This Grilled Salmon is a quick and easy recipe for juicy, perfectly cooked salmon and is our go-to BBQ seafood dish! The flaky salmon only needs 30 minutes to soak up the tangy marinade, and it can be grilled with or without char marks in a foil-packet. Gluten-free, low carb, keto, paleo and Whole30 friendly.
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Updated May 2023
Flaky, Perfectly Grilled BBQ Salmon
If you love grilling during the summer, this Grilled Salmon recipe is one of our family favorites that we make every year. It’s a light yet hearty protein that you can season in countless yummy ways. And it also cooks up super quickly, which is always a plus!
This recipe gives you the most tender, flaky salmon imaginable and infuses your fish with the bright, summery flavors of lime and garlic. Smoked paprika is also used in the marinade to provide a satisfying touch of heat. Overall, this wonderfully flavored and beautifully textured salmon is sure to have everyone at the BBQ lining up for seconds!
Is Salmon Healthy?
Salmon is a heart-healthy seafood option that’s loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin B and potassium. With this recipe, you can also be sure that your grilled salmon is gluten-free, low-carb, keto, Whole30 and Paleo!
Though it’s a favorite all year long, salmon is especially popular during the summer when people are craving lighter meals. This grilled salmon won’t leave you feeling uncomfortably full, but it will satisfy your hunger, delight your taste buds and give you long-lasting energy and we call that a win-win-win!
What You’ll Need
So, what ingredients does it take to make the best grilled salmon at the BBQ? Let’s find out!
- Salt & Pepper: To taste.
- Salmon Fillets: For this recipe, you’ll need 4-6 ounce skin-on fillets.
- Ghee: Melted. Feel free to use melted butter instead if you’re not Whole30 or Paleo.
- Avocado Oil: Or olive oil.
- Coconut Aminos: You can use low sodium soy sauce if not Whole30 or Paleo.
- Smoked Paprika: Half a teaspoon of smoked paprika adds some lovely heat to your fish.
- Garlic: Freshly minced is best.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Or lemon juice, according to your preferences or mood!
- Fresh Lime Zest: Or lemon zest.
- Oil: For grilling.
- Optional Garnishes: If you’d like, feel free to garnish your fish with lime slices, parsley or chopped cilantro.
How to Grill BBQ Salmon – Two Ways
You can either grill your salmon wrapped in foil or directly on the grill. It all depends on whether or not you want those char marks on the fillets. But before we get grilling, let’s go over the process for marinating the fish.
- Season Salmon & Make Marinade: Season the salmon generously with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted ghee, avocado oil, paprika, coconut aminos, garlic, lime juice and lime zest. Reserve 1-2 tablespoons of the sauce to brush on the salmon once it’s finished cooking.
- Marinate: Marinate the salmon in the rest of the sauce for at least 30 minutes before grilling it. Don’t leave it marinating for longer than 1 hour. Once the salmon is ready, preheat your grill to medium-high heat and follow either set of instructions below.
In Foil
This technique will give you spotless grilled salmon with no char.
- Wrap it Up: Place each salmon fillet on a large piece of parchment paper on top of a larger piece of heavy duty foil. Add lime slices and drizzle with a spoonful of marinade. Wrap the salmon up tightly in the parchment/foil packets.
- Grill: Place the foil packets on the hot grill and cook for 10-13 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove from grill.
- Garnish & Serve: Brush the tops of the salmon with the reserved sauce and serve immediately with lime slices and chopped herbs, if desired.
Directly on the Grill
If you want some nice char marks on your grilled salmon fillets, this method is the way to go.
- Grease & Grill: Brush the grill grates with oil. Place the salmon fillets on the grill diagonally to the grill grates. Grill with the lid closed for 2-4 minutes (depending on the thickness of the salmon), or until grill marks appear.
- Flip: Use tongs and a wide spatula to carefully turn the fish onto the other side so the skin side is now on the grill grates.
- Finish Grilling: Close the grill lid. Cook for another 2-5 minutes, again depending on the thickness of the fillets. Salmon should be just barely opaque throughout when it’s done.
- Garnish & Serve: Brush the salmon with the reserved sauce and serve immediately with lime slices and chopped herbs, if desired.
Tips for Making BBQ Salmon
Grilling salmon is a breeze – you’ll be a pro in no time! These quick tips will answer any questions you may have about the process.
- Use Wild Caught Salmon: Farmed fish are never as tasty as wild ones, especially when it comes to salmon. In addition to tasting better, wild caught salmon also contains more minerals and fewer calories than farmed salmon.
