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How to Grill Salmon on a Sheet Pan Perfectly Every Time

Full instructions on how to grill salmon on a sheet pan. A 3 ingredient healthy salmon recipe, just salmon, olive oil, and salt!

grilled salmon on a white plate with salad and grilled carrots.

This is a go-to recipe around here, a true family favorite and we make this A LOT in the summertime.  It checks all the boxes, it’s fast, it’s healthy and it is so so so good!  This method makes the perfect salmon every time with just a few simple steps.  Skin-on fillets make this dish super flavorful and develop a crispy skin that’s so good you don’t even need a sauce!  Really!  This salmon is so juicy, crisp, and flavorful I still find it hard to believe it’s so tasty with only 3 ingredients.  I hope you try it and see for yourself!

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SALMON FOR GRILLING on a sheet pan:

  • Get skin-on salmon filets – This makes the salmon more flavorful, and you can always remove the skin afterward if you prefer not to eat it. This recipe makes the skin super crispy and delicious!  Try it once and see what you think.
  • Check appearance – The best salmon is pink salmon. It should be firm too.  To test firmness, gently poke the fillet with your finger: the salmon should spring back and you should not see a dent left in the flesh.
  • Farm-raised vs. wild-caught salmon – This is totally up to you. Wild-caught salmon is lower in calories and saturated fat, and has fewer contaminants. On the other hand, some might prefer the milder flavor of farm-raised salmon.  Get what you like and it will be great!

Types of Salmon

Here are a few common varieties below:

  • Atlantic Salmon: This is a common grocery store variety and a delicious one, at that. This variety is buttery and has a medium-firm texture.
  • Coho Salmon: The flavor is fairly mild compared to other varieties.  If you’re not sure about salmon, start here!
  • Sockeye Salmon: This is a really vibrant orange color. It has a really rich, deep flavor, but note that it’s a bit drier than other varieties.
  • King Salmon: It has a wonderfully buttery taste, but it’s also the most expensive type of salmon.

We regularly cook with Atlantic Salmon, it’s been our favorite kind of salmon lately.  We usually get ours from Aldi or Trader Joe’s.

raw salmon on a cookie sheet.  How to grill salmon on a sheet pan

Nutritional Benefits of Salmon

  • Rich in omega-3 fatty acids. 
  • Great source of healthy protein. 
  • High in B vitamins. 
  • Good source of potassium.
  • Rich in B12.

Plus it is delicious especially when cooked this way on the grill!

What to Serve with Grilled Salmon

We like to serve this with whatever veggies we have on hand, which is often some kind of salad, mashed sweet potatoes, or a veggie we can grill while the salmon is cooking like zucchini or try these:

Favorite ways to use leftover salmon | Healthy Salmon Recipes

You can store leftover salmon in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

  • Flake the salmon flesh and use it to top a salad
  • Toss with some soy sauce and serve over sticky rice with your favorite sushi toppings like avocado, sriracha mayo, cucumber, or pickled onions for example
  • Mix with some mayonnaise, fresh parsley, and a little lemon juice to create a nice salmon salad for sandwiches or crackers
  • Make Salmon Cakes – Use any crab cake recipe and sub the crab for salmon
  • Toss in with some bowtie pasta, garlic, and olive oil, and cooked asparagus (or green peas) to make a nice and light pasta dish
  • Make salmon chowder – A perfect winter treat
  • Salmon tacos with shredded cabbage and dill sauce
  • Salmon quiche or fritatta with asparagus
  • Salmon eggs benedict –  sub the ham for salmon and add a little Old Bay Seasoning to the hollandaise sauce

How to Grill Salmon on a Sheet Pan on the Grill

  • Preheat grill to 450 Degrees
  • Coat the fillets with olive oil (or any cooking oil) and place them on a quarter sheet pan (roughly 13″x9″) salmon skin-side down
  • Sprinkle generously with salt (sea or kosher salt works well here)
  • Insert the tip of an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of your salmon fillet.  Target internal temperature – 145 Degrees
  • Place the pan on the upper rack of a hot grill and close the lid. Using a gas grill instead of a charcoal grill helps to be able to control the heat.
How to grill salmon on a Sheet Pan
Salmon on a cookie sheet with a thermometer

Internal Temperature – Best results when cooking salmon

Using the thermometer, I set the target temperature alarm to 140 Degrees F to give me time to get to the grill.  I will pull the salmon at 142 Degrees because the salmon will continue to cook after removing it from the grill.  Keep the meat thermometer in the salmon and once it’s at the right temperature, use a fish spatula to remove the salmon from the grill pan. Plate it with your favorite side dishes, and enjoy your healthy and delicious grilled salmon.

salmon on a plate with salad and grilled carrots

RECIPE CARD

crispy grilled salmon on a plate
Print Pin
5 from 5 votes

How to Perfectly Grill Salmon

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 2 people

Equipment

  • 1 Instant-Read Wired Thermometer

Ingredients

  • 4 to 6 oz Thick and Fresh Fillet of Salmon  Not Frozen
  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil or Avacado Oil
  • Salt To taste

Instructions

  • Preheat grill to 450 Degrees
  • Coat the salmon fillets with oil and place them on a quarter sheet pan (roughly 13"x9") skin side down
  • Sprinkle generously with salt
  • Insert the tip of an instant-read wired thermometer into the thickest part of your salmon fillet.  Target temperature – 145 Degrees
  • Place the pan on the upper rack of your grill and close the lid.
  • Set the target temperature alarm to 140 Degrees F to give time to get to the grill.  Remove the salmon 142 Degrees because the salmon will continue to cook after removing if from the grill.

Need a SIDE DISH for your salmon?

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5 Comments

  1. I’m not typically a fan of fish, but this looks tasty I have to admit!

  2. Love this article! Our freezers are packed with Alaskan sockeye salmon, it’s our favorite! Thanks for the extra info!

  3. What an easy way to cook Salmon on the grill. I think I need to get a good meat thermometer.

  4. Thank you for this helpful recipe. I love salmon and love the idea of easy grilling on a sheet pan. This will be great to keep my house more cool! The carrots look delicious, too!

  5. Delicious and simple recipe, thanks for sharing! 😉

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