12 Ways to Enjoy the Best Grilled Salmon

By Chef Jackie F
June 18, 2020

Although there's a world of flavor enhancements you can create with marinades, rubs, and sauces, grilled salmon tastes great even without any sauces and seasonings. The natural oils found in salmon help keep the flesh moist and flavorful when it's cooked over high heat. Plus, these oils contains a high amount of an unsaturated fat called omega-3 fatty acids, which is good for maintaining your heart health—another plus that makes salmon such a great choice for grilling. Fire up your appetite for grilled salmon with these top-rated recipes.

Start Slideshow

1 of 13

Balsamic and Rosemary Grilled Salmon

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Salmon and fresh herbs are a match made in heaven, and this quick and easy recipe flavors salmon fillets with a 30-minute soak in a simple marinade of fresh rosemary, oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and a touch of garlic. Like many cooks, Allrecipes community member, cathy, says she threw the marinade ingredients in the blender "to save time on mincing garlic and chopping rosemary."

 

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 13

Firecracker Grilled Alaska Salmon

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Hot diggity! This recipe packs a little heat in the marinade with the help of crushed red pepper flakes. You can always adjust the amounts to suit your tolerance for spice. Set aside some unused marinade and boil it down it in a saucepan for a flavorful drizzle to serve over the cooked salmon. Watch the video to see how to make this popular recipe.

3 of 13

Sesame Grilled Salmon

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Soy sauce, honey, fresh ginger, garlic, and sesame oil combine to make a super-quick 5-minute marinade for salmon fillets. This recipe can be made in a grill pan or right on your grill grates.

 

Advertisement

4 of 13

Cedar Planked Salmon

Credit: KGora
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

It's worth the effort to find cedar planks for grilling; look for them in the fresh fish section of larger grocery stores and at a fresh fish market. They give your salmon a sweet, smoky flavor and woodsy aroma, while keeping the flesh tender and moist. Plus, the presentation is pleasingly rustic. Read up on what you need to know to plank-grill, and get ready for a whole new level of outdoorsy flavor.

 

5 of 13

Grilled Salmon with Cilantro Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Zesty cilantro is another herb that goes great with salmon. The cilantro-butter sauce and fish are cooked together in a foil packet right on the grill, steaming the fish and infusing it with moistness and flavor.

 

6 of 13

Grilled Salmon with Bacon and Corn Relish

Credit: MuklukAnnie
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Bacon and corn relish are served like salsa on top of seasoned salmon. Both colorful and flavorful, it's a showstopper when you have guests over for dinner.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 13

Grilled Salmon Skewers

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These easy salmon kabobs are glazed with a mixture of soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and fresh ginger. This is another recipe where you want to hold aside extra marinade to be cooked down and drizzled over the salmon before serving. If you're using wood skewers, make sure to soak them in water for 20 to 30 minutes before cooking, so they don't burn while grilling.

8 of 13

Bacon-Wrapped Bourbon-Marinated Salmon

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Here's one that'll make a fish-lover out of your most die-hard meat eaters. Salmon fillets are cut into cubes, wrapped in bacon (because everything's better with bacon), marinated in a mix of steak seasoning, brown sugar, and bourbon, and grilled for a mere five minutes. Tammy, who submitted this recipe, says, "I serve this as a main dish, appetizer, or whatever you desire."

 

9 of 13

Grilled Salmon with Avocado Dip

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Salmon is rubbed with dill and lemon pepper, quickly grilled, and topped with creamy avocado and Greek-style yogurt for a luxurious treat.

 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 13

Fresh Salmon Burgers with Lemon-Yogurt Sauce

Credit: Allrecipes
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Chopped salmon is formed into burger patties with the help of a little egg, herbs, and spices, then grilled and served on buns with a fresh and tangy yogurt sauce. Allrecipes community member, Loosen Up, suggests freezing the patties for about 20 minutes before grilling to help the patty mixture stick together.

11 of 13

Grilled Salmon with Maple Syrup and Soy Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Salmon is marinated in a maple syrup and soy sauce blend. "This is a quick and tasty salmon recipe with almost no cleanup required," says Minimartha. "Serve with brown rice and steamed pea pods."

 

12 of 13

Cedar Plank-Grilled Salmon

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Grill salmon on cedar planks, and the fish cooks evenly and develops smoky flavors. "Cedar keeps the fish from getting burned or blackened and infuses it with delectably earthy flavor," says Greubel Rosie. "Brush with my Awesome Sauce recipe before serving."

 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 13

More Seafood Recipes & Inspiration

Credit: Meredith
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Chef Jackie F