Blackened Salmon

Try this super fast and easy recipe for blackened salmon. Perfect for weeknight suppers when you’re short on time. Pair with simple sides that taste great like lemon butter asparagus or pan-seared broccoli for a healthy and delicious dinner!

I love the flavor of sheet pan lemon pepper 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 with lemon juice, but sometimes that seems… well, boring.

And life’s too short for boring food!

One night I took my favorite spice mixture (homemade blackened seasoning spice blend), generously seasoned a few salmon fillets and OH MY GOODNESS, dinner was amazing! Fish night has never been boring since!

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 min hands-on, 10 min the oven.
• 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 roasted potato wedges or Instant Pot cilantro lime rice, or even pan-seared broccoli. With salmon getting all the glory, serving simple side dishes doesn’t make dinner feel any less glamorous!

Healthy Blackened Salmon Recipe Ingredients

The ingredients for my blackened salmon recipe are pretty straightforward:

• Blackened seasoning
• Olive oil
• Salmon filets**

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!

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! Plus, you can get a bag for just 1¢!! Just add a pinch before serving! (Get your penny bag of salt on this page.) 

How to Make Blackened Salmon

Making blackened salmon is simple!!

Step 1. Prepare your pan and preheat the oven.

Step 2. Lightly coat fish with olive oil and liberally season with blackened seasoning. Place the salmon flesh side down on the pan.

Step 3. Bake and enjoy!

FAQs for Blackened Salmon

Serving Suggestions

My favorite sides for blackened salmon are:

• Easy Roasted Broccoli
• Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
• Easy Oven Roasted Potatoes
• Cauliflower Rice
• Coconut Rice

Blackened Salmon Tacos and Salad

Tacos

If you’re craving tacos, follow the recipe below and serve with my cilantro lime coleslaw, tucked inside corn tortillas!

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!

More Simple Dinner Recipes

• Chicken Piccata
• Weeknight Creamy Mushroom Pasta
• Slow Cooker Carnitas
• 30 min Cashew Chicken
• 15 Minute Kung Pai Chicken with Vegetables
• Jamaican Jerk Chicken
• Bacon Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap