This Salmon Salad is easy to make and wonderful to keep on hand in the fridge. There are many different ways to eat it, and it has great crunch and flavor from celery, herbs, and a creamy homemade dressing. It only takes 20 minutes!

Salmon Salad - In a Bowl with Fresh Dill and Serving Spoon

While tuna salad is the more common seafood salad, I think salmon salad is so much better.

First, salmon doesn’t have the mercury problems that tuna has, and it has more nutritional benefits than tuna with its wonderful Omega-3 healthy fats.

I also think it’s more delicious. Let’s not forget that, for it’s probably the biggest reason of all.

I first tasted salmon salad at my local grocery store 10 years ago, where they were serving samples with crackers. I couldn’t help but have seconds, and grabbed a tub of it to take home with me. From that day I was hooked, and eventually I started making it myself to save money.

Salads like this are pretty popular in our house, and we regularly alternate between Egg Salad, Chicken Salad, Shrimp and Avocado Salad, and this salad for our main “protein salads.”

While we make Potato Salad and Pasta Salad too, you don’t really put those into sandwiches or wraps, like you can with protein-based salads. There’s so much you can do with this tasty recipe, and I’ll include all those suggestions further down.

Tips for Best Results

Use perfectly cooked salmon – Sounds a bit obvious, but your salmon salad will be far superior if the fish you start with is moist and tender, and never cooked past 140F. If you’re using leftover salmon that you’ve overcooked, this recipe is a good way to salvage it, but ideally you cook the fish well from the beginning.

Use the freshest herbs possible – Most people don’t realize how quickly fresh produce loses its flavor as it sits in the fridge. The fresh dill, parsley, scallions, and crunchy celery really make the salmon salad sing, so try to make your grocery trip pretty close to actually making this.

Let it sit – You are certainly welcome to enjoy the salmon salad as soon as it’s mixed up, and I often do. But like most salads, this will benefit from sitting time as the flavors meld and the dressing soaks into the fish. The difference of even 15-20 minutes is noticeable.

Step by Step Overview:

To get started, cook some salmon any way you wish. You can use leftover Grilled Salmon, Baked Salmon, poached, etc. It doesn’t really matter since we’ll be flaking it up anyway.

If cooking it in a skillet, cook for about 5-10 minutes (depending on thickness) over medium-high heat, until the interior reaches 140F, checked with an instant-read thermometer. I actually prefer to cook the fish to medium, about 125F, for a more tender salmon.

Salmon Fillets Cooked in Skillet

Much of the time I will also use the method from my Baked Salmon, baking at 425F for about 12-15 minutes, until no longer pink inside.

Can you use canned salmon?

In general, I think fresh salmon is the best salmon, for superior flavor and texture. But if you prefer to use canned fish, this recipe will still be delicious.

I recommended purchasing a boneless option, so you don’t have to pick out any bones. I’ve had good results with Wild Planet and Safe Catch brands.

Does wild vs farmed matter?

Truly any variety of salmon will work here, and it doesn’t matter if it’s wild salmon or farmed, or if it’s fresh or previously frozen. However, some varieties definitely taste better than others.

Most of the time I prefer to use an Atlantic farmed salmon from a reputable seller like Whole Foods, as farmed varieties are usually more moist and budget-friendly.

For wild options, your best bet for superior flavor will be the King variety which has more fat than other varieties like Sockeye or Chinook, but keep in mind it’s very expensive. I usually see it around $30/lb, and for me that is too pricy, especially for a recipe like this where the fish is flaked.

After cooking, let the fresh salmon fillets cool to room temperature while you prep your fresh veggies and make the dressing.

For my salmon salad ingredients, I like fresh scallions, parsley, celery, and dill:

Chopped Scallions, Celery, Parsley, Herbs, and Lemon on Wooden Board

You can do minced shallots or chopped red onion if you prefer them over green onion, but I think scallions have an amazing flavor here.

Next, mix up your dressing in a large bowl, which includes mayonnaise, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, dijon mustard, kosher salt and black pepper:

Salmon Salad Dressing Mixed Together in Glass Bowl

If you have 10 minutes to spare, I recommend using homemade mayonnaise for the best flavor. I make mine with olive oil. Store-bought mayo is fine though if you have one you really like.

If you don’t have lemon juice, you may also substitute a good quality red wine vinegar.

