21 Grilled Salmon Recipes You Have To Try This Summer
Without fail, each summer Team Delish has such a long to-grill list. But this year, the top protein we're excited to pop on the grill is none other than juicy, quick-cooking salmon. Yup, time to step aside, burgers and dogs—if you're looking to spruce up your grilling skills, you need to add some top-tier grilled seafood to your BBQ game. Salmon is one of our forever go-tos for weeknight dinners, and that’s no different come summertime, especially when you can really show off with a foil pack meal, a cedar plank salmon showstopper, or skewers fresh of the grill. Check out our list of 21 grilled salmon recipes for ideas—you’ll definitely find something new to add to your dinner rotation.
One of the best things about salmon is how well it takes to citrus-y, savory-sweet, buttery cooking methods, so we’re leaning in hard to those flavors on the grill too. Try our lemony grilled salmon, our Asian BBQ salmon (perfectly sweet and salty thanks to hoisin), and our grilled salmon with pineapple salsa. Even our salmon burger gets in on that flavor action, since we’ve paired it with a tangy feta-yogurt sauce. We’re pretty sure nearly any salmon recipe would work well on the grill—get creative and try out your favorites.
The one thing to watch out for when grilling salmon is making sure all that yummy, crispy skin doesn’t stick to your grates. Our top two tips for avoiding this are: 1) Making sure your grill is SUPER hot before adding your fish, and 2) not flipping your fish until those lovely char marks are achieved. Really, if you're feeling ANY resistance when you peek at the underside of your fish, DON'T flip!
Still worried about your fish sticking to your grill? We totally get it, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying an outdoor salmon meal: foil packs to the rescue! Try our grilled honey-chipotle salmon foil packets, our foil pack grilled salmon with lemony asparagus, or our cilantro-lime salmon foil packs for a delicious, stress-free meal, without a ton of cleanup.
Want more summertime grilling inspiration? Check out our top 100 grilling recipes, our favorite grilled chicken recipes, and our best weeknight dinners you can make on the grill too.
Pineapple Salmon Skewers
Pineapple and salmon are a match made in heaven. That's what makes our baked pineapple salmon so wildly popular! Smoky, sweet, and just a little spicy, these skewers are a major crowd-pleaser. Make them for your next barbecue, and watch them disappear.
Get the Pineapple Salmon Skewers recipe.
Asian BBQ Salmon
Instead of a sweet-and-smoky BBQ sauce, this easy salmon recipe calls for making a spicy glaze filled with soy, rice vinegar and hoisin. If you can't find fish sauce, feel free to just leave it out (though it does add a funkiness we love!). Trust us, this will become your new favorite condiment.
Get the Asian BBQ Grilled Salmon recipe.
Greek Salmon Burgers
Pureeing the salmon fillet with egg to make these Greek-inspired burgers isn’t the sexiest process, but it’s key in helping these patties hold together. Trust us, it's worth it (that, and the tangy feta-yogurt sauce!).
Get the Greek Salmon Burgers recipe.
Sweet Chili-Lime Grilled Salmon
Sweet chili sauce is one of our faves because it's got a little kick for those who want it, but is also extra flavorful and sweet for those who don't. Your whole family will love this zesty glazed salmon.
Cedar Plank Salmon
Using a cedar plank is the most foolproof (and delicious!) way to grill salmon. To prevent burning, the planks need to be soaked for at least 2 hours in water. While the planks soak, you'll quick-cure the salmon with a to-die-for mixture of brown sugar, salt, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Yum!
Grilled Honey-Chipotle Salmon Foil Packets
Grilling fish can be intimidating, but with foil packs, there's no need to stress. Rather than worry about the fish sticking to the grates or flipping the flaky flesh, you'll fold the salmon up in tin foil instead. It's not just fish inside, either—there's a medley of zucchini and yellow summer squash with a smoky honey-chipotle sauce. 😍
Cilantro Lime Grilled Salmon
This sauce on this salmon is a great jumping off point. Feel free to change up the ingredients into countless delicious sauces. Try swapping in shallots for garlic, lemon for lime juice, or brown sugar for honey. The herbs are also adaptable: basil, parsley, and tarragon would all be great swaps for cilantro. You could even add a splash of white wine if you're feeling fancy.
