How to Make the Best Grilled Salmon

a photo of a perfectly grilled salmon fillet with lemon slices on the side and grilled zucchini and cherry tomatoes

Grilled salmon is one of the quickest and healthiest ways to make salmon! This recipe includes a delicious seasoning rub and a homemade tartar sauce for extra deliciousness!

We’ve done it! We made it through another winter here in Utah and I am dying to get the grill out and kick off the summer grilling season! The first recipe on my list is this easy grilled salmon recipe.

Learning to Love Salmon

Growing up salmon was actually a really big deal. When you’re in the Pacific Northwest, you learn all about the Native Americans and salmon is represented often in totem poles etc. I have such a vivid memory of learning about “the salmon people”, their chants, songs, dances, and beautiful culture. Unfortunately I HATED salmon so that’s about as far as I got.

Now I’m trying so hard to learn and enjoy it and one of the best tricks I’ve learned is to cook it skin on and then the skin will easily slide off once it’s done. No sawing away with the knife!

And yes, one of the first times I was served salmon with the skin on the bottom of the filet I took the smallest piece and suffered through eating it, skin and all. Go ahead, Gag away. I certainly was trying not to do just that. Lol!

Ingredients for Grilled Salmon

For this recipe, we are going to make a flavor-packed seasoning rub for the salmon fillets and a homemade tartar sauce. Here is your ingredients list:

For the Salmon

Salmon Fillets (skin-on)
Olive Oil
Kosher Salt
Smoked Paprika
Chili Powder
Granulated Garlic
Parsley Flakes
Ground Mustard
Black Pepper
Lemon

For the Tartar Sauce

Mayonnaise
Dill Pickles
Fresh Dill
Lemon Juice
Sugar
Salt and Pepper

The measurements for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card down below. This is just meant to be an overview of the items you will needs so keep scrolling for the all the details!

How to Grill Salmon

I love grilling salmon because all you do is prep the fillets and then let the grill do all the work! It really couldn’t be easier! Here are the basic steps:

Heat the grill to high heat.
Make sure the grates on the grill are clean and wipe them with an oiled paper towel. Close the grill lid and let it heat up.
Combine all the ingredients for the seasoning mixture.
Brush the flesh side of the fillets with oil and season evenly with the seasoning mixture.
Place the fillets with the skin side down over direct heat on the grill. Close the lid and let it cook for 6-8 minutes.
Gently flip each fillet and cook for another 2-5 minutes.
Transfer to a plate and let the fillets rest for a few minutes. Gently remove the skin from the salmon and serve with lemon wedges and tartar sauce.
To make the tartar sauce, just whisk all the ingredients together and serve.

These instructions are also available in full detail in the recipe card below.

How Long to Cook Grilled Salmon

Salmon fillets portions cook on the grill really quickly, so you will only need about 10 minutes to cook it. If you’re grilling a whole salmon fillet, it will take a little longer, but not much!

Tips for the Best Grilled Salmon

Buy salmon fillets that have the skin on. It makes the grilling, flipping, and serving easy.
Season the flesh side of the fillet well. And I always serve salmon with fresh lemon wedges.
Make sure the grill grates are clean and super hot before adding the fillets.
Only flip your fillets once. They will start with the skin side down and will only flip once.
Don’t overcook the salmon!

What Temperature is Salmon Safe to Eat

According to the USDA, salmon is safe to eat at 145 degrees F, but it should be pulled from the grill around 130-135 degrees F. It will continue to cook as it rests. You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the fillets.

Which Salmon is Best for Grilling?

When I first started getting into the salmon scene (I’m a late bloomer when it comes to fish!), it was a little overwhelming to know which type to buy. There’s wild-caught and farmed, skin on and skin off, and so many different types – Atlantic, Coho, King, Sockeye, etc.

I like to use farm-raised salmon when I grill because it typically has more fat which holds up a little better to the high heat of a grill. You will also want to buy salmon with the skin on. As far as the type of salmon, I usually buy Atlantic or Sockeye.

What to Serve with Salmon

Salmon goes great with just about any side dish, but some of our favorites are grilled vegetables or grilled asparagus. You can’t go wrong with a bright summer salad like our tomato cucumber salad or our strawberry feta spinach salad. And you know I’m always down for a delicious bread side dish like our crusty artisan bread or a warm loaf of homemade french bread!

Other Ways to Cook Salmon

If grilled salmon with this flavor profile isn’t your thing, we have several other salmon recipes for you to try. They are all oven baked, but there are so many different flavor options…

Is It Better to Cook Salmon with the Skin Off or On?

I always cook salmon with the skin on. It’s almost like a little protective barrier, especially on the grill, to keep the salmon from getting dried out. Once it is cooked, it is super easy to remove the skin and serve it.

Which Side of the Salmon Do You Grill First?

Salmon should be grilled with the skin side down first and for the bulk of the grilling time. We will flip it once right at the end just for a few minutes to get those grill marks on the top.

Is It Better to Grill Salmon on Foil or Not?

Salmon can definitely be grilled on top of foil, but foil will keep all the moisture surrounding the fillets which will essentially steam the salmon. This almost defeats the purpose of grilling because you want those crispy edges and that crusty outside on the fish.

How to Keep Fish From Sticking on the Grill

I know one of the fears of grilling fish is it getting stuck to the grill and crumbling. I have a few tips to help make sure that doesn’t happen.

First, make sure the grill is scrubbed clean before placing the fist on the grates.

Second, rub a paper towel coated with vegetable oil (or olive oil) all over the grates.

Lastly, believe it or not, when salmon is cooked, it will naturally release from the grill and be very easy to remove. If you try to flip it and it’s stuck, give it another minute or two and then try again.

Storage

Grilled salmon stores great in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Make sure it has cooled completely before putting it in an airtight container.

You’re going to be tempted to reheat salmon in the microwave, but that high heat just destroys salmon. Salmon is best reheated in the oven in a baking dish. Set the temperature 300 degrees and cover your baking dish loosely with foil. It will take about 15 minutes to heat through.

Skip the burgers and chicken this time, and let’s grill some salmon tonight! This grilled salmon is seasoned to perfection and the homemade tartar sauce is just the extra punch of flavor you want. It’s healthy and easy, and dinner is on the table in less than 20 minutes!

More Summer Grilling Recipes

READ: How to Make the Best Grilled Salmon

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How to Make the Best Grilled Salmon