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Home » 30 Minute Meals » Blackened Salmon

Blackened Salmon

Created: May 25, 2023 Updated: May 25, 2023 by Lyuba Brooke 24 Comments *This post may contain affiliate links. Read More...

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Blackened salmon is a perfectly easy, 20-minute salmon recipe coated in a rich combination of herbs and spices and seared in a pan. This is a great weeknight seafood dish and salmon tastes incredible with homemade blackened seasoning.

Recipes with blackening seasoning are always fast, easy, and delicious. Try my blackened tilapia, blackened shrimp, and blackened fish tacos as well!

closeup of blackened salmon filet with a lime wedge

Table of Contents

  • What Does Blackened Mean?
  • Ingredients For Blackened Salmon
  • Blackened Seasoning Ingredients
  • Step By Step Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Tips for The Best Blackened Salmon
  • Some More Salmon Recipes To Make
  • Blackened Salmon

Blackened salmon is one of my favorite salmon recipes because it’s so easy to make in a pan and it tastes absolutely amazing with blackening seasoning. Salmon is such a mild fish that it tastes perfect with a rich seasoning like this one.

You can easily save yourself a few minutes and mix the blackening seasoning ahead of time. Just store it in an air-tight container with a lid that it preferably glass. Store it in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to make the salmon.

This really is a perfect weeknight dinner. All you have to do is brush salmon with butter, dip three sides into seasoning mix, and pan-sear the salmon until it’s done. You might also be happy to know that you get a beautifully crispy skin on the salmon that you can eat!

What Does Blackened Mean?

Blackening cooking technique originated in Louisiana and it’s related to Cajun cuisine. This technique requires that you cook fish, chicken, or shrimp in butter, then a combination of spices and herbs, and at high temperature. High temperature will cook the spices on the outside quickly and gives the outside of protein almost a crisp. 

Remember that there is a fine line between blackening and burning though, so make sure not to turn up the heat too high if cooking on stove. For a thick fish like salmon, medium or just a little higher than medium is perfect. Always adjust the heat according to the protein you’re cooking.

Fish, and especially thin fish, takes a lot faster to cook, so I can turn the heat up a little higher. For chicken, since it can be quite thick, I turn the heat up a little lower. 

Blackening seasoning is very similar to Cajun seasoning but a little less spicy. The most common spices and herbs include paprika, garlic powder, onion power, thyme, oregano, black pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, and sugar. I especially like to use brown sugar and smoked paprika, to enhance flavors.

Ingredients For Blackened Salmon

labeled salmon, seasoning, and melted butter on a baking sheet.

Salmon fillets – Skin on is essential for this recipe. The cooking times are also based on four individual portions since it’s prepared on the stove. If you have one large fillet, you will need to slice it into smaller pieces before starting.

Butter – Use unsalted butter because blackening seasoning already contains salt.

Olive or Avocado oil – You can use any neutral cooking oil with a high smoke point.

Lime wedges – The citrus adds brightness and helps to balance the spicy and smoky flavors of the blackened salmon. While this is optional, I highly recommend squeezing a wedge over the finished dish!

See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.

Blackened Seasoning Ingredients

Smoked paprika – As the name describes, this spice has a much smokier flavor than regular paprika. That’s because the chilies are smoke-dried before they are crushed. If you don’t have any on hand, use regular paprika.

Garlic and onion powder – Garlic and onion are such a common base, and these are an easy way to include those flavors when you can’t use the real thing.

Thyme and oregano – Because of the direct heat, you’ll need to use dried herbs instead of fresh. The dried version is also more pungent, and crushing it in the palm of your hand first will only increase the taste and aroma.

Salt and pepper – I love cooking with coarse salt because the larger crystals provide better flavor. Also, try to use freshly ground pepper as much as possible, as the flavor is noticeably different.

Brown sugar – This helps to create the caramelization on the blackened salmon and balances sweet and spicy ingredients. Because of the small amount used, either light or dark brown sugar is fine. Just keep in mind that the higher amount of molasses in the dark variety may be more prone to burning.

Cayenne pepper – Feel free to adjust the amount depending on how spicy you like your food to be. If you have a more sensitive palate, you can leave it out altogether or add a tiny pinch.

Step By Step Instructions

brushing salmon filets with melted butter before adding seasoning.

Prep the ingredients.

Combine everything for the blackened seasoning in a bowl and mix well. In a separate bowl or saucepan, melt the butter.

Remove the fish from the packaging and pat both sides dry with a paper towel.

Season the fish.

Brush the tops and side of each fillet with butter (1), then dip the three flesh sides in the blackened seasoning (2). Try not to get any on the skin or it will burn.

four seasoned salmon filets on parchment paper before baking.

Cook, then rest.

Preheat the pan! Add oil to a hot pan on the stove. Carefully place the fish inside with the skin facing up and cook for a 3-4 minutes (3).

