How to grill salmon: step by step
Some people swear by cooking grilled salmon in foil. But we think the very best way is right on the grill grates. This way, you get all that smoky flavor and a crispy exterior. Here are the main steps for how to grill salmon (or see the full recipe below). Meet the perfect grilled salmon! It’s our tried-and-true easy method that comes out tender with a lightly crisp crust. Even better, it’s sprinkled with our tasty magical seasoning blend. This salmon seasoning tastes so good, you’ll want to put it on everything—you might never make salmon without it again. We love it in our house and we hope you will too!
Ingredients for grilled salmon
Skin-on salmon fillets: Try to find wild-caught if you can: it tastes better and is most sustainable. Skin on is important because it acts as a barrier between the fish and the grill while cooking. Olive oil & salt: You’ll just need a bit for rubbing and sprinkling. Seafood seasoning: Our favorite way to season grilled salmon is this homemade seafood seasoning! It brings unreal savory flavor to this fish. There’s a little smoky, savory, and salty, with some intrigue from a hint of celery seed and allspice. You’ll need smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, celery seed, cumin, and allspice.
Frequently asked questions
Also, make sure to cook with skin on salmon, which helps it to stay together on the grill. Salmon with the skin off easily sticks to the grill.
Grilled salmon in foil eliminates the need to flip the fish on the grill, since the fish cooks right on top of aluminum foil. However, the texture is softer and the top doesn’t get crispy like in this grilled salmon method. Also, the fish doesn’t pick up as much of the charred grill flavor. If you’d like to try this easy method, head to our grilled salmon in foil recipe.
The salmon marinade adds complex, savory flavor to the fish fillets. It takes at least 30 minutes to marinade the salmon. However, half of this is your preheat time, so it only adds 15 minutes to the overall recipe timing! You can also marinate the salmon for up to 3 hours refrigerated, then pull it out 30 minutes before grilling.
Cajun salmon: Try it with Cajun Seasoning (hot) or Blackened Seasoning (mild), to taste. Fajita-seasoned salmon: Use Fajita Seasoning and and Cilantro Lime Crema. Teriyaki salmon: Paint with the sauce from Teriyaki Salmon before grilling and again after. Bourbon glazed salmon: Make the glaze from Salmon with Bourbon Glaze.
Butter sauce: This lemon garlic butter sauce or garlic butter sauce are dreamy. Lemon pepper sauce: Try this zingy lemon pepper sauce. Yogurt sauce: Go for tzatziki, dill sauce or lemon dill sauce. Mustard sauce: Try mustard sauce or honey mustard. Caper sauce: Make the caper butter from salmon with capers. Pesto: Make pesto salmon with basil pesto. Chimichurri: Try zingy Argentinian chimichurri sauce. Remoulade: Mix up classic remoulade sauce or easy tartar sauce. Aioli: Go for garlic aioli or truffle aioli.
Try green vegetables like grilled asparagus, grilled green beans, grilled broccolini, or grilled broccoli. Opt for grilled potato wedges, baked potatoes on the grill, or grilled sweet potatoes. Celebrate the season with grilled corn or grilled corn in foil, or mix up elote or grilled corn salad. Try other grilled vegetables like grilled zucchini, grilled onions, grilled eggplant, or grilled peppers. Go for a strawberry salad, cucumber salad, French potato salad or orzo pasta salad. End the meal with grilled apples a la mode, or grilled pineapple.
Make grilled shrimp or grilled scallops Fire up the grill for grilled cod or grilled halibut Try amazing grilled ahi tuna that tastes like steak!
4.8 from 4 reviews **To marinade the salmon, mix up a simple marinade of soy sauce (or tamari), olive oil, rice vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, and garlic and allow to stand for 30 minutes before grilling. Go to Grilling Marinated Salmon.
