Looking to incorporate more salmon into your weekly meal routine? We’ve got just the recipes you need! This list of healthy salmon recipes features some of our go-to meal-prep recipes, 30-minute dinners, and Sunday night specials.
If you’ve been around ZK for a while it will come as no surprise that we are BIG salmon fans. This popular fish packs so many essential nutrients that it’s basically a one-stop-shop for all your needs (not completely but it’s pretty dang close!). Salmon is rich in high-quality proteins, omega-3 fatty acids (heart-healthy!), vitamin b, potassium and the list goes on!
Though ZK is based in the Midwest that doesn’t stop us from getting our fair share of seafood, it just means we have to look a little harder for quality seafood, since the closest ocean from Iowa is some 1200 miles away.
Whether you live right beside the sea or are importing your salmon, before you get cooking you need to know what to look for when seeking out high-quality salmon. A great meal starts with great ingredients!. Check out our guide for How to Buy the Best Salmon to get started!
15 Healthy Salmon Recipes
This series includes everything from pesto salmon & pasta, salmon poke bowls, salmon salads and salmon recipes fit for breakfast. Many of these recipes are heart-healthy (because, salmon), marvelous for meal-prepping, and even lent-friendly. They also pack A LOT of flavor, of course!
How to Perfectly Pan Sear Salmon
Gluten-free, low-carb, low-cal, 15-minute meal, pescatarian, lent-friendly
Perfectly pan-seared salmon is one of our most popular posts on ZK to-date. It’s no wonder why when this no-oil method makes it a healthy, no-mess method that anyone, and I mean anyone, can master! Serve with a pilaf, atop a salad, in frittatas, omelets, breakfast burritos or just add it to a charcuterie board for some added elegance.
Pesto Salmon & Pasta
Gluten-free instructions, low-carb, 30-minute meal, pescatarian, lent-friendly
This recipe for pesto salmon and pasta is wholesome, light, savory and extremely satisfying. The salmon is coated in a parmesan breadcrumb that gives it a crispy exterior and a flaky almost fall apart interior. A mixture of angel-hair pasta and zucchini noodles gets topped off with our one-of-a-kind pesto sauce.
Sheet Pan Miso-Glazed Salmon
Gluten-free Instructions, low-carb, 7 simple ingredients, 25-minute meal, pescatarian, lent-friendly
Miso-glazed salmon is the definition of EZ. This one-pan recipe makes cleaning up painless! This salmon is moist, flaky, has a sweet caramelized top and sparks all the right notes for us. Pair with our quick Smashed Cucumber Salad to make it a full meal.
Smoked Salmon Platter with Blini
Gluten-free instructions, low-carb, 35-minute meal, meal-prep, pescatarian, lent-friendly
This smoked salmon platter makes for an elegant appetizer or a fabulous brunch spread. Use what you have on hand and customize according to what’s in season, but the cold-smoked salmon is non-negotiable.
Salmon Poke Bowls with Orange-Sesame Sauce
45-minute meal, pescatarian, lent-friendly
Vibrant and healthy salmon poke bowls feature whole grain brown rice, heart-healthy salmon, piles of veggies and two flavorful sauces. Light, fresh and satisfying, these ingredients come together for the ultimate combination of tangy and mouth-watering simultaneously.
Grilled Balsamic Glazed Salmon with Asparagus
Gluten-free instructions, low-carb, 8 ingredients, 15-minute meal, pescatarian, lent-friendly
Salmon and asparagus cook side-by-side on the grill, making for a quick cook time and breezy clean-up! Grilled and glazed salmon fillets with charred asparagus are everything there is to love about Summer and warmer weather.
Coconut Salmon Curry
Gluten-free instructions, low-carb,30-minute meal, pescatarian, lent-friendly
Pack one pot with green curry, snow peas, spinach, large chunks of moist salmon. Featuring onion, ginger, garlic, green curry paste and lime and you’ve got yourself a deliciously healthy salmon curry for the folks or yourself (it’s okay to be a little greedy when it’s this good!). This recipe is uber creamy, flavorful, nourishing and makes for an easy clean-up.
Salmon & Spinach French Lentil Salad
Low-carb, 30-minute meal, pescatarian, lent-friendly
This French lentil spinach salad with salmon is super lightweight and features just the right amount of crispy, chewy, tangy and sweet. The combination of dried cranberries and perfectly pan-seared salmon is a treat.
Easy Salmon Patties (Cakes)
Gluten-free instructions, low-carb, paleo, keto, meal prep, 20-minute meal, pescatarian, lent-friendly
Salmon patties are the queen of convenience. Made with canned salmon and just a handful of healthy ingredients these patty cakes are even better than the baker means’. Simply serve atop a salad, as a burger, or on its own!
Salmon Cake Niçoise Salad
Low-carb, low-cal, 10 ingredients, 45-minute meal, meal prep, pescatarian, lent-friendly
This salmon cake niçoise salad is packed with healthy protein, fats and fibers. If you make the salmon patties in advance this dish only takes about 10 minutes to whip up. On top of tasting great, you can’t beat the presentation!
Pan Seared Salmon with Leek Purée and Sorghum Pilaf
Gluten-free instructions, low-carb, 40-minute meal, pescatarian, lent-friendly
It may look like a lot, but it's all super easy to make. All you need is seasoning, salmon fillets, a nonstick skillet and whatever you do, don’t skip the leek puree, it’s the stuff of dreams.
Salmon Frittata
30-minute meal, meal-prep, lent-friendly, pescatarian
This Smoked Salmon Frittata, made with delicious lox, dill, lemon and capers, is incredibly easy to make, yet elegant and stunning. It’s quick, easy, feeds many, and makes great leftovers!
Easy Salmon Burgers
Dairy-free, pescatarian, lent-friendly
In the mood for a big juicy burger without all the added grease? Then this recipe we developed for Sir Kensington's is just the fix. Made with heart-healthy salmon, this patty will up your grill-out game for real.
Crispy Brined Salmon
Gluten-free, low-carb, low-cal, 40-minute meal, pescatarian, lent-friendly
Developed for Cuisine At Home, this salmon recipe is just the thing for Spring. The blackberry relish is what sets this dish apart and because this dish can be made in under an hour its perfectly suited for the workweek or a dish to unwind with on the weekend.
Spring Salmon en Papillote
Gluten-free, low-carb, low-cal, 45-minute meal, lent-friendly, pescatarian, diabetic appropriate
En papillote—may seem too difficult and fancy to incorporate into your weeknight routine, but it's actually incredibly easy and saves on cleanup. Our recipe developed for Eating Well is just the ticket for a healthy delicious dinner any day of the week.