Next, flip each fillet over so the skin is facing down and finish cooking for about 6-8 minutes (4)(depending on thickness of the fillets). Once done, transfer the blackened salmon to a plate and let it rest for a few minutes.

collage of two images of salmon filets cooking in the skillet and cooked salmon in the skillet.

Recipe FAQs

How to tell if salmon is fully cooked?

Cooking times will vary depending on the thickness of the fillets. Also, some people prefer their fish closer to medium while others like theirs well done.
Internal temperature is always the best indicator. Salmon is considered done at 145° and it you want it medium to medium-well range, cook it to 125° – 135°. Obviously, the higher the temp the more done the fish will be.
You can also try these ways to see if salmon is done:
Press on the center. When the meat is cooked through, it will be firm to the touch with the slightest bit of give. If it still feels squishy, give it a few more minutes and check again.
See if it flakes. You’ll notice white lines running throughout the fillet, which is the fat. If the fish separates easily along these lines, it’s ready to eat!
Check the opacity. Raw fish is fairly translucent but becomes more opaque when cooked. The inside should still have a slight “shine” to the flesh, while the outside should look completely opaque.

What sides to serve with Blackened Salmon?

Blackened salmon goes well with so many different side dishes. Keep it simple with rice or quinoa and a green salad, or add a helping of roasted vegetables if you would like! Asparagus, zucchini, and cauliflower are always favorites around here.

How to use Blackened Salmon?

This salmon recipe is great to serve as a main dish with a side but you can also use the leftovers is many other ways:
Tacos – its good heated or cold.
Wraps – same, use it heated or cold.
Salads – no need to heat it up for salads either, it’s great cold.
Pasta – mix it with hot pasta and your favorite sauce, like cream sauce or scampi sauce.

salmon with some of the meat flaked off with a fork

Tips for The Best Blackened Salmon

Use salmon with skin on! Make sure to use salmon filets with skin on. This recipe will give you a beautifully crispy skin that you can enjoy with the meat. The fat layer between the skin and the meat also holds most of the Omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients that you will want to keep.

Preheat the pan first! Remember to preheat the pan first for a few minutes. Pan should be hot when you’re adding the salmon.

Don’t move the fish whole cooking! Once you’ve added the salmon to the pan, do not disturb it until it’s time to flip. Same goes for after you flip it, don’t touch it as it sears.

Rest before serving! Remember to rest the salmon for a few minutes before serving. This will allow all juices that have compressed during cooking to spread out evenly throughout the meat.

Some More Salmon Recipes To Make

Holiday Baked Salmon

Pecan Crusted Salmon

Collection of Salmon Recipes

Salmon and Rice Patties

Balsamic Glazed Baked Salmon

closeup top of salmon in the middle with lime wedge

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE leave a 🌟 star rating! Let me know how you liked it by leaving the 📝 comment below or share and tag me on social media @willcookforsmiles. DON’T FORGET to subscribe to my newsletter!

closeup of blackened salmon filet with a lime wedge

Blackened Salmon

Blackened salmon is a perfectly easy, 20-minute salmon recipe coated in a rich homemade blackened seasoning.
4.91 from 11 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 321kcal
Author: Lyuba Brooke

Ingredients

Blackening Seasoning:

  • 3 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 1/2 tsp coarse salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper more or less to taste

Salmon:

  • 4 skin on salmon filets that are 6-8 oz. each
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1-2 tbsp canola oil for cooking
  • 4 lime wedges for serving
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Prepare salmon:

  • Combine all the ingredients for the blackening seasoning in a bowl and whisk it well. Set aside.
  • Melt butter and set it aside as well.
  • Pat salmon fillets dry with a paper towel.

Cooking salmon:

  • Set a large skillet (or another pan you with to use) on the stove over medium heat or just a little below medium heat. (Every stove is different especially comparing gas and electric, so you will know your stove best. Just don’t set the heat higher than medium.) It will take about 5 minutes to preheat the skillet.
  • While the pan is preheating, season the salmon. Brush each salmon fillet with butter on top and sides and dip into the seasoning on top and the sides.
  • Spread oil in the preheated pan all over the bottom.
  • Place seasoned salmon into the pan flesh down and let it cook for 3-4 minutes.
  • Flip each filet skin side down and let it cook for 5-6 more minutes. (Thick fillets may take another minute or so.)
  • Take salmon out of the pan, let it rest for 5 minutes, and serve with lime wedges.

How to tell if salmon is cooked:

  • Total cook time will always depend on the thickness of salmon fillets. Salmon is considered fully cooked at 145° internal temperature but many people find it too well done. Personally, I prefer salmon at either medium or medium-well temperature, which is around 125°-130°.
  • You can also tell if salmon is done by touch. When meat is cooked through, it will be firm to the touch when pressed in the center. If you still feel some squishy texture inside, it’s not cooked through.
  • Another way to tell is to gently press on the flesh, on top, and slightly pull it apart, it should flake easily.

