No matter what diet you follow, this Whole30 Salmon is downright delicious. Moist, flaky salmon fillets flavored with cilantro and lime, this fresh, healthy meal is one of our favorite healthy weeknight dinners.
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Whenever I’m lacking healthy dinner inspiration or I need a quick weeknight dinner, salmon (especially Baked Salmon in Foil is my go-to).
Between you and me, I find the fact that salmon recipes are now on our menu at least once a week semi-hilarious, because I spent most of my adult life being afraid to cook fish.
We didn’t grow up eating fish at home, so I assumed cooking something like this Whole30 salmon recipe was fancy or complicated.
I could not have been more wrong! (I felt the same way about this deliciously easy and elegant Salmon Meuniere.)
How to Make the Best Whole30 Salmon (Whether or Not You Are on Whole30)
This recipe is painless and appropriate for cooks at any level, and the flavor payoff is supreme with lots of choices for spices.
- Arrange the salmon on a sheet pan.
- Stir together a quick mix of garlic, lime juice, and olive oil.
- Pour this tasty garlic-lime mixture over the top of the fish (yep, right on the pan).
- Let hang out 10 minutes. I like to call this lazy girl marinade, because you don’t even need to place the salmon in a separate dish.
- Bake and serve!
I also opted to make a super fresh, avocado “sauce” with tomatoes, cilantro, and even more lime to serve with the salmon.
It’s fresh and zippy, and just when you think you’ve added enough to the top of the salmon, you’re going to want to go back and add some more.
Tip!
You can also try this salmon topped with my favorite Homemade Guacamole.
5 Star Review
This is my favorite salmon recipe! Such a great combination of flavours that the whole family loves.
— Josette —
For those doing Whole30 this month:
- Salmon is Whole30 compliant, so I’d also recommend checking out my other salmon recipes, including this Baked Salmon in Foil, Grilled Salmon in Foil, Soy Ginger Salmon (coconut aminos can be swapped for the soy sauce and the honey omitted to make it Whole30 compliant), and Pineapple Glazed Salmon
- I also have a list of 15 Whole30 Recipes for you to explore, the most popular being these Whole30 Vegetarian Power Bowls.
What to Serve with Whole30 Salmon
- Cauliflower rice (pictured) is absolutely delicious and adds an additional serving of veggies.
- If you aren’t following a Whole30 diet, you can swap the cauliflower rice for Turmeric Rice, Lemon Rice, or quinoa if you prefer.
- Sautéed Zucchini (omit the Parm if needed)
- Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts or roasted vegetables of choice
Baked Salmon for Everyone!
Regardless of what diet you do or do not follow, I hope you’ll try this Whole30 Salmon recipe no matter what.
- It’s a lovely combination of creamy, flaky, and fresh.
- Every forkful tastes wholesome in a rich, nourishing way that feels restorative and satisfying and not at all like what you are eating is “diet” food.
- Because it is so fast and simple to prepare, it will be a trusty companion on busy weeknights too.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Mixing Bowls. This space-saving set of nested glass mixing bowls is my favorite for tossing together ingredients for sweet and savory dishes.
- Skillet. No kitchen should be without a trusty cast iron skillet.
- Citrus Juicer. This handheld juicer is my fav for freshly squeezed lemon juice without any seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pat the dry the salmon with paper towels, season, and then bake at 400 degrees F for 15 to 18 minutes! The prep is super easy and this recipe comes together fast. For more about salmon temperatures and times, see this Baked Salmon Temperature Guide.
Salmon pairs well with a wide range of sides, including grains like rice and quinoa (use cauliflower rice for a low carb/grain-free option), green salads, roasted or sautéed vegetables, and legumes (or try Crockpot Spaghetti Squash if on Whole30).
Yes! Salmon is whole30 compliant. The key is not to cook it with non-compliant ingredients.
Whole30 Salmon
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Ingredients
FOR THE SALMON:
- 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets skin on or off
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic chopped, about 2 teaspoons
- Zest and juice of 1 small lime about 1/2 teaspoon zest and 2 tablespoons juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Steamed cauliflower rice optional for serving
FOR THE AVOCADO SALSA:
- 2 ripe avocados peeled, pitted, and cut into a rough dice
- Juice of 1 lime about 1 1/2 tablespoons
- 4–6 dashes hot sauce to taste
- 1 clove garlic finely minced or grated
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro plus additional for serving
- 1 medium tomato seeded and small-diced, or 1 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
Instructions
- Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Arrange the salmon fillets in the center of the sheet.
- In a small bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime zest, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Drizzle and brush generously over the salmon. (You will have some run off and down the sides, but brush what you can onto the fish.) Let the salmon stand at room temperature for 10 minutes while the oven finishes preheating.
- Bake until the fish flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, about 16 to 20 minutes.* Cover and let rest 3 minutes.
