Easy Blackened Salmon Recipe
Add some spice to your life with this easy Blackened Salmon recipe! The salmon is tender and juicy with plenty of flavor from homemade blackened seasoning. It’s a healthy dinner option that’s on the table in minutes!
Seafood is always high on my list of go-to meals, and salmon is something that I make the most. I love that salmon is healthy, versatile and it’s also very quick to prepare.
My lemon dijon baked salmon and broiled salmon recipes are two of our favorite dinners, but I love to change things up because it is our favorite fish. 🙂
This Blackened Salmon recipe truly adds some spice to our lives. The big, bold flavors in my blackened seasoning work so well with the salmon. It’s spicy without being overwhelming, and it’s got a touch of sweetness to balance everything out.
This is a high protein, flavor packed dinner that everyone in the family loves!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Blackened salmon is crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside and it’s packed with flavor.
- It’s so easy to make, and it cooks up in under 10 minutes!
- It’s a healthy, delicious dinner that’s low carb, dairy and gluten-free.
- The salmon is very versatile and may be served a number of ways.
Recipe ingredients
This blackened salmon recipe includes just a few ingredients. I used my homemade blackened seasoning, which I love to prep and have on hand for a variety of recipes, including my blackened shrimp.
Ingredient notes
- Salmon fillets. You’ll need 1.5 pounds of salmon fillets for this recipe…my fillets were around 6 oz. each. I highly recommend purchasing wild salmon — not only is it a more sustainable choice but it’s higher quality and has more flavor.
- Blackened seasoning. Use my homemade blackened seasoning or your favorite store bought brand.
- Oil. The avocado oil may be substituted with your favorite high smoke point oil such as grapeseed, coconut or ghee.
How to make this recipe
This blackened salmon recipe is very easy to make with very minimal prep. Prepare the seasoning in advance to make this dish even quicker!
Pro tip: It’s important to use a high smoke point oil as the salmon is cooked at a high temperature and the oil can burn, giving the dish a rancid flavor.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Blot the salmon dry and drizzle the top of each fillet with half of the avocado oil, then rub the blackened seasoning generously over the fish. Let stand at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.
- Place the salmon top side down in a hot non-stick skillet (I used cast iron) until a nice crust forms, about 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook it on the other side salmon is done, about 2-3 minutes more.
Recipe FAQs
Season salmon 10-15 minutes before cooking to allow the fish to absorb some of the seasoning.
Cook blackened salmon over medium-high heat for about 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until it flakes easily with a fork. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the fish.
Salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork and when the fat begins to render.
Cook salmon to a temperature of 125-140 degrees for medium doneness, or to 145 degrees for well done.
Serving suggestions
I love how versatile blackened salmon is. There are so many ways to serve it, which makes it new and exciting every time!
- Serve it with a side of my coconut rice or yukon gold mashed potatoes.
- Enjoy it low carb style with roasted green beans or classic coleslaw.
- Serve over butter lettuce salad or Greek salad for a complete meal.
- Serve as tacos and top with pineapple salsa and homemade guacamole.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: It’s important to use a high smoke point oil as the salmon is cooked at a high temperature and the oil can burn, giving the dish a rancid flavor.
- Add as much or little of the blackened seasoning to suit your tastes.
- This recipe works with any firm white fish or shrimp as well.
- Store blackened salmon in the fridge for up to 3 days.
More salmon recipes you’ll love:
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Blackened Salmon Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil divided (sub with ghee or another high smoke point oil)
- 4 6 ounce wild salmon filets
- 1 tablespoon blackened seasoning or more to suit your tastes
- Lime wedges and fresh parsley for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Blot each salmon filet dry. Using 1 tablespoon of the oil, drizzle oil over the top of the filets.
- Sprinkle blackened seasoning evenly over the top of the fish and let stand at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.
- Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Place the salmon fillets top side down in the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until nicely charred and it releases easily from the pan.
- Flip the salmon and cook an additional 2-3 minutes until the fat begins to render and the fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve with lime and parsley if desired and enjoy!
Notes
- Pro tip: It’s important to use a high smoke point oil as the salmon is cooked at a high temperature and the oil can burn, giving the dish a rancid flavor.
- Add as much or little of the blackened seasoning to suit your tastes.
- This recipe works with any firm white fish as well.
- Store blackened salmon in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
48 Comments on “Easy Blackened Salmon Recipe”
Oh YUM! We just made salmon yesterday and I remembered how much I love it. Can’t wait to try this!
This was a nice, tropical way to change up salmon…I hope you get to try it soon, Cathy! 🙂
Oooh, I love salmon…and all of the tropical flavors sound amazing together!!
Love the colors in this dinner! My kids are just starting to like fish, which means I’m definitely going to be making it more!
I’m so glad my kids love fish — it really makes things easy because it’s always such a quick dinner! Thanks, Julie! 🙂
Salmon is by far, my favorite fish. I love the tropical flavors going on!
Thank you, Jamie! 🙂
Marcie, time must fly…or I am sleeping…because I have no idea how I missed this post. In fact, I was *waiting* to see how you used that Alaskan Salmon – and I almost emailed you saying ‘where’s that post’? Now I see that I missed it entirely and I’m sorry for that. This looks absolutely divine! And, I love that you did a spicy/sweet combo, because it sounds absolutely divine! Pinned!
Don’t apologize — no worries! Thank you for the nice comment and for the pin! 🙂
Thank you, Carol! Salmon is so easy to dress up or down. 🙂
Thank you ladies! I love the salsa with plain old chips, too!
I love a good salmon recipe.. considering that I cook it so often! I have to try this blackened salmon version out, it looks very flavorsome, super simple yet delicious too.
Thank you, Thalia! 🙂
I have the hardest time telling if my salmon is cooked through or not, and I almost always end up overcooking it! I will definitely try your technique next time! This looks like such a delicious and simple week-night recipe. Pinned!
I always though salmon had to be cooked all the way, but it’s actually over done if that’s the case. I totally overcooked mine all the time before! Thanks for the pin, Denise! 🙂
What an incredible dish, Marcie! I have never had blackened salmon before, but after seeing this I definitely need to try it. I have some sitting in my freezer right now. Now I know what to do with it 😉
If you like a nice kick, you’ll like blackened seasoning. I didn’t make it too spicy because of everyone else in the house! Hope you get to try it soon, Danielle! 🙂
Salmon is my very favourite thing to cook mid-week, as it’s so easy … and also easy to make impressive.
This dish of yours is a perfect example of that, Marcie. Every element of this sounds just amazing!
Salmon is just that — it goes from easy to elegant! Thank you, Helen! 🙂
very well made dish with well cooked salmon! delicious
Thank you, Kelsey!
My husband needs to come live with you guys! haha He loves seafood and I can’t stand it … which means I never cook it!!
But I will definitely take some of that coconut rice and salsa!
Your husband is welcome for dinner, and I’ll have something else to serve you! Or the rice and salsa will be enough? Haha.
Salmon is one of my kids’ favorite meals, and I think my family would love this! I love fish with a fresh fruit salsa, and that coconut rice sounds like the perfect accompaniment!
Thank you, Kristine! It’s so nice to have something that everyone likes — I don’t like doing the short order cook thing! Haha