatoes, briny olives, and tender green beans.
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Salmon and Citrus Rice Bowl
Colorful, crunchy, and totally delicious, that's this rice bowl. The salmon is marinated in navel orange juice and spices, then broiled and served atop brown rice with orange slices, sugar snap peas, and mint.