The Best Healthy Salmon Recipes

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May 15, 2021

The Best Healthy Salmon Recipes

Delicious, healthy salmon recipes that are perfect weekday lunches and dinners! These protein-packed, easy salmon recipes are quick to make and packed with flavor.

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Let’s talk all things salmon! If I’m not making something with chicken or ground turkey I love creating delicious salmon recipes. Not only is it incredibly versatile and delicious with your favorite spices, sauces, and even fresh salsas, but it’s also super easy to cook.

Why cook with salmon?

We love cooking salmon in our house because it’s kiddo friendly (Sidney LOVES it) and it’s:

Fast & easy. You’ll have flavorful grilled salmon in under 30 minutes with just a few super simple steps. Dinner win!
Delicious. There are so many different ways to season and flavor salmon that you’re guaranteed to never get bored. Have fun experimenting!
Packed with nutrition. We love having salmon for lunches and dinners and get excited that Sidney loves it, too, because it’s packed with lean protein, healthy fats and omega-3s. Amazing for growing kiddos and adults!

unbaked salmon on a baking sheet

Choosing the right type of salmon

If you’ve ever bought salmon you’ll know that it comes in a ton of different varieties. Here are things to consider when buying it for recipes:

Wild vs. farmed. You can choose wild or farmed, it’s up to you. Farm-raised salmon tends to be milder in flavor and more fatty/buttery in texture, while on the other hand wild salmon can be a little more spendy, but is leaner, more pink, and higher in minerals such as zinc and iron. Both are delicious!
Skin on vs off. Choose a salmon with the skin still on it. This will help keep the salmon extra flavorful, plus it’s easier to grill.
Different varieties of salmon. The most common types of salmon you’ll find at the grocery store are King/Chinook, which is large with a high fat content, Sockeye, which is more red/orange in color, Coho/Silver salmon, which has bright red flesh, and Atlantic Salmon, which is always farmed. I also included a recipe with delicious smoked salmon!

The best method to cook salmon

My favorite way to cook salmon is to bake it right in the oven. The rule of thumb for easily baking salmon is for every inch of thickness, bake your salmon for 15 minutes. Generally, mine is usually perfect around 18 minutes. Marinate it, place it on a baking sheet, and boom you have perfectly cooked salmon!

Take a scroll to see my go-to salmon recipes for any day of the week! If you make any of these recipes be sure to leave a comment and let me know how you liked it. Remember to share a pic on Instagram with the hashtag #ambitiouskitchen – I can’t wait to see what you guys make. Enjoy, xo!

honey lemon garlic salmon on a baking sheet

1. Honey Lemon Garlic Salmon

healthy salmon recipes: firecracker salmon topped with peach avocado salsa on a plate

2. Firecracker Salmon with Peach Avocado Salsa

healthy salmon recipes: salmon, avocado, salsa, and black rice in a bowl

3. 30 Minute Chili Maple Lime Salmon Bowls with Forbidden Rice

healthy salmon recipes: two pieces of salmon on a baking sheet with a fork

4. Spicy Maple Glazed Salmon for Two!

healthy salmon taco bowl topped with avocado and greek yogurt

5. Damn Good Salmon Taco Bowls For Two

healthy salmon recipes: salmon and pineapple over quinoa in a bowl with a fork

6. Brown Sugar Honey Marinated Salmon with Caramelized Pineapple Quinoa

healthy salmon recipes: salmon salad in a bowl with a fork

7. 30 Minute Honey Garlic Salmon with Apple Dijon Green Salad

smoked salmon pinwheels on a wooden board

8. 10-Minute Smoked Salmon Pinwheels

healthy salmon recipes: salmon and veggies over quinoa

9. Sesame Ginger Sweet Teriyaki Salmon with Garlic Quinoa Stir-Fry

healthy salmon recipes: salmon tacos with black rice

10. Blackened Salmon Tacos with Forbidden Rice & Mango Guacamole

I hope you love these delicious healthy salmon recipes! If you make any of them be sure to leave a comment and a rating on the recipe so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!