A simple salmon fillet is a wonderful blank canvas for your favorite fall flavors! These easy, cozy recipes are packed with seasonal produce and warm spices that are perfect for celebrating the season.
Salmon is an exceptionally versatile ingredient: It lends itself well to roasting, baking, searing, and more, and pairs beautifully with a variety of sauces and flavors. These easy recipes are perfect for busy weeknights when you still want something cozy: Most are ready in well under an hour, and they're easy to customize.
How to choose salmon
Our top pick for sustainability (and great flavor!) is Wild Alaskan Salmon. The state of Alaska has strict rules in place to ensure responsible, sustainable management of its salmon fisheries - so we can all enjoy it for generations to come!
We tend to cook with Sockeye, Coho, or Chinook Salmon. If you're looking to splurge, grab some King salmon, which is pale pink with a buttery, decadent texture (perfect for date night or a holiday dinner!)
Pro tip: Don't stress too much about finding fresh salmon at the seafood counter! Most wild salmon is flash-frozen as soon as it's caught to preserve quality. Frozen salmon will keep for many months in the freezer and is quick and easy to defrost for a last-minute salmon dinner.
Look for Wild Alaskan Salmon when you shop, or order directly from fishermen with a dock-to-doorstep model. Two of our favorite sustainable seafood delivery companies:
- East Coast: Wild for Salmon
- Midwest: Sitka Salmon Shares
Both companies work directly with fishermen to catch, flash-freeze, and ship sustainable Alaskan salmon right to your door.
West Coast-ers typically have quite a few options available for sustainable wild salmon, especially if you're in Oregon or Washington. Find wild salmon wherever you live with this handy fish finder from Bristol Bay Salmon or this Seafood Map from Local Catch!
Note: While we love Wild Alaskan Salmon, it isn't the *only* sustainable choice. Several salmon aquaculture (fish farming) companies are also certified "Best Choice" by Monterey Bay Seafood Watch. Check Seafood Watch for up-to-date recommendations.
Cozy Salmon Recipes for Fall
Mustard Roasted Salmon
This quick and easy mustard roasted salmon is ready in just 20 minutes with just 4 ingredients!
Photo & Recipe: Life As A Strawberry
Lemon & Brown Butter Salmon
Flavorful salmon, crispy roast potatoes, and tender asparagus spears are tossed in a lemon zest-infused brown butter with chopped herbs for an easy sheet pan dinner!
Photo & Recipe: Sweet Tea and Thyme
Creamy Cajun Salmon Alfredo Pasta
This Cajun salmon Alfredo pasta features a creamy sauce with Cajun blackened salmon, red peppers, sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach.
Photo & Recipe: Lauren From Scratch
Maple Bourbon Salmon with Apple Fennel Slaw
This Maple Bourbon Glazed Salmon is topped with a quick apple fennel slaw. A simple but elegant weeknight salmon recipe that's packed with fall flavor!
Photo & Recipe: Life As A Strawberry
Slow Roasted Salmon with Orange + Fennel
This light salmon dish is full of bright citrus flavor! Simple to prepare with seasonal ingredients.
Photo & Recipe: Coley Cooks
Smoked Salmon Corn Chowder
This easy, creamy smoked salmon chowder is ready in just an hour! With smoked salmon, potatoes, and sweet corn.
Photo & Recipe: Life As A Strawberry
Maple Sheet Pan Salmon Bake
This maple mustard salmon is the quickest weeknight dinner ever! A sweet, tangy maple Dijon sauce coats cubed sweet potato, crisp Brussels sprouts and fresh salmon fillets for a delicious, filling meal.
Photo & Recipe: Midwest Foodie
Easy Oven Baked Blackened Salmon
This blackened salmon is packed with flavor. It's moist, flaky, and a little spicy - perfect on its own or added to your favorite tacos, salads, and more!
Photo & Recipe: Lauren From Scratch
Pistachio-Crusted Salmon
Pistachio Crusted Salmon is tender, flaky, and topped with a crunchy pistachio crust. A healthy, elegant dinner ready in 25 minutes!
Photo & Recipe: Ahead of Thyme
Cedar Planked Salmon with Maple Mustard Glaze
This grilled cedar planked salmon with maple mustard glaze has only 10 ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.
Photo & Recipe: Coley Cooks
Creamy One-Pan Tuscan Salmon Recipe
This creamy Tuscan salmon is ready in under 30 minutes - all in one pan! Sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and parmesan are combined in a cream sauce with herby seared salmon.
Photo & Recipe: Midwest Foodie
FAQs
Pair a light autumn salmon recipe with something rich and creamy for a cozy, hearty dinner (try these rosemary browned butter mashed potatoes, a red wine mushroom risotto, or this roasted butternut squash mac and cheese!)
For a lighter meal, add extra veggies or a quick salad on the side: Try this quick arugula pear salad, some chipotle roasted cauliflower, or a warm quinoa spinach salad.
Yes! Frozen salmon is typically flash-frozen quickly - sometimes within hours of being caught - to preserve flavor and quality. We love buying frozen salmon portions at the store: Just defrost them as needed when you're ready to cook! Most of the recipes above include instructions and tips for fresh or frozen salmon (you can even roast salmon straight from frozen if you like!) Learn more: How to defrost salmon.
We hope you loved this guide to cozy fall salmon recipes! For more weeknight dinner inspiration, be sure to check out our full recipe index.
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