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Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

Blackened Salmon

Modified: Dec 17, 2024 · Published: Apr 14, 2022 by Jackie · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 2 reviews
blackened salmon pieces, served on wood board with fork & linen napkin

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Savor the spice with our easy Blackened Salmon recipe! Get a flavorful, charred crust in minutes—ideal for busy weeknights and packed with nutrients.

blackened salmon pieces, served on wood board with fork & linen napkin

What is Blackened Salmon?

Blackening chicken, salmon (or other firm fish) means to coat it with a blend of spices and sear it in a skillet over high heart. We use no butter or oil. That's what makes it "blackened", crisp, and healthy!. The heat toasts the spices, so you get a crispy outside and a tender, flaky inside.

Like our Chicken Piccata or Easy Homemade Meatballs, this is one of our favorite weeknight recipes because it tastes great and doesn't require much time. We cooked some veggies in the pan before searing the salmon, making this an easy one pan meal.

Hint: Blackened Salmon is great served in tacos or over a Caesar Salad. Try our Blackened Tuna Tacos and Blackened Chicken Salad recipe too!

Jump to:
  • What is Blackened Salmon?
  • Ingredients
  • 🔪 Top tip
  • Instructions
  • Expert tips
  • 🐟 More salmon recipes
  • Farm raised salmon vs. wild-caught salmon
  • Storage
  • FAQ
  • Related recipes
  • Blackened Salmon recipe

Ingredients

salmon fillet + ingredients for blackened salmon on wooden cutting board & marble surface
  • SALMON FILLETS: we like wild-caught salmon fillets like King (Chinook) Salmon or Sockeye (Red) Salmon
  • WHITE MUSHROOMS: Baby Bellas or Cremini Mushrooms (to serve with salmon)
  • CHERRY TOMATOES: small tomatoes like cherry or grape tomatoes (to serve with salmon)
  • JALAPEÑO PEPPERS: fresh jalapeño peppers (to serve with salmon)
  • OLIVE OIL: use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can afford
  • BLACKENED SEASONING: use store bought seasoning to save time, or you can make your own. See recipe below.
  • LEMONS: freshly squeezed lemon juice

*see recipe card for quantities.

🔪 Top tip

Before you begin to sear the salmon, make sure your kitchen is ventilated. Open the windows and turn on the oven fan. It's normal for the seasoning to create smoke. Don't worry, it's worth it!

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Vegetables: Clean tomatoes, jalapeños and mushrooms. Place them in a small mixing bowl and toss with half of the olive oil.
  2. Prepare the Salmon: Cut salmon filets into 6-8 serving size pieces.
  3. Make Blackened Seasoning: Combine 2 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon cumin, 2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano together in a bowl, to use as blackened seasoning mix for salmon (OR USE STORE BOUGHT SEASONING).
  4. Cook Vegetables: Heat a large cast-iron skillet on top of stove until hot. Add vegetables and cook over high heat for 3 minutes. Turn heat down to low and simmer for 4 more minutes. Remove from heat and set the vegetables aside.
  5. Coat Salmon with Blackened Seasoning: Return the cast-iron skillet to stove and heat to high. Coat both sides of the salmon pieces with blackened seasoning.
  6. Cook Salmon: Place a few slices of salmon skin down in hot skillet and cook for 3 minutes. Turn salmon and cook another 3 minutes. Continue until all fish has been cooked (use a food thermometer to check the salmon has reached an internal temperature of 125°F).
  7. Plate and Serve: Remove and place on serving plate. Add vegetables and squeeze lemon juice over both. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

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blackened salmon pieces, cut on wooden serving board and garnished with lemon halves, tomatoes, and greens

Expert tips

  1. Keep the skin on: For optimum flavor, we prefer a crispy, seasoned skin. If you don't like to eat it, you can always remove it after cooking.
  2. Make sure your kitchen is ventilated: Open the windows and turn on the oven fan as you begin to sear the salmon. It is normal for the seasoning to create smoke. Don't worry, it's worth it!
  3. Use a cast iron skillet for best results. This will create the best sear. A stainless steel pan will also work. Do not use a non-stick pan.

