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TL;DR: Learn how to cook salmon like a pro with these four easy, delicious methods—all using under five ingredients and ready in less than 20 minutes. Plus, get expert cooking tips and insights into salmon’s health benefits.
Main Points:
Do you love eating salmon out at your favorite restaurant but aren’t sure how to replicate that fresh flavor at home? Well, you're in the right place to get the answers you're searching for. In this blog, we’ll teach you the easiest ways to cook salmon. You’ll be sure to find a method you love, whether you’re looking to impress or just eat a little healthier each week.
The 4 delicious salmon recipes we’re sharing today are simple, quick, and oh-so flavorful! Add these salmon preparation techniques to your repertoire, and you’ll never struggle to find a salmon recipe again.
Each of these recipes has under 5 ingredients and will be ready in less than 20 minutes. In fact, you can prepare some of them in as little as 10 minutes!
All of these preparation methods were reviewed and endorsed by our in-house Chef, Andrew. He’s a 40-year veteran in the restaurant industry and knows what he’s doing! When you’re done reading, you’ll know how to make salmon like a true professional!
Here are the salmon dishes we'll be breaking down today:
~ Click Below & JUMP TO Recipe ~
Salmon is one of the healthiest, tastiest, and most popular fish in the United States and across the globe. Whether you realize it yet or not, Salmon is also one of the EASIEST fish to cook at home. No joke.
Salmon is versatile and can be prepared in so many different ways. Even so, it can be confusing (and sometimes a bit intimidating) to decide on the best way to cook salmon. Our advice? Just K.I.S.S. – Keep it SIMPLE Seafood.
Salmon is already packed with natural flavor with a tender, melt in your mouth texture. That means it does not require a long list of ingredients or complicated steps. The simplest preparation will still reward a truly delicious Salmon dish!
But first, let’s quickly talk about the health benefits of salmon. The USDA and the American Heart Association both recommend that you should be eating fish two to three times per week. They advise that a minimum of 8 ounces is necessary in order to maintain a healthy diet.
Some of the numerous nutrition and health benefits of salmon include:
We’re often asked, “What’s the healthiest way to cook salmon?” That depends on your personal nutritional and lifestyle goals. For those counting calories, poaching is a wise choice because it doesn’t require any added oils. There are only 145 calories in 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of poached salmon!
With that said, if you’re looking for health benefits, you really can’t go wrong with this Omega-3-rich superfood. Adding salmon to your diet has been shown to support heart health and brain function no matter how you prepare it!
Whether you leave the skin on or remove it, salmon can be delicious either way – it all depends on your cooking method and personal preference.
Skin-on Salmon acts like a natural barrier, helping prevent overcooking and keeping the fish juicy. Crisp it up in a hot pan and you’ve got added texture and flavor. Bonus: the skin is full of nutrients! Just make sure that it is properly de-scaled before cooking.
Skinless Salmon is perfect if you want something tender and fuss-free – especially great for poaching or baking. Plus, it seasons evenly and cooks a little faster.
Pan seared salmon reigns supreme as the simplest, quickest, and debatably most delicious way to prepare salmon. In under 10 minutes and with only 3 ingredients (salt, pepper, and salmon), you’ll enjoy a crispy, juicy, tender piece of salmon.
Serve alongside your favorites sautéed vegetables with some parmesan cous- cous, jasmine rice, or even atop a fresh salad. The possibilities are endless! This preparation will not steer you wrong whenever you need a stress-free, healthy lunch or dinner.
Servings: 2
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Breaded, pan-fried Salmon is crunchy, flaky, and delicious. This fantastic seafood lunch or dinner will be ready to devour in under 20 minutes.
This breaded salmon follows the same procedure as we covered with pan seared salmon. The difference, of course, is that we will bread one side of this salmon portion and pan-fry it. This is another delightfully simple way to “dress up” your salmon for a bit more impressive, visually pleasing dish.
Panko-crusted salmon still has only 5 ingredients – salt, pepper, flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. We would recommend using seasoned panko breadcrumbs. You can buy them pre-seasoned or season them yourself.
