Try this easy blackened salmon the next time you need a quick weeknight meal. Full of flavor and perfectly flaky, pair with simple sides and get dinner on the table fast!
I love the flavor of salmon but figuring out the best way to cook it at home has always been a struggle for me. Sure, I could use salt and pepper and serve it with lemon juice, and I do make Sheet Pan Lemon Pepper Salmon sometimes, but too many repeats of a meal, even if it’s a delicious meal, seems…boring.
And life’s too short for boring food!
One night I took one of my favorite spice mixtures (Homemade Blackened Seasoning), generously seasoned a few salmon fillets and OH MY GOODNESS, dinner was amazing! Fish night just got kicked up a notch!
EASY BLACKENED SALMON
Aside from not having a boring dinner, here’s why we almost always make blackened salmon on fish night:
- It’s SO easy.
- It’s FAST. 5 minutes of easy prep, and 10 minutes in the oven.
- Mostly hands-off. No baby-sitting a hot skillet here!
- It’s a perfect weeknight meal when you’re short on time.
- Well-seasoned salmon means side dishes can be less exciting.
Not that I like to serve “less exciting” food, but sometimes we’re craving simple Crispy Potato Wedges or Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice, or even Pan-Seared Broccoli. With salmon getting all the glory, serving simple sides for blackened salmon doesn’t make dinner feel any less glamorous!
HEALTHY BLACKENED SALMON RECIPE INGREDIENTS
The ingredients for my blackened salmon recipe are pretty straightforward:
That’s it!
** I don’t harp on the quality of food too much, since that is largely dependent on your personal grocery budget, but with fish, it’s important that you buy wild-caught. Farmed fish don’t contain as many nutrients as wild-caught fish, and honestly, they don’t taste as good.
I buy my salmon every month from Butcher Box, but I’ve found wild-caught salmon fillets at Costco for a similar price!
HOW TO MAKE BLACKENED SALMON
Making blackened salmon is simple!!
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Step 2. Lightly coat the fish with olive oil and liberally sprinkle with spice mixture. I use close to 1 teaspoon of blackening seasoning per fillet to create a nice crust.
Step 3. Place the salmon flesh side down on the pan.
Step 4. Bake and enjoy! I like to serve with a bit of melted butter and a squeeze of lime juice.
This blackened salmon also tastes great with a pinch of finishing salt! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Just add a pinch before serving. Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!)
Blackened salmon is best served warm right away. However, you can refrigerate any leftovers for a day or two and flake them over a salad.
BLACKENED SEASONING BLEND
Here’s what you need to make blackened seasoning:
1 ½ Tbsp smoked paprika (must be smoked!)
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp onion powder
1 Tbsp thyme
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp cayenne
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1 ½ tsp salt (try THIS one from Ava Jane’s Kitchen and get your first bag for FREE!)
Add all the ingredients into a small bowl or spice jar. Shake well until the ingredients are mixed.
Use on your salmon or other blackened fish and seafood!
WHAT TO SERVE WITH BLACKENED SALMON
Want some ideas for sides for blackened salmon? I like to serve this recipe for blackened salmon with:
RECIPE FOR BLACKENED SALMON TACOS AND SALAD
BLACKENED SALMON TACOS
If you’re craving salmon tacos, follow the blackened salmon recipe and serve with my Cilantro Lime Coleslaw, tucked inside Corn Tortillas!
SALMON SALAD
Follow the recipe below, flake the salmon with a fork, and serve over lettuce with your desired toppings. I think my Southwestern Salad would be great with this recipe! Salad is also a great option for any leftover blackened salmon.
BLACKED SALMON FAQS
Is blackened a seasoning? Does blackened mean spicy?
Blackened salmon seasoning is a spice blend that’s super easy to make at home with spices you already have in your cabinet, and it’s delicious on salmon and chicken. Here’s my blackened seasoning recipe. It has a bit of a kick from the cayenne and smoked paprika, but it isn’t overly spicy – just full of flavor!
What’s the difference between grilled and blackened salmon?
“Grilled” is a cooking method, whereas “blackened” is a spice blend. You could easily bake, grill, poach, or fry blackened salmon if you want to!
This spicy seasoning blend for this blacked salmon recipe is made of dried herbs and is yummy baked or grilled.
MORE SIMPLE FLAVORFUL DINNER RECIPES
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Blackened Salmon
Try this easy blackened salmon the next time you need a quick weeknight meal. Full of flavor and perfectly flaky, pair with simple sides and get dinner on the table fast!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Cover both sides of the salmon with a small amount of olive oil and place the salmon flesh side down on the baking sheet.
- Season liberally with blackened seasoning (see notes for how to make it). I use close to 1 tsp of seasoning per fillet.
- Bake for 10 minutes and remove from the oven. Serve warm!
Notes
- To make Blackened Seasoning: Add all the ingredients into a small bowl or spice jar. Shake well until the ingredients are mixed. Use on your salmon or other blackened fish and seafood!
- I use close to 1 tsp of seasoning per fillet.
