When it comes to my favorite protein sources, salmon is number one on my list. While it may be more expensive than chicken or turkey, it's so satisfying, full of healthy fats, nutrients, omega-3’s, and the perfect dinner if you're a fish lover. However, it can be hard to know exactly what to do with salmon, and how to spruce up the meal. Here are 15 salmon meal prep dishes you can make in under 30 minutes, because time is valuable and we’re all busy trying to accomplish the 400 things on our to-do lists.
1. One Pan Garlic Salmon and Asparagus
This one pan lemon garlic salmon and asparagus dish from my blog Danielle’s Kitchen (shameless self promo, what can I say) is a MUST when it comes to salmon meal prep. It’s ready in 30 minutes and keeps extremely well in the fridge, so all you have to do is make a big batch of it at the beginning of the week. Serve it with some potatoes, quinoa, or whole grain pasta.
2. Salmon Bake with Garlic Spinach
For when you want to impress your friends and have dinner ready for you after a long day, this salmon bake with garlic spinach is your friend. You’re getting your greens in from the spinach, healthy fats and protein from the salmon, and tons of flavor from the garlic. Just cook a few filets at once and store them in individual Tupperware containers for later.
3. Honey Mustard Grilled Salmon
Salmon meal prep doesn't have to be boring, and since grilling anything makes you feel 10x fancier automatically, this honey mustard grilled salmon from The Healthy Maven is the ultimate way to impress your friends. Plus, it’s filled with flavor and minimal ingredients, and will keep well for days.
#SpoonTip: To meal prep this dish, make the salmon and pasta in advance and store in separate containers to grab and go.
4. 20-Minute Salmon and Pasta
Pasta and salmon is truly the greatest combination (well, when is pasta not a good idea?), and this 20-minute pasta and salmon dish is a must for a quick dinner. Pasta is the perfect meal prep dish because it stores for days, cooks up in 10 minutes, is packed with complex carbs and protein, and is the perfect blend of flavors. Serve this dish with some extra capers for a fancy dish that will impress everyone.
5. Salmon Poké Avocado Boats
If you’re looking to have a fancy salmon meal prep dish at home, these salmon poke avocado boats are a must. While they may be more of an appetizer, you can bulk them up by serving them with some quinoa for the perfect combination of fats, carbs, and protein. Plus, it’ll feel like you just spent $40 at your favorite sushi place when really, this meal will cost you only $20 for a week's worth of food.
#SpoonTip: To keep the avocado looking fresh throughout the week, squeeze some lime juice on it to prevent browning.
6. Zesty Winter Kale Salmon Salad
If you’re looking for a salmon salad, look no further than this zesty winter kale salmon salad from Danielle’s Kitchen. The salad has a protein-packed yogurt dressing, the salmon provides tons of flavors, healthy fats, and protein, and the kale is a thick, heartier green that won’t go soggy throughout the week. To keep the kale fresh, store the dressing on the side and assemble your salad when you're ready to eat.
7. Chili Maple Salmon Bowls with Forbidden Rice
Have you guys had forbidden rice? If not, you’re truly missing out! These chili maple lime salmon bowls from Ambitious Kitchen are a must for the perfect “bowl,” as it hits all the key macronutrients (carbs, fats, protein), is packed with fiber, and it keeps for days. This is the best salmon meal prep dish around for anyone who's crunched for time, but wants to try out new foods.
8. Salty and Sweet Crusted Salmon
It’s easy to get tired of salmon easily, so this salty and sweet sugar-crusted salmon is the ultimate way to change the game. This salmon would pair perfectly with some brown rice and sautéed spinach for a hearty meal prep dish.
9. Foil Pack Salmon with Grilled Pineapple Salsa
Have you ever made salmon in a foil pack? If not, be prepared for your world to change thanks to this foil pack salmon with grilled pineapple salsa from Fit Foodie Finds. I love cooking up three or four fillets in the foil pack at once and making a big batch of the pineapple salsa (so underrated!) for the week, because it keeps well, doesn’t get soggy, and never loses its flavor.
10. One Pan Honey Pistachio Crusted Salmon
This honey pistachio crusted salmon with asparagus will transport you back to your favorite five-star restaurant without the hassle of lines or breaking the bank. Plus, the salmon keeps really well and heats up nicely even three days afterwards. Serve with rice for a great hearty meal throughout the week!
11. Easy Baked Lemon Salmon
Sometimes, we just want to keep things simple, so this baked lemon salmon is perfect. It’s ready in 30 minutes, has a ton of flavor, without any weird ingredients or extra hassle. Simply stick in the oven and let it cook up. I love lemon salmon with whole grain pasta and some pesto for an easy dish.
12. Sheet Pan Salmon with Root Vegetables and Sage Pesto
Sheet pan dishes are the ultimate life hack, and this pesto salmon from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen, paired with root vegetables and a sage pesto, is a must for your salmon rotation. Filled with healthy fats, fiber, and a delicious sauce, it keeps well for days, and it requires minimal dishes. WIN.
13. Salmon With Pesto Pasta
Salmon, pesto, and pasta? What could be better? Honestly… nothing. Eating this salmon recipe from Jessica Gavin throughout the week will make you feel like you’re eating at a five-star restaurant, but this meal costs you less time and money than one of those restaurant meals. It keeps well for days and is incredibly hearty, so you can’t go wrong.
14. Sheet Pan Roasted Pomegranate Glazed Salmon
Have you ever tried pomegranate with salmon? If not, be prepared for your mind to be blown via this pan roasted pomegranate glazed salmon from Half Baked Harvest. Filled with unique flavors, it satisfies all your taste buds, and since it’s only one pan, you minimize the prep time and clean up.
15. Salmon Buddha Bowl
I love buddha bowls, so this easy salmon buddha bowl had to make it on the list. It's packed with flavor, protein, healthy fats, and makes for the ultimate meal prep dish.
I love how most of these salmon meal prep recipes are made with one or two pans maximum, and all of them keep their flavor extremely well, so it’ll still be as satisfying on Thursday as it was on Sunday. I recommend pairing all these with some sort of carb like rice, quinoa, pasta, or potatoes, to round out the meal and make it as hearty as possible.