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    Easy Blackened Salmon Recipe

    Published March 5, 2021. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    You will absolutely love this incredibly easy-to-make and full-flavored zesty blackened salmon recipe with lemon butter sauce.

    I absolutely love seafood, but sometimes it’s just hard to remember to put it into my weekly recipes.  If you love it too and want to try out some new dishes, then definitely make my Clam Chowder or Oysters Rockefeller.

    blackened salmon fillets in a cast iron skillet with lemons

    Blackened Salmon

    Blackened salmon is a spice-coated salmon that is pan-fried to enhance the taste and provide a bit of spice to the dish.  It’s incredibly easy to make and absolutely loaded with flavor.  There are several blackened seasoning options at the grocery store, but I prefer to make my own, which is very easy.

    If for some reason salmon is not your favorite, you can absolutely use your favorite fish in this recipe, just like in my mahi-mahi recipe.  To go even further, it’s great on chicken, pork, and steak as well.

    What’s the Difference Between Grilled and Blackened?

    The difference between grilled and blackened is that one is a cooking method, and the other is a flavor enhancer.  Here is the breakdown:

    • Grilled – This is the process of cooking an ingredient on grated that is over an open flame from gas, charcoal, or wood
    • Blackened – This is when you create a spice rub and then coat your food in it, which is then cooked. Blackened food can be pan-seared or grilled.

    How to Make Blackened Salmon

    Follow these simple instructions for making this tasty blackened salmon recipe:

    Start by making the spice rub in a bowl and set aside.

    mixing together spices in a bowl

    Mix together some oil and blackened seasoning onto a plate until completely combined.

    mixing blackened seasoning with oil on a plate

    Completely coat the salmon on all sides in the oil and seasoning mixture.

    coating salmon in blackened seasoning

    Add the coated salmon into a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat with a little bit of olive oil and cook over low to medium heat until well browned and the desired internal temperature is achieved.

    searing a blackened salmon in a pan

    Make the optional beurre blanc lemon butter sauce in the pan and serve with the blackened salmon.

    making a butter sauce with shallots in a pan

    Make-Ahead and Storage

    Make-Ahead: This recipe is meant to be eaten right away; however, you can make it up to 30 minutes ahead of time, just keep it warm before serving.

    How to Reheat: Add the desired amount of salmon to a pan and cook in the oven at 350° for 4-5 minutes or until warmed.  You can also heat in the microwave until warm.

    How to Store: Cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.  This will freeze covered for up to 3 months.  Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.

    Chef Billy Parisi

    chef notes + tips

    • You can also grill the salmon instead of cooking in a pan over medium to high heat for 3-4 minutes per side.
    • Oils I prefer to use are olive, safflower, canola, or grapeseed.
    blackened salmon fillets with lemon butter

    More Seafood Recipes

    Be sure to follow me on FacebookYouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest, and if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below!

    Let's Cook - Chef Billy Parisi

    Video

    Easy Blackened Salmon Recipe

    5 from 18 votes
    You will absolutely love this incredibly easy-to-make and full-flavored zesty blackened salmon recipe with lemon butter sauce.
    Servings: 5
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes

    Ingredients 

    • 2 teaspoons sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon onion granules
    • 1 teaspoon garlic granules
    • 1 teaspoon dry oregano
    • 1 teaspoon dry thyme
    • 2 teaspoons paprika
    • ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 4 tablespoons oil
    • 3 8- ounce fresh salmon fillets
    • optional beurre blanc sauce

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl mix together the salt, onion granules, garlic granules, oregano, thyme, paprika, white pepper, and cayenne pepper until combined. Set aside.
    • Next, add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to a large plate and mix in 2 tablespoons of the blackened seasoning using a fork or a whisk until completely combined.
    • Add the salmon fillets to the mixture and coat it thoroughly on all sides. Set aside.
    • Add the 1 tablespoon of oil to a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat until it begins to lightly smoke.
    • Place the blackened salmon fillets into the pan, turn the heat down to medium-low, and cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until well browned and the desired internal temperature is achieved.
    • Remove the salmon from the pan and make the optional butter sauce and serve with the salmon.

    Notes

    Chef Notes:
    • Make-Ahead: This recipe is meant to be eaten right away; however, you can make it up to 30 minutes ahead of time, just keep it warm before serving.
     
    • How to Reheat: Add the desired amount of salmon to a pan and cook in the oven at 350° for 4-5 minutes or until warmed. You can also heat in the microwave until warm.
     
    • How to Store: Cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This will freeze covered for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.
     
    • You can also grill the salmon instead of cooking in a pan over medium to high heat for 3-4 minutes per side.
     
    • Oils I prefer to use are olive, safflower, canola, or grapeseed.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 196kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 13gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 959mgPotassium: 347mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 528IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: American, cajun

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