Learn how to grill salmon filets to perfection with the best grilled salmon recipe, made with a flavorful low-carb marinade filled with olive oil, basil, and fresh lemon juice. Serve it up with your favorite keto vegetables for a nutritious weeknight meal!
Why you'll love this grilled salmon recipe
Salmon is a nutrient powerhouse – boasting several health benefits, including being a great source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and potassium.
In turn, including salmon in your diet can help lower your risk of heart disease, improve brain function, prevent inflammation, aid in weight loss, and much more!
It's only natural then that you'd want to add salmon to your low-carb diet. This fatty fish is virtually carb-free, making it the perfect candidate for a ketogenic diet.
In this post, we're covering how to best eat this delicious protein, including the perfect grilled salmon recipe, cooking tips, and serving suggestions to share your dish!
This recipe is incredibly simple yet flavorful – enhancing the natural taste of salmon with simple seasonings, olive oil, and lemon juice. This makes it super versatile, pairing well with any of your favorite side dishes.
Note: Looking for more protein-rich meals? Check out our post on 50 Keto Chicken Breast Recipes.
Ingredients needed
What goes into the best grilled salmon? Simple, whole foods combined for a perfectly balanced recipe. Here's everything that brings it together:
Salmon filets
The base of this recipe is fresh, wild-caught salmon filets.
My recipe includes four filets, though you can adjust this based on your family's needs. You can also use any cut of salmon that you prefer.
Olive oil
Adding olive oil gives my grilled salmon marinade additional flavor and fat content. Want to switch it up? You can use whichever neutral cooking oil you have on hand (or prefer).
Olive oil is also important when you're grilling fish directly on the grill to prevent sticking.
Seasoning
Simple seasoning compliments the natural salmon flavor.
I've included soy sauce, dried basil, paprika, onion powder, and salt and pepper to season the salmon filets.
You can customize this seasoning if you'd like. But remember to keep it fairly basic and let your salmon be the star!
Lemon juice
A squeeze of fresh lemon juice adds a touch of acidity and brightness to this grilled salmon recipe.
Serve your salmon with an extra lemon wedge!
Grilling tips
Here are a few tips for grilling salmon, including how long to grill salmon, to ensure your recipe goes perfectly!
- Take the time to marinate your salmon for 30 minutes for maximum flavor potential.
- When cooking salmon, make sure to not exceed recommended grilling times (8-12 minutes). Any more and your fish will be dry.
- Add a final squeeze of lemon juice to the cooked salmon to allow the flavors to shine!
How to grill salmon
Preparing juicy, flakey salmon is really quite simple. Here are the easy steps to make grilled salmon:
Prepare marinade
Your first step is to prepare your grilled salmon marinade!
Measure out olive oil, soy sauce, dried basil, paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper, and lemon juice in a small bowl.
Then, whisk your ingredients together until fully combined.
Feel free to get creative with the spices in this marinade based on your preferences or what you have on hand. For example, if you grow fresh herbs, they would pair really nicely with this dish.
Tip: If you swap ingredients, though, keep the olive oil and lemon juice! These are essential components to making this salmon taste its best.
Marinate salmon
Next, add your salmon filets to a large bowl; this recipe calls for 4 filets, though you can adjust this based on your needs.
Then, pour your prepared marinade over the salmon and let it marinate for 30 minutes.
Note: You can marinate your salmon for a bit longer, but more than 60 minutes is not recommended. The acidity in the lemon juice will begin to break down the salmon over time.
Grill and serve
Preheat your grill; you can use an indoor or outdoor grill.
Then, it's as simple as popping your marinated salmon on the grill and cooking until you've achieved a nice, even sear on both sides.
You can cook grilled salmon right on the grill grates for gorgeous grill marks. Or, for easy cleanup, use a bit of tin foil.
If using an outdoor gas grill, close your grill lid for even cooking. Cook salmon for 8-12 minutes, depending on your desired doneness. Flip your filets halfway through so that both sides get seared.
Once cooked, your internal grilled salmon temp should be 145°F. Remove from the grill, serve, and enjoy!
Season grilled salmon with an additional squeeze of lemon juice.
What to serve with salmon
Low-carb vegetables are perfect to serve with grilled salmon for a healthy dinner option. Serve your salmon filet with green beans almondine, oven-roasted asparagus, or oven-roasted bell peppers and zucchini.