- Grease Generously: If you’re cooking your salmon directly on the grill, it’s super important to grease the grill grates very well. This prevents your fillets from getting stuck.
- Use Medium-High Heat: To cook salmon perfectly, your grill needs to be hot, but not too hot. 450-500°F is the sweet spot. If the heat is too high, your fillets will stick to the grill grates. If it’s too low, they won’t cook properly.
- Check Temperature for Doneness: If you’re used to cooking salmon, you can probably judge whether or not it’s done cooking by the texture and appearance of the meat. But using a thermometer is the most foolproof way to determine doneness. Once its internal temperature reaches 145°F, your salmon is fully cooked. It’s best to remove the fillets promptly – even at 135°F – since they will continue to cook off the grill. Otherwise, you’ll end up with dry salmon.
Serving Suggestions
Every good cookout has some flavorful side dishes to go along with the main course(s). The following dishes pair wonderfully with BBQ salmon!
- Serve with Grilled Vegetables: Fresh, juicy veggies are some of my favorite things about summer. And when they’re seared to perfection in this easy recipe for Grilled Vegetables, even picky kids will sneak seconds!
- Pair with Potatoes: These super versatile Garlic Rosemary Potatoes can be grilled, baked or slow cooked! They’re a classic savory side that almost always disappears from the table first.
- Serve with Salad: Another healthy summer side dish, this simple Chickpea Salad tastes like it was made to be served with grilled salmon! And it’s easy to customize according to your palate.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftover salmon should be refrigerated in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in aluminum foil. When stored properly, it lasts for 3-4 days.
Grilled salmon can be reheated in a 275°F oven for about 15 minutes. Just place it on a greased baking sheet, add a teaspoon or so of oil to keep it from drying out, and cover it with a layer of aluminum foil before reheating.
Can I Freeze Cooked BBQ Salmon?
Yes, you can freeze grilled salmon if you’d like. Simply place it in a shallow freezer-safe container and store it for up to 4 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw it out by submerging it under cold water or by transferring it to the fridge for a few hours.
More Salmon Recipes to Try
These simple dishes will have you making delicious salmon dinners all year long!
This quick and easy recipe for juicy, flaky Grilled Salmon is our go-to BBQ seafood dish! The salmon only needs 30 minutes to soak up the tangy marinade, and it can be grilled with or without char marks.
- sea salt and freshly cracked pepper , to taste
- 4 6 ounce salmon fillets
- 1/4 cup ghee , melted
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon coconut aminos OR low sodium soy sauce if not Whole30/Paleo
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice , can also sub with lemon
- zest from half a lime , can also sub with lemon
- Oil for grilling
- Lime slices, chopped cilantro or parsley, for serving
Season salmon generously with salt and pepper. In a small bowl whisk together the melted ghee, avocado oil, paprika, coconut aminos, garlic, lime juice and lime zest. Reserve 1-2 tablespoons of the sauce to brush on the salmon once finished cooking.
Marinate the salmon in the rest of the sauce for at least 30 minutes before grilling. Once the salmon is ready, preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Brush grill grates with oil. Place salmon fillets on the grill diagonally to the grill grates. Grill with the lid closed for 2-4 minutes (depending on the thickness of the salmon) or until grill marks appear. Use tongs and a wide spatula, carefully turn the fish onto the other side, so that the skin side is now on the grill grates.
- Close the grill lid. Cook for another 2-5 minutes, again depending on the thickness of the fillets. Salmon should be just barely opaque throughout when done.
- Place each piece of salmon on a piece of large parchment paper on top of a larger piece of heavy duty foil. Add lime slices and drizzle with a spoonful of marinade. Wrap up salmon tightly in the parchment/foil packets.
- Place the foil packets on the hot grill and cook for 10-13 minutes, flipping halfway through. Remove from grill.
- Brush the tops of the salmon with reserved sauce and serve immediately with lime slices and chopped herbs, if desired.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftover salmon should be refrigerated in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in aluminum foil. When stored properly, it lasts for 3-4 days.
Grilled salmon can be reheated in a 275°F oven for about 15 minutes. Just place it on a greased baking sheet, add a teaspoon or so of oil to keep it from drying out, and cover it with a layer of aluminum foil before reheating.
How to Freeze:
Place leftover salmon in a shallow freezer-safe container and store it for up to 4 months. When you're ready to enjoy it, thaw it out by submerging it under cold water or by transferring it to the fridge for a few hours.
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