Once the fish is all cooked, flake it with a fork and add it to the dressing:

Flaked Fresh Salmon Added to Mayonnaise Dressing In Bowl

Add all the fresh green herbs and veggies too:

Green onion, dill, parsley, and celery Added to Salmon Salad Recipe In Bowl

Stir it all together to combine well, then taste a spoonful and make any necessary adjustments.

Does it need a little more black pepper, or an extra squeeze of lemon juice? Adjust to taste, though keep in mind that as the salad sits, the flavors will meld and it will taste more cohesive. The effect is noticeable in as little as 20 minutes.

Suggestions for How to Serve It

There are SO many ways to enjoy your salmon salad. Here are some ideas:

  • With fancy crackers like rosemary croccantini, wheat crackers, or water crackers.
  • In a wrap for an easy lunch. Spoon it into a wrap tortilla and add tomato, romaine lettuce, onion, sliced red bell peppers, avocado slices, or whatever else you’d like. When I add bell peppers, I also like to add crumbled feta cheese and kalamata olives.
  • In endive cups for a healthier and light option. You can also do romaine or butter lettuce wraps.
  • Make stuffed avocado halves with salmon salad in the middle.
  • Get some shallow bowls, and put a big scoop of salmon salad on cooked quinoa for a healthy grain bowl.
  • In sandwiches just like egg salad.
  • Place a big scoop on top of salad greens, and drizzle with Lemon Vinaigrette.
Cold Salmon Salad in Bowl with Dill and Celery

This is one of my favorite healthy recipes to keep in the fridge, and it’s a great source of protein. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and FAQ

How long does salmon salad keep in the fridge?

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Can salmon salad be frozen?

I don’t recommend it. The fresh herbs and celery will discolor and have an unappetizing texture upon thawing.

Here’s a video I made for the recipe. Enjoy!

Did you enjoy the recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.

Salmon Salad In a Bowl with Fresh Dill and Serving Spoon

Salmon Salad

Servings: 6
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
This Salmon Salad is easy to make and wonderful to keep on hand in the fridge. There are many different ways to eat it, and it has great crunch and flavor from celery, herbs, and a creamy homemade dressing. 
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Ingredients

  • 2 lbs salmon *
  • 1/3 cup sliced scallions
  • 1/3 cup loosely packed fresh dill chopped
  • 1/3 cup chopped celery
  • 1/3 cup chopped parsley
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tsp dijon mustard
  • salt **
  • black pepper **

Instructions 

  • Start by cooking the salmon using your preferred method, making sure to season the fish first with 1 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Much of the time I use the method from my Baked Salmon post, baking in a 425F oven for 12-15 minutes, but you can also cook in a skillet over medium high heat, which takes about 5-10 minutes depending on the thickness of your fish. You may also grill it, poach it, etc. When the salmon is cooked through to 140 degrees F, flake the salmon with a fork (and discard any skin).
  • In a big bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients and mix well. If you seasoned the fish with 1 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper during cooking, I will usually add 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper to the dressing here.
  • Add the salmon to the dressing, and toss. Taste and check for seasoning. Does it need more salt, pepper, or fresh lemon juice? Adjust now.
  • It is now ready to be enjoyed warm, or you can pop it into the fridge until fully chilled. Enjoy!

Notes

*Any variety of salmon will work here, and it doesn’t matter if it’s wild or farmed, or if it’s fresh or previously frozen. You could even use canned fish. However, some varieties definitely taste better than others. I prefer to use an Atlantic farmed salmon for moistness and a budget-friendly option, but wild salmon is fine too. Of the wild varieties, King will have a superior flavor. 
**The amount of salt you’ll need to add depends on how much salt is already on the fish. Following my instructions of adding 1 tsp of salt to the salmon directly during cooking, I’ll usually only add 1/2 tsp or so of extra salt to the dressing. But you will ultimately need to adjust the salt to taste, especially if you’re using previously cooked or canned salmon that may or may not have salt added already. The same goes for the black pepper. Adjust to taste.
Storing leftovers: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing: Not recommended.

Nutrition

Calories: 283kcal, Protein: 30g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 87mg, Sodium: 151mg, Potassium: 790mg, Vitamin A: 415IU, Vitamin C: 3.5mg, Calcium: 30mg, Iron: 1.5mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Author: Joanne Ozug