15 Smoked Salmon Recipes Beyond Bagels & Lox
Don't worry, there's still cream cheese involved. 😉
If you’re the type who thinks a bagel & lox will beat out a bacon, egg & cheese for the perfect breakfast sandwich any day, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to focus on that somewhat ineffable ingredient—smoked salmon. Is it the same as lox? Is it just for breakfast? Should you attempt to make it at home? We’ve got you. Read on for answers to all your questions, plus 15 recipes to go along with them.
First things first, what actually is smoked salmon? Smoked salmon is salmon that has been salt-cured or brined, then hot- or cold-smoked at temperatures above or below 85°, respectively. Pretty straightforward, right? If you’re like many people, though, you also associate smoked salmon with terms like lox or gravlax, so we’d like to shed some light on them too. Lox is salmon that has just been cured in salt, but not smoked. Similarly, gravlax is salmon that has been cured in salt and sugar, but not smoked. Yep, that means the bagels and lox you’ve been enjoying? It’s probably actually smoked salmon rather than lox. 🤯
Regardless of nomenclature, smoked or cured salmon is tasty, so we’ve included a number of recipes here so you can enjoy it from morning to night. Looking to expand upon your breakfast routine? Try topping a puffy Dutch baby with lox and cream cheese. Want to add some seafood to a party spread? Serve our everything deviled eggs (complete with everything bagel seasoning, ofc) or our smoked salmon dip. Craving smoked salmon for dinner? Try our smoked salmon pasta—it’s easy yet impressive, and comes together in just 30 minutes. You could also try imparting some smoky flavor to your salmon all on your own, utilizing a cedar plank on your grill. It’s a great way to get the smoky taste you love, without the briny-ness associated with some of the thinner cuts of salmon. Try it next time you really need to impress on grill night.
Bagel and Lox
Though you can almost always find scallion cream cheese, we included a mini recipe that adds extra herbaceous-ness thanks to fresh dill, which we all know pairs beautifully with salmon. Top these with whatever you like—we're partial to red onion, cucumbers, and capers, but you do you.
Get the Bagel and Lox recipe.
Dutch Baby Pancake
Nothing pleases a brunch crowd like an impressively puffy Dutch baby. Our recipe is a blank canvas for both sweet and savory toppings—we've got recipes for 4 of our favorites, including lox and cream cheese.
Get the Dutch Baby Pancake recipe.
Smoked Salmon Pasta
Smoked salmon pasta sounds really fancy, but the truth is it's one of the easiest and fastest dishes we've ever made. It comes together in just under 30 minutes, meaning it's perfect for whipping up for a weeknight seafood dinner, but still good enough to impress your guests for holidays and celebrations.
Get the Smoked Salmon Pasta recipe.
Lox
Lox is technically different from smoked salmon, which requires an additional process of gently smoking the cured fish by using low heat from burning wood chips over a long period of time. Although some lox continue on to a cold-smoke for additional flavor development, our version keeps it cool and simple by skipping the intensive smoking process that can be difficult to achieve at home.
Get the Lox recipe.
Cedar Plank Salmon
We love using a cedar plank to grill salmon not just because it helps prevent the fish from sticking to the grill, but also because it adds a subtle, smoky flavor to the salmon. Who says you need to buy a smoker?!
Get the Cedar Plank Salmon recipe.
Everything Deviled Eggs
Bye bye bagels and lox, we're putting all our smoked salmon on top of deviled eggs from now on!
Get the Everything Deviled Eggs recipe.
Smoked Salmon Dip
For those of you who wouldn't dream of a bagel without smoked salmon or lox (our people!), this dip is for you. It combines smoked salmon, spicy horseradish, bright lemon, and finely chopped dill with cream cheese and Greek yogurt for the creamiest, most savory dip imaginable.
Get the Smoked Salmon Dip recipe.
Creamy Smoked Salmon Cobbler
Fish pie gets an American makeover, topped with fluffy scone-like dumplings made with tangy cream cheese and smoked salmon.
Get the Creamy Smoked Salmon Cobbler recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Everything Cucumber–Smoked Salmon Bites
Bites of cucumber make the perfect base for tangy sour cream, smoked salmon, and homemade everything bagel seasoning. They're almost like a bagel... without the carbs!
Get the Everything Cucumber–Smoked Salmon Bites recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
Smoked Salmon Dip
Packed with freshly chopped dill, minced shallots, capers, lemon zest, and smoked salmon, this zesty dip is equally suitable for your weekend brunch or cocktail party.
Get the Smoked Salmon Dip recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
Tea Smoked Salmon With Pickled Cucumber And A Lemon Butter
The pickled cucumber is a very northern European taste and makes the perfect tart accompaniment to the tea-smoked salmon. The tangy butter is halfway between butter and cheese—yum!
Get the Tea Smoked Salmon With Pickled Cucumber And A Lemon Butter recipe from Country Living.
Homemade Gravlax
It's surprisingly easy to make your own cured salmon for the best-ever bagels and lox. Feel free to try with different herbs if you're not a huge fan of dill.
Get the Homemade Gravlax recipe from Good Housekeeping.
Sweet-and-Smoky Cedar-Planked Salmon
Want to try your hand at smoked salmon at home but don't have a smoker? Use a cedar plank on your grill instead! It'll add the smoky flavor you crave, but is WAY easier to store at home. 😉
Get the Sweet-and-Smoky Cedar-Planked Salmon recipe from Country Living.
Smoked Salmon & Dill Breakfast Hash
If you are a smoked salmon lover, this is the breakfast hash recipe for you! The smoky fish melds with sautéed potatoes and fresh dill for a dish that would be great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Get the Smoked Salmon & Dill Breakfast Hash recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
Smoked Salmon Dip
Packed with freshly chopped dill, minced shallot, capers, lemon zest, and smoked salmon, this zesty dip is equally suitable for your a weekend brunch or cocktail party. It features the trifecta of creamy ingredients—softened cream cheese, mayo, and sour cream—for best dippable consistency and tastes amazing when served alongside bagels or chips.
Get the Smoked Salmon Dip recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
