Grilled Salmon with Garlic Butter

Name: Grilled Salmon with Garlic Butter Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 6 tbsp salted butter (softened); 2 garlic cloves; 2 tbsp fresh minced parsley; 1 tbsp fresh minced dill weed; 2 lbs salmon fillets with skin on; salt

Grilled Salmon with Garlic Butter takes just thirty minutes to prepare and is always a huge hit during the warm summer months! Juicy, flaky salmon fillets are grilled to perfection with a very simple garlicky herb butter. I’ve included plenty of tips and tricks to help you achieve the very best results every single time!

Fire up the grill for more of my favorite salmon recipes like grilled salmon with brown butter citrus sauce and cedar plank grilled salmon.

grilled salmon filet topped with herb butter melting off next to two other filets.

Table of Contents

This grilled salmon recipe combines two of my favorite types of things: salmon and a super easy dinner! It only takes about 15 minutes to prepare the coals and less than 15 minutes to cook salmon, so this dish falls right into my favorite 30 minute dinner category. It’s a great recipe for when you’re hungry and you want dinner on the table fast.

I have a lot of different methods of cooking salmon that are great, but there’s something special about grilling it. Besides the ease of the process, the smoke infused taste of grilled salmon taste just can’t be beat. When grilled, salmon soaks up that wonderful smokey flavor which enhances the taste of herbs, garlic, butter, and fish itself.

The herb butter really sends this salmon over the top. Butter is enhanced simply with fresh garlic, parsley, and dill weed. It infuses the salmon with garlicky, herbaceous flavor without overpowering the natural flavors of the flaky fish. I love that there are no frills to be found here with these ingredients – just the essentials!

Ingredient Notes

ingredients for making grilled butter on the wooden surface.

Salmon – Make sure the skin is on, and decide whether you’d like king salmon, sockeye salmon, or Atlantic salmon. They’ll all work well with this easy recipe!

Butter – I like to use salted butter that’s softened to room temperature.

Garlic – Use fresh garlic only! Pre-minced or paste garlic won’t lend the right flavor.

Fresh Herbs – Fresh parsley and dill weed create the very best herbaceous flavor here.

See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Grilled Salmon

garlic and herb butter in a small glass bowl and salmon filets rubbed in herb butter.

Prepare garlic butter: place cold butter into a small bowl and let it warm up at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Make sure the butter is softened before adding garlic and herbs. Add pressed garlic and minced herbs and mix it all very well (1).

Prepare the grill: Prepare the coals for the grill until ashed over and make sure to clean the grill grate. Set the coals to the lowest level away from the grill grate.

Prepare the salmon: While the grill is preheating, pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel. Season each fillet with salt on all sides and coat each piece with softened herb butter (2).

salmon filets cooking on the grill skin side up.

Start grilling the salmon. Place each salmon fillet on the grill skin side up first. Close the lid and cook salmon for 3-4 minutes before flipping (3).

PRO TIP: Salmon will release once it’s cooked enough, so DO NOT try to mess with it or move it too soon.

salmon filets cooking on the grill with top grill marks on salmon.

Flip and keep cooking. Flip each fillet using a fish spatula, close the grill, and let it cook for another 4-6 minutes. A 1 1/2 – 2 inch salmon fillet will take 8-10 minutes to cook.

Check the temperature. You can also use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the thickest part of the fish. Salmon is done when reaches 145°F. Take it off the grill when it is about 142°F and let it rest to get to temp all the way.

two grilled salmon filets on the wooden plate topped with melted herb butter.

Tips for the Best Grilled Salmon

Make the butter ahead of time. You can easily prepare herb butter ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator. Let butter soften on the counter first or microwave it for just a few seconds at half the power. The goal it get it soft not melted.
Don’t add oil. Since salmon is coated in butter, there is no need to add any oil to it. If you just do not trust your grill, you can lightly brush the grill grate with some oil.
Be patient. Remember not to mess with the fish once you place it on the grill and after you flip it. Fish and other meats naturally release off the grill once it’s 50-60% cooked. So if you try to tug at it or move too soon, it will break apart. So just place on the grill, let it cook, flip, and let it cook again.
Use a thermometer. If you’re not sure about your salmon being done, use a meat thermometer and remember to take the temperature at the thickest part of the fillet.

How to Reheat Salmon

First of all, salmon doesn’t always need to be reheated! Cold salmon is perfect in a salad or a wrap sandwich, just flake it apart and use it cold.

If you definitely want it hot, there are two methods that I use to reheat salmon. You can reheat it in a pan or in the oven.

To preserve the crispy skin, reheat salmon in the pan. Preheat the pan oven medium heat and place salmon skin side down. Close the lid and let it heat through.

Salmon can also be reheated in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F, loosely wrap each filet in foil, and reheat for about 15 minutes. Reheating salmon in the oven will help keep it more juicy.

three grilled salmon filets topped with garlic butter on the wooden plate.

Recipe FAQs

How long will grilled salmon last?

Once the salmon has cooled to room temperature, you can store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

What should I serve with grilled salmon?

There are SO many options. Because the herb butter lends a more subtle flavor to the salmon, you can really have fun with your side dishes! You can stay on the lighter side with something like cucumber salad or Caesar salad. Or, make your plate even heartier with sides like creamy parmesan rice or roasted fingerling potatoes.

Should you grill salmon with the skin on?

YES! It’s always best to leave the skin on the salmon when grilling. It protects the fish from falling apart, makes it juicier because of the fat content, and makes the fish easier get off the grill.

a grilled salmon filet topped with melting herb butter and lemon wedge.

Enjoy More of the Best Salmon Recipes

Blackened Salmon

Whole Baked Salmon Filet

Pecan Crusted Salmon

Teriyaki Salmon

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