- While the salmon bakes, prepare the avocado salsa: In a large bowl, stir together the avocado, lime juice, hot sauce, garlic, salt, pepper, and cilantro. With a fork, gently crush pieces of the avocado and stir. You want them to break down a little and make the salsa creamy, but you should have plenty of chunkiness remaining. Stir in the tomatoes. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Transfer the salmon to serving plates. Serve hot, topped with avocado salsa and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.
Video
Notes
- *The cooking time will vary based upon the thickness of your salmon. Thicker (2-inch-plus) slices will need several extra minutes, while thinner slices may cook more quickly. My salmon fillets were a little more than 1 inch thick and cooked in 18 minutes.
- This recipe is best enjoyed the day that it is made, as salmon usually dries out when reheated. If you have leftover salmon, try serving it room temperature over a salad the next day or flaking and scrambling it with eggs.
Nutrition
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Erin!! I made this last night…absolutely delicious thank you. I served it on cauliflower rice as you suggested…I will be doing this at least once a week I love salmon and this was super easy:)
Do you have a recipe book by any chance??
:)
I’m so happy to hear this was a hit, Janet! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review! And, thank you for your interest! I actually have a cookbook coming out later this year, and you can read more about it here.
delicious! I would have not thought of this combination (Salmon, avocado, and tomatoes) but it is really good.
I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the recipe, Jeff! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Tried this tonight after I saw the Insta post! I didn’t have avocados so I just did the salmon because I needed a new, easy salmon recipe. WOW! It was fantastic. Will definitely be making this a staple! Thank you!
I’m so pleased that you enjoyed it, Beth! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
We made the recipe ‘Whole30 Salmon and were delighted with how easy it was to prepare and not time consuming, Under 30 minutes to prepare the salmon + cauliflower rice with sauteed zucchini & green onions thrown in. It was delicious!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Lillian! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Delicious! I enjoyed making it for my family. They ate it up quickly. We are definitely making this a staple meal. Thanks for the recipe! I wish I could send you a picture.
I’m SO happy that you enjoyed it, Mama D! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Delicious!!!! I find some salmon recipes to be very bland, but this was full of flavor. Love the avocado salsa. I replaced the hot sauce with a minced habanero pepper because I like it Hot!!! Lol. Wonderful recipe. Served with cauliflower rice & roasted Brussels sprouts. This plate was so beautiful I couldn’t believe I made it myself. Wonderful recipe and it will be included in the lunch/dinner meal prep rotation.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Tineya! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Easy and tasty. I will definitely make this again…and again!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Nancy! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Hi Erin. This is the BEST salmon I’ve ever had! My husband even liked it and does NOT like avocado. He had seconds! I’ve made it for others and they rave about it. It’s one of my all time favorites! Thank you!!
Rhonda
Hi Rhonda! So glad you enjoyed the salmon! Thank you for this kind review!
This is my favourite salmon recipe! Such a great combination of flavours that the whole family loves.
Hi Josette! So glad you enjoyed the salmon! Thank you for this kind review!
This was a winner – and easy and tasty enough to serve at a dinner party. I tend to favor grilled salmon over baked, but because I don’t have a gas grill my salmon consumption drops in the winter. This simple marinade added enough detectable flavor to the salmon that I could enjoy it without even adding the salsa. The salsa was rich and delicious and so healthy. I served with Whole30 ratatouille and a baked potato and got rave reviews from my dinner partner. My functional medicine doc keeps telling me to eat more salmon and less red meat so I am always looking for a good baked salmon recipe – and I am happy I have found one!
Hi Andrea! I’m happy you found it too! Thank you!
This was delicious!
Hi Suzanne! So glad you enjoyed the salmon! Thank you for this kind review!
I’ve never commented on a recipe before, but had to for this one. This was delicious! Thanks for posting!
Hi Cari! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Absolutely yummy!
I am not actually an avocado-lover, but I loved this salsa. So easy to make.!
It’s worthy.
(I tried it with baked chicken & rice as well)
Thank you so much for this recipe!
Hi ATHANASIA! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Easy and very tasty!
Hi Dan! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Really great recipe. I found this while trying to eat healthier in college and still use while cooking for family and it’s a hit. Super simple too!
Hi Ashle! So glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you for this kind review!
This was a great and super easy dinner. Very versatile too. Thanks so much!
Hi Erica! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Fabulous & delicious recipe that I have made many times! The avocado salsa is the bomb! So yummy!!
Hi Terri! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This was so delicious and different from any other salmon recipes I’ve made before. Even my avocado obsessed toddlers loved it and they are super picky eaters these days. They asked if we could have it again the next evening. Definitely printing this one out and putting in regular rotation. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you Terri!
I am not a chef. I’m really not even a cook. But this recipe was so easy to follow and just so delicious, it’s given me the confidence to try more.
Light and flavorful, I truly look forward to making and eating this meal!
Makes me so happy to hear, Stacy! Looks great!