Get the Cilantro Lime Grilled Salmon recipe.
Mediterranean Salmon Skewers
Lemony salmon kebabs are about to be your go-to for grilling season. Plus, they only take minutes to make!
Get the Mediterranean Salmon Skewers recipe.
Hot Shot Grilled Salmon
Love spicy food? These are for you: These grilled salmon fillets get a kick from a spicy sweet honey-sriracha glaze. Don't forget to reserve 1/2 cup marinade for basting salmon after grilling; it makes this dish extra tasty.
Get the Hot Shot Grilled Salmon recipe.
Lemony Grilled Salmon
This simple recipe brings a burst of summer flavor to your dinner table. The secret? Adding a pat of butter to salmon right when it’s off the grill makes this dish extra special.
Get the Lemony Grilled Salmon recipe.
Foil Pack Grilled Salmon With Lemony Asparagus
Grilling fish can be a totally daunting process. Worrying about cooking your salmon correctly and not tearing apart the delicate fillets can bring unnecessary stress to your cookout. Let this recipe and a little bit of tin foil save you from that aggravation!
Get the Foil Pack Grilled Salmon With Lemony Asparagus recipe.
Cilantro-Lime Salmon Foil Packs
These foil packs are almost too easy to throw together. Swap vegetables in and out as you want (or based on what's in your fridge), but don't skip the cilantro-lime marinade—it's perfect.
Grilled Salmon with Pineapple Salsa
Fruity salsa is our new favorite condiment for grilled fish. This simple pineapple one perfectly complements the honey-lime glaze for the grilled salmon here (hot tip: it pairs well with almost any grilled seafood, so try it on ALL your faves).
Grilled Lemon Butter Salmon
Salmon can be a b*tch to grill—no matter what, it always seems to stick! The solution: placing salmon over a bed of lemon slices. The citrus not only allows the fish to cook perfectly, it infuses it with the most wonderfully fresh flavor.
Get the Grilled Lemon Butter Salmon recipe.
Asian Salmon Foil Packs
Soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and honey combine to make the easiest salmon marinade for these foil packs. Add some simple vegetables (we went broccoli, red onion, and bell peppers, but truly, use whatever you got), and you'll have a flavorful weeknight dinner you'll come back to again and again.
Get the Asian Salmon Foil Packs recipe.
Grilled Salmon with Tomato-Basil Salad
Pair a simple tomato basil salad with salmon steaks and some grilled eggplant, zucchini, and yellow squash for a meal that is the EPITOME of summer.
Asian BBQ Salmon
Making your own teriyaki sauce for this BBQ salmon is SO worth it, but you could also use store-bought here. You're going to love the ease and flavor of putting green onions directly on the grill and serving them whole!
Get the Asian BBQ Salmon recipe.
Foil Pack Salmon with Pineapple Salsa
We love the surprising combo of fruit and fish (see our baked pineapple salmon or our shrimp & mango salad for proof), and this foil pack is no different. It gets a sweet kick from pineapple salsa, but feel free to sub in another fruit salsa/salad if you'd like to change things up.
Tuscan Butter Salmon Foil Packs
When we first made a compound butter filled with all of our favorite Italian flavors—tangy sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, basil and garlic—we knew we had a winner. This Tuscan butter was only the beginning of a long line of Tuscan-flavored dinners, each more delicious than the last. This version takes one of the most beloved, Tuscan butter salmon, and makes it foil pack-friendly!
Soy-Glazed Salmon With Garlicky Kale & Brown Rice
Use the soy-Dijon-honey sauce in this grilled salmon recipe on chicken, steak, or even as a quick marinade for vegetables. Hot tip for making sure your salmon doesn't stick: Make sure your grill is EXTREMELY hot.
Get the Soy-Glazed Salmon With Garlicky Kale & Brown Rice recipe.
