Out of nearly 20 salmon recipes I have on my site, this one is by far the quickest, easiest, and has the fewest ingredients. Blackened salmon will become your go-to healthy meal during the week when you need something fast. (Being super delicious is a big bonus, too!)

Your Guide to Perfectly Blackened Salmon

Salmon is one of my most favorite things, so I’ve worked really hard over the years perfecting it in as many ways as I can! I’m kicking myself for not making this sooner. It’s something I see on nice restaurant menus which sometimes means it’s “fussy”.

I don’t like fussy recipes when I’m in a hurry for something nourishing and delicious. Want to know the secret? Blackened salmon is the easiest thing ever. Truly. I’ll walk you through the very short process and you’ll be making this in no time and impressing the pants off your people.

What is Blackened Salmon?

Blackened salmon is simply salmon that has been pan fried to create a richly spiced “crust”.

I used to think “blackened” things meant it was a little burned. Heh. Nope. You could easily go that direction, but that’s not what we want here. We want “nice and toasty”. Not burned.

What You’ll Love About This Blackened Salmon Recipe

Five minutes of prep. Less than 10 minutes of cooking time. And only 4 ingredients. (maybe 3, even.)

And you can pop some veg in the same skillet and make a 5 min side dish.

Have I convinced you yet how easy this is? Please try it. Especially if you are leery about prepping fish. You’ll feel like a rockstar.

What you’ll need for the Best Blackened Salmon Recipe

Only a few ingredients!

• Salmon fillets — Use fresh or frozen (thawed) and whatever type of salmon you prefer!
• Blackening Seasoning — Use my Homemade Blackening Seasoning or some Cajun seasoning if you have that on hand.
• Avocado oil — Or any heat-safe oil you prefer to use for pan-frying.
• Lemon — Not pictured. And optional. But, man I love a little freshly squeezed lemon on my fish.

How to Make Blackened Salmon

1. Coat each fillet with the blackening seasoning on one side.
2. Pan fry the salmon, seasoning-side down for a bit, then flip it over to finish it off.
3. That’s it! Serve it up with a squeeze of lemon. Keep scrolling for some ideas of ways you can serve this salmon.

Tips For Success

• If you buy fresh salmon, make sure it isn’t too fishy smelling. Seems counterintuitive because it’s FISH, but fresh fish should smell more like the ocean than that funky “fishy” smell.
• Coat the salmon well in the seasoning. It might seem like a lot of seasoning, but that thin layer is going to season the whole fillet.
• Make sure your oil is hot enough! Flick a little water in the oil to test it. It should sizzle loudly.
• When you put the fish in the oil, DON’T TOUCH IT. Let it cook, undisturbed for 60-90 seconds so it can form that beautiful spice crust.
• Don’t overcook your salmon. Covering it will help it to cook more quickly and keep the moisture contained. If your salmon is very slightly darker pink in the middle, it’s OK. The residual heat should finish it off after 5 minutes or so.
• Don’t grill the salmon. You won’t get the same result if you toss this on the grill because the oil in the pan is what creates that spice crust. If you’re wanting a grilled variation, see below.

Salmon Blackened Variations

Here are some fun ways you can adapt this blackened salmon recipe!

• Make it spicy. Add a little cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes to your blackening seasoning to bump the heat up.
• Use your grill. To adapt this for grilling, add a couple tablespoons of cooking oil to the blackening seasoning in a small bowl. Then, rub the mixture over the fish like a marinade.
• Use a different type of fish. This method works well for just about any kind of fish! Or chicken, if fish isn’t your thing.

What to Serve With Blackened Salmon

Sautéed vegetables — This is the easiest side dish because you’ve already got a pan with spiced oil nice and hot! Just toss some mixed vegetables into the skillet after you pull out the salmon.

Seasoned rice — The salmon and vegetables alone make a great meal, but if you’re wanting to add some grains, try my Cilantro Rice or Herb Rice.

Will it Salad? — Yes. Yes, it will. Try this salmon blackened with one of these salads:

Chicken Salad with vegetables: Omit the chicken and use this salmon. It will go beautifully with all the grilled vegetables!

Shrimp Caesar Salad: Use salmon in place of the shrimp in this unique grilled salad. (Yes, you read that correctly. Trust me here.)

Avocado Lettuce Salad: No swaps here.

Storing Leftover Blackened Salmon

If you happen to have leftovers, store the fillets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, put it in a skillet skin-side down with a few tablespoons of water and cook it for a few minutes, covered, to steam it back to life.

More Easy Salmon Recipes on Perry’s Plate

Know what? I have all of my favorite salmon recipes compiled into one place! Click here: Best Salmon Recipes

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If you make one of my recipes, be sure to post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!

If you make one of my recipes, be sure to post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!