We will follow “standard breading procedure” in this recipe. Be sure to use one hand when dredging in your wet ingredient (egg). Use the other hand for your dry ingredients (flour & breadcrumb). This will avoid any messy “snowman hands!”
Pair this with Chef Andrew's mouthwatering pimento cheese slaw as a scrumptious side. It’s the perfect complement to this crispy Panko Crusted Salmon.
This simply delicious pan-fried salmon recipe results in a golden brown, crispy crust coating the juicy, tender salmon. Pair this with Chef Andrew's mouthwatering pimento cheese slaw! You’ll have a fantastic seafood lunch or dinner in 30-35 minutes!
Servings: 2 people
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Baked Salmon with Lemon is a reliable, convenient, stress-free way to prepare a healthy salmon dinner. Your meal will be complete in under 20 minutes. Hit it with some salt, pepper, and a knob of butter. Bake salmon at 400°F for 14-16 minutes with a bit of white wine or water.
The white wine in this recipe helps to maintain the natural moisture and juicy texture of the salmon portion. Don’t have wine? Use water or even broth! No problem.
We like to serve ours with steamed broccoli and fresh lemon wedges.
Servings: 2
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Poached Salmon is the healthiest way to cook salmon! It’s also one of the quickest! Your meal will be ready in just 10 minutes!
Although it seems fancy, this poached salmon recipe is crazy simple. It ultimately rewards a tender, delicate, flaky piece of salmon that is light and refreshing. That’s one of the reasons it’s a popular addition to a brunch spread!
Serve with fresh roasted asparagus, potatoes, and fresh lemon wedges.
Servings: 2
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Here’s a trick that Chef Andrew has used for over 30 years! All you need is a small wooden skewer.
Gently push the flat side of the skewer through the thickest part of the fish. If it goes through the fish with no resistance, it is done cooking! If there is resistance, cook for another minute or so and test again.
And remember – your fish will keep cooking for a couple of minutes after you remove it from cooking. This is referred to as “carry over cooking”. Be mindful of this to get your seafood to exactly the right doneness you desire.
Honestly, all four methods above are easy ways for beginners to start working with this all-star protein! Ask yourself which cooking method you find the least intimidating.
For some, the frying pan is the most comfortable, familiar option. For others, sticking a sheet pan in the oven seems as stress-free as it gets! Even poaching, which sounds complicated, is quick, simple, and very hard to mess up!
As long as you’re not trying to master an over-the-top, complicated preparation, you’ll be just fine. Follow basic food safety rules and you’ll cook a delicious salmon meal!
Once you’ve mastered the cooking methods above, you can experiment with seasoning!
Consider a few of these pantry staples:
Additionally, many flavors go best with salmon. You’ll often see salmon served with citrus fruit (like lemon in the baked recipe above). However, lime also adds a refreshing acidity to seafood!
On the other hand, you can consider experimenting with umami flavors, too. Asian flavors like soy sauce, ginger, and sesame add a depth and complexity many salmon fans love. For a spicy preparation, try chili flakes or cayenne. For something more classic, honey mustard does the trick!
The bottom line? Salmon is one of the most versatile proteins out there. Anything bright and fresh will balance the natural oily tenderness of the fish! Happy experimenting!
If you follow the recipes above, you shouldn’t have this issue. However, if you’re starting to experiment, there are a few ways to address this problem.
Try one of the following:
If your salmon dries out while grilling, consider grilling in a foil packet. That method traps the steam in with the fish, adding moisture as it cooks. Plus, it keeps flaky fish from falling through the grates!
North Coast Seafood is a family-owned, Boston-based, quality-obsessed Seafood company founded in 1957. We are a direct-importer and first receiver of the highest quality, sustainable seafood.
We cut out the middleman by processing in our own state-of-the-art facilities. We even distribute directly to retailers, restaurants, institutions, and consumers. Our mission is "to share the joy of extraordinary seafood."
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