For a more filling addition, add a keto-friendly starch to your plate, like cilantro lime cauliflower rice, mushroom cauliflower rice risotto, or mashed turnips!
You can also enjoy leftover grilled salmon for lunch on top of a baby kale salad with avocado, spinach strawberry salad with vinaigrette, or an Asian spiralized zucchini noodle salad.
For a creative leftover solution, shred your grilled salmon with a fork and mix it with homemade avocado mayo and spring onions.
Spread over pumpkin seed bread and top with fresh romaine, tomato, or the low-carb veggies of your choice.
Variations
Though this easy grilled salmon recipe is perfect as is, there are a few ways to switch things up for variety, preference, or for what you have on hand.
- Use your preferred neutral oil, like avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or vegetable oil.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to your marinade for a bit of heat.
- Marinate with fresh dill, basil, and chives for an unbeatable flavor combination.
- Switch things up with sesame oil, garlic, and ginger marinade.
FAQs
Here are some questions people often ask about my grilled salmon recipe. If you don't see your question in this list, please leave it in the comments.
You don't necessarily need to flip salmon on the grill; it really depends on preference.
If you prefer to have grill marks on both sides of your salmon filet, however, you can choose to flip. Just make sure that your grill is oiled to avoid sticking.
Otherwise, your salmon will cook through without flipping. Just ensure that you close your grill lid to promote an even cook throughout.
This recipe recommends that you marinate your salmon for 30 minutes before grilling; this recommendation is based on convenience and a quick turnaround!
You can marinate your salmon for a bit longer, though anything over 60 minutes could affect your fish.
This is because the marinade contains lemon juice which is highly acidic; this acid will break down your salmon over time, and you may be left with a mushy filet!
Seasoning salmon before grilling is recommended to achieve the best flavor possible.
Try seasoning your filets with a quick marinade and let them sit for 15-30 minutes before grilling.
In addition, you can add additional seasoning once your salmon is cooked through. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice, some finely chopped chives, or sundried tomatoes provide the perfect toppings!
Excellent news – every cut of salmon is keto-friendly! This includes canned salmon, filets, and smoked salmon.
Salmon is a fatty fish with high nutritional value and nearly zero carbs.
Note that salmon can quickly become unsuitable for a keto diet depending on how it is prepared. For example, candied salmon or salmon cooked in sugary, high-carb marinades are not keto-approved.
When ordering salmon at a restaurant, always inquire about marinades and glazes to ensure your ketosis is not affected.
You can grill salmon directly on the grill grates if your grill is clean and well-oiled. The advantages of this are convenience and beautiful grill marks.
Alternatively, grilling salmon in foil prevents your fish from sticking to the grill and provides an easier cleanup.
Choose your method based on your needs!
If you like this recipe, try this!
Looking for more ways to enjoy salmon filets on a keto diet? Check out these related salmon recipes:
- Salmon Loaf with Dill White Sauce can be whipped up in just minutes using canned salmon, pork rinds, and seasoning.
- Keto Salmon Patties with Canned Meat fry up to crispy perfection! Keep some in the freezer for quick and easy meals.
- Instant Pot Salmon can be made with frozen or fresh filets for a convenient, protein-packed dinner with fresh lemon juice and ghee. Enjoy it with your favorite low-carb vegetables.
- Paleo Salmon Chowder with Coconut Milk is dairy-free and filled with nutritious, low-carb veggies.
- Smoked Salmon Pate with Cream Cheese makes for a fabulous appetizer, spread over cucumber slices or keto-friendly crackers. Serve them at your next gathering for a tasty low-carb snack.
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Recipe
Keto Grilled Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 Salmon fillets
- ¼ cup Olive oil
- 2 tbsp. Soy sauce
- 1 tsp. Dried basil
- ½ tsp. Paprika
- ½ tsp. Onion powder
- Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, dried basil, paprika, onion powder, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
- Place the salmon in a large bowl, and pour the marinade over the top.
- Marinate the salmon for 30 minutes.
- Preheat an indoor or outdoor grill.
- Grill the salmon for 8-12 minutes until evenly seared on both sides and cooked to your liking.
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
Jay
Should you use skin on salmon when grilled or no skin?