🐟 More salmon recipes

  • Cedar Plank Salmon
  • Salmon Ceviche
  • Salmon Caesar Salad
  • Grilled Salmon with Mango Glaze

Farm raised salmon vs. wild-caught salmon

  • We like to use WILD-CAUGHT SALMON for this recipe if we can. We prefer this variety because it is usually lower in fat and calories, but sometimes it is hard to find (especially during the winter months).
  • FARM RAISED SALMON works fine for this recipe. We just make sure to check to make sure it has a nice color and texture.
pieces of blackened salmon, served on wooden board, garnished with lemons, tomatoes, & greens

Storage

  • Blackened Salmon is best the day it is made.
  • Refrigerate it in an airtight container for no more than 2 days.
  • Reheat in the microwave or in a sauté pan with olive oil or a pat of butter.
  • Do not freeze.

FAQ

What is blackened salmon?

Blackened salmon is a dish where the salmon is seasoned with a blend of spices and cooked over high heat to create a flavorful, crispy outer crust.

What kind of salmon is best?

We like wild caught salmon because it is usually lower in fat and calories. Sometimes it is hard to find, so farm raised salmon works. Just make sure to check that it has a nice color and texture.

Should I remove the skin from the salmon before cooking?

For optimum flavor, we prefer leaving the skin on for a crispy, seasoned fish. If you don't like to eat it, you can always remove it after cooking.

What’s the best way to season blackened salmon?

Use a mix of spices like smoked paprika, cumin, Cayenne pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder for an authentic blackened flavor.

How can I tell when my salmon is fully cooked?

Use a food thermometer to check the salmon has reached a temperature of 125°F. Alternatively, push down on the flesh with a fork. It should feel slightly resistant but give way easily.

Related recipes

  • grilled salmon filet on cedar plank, partially eaten, topped with corn and peppers
    Cedar Plank Salmon
  • Large wooden bowl of Caesar salad with gold serving spoons
    Salmon Caesar Salad
  • salmon ceviche in white bowl, garnished with lettuce leaf + blue striped napkin
    Salmon Ceviche
  • 3 tuna tacos on black serving tray topped with salsa verde and cabbage
    Tuna Tacos with Salsa Verde

🍅 Making this recipe?

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  • If you enjoyed it, please leave us a comment with ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Blackened Salmon Featured

Blackened Salmon recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

Print Recipe

Savor the spice with our easy Blackened Salmon recipe! Get a flavorful, charred crust in minutes—ideal for busy weeknights.

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pound salmon fillet
  • 8 oz package white mushrooms
  • ½ pint cherry tomatoes
  • 4 jalapeño peppers
  • 3 oz olive oil
  • ¼ C blackened seasoning
  • 2 lemons

Instructions

  1. Clean tomatoes, jalapeños and mushrooms. Place them in a small mixing bowl and toss with olive oil.
  2. Cut salmon into 6-8 pieces
  3. Heat a large cast iron skillet on top of stove until hot. Add vegetables and cook over high for 3 minutes. 
  4. Turn heat down to low and simmer for 4 more minutes. Remove from heat ands set aside
  5. Return cast iron skillet to stove and heat to high. Coat both sides of all salmon with blackened seasoning*.
  6. Place a few slices of salmon skin down in hot skillet and cook for 3 minutes. (Note: Make sure kitchen is well ventilated as seasoning will create a smoke. Don’t worry it's ok!)
  7. Turn salmon and cook another 3 minutes. Continue until all fish has been cooked.
  8. Remove and place on serving plate. Add vegetables and squeeze lemon juice over both.
  9. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Notes

MAKE BLACKENED SEASONING: Combine 2 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon cumin, 2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano together in a bowl, to use as blackened seasoning mix for salmon (OR USE STORE BOUGHT SEASONING).

Seasoning can be stored in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

  • Author: Superman Cooks
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: entrées

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4 oz
  • Calories: 305
  • Sugar: 5.4 g
  • Sodium: 4808.6 mg
  • Fat: 19.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10.9 g
  • Protein: 26.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 57.9 mg

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @supermancooks on Instagram and hashtag it #supermancooks

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Comments

  1. Jackie says

    October 25, 2024 at 3:13 pm

    This salmon recipe is on repeat at our house. It is such a great way to get bold flavor in very little time. Our whole family loves it!

    Reply
  2. Dan says

    October 29, 2024 at 7:27 am

    I was never a big fan of salmon but this has changed my mind. My fiancé made this for me and it was delicious.

    Reply

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