Video

Notes

  • Salmon with skin on! Make sure to use salmon filets with skin on. This recipe will give you a beautifully crispy skin that you can enjoy with the meat. The fat layer between the skin and the meat also holds most of the Omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients that you will want to keep.
  • Preheat the pan! Remember to preheat the pan first for a few minutes. Pan should be hot when you’re adding the salmon.
  • Don’t move the fish! Once you’ve added the salmon to the pan, do not disturb it until it’s time to flip. Same goes for after you flip it, don’t touch it as it sears.
  • Rest! Remember to rest the salmon for a few minutes before serving. This will allow all juices that have compressed during cooking to spread out evenly throughout the meat.

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1533mg | Potassium: 939mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1126IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles and tag #willcookforsmiles

LYUBA

ABOUT LYUBA

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read more...

102.5K shares

Filed Under: 30 Minute Meals, Dinner, Gluten Free, Popular Posts, Salmon, Seafood

All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.

Comments

  1. Deena says

    June 18, 2023 at 8:14 pm

    5 stars
    This was delicious!! I didn’t have paprika so I substituted 2 tsp of chipotle chili powder and cut back on the cayenne pepper a bit. Everyone loved it 😊

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      June 21, 2023 at 10:14 am

      So glad you liked it, Deena!

      Reply
  2. Susan mcbrayer says

    June 4, 2023 at 9:12 pm

    5 stars
    The fish was amazing. I followed the recipe except I didn’t use any butter. Only oil . Served it over a Caesar salad. Perfect!, will def make again

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      June 7, 2023 at 10:45 am

      So glad you liked it, Susan!

      Reply
  3. mike oday says

    April 29, 2023 at 1:29 pm

    Can I season salmon & freeze to eat at a later date.

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      May 2, 2023 at 9:19 am

      Sure, just make sure once you defrost it to use a paper towel to dab it and get rid of the extra moisture.

      Reply
  4. Paul Coughlan says

    April 10, 2023 at 9:40 pm

    5 stars
    This was shockingly easy to make and so, so good! It will become one of my go-to meals…

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      April 11, 2023 at 10:16 am

      I am so glad, Paul!

      Reply
  5. Kathi says

    March 16, 2023 at 9:04 pm

    5 stars
    This is my go to recipe for salmon. Our entire family loves it and my sons friends always want to come over when we are having this because they love it. They brag to their parents about how good my salmon is. Great recipe. Does not disappoint!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      March 19, 2023 at 12:51 pm

      Aw thanks, Kathi! I love hearing this and I am so glad they like it!

      Reply
  6. Jill H says

    November 13, 2022 at 7:21 pm

    4 stars
    My favorite way to cook salmon unless it is in a smoker. The seasoning was perfect.

    I had a thick cut and needed more cook time. But it was delish!

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      November 18, 2022 at 2:03 pm

      So glad you liked it, Jill!

      Reply
  7. Beth says

    November 7, 2022 at 10:17 pm

    5 stars
    I mixed up the seasoning this afternoon. Great suggestion! I had very little time to make dinner tonight but because the seasoning was already made, we enjoyed an amazing new salmon recipe. Everyone is already asking if we can have blackened salmon again next week! Success! Thanks.

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      November 8, 2022 at 2:32 pm

      I am so glad you liked it, Beth!

      Reply
  8. Marilyn says

    May 22, 2022 at 10:37 pm

    5 stars
    This is the bomb

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      May 23, 2022 at 10:10 am

      Thank you, Marilyn!!! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Theresa says

    January 30, 2022 at 10:49 am

    5 stars
    My husband and I loved this blackened salmon recipe! We put it on a salad with blue cheese crumbles, candied walnuts, sliced pears, and blue cheese dressing. The only thing we would do differently next time would be to cut the cayenne pepper in half as it was really really HOT! Excellent though and we will be making it again. Thank you!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      January 31, 2022 at 1:48 pm

      Yum! I like it in a salad too! Sorry, it was a bit too hot for you guys, cutting in half should work well for you.

      Reply
  10. Pat says

    May 19, 2021 at 9:55 pm

    I made this sugar free with trivia brown sugar. It was great. My husband said to put it on the list of repeat recipes!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      May 24, 2021 at 11:29 am

      I am so glad you liked it and were able to adjust it and make it your own! Thanks to for stopping by to let me know!

      Reply
  11. Elizabeth says

    April 18, 2021 at 9:47 am

    Looks delicious. Could you bake this instead of pan fry?

    Reply
  12. Carla says

    March 5, 2021 at 2:22 pm

    5 stars
    It was a fabulous special meal!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      March 8, 2021 at 2:36 pm

      Thanks, Carla!

      Reply
    • LyubaB says

      March 8, 2021 at 2:48 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

      Reply

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Well, hey there!

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read More.

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