This Smoked Paprika Salmon is so simple and it makes the most flaky, tender salmon with the perfect balance of sweet and smoky flavors! Restaurant quality salmon ready in 15 minutes at home. 👌🏼 Add it to salmon bowls or your favorite salad or serve it with your favorite side dishes for a complete meal.
As a dietitian, I'm truly so lucky that I grew up eating salmon. It's one of my mom's favorite proteins so we typically ate it at least one night of the week. Fast forward yearsss into the future and we STILL eat salmon half the time we all have the opportunity to get together as a family!
As an adult, salmon is one of my favorite types of fish to cook because it's so easy, it cooks quickly, and there are endless ways to season it. My salmon quinoa salad and honey garlic salmon bites are great options, but this smoked paprika salmon is the one I currently have on REPEAT in my kitchen. It's soo flaky and incredibly flavorful.
Serve it with fall roasted vegetables and bone broth rice or on top of a simple salad. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
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Key Ingredients and Substitutions
This easy salmon recipe is made with just a few ingredients. Below are some notes but be sure to check the recipe card for exact measurements!
- Salmon - I use a pound of salmon for this recipe and suggest asking for the center piece at the seafood counter. This is the thickest part of the fish and you're most likely to get uniformity so everything cooks evenly. If you're at a grocery store that doesn't have a seafood counter or doesn't sell salmon by the pound, boneless salmon fillets work great too! If you're serving more than 4 people, get 2 pounds of salmon and double up on the recipe!
- Smoked Paprika -this adds a smoky flavor that pairs so well with the other components of this recipe. If you prefer less smoky flavor, use sweet paprika instead.
- Brown Sugar - just a small amount of brown sugar is needed to add a touch of sweetness to balance out the smoked paprika. This also helps to create a paprika glaze on the surface of the salmon when it cooks.
- Garlic powder & Chili Powder - to add extra flavor to the sweet-smoky rub.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - adding a coat of olive oil before adding the seasonings helps to lock in moisture and prevent the salmon from drying out.
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper - coarse sea salt works too. If you're using table salt, use half the amount.
How to Make Smoked Paprika Salmon
Below are the instructions for how to make this easy recipe with photos that I hope are helpful! Check the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200°C). Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up. Spray with cooking spray. Combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel and then place salmon skin side down on the sheet pan. Coat the salmon in the olive oil and add the paprika mixture on top.
- Step 2: Rub top of salmon until the spice mix evenly coats the salmon. Bake 12-15 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Cook time will vary depending on the thickness of your salmon fillets.
Hint: if you aren't using coarse kosher salt and are using a more fine salt like table salt instead, cut the amount to a little less than half a teaspoon.
Dietitian Tip
Salmon is a source of Omega-3 fatty acids which are essential to get from your diet. Omega-3s have been shown to help decrease inflammation in the body and can support brain health and hormone health. And salmon is a source of high-quality protein that helps keeps you full. Aim to eat 2 servings of salmon per week to meet your Omega-3 requirements!
Variations & Serving Ideas
One of the best parts about this smoked paprika salmon is that you can easily customize it to your taste and serve it in many different ways! Below are some ideas.
- Citrus - add even more flavor by combining fresh orange juice and zest of an orange peel or lemon juice and lemon zest to the spice mixture before coating the fish.
- Spicy - add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the seasoning blend for more heat.
- Harvest Style Salmon Rice Bowl - serve the salmon family style with brown rice, a bed of sautéed spinach, and fall roasted vegetables like brussels sprouts, butternut squash, and red onion, or root vegetables like sweet potatoes. Add some pumpkin hummus for a nourishing seasonal meal with tons of bold flavors.
- Refreshing Salmon Bowl - in the spring and summer, serve the salmon with mango salsa and rice for a healthy dinner with a lovely presentation! The sweetness of the mango salsa helps to balance out the bold flavor of salmon.
- Salmon Salad - add it to the top of a kale harvest salad with sweet potatoes or simple mixed greens salad for an easy lunch.
- Stovetop - if you don't feel like turning on the oven, you can easily cook this salmon in a large skillet on medium heat heat. To do so, heat the skillet, add avocado oil or olive oil until hot, then add the salmon skin side down. Cook 4-6 minutes undisturbed, flip, and cook another 1-3 minutes until it's done.
Storage
- Refrigerator - store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on low in the air fryer or in the microwave.
Expert Tips
- I usually use a one pound center-cut salmon fillet which you can grab at the seafood counter if your grocery store has one. If not, smaller salmon fillets will work too! The seasoning amount is for 1 lb of salmon so if you have more or less, adjust accordingly. 😊
- Take the salmon out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before cooking it. This helps it cook more evenly from the inside.
- Cook time will vary depending on the thickness of the fillet so be sure to watch it around 12 minutes and cook it to your preferred doneness.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, these smoke paprika salmon is a nutrient-rich option. Salmon is high in heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fatty acids. It is also a high-quality source of protein and many other nutrients including Vitamin D, selenium, and B Vitamins.
Absolutely. Be sure to use a safe thawing method before cooking.
Definitely! If you prefer to use a baking dish you can.
Related
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Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Smoked Paprika Salmon:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
15 Minute Smoked Paprika Salmon, Oven Baked and Easy
Equipment
- 1 Baking Sheet or baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon fillet (I suggest using a center-cut fillet)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
- 1½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt (use ¼ teaspoon if using fine table salt), more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200°C). Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up. Spray with cooking spray.
- Combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel and then place salmon skin side down on the sheet pan. Coat the salmon in the olive oil and add the paprika mixture on top.
- Rub top of salmon until the spice mix evenly coats the salmon. Bake 12-15 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Cook time will vary depending on the thickness of your salmon fillets.
Notes
- I usually use a one pound center cut salmon fillet which you can grab at the seafood counter if your grocery store has one. If not, smaller salmon fillets will work too! The seasoning amount is for 1 lb of salmon so if you have more or less, adjust accordingly. 😊
- Take the salmon out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before cooking it. This helps it cook more evenly from the inside.
- Cook time will vary depending on the thickness of the fillet so be sure to watch it around 12 minutes and cook it to your preferred doneness.
- Refrigerator - store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on low in the air fryer or in the microwave.
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