Want to know the best side dishes for salmon? You’ve come to the right place!
Whether it’s pan-fried, baked, or grilled, you can’t go wrong with salmon. It’s rich and fatty, yet also good for you.
That’s why I try my best to include salmon in our weekly meals.
To avoid a monotonous routine, I switch up my salmon side dishes regularly. With so many great side dishes for salmon, the possibilities are endless!
From crisp salads to flavorful veggies and even some pasta dishes, I’ve got 25 side dishes that’ll make your salmon dish shine like the star that it is.
Without further ado, here are 25 scrumptious side dishes for salmon!
1. Lemon Pasta
Let’s start off with a simple dish that delivers maximum flavors. This lemon pasta is light, refreshing, and done in just 15 minutes!
Lemon, cream, and white wine make up the sauce of this pasta.
Together with al dente noodles, they make one heck of a dish. Add a piece of crispy pan-fried salmon on top, and you’ll have a hearty and healthy dinner.
2. Buttery Garlic Green Beans
Green beans are pretty fantastic on their own, so you don’t need a lot to make them stand out. In this recipe, all it takes are butter, garlic, and lemon zest.
The fresher your beans and garlic are, the better your dish will taste.
Serve your buttery garlic green beans with pan-fried salmon for a healthy meal for the family.
3. Roasted Parmesan Rosemary Potatoes
Three things make roasted potatoes taste even more magical – garlic, parmesan cheese, and rosemary.
Earthy, nutty, and savory, they make the potatoes taste mind-blowingly delicious.
These roasted potatoes are crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and bursting with flavors all around. Pure ecstasy.
4. Lemon Butter Broccolini
Broccolini may not be as popular as its bigger cousin, but don’t count it out just yet. This cruciferous vegetable has a lot to offer.
Just because they’re small doesn’t mean they lack flavor.
In fact, all you need are lemon and butter to make it a perfect side dish to salmon!
5. Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce
Craving something new for dinner? How about an Asian-inspired twist on your salmon dish? Meet the Thai noodle salad!
This salad is packed with rice noodles, carrots, cabbage, bell peppers, and radishes, all smothered in the most delectable peanut sauce you’ll ever taste.
I’m not kidding – this peanut sauce will knock your socks off with its perfect blend of sweetness, creaminess, and mild zest.
6. Baby Bok Choy
Searching for a quick & easy but super tasty side dish for salmon? Baby bok choy is all you need.
Crisp leaves bursting with flavors from garlic, ginger, and soy sauce – that’s the stuff!
This side dish may be basic, but it won’t disappoint. It’s definitive proof that you can find joy in the simplest things.
7. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
If you grew up hating this misunderstood vegetable, that’s probably because they were overcooked.
When you cook Brussels sprouts properly, you’ll be surprised at how good they are.
Sweet and earthy, nutty, and creamy are some of the things to expect from a perfectly cooked sprout.
They’re not mushy and soggy, but are rather crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.
8. Cilantro Lime Rice
Rice may not be the most exciting side dish there is. Cilantro lime rice, however, is a completely different story.
It’s made with basmati long grain rice browned in olive oil, flavored with cilantro and lime, and fluffed to perfection.
This recipe can easily rival that of Chipotle. Serve this with salmon for a stunning meal.
9. Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
Asparagus spears roasted to crisp perfection and coated with hollandaise sauce: this side can’t get any better.
This vibrant dish calls for the most basic pantry ingredients. Flavor your asparagus with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, and pop it in the oven.
Topped with a rich and luscious Hollandaise sauce, this dish is nothing short of perfection.
Serve on the side of baked salmon and enjoy.
10. Asian Coleslaw
Picture it: shreds of green and purple cabbage, carrots, and red bell peppers coated in a rice vinegar dressing.
What a bright, colorful, and refreshing side dish, amirite? And you need not be a health expert to tell that this dish is good for you.
The best part? This side dish comes together in under 15 minutes.
11. Creamy Mushroom Risotto
You can’t go wrong with perfectly seasoned rice loaded with mushrooms, onions, and parmesan cheese.
This mushroom risotto is incredibly rich and creamy, making it the ultimate side dish for salmon!
You’re probably thinking this must be one tough dish to make.
But come on, you know me better than that. This recipe is quick and easy, and anyone can do it.
12. Lemon Herb Couscous
Say hello to another perfect side dish for salmon: lemon herb couscous.
This vibrant bowl features Israeli couscous, cucumber, tomatoes, nuts, raisins, and a light and tangy lemon vinaigrette to tie them all together.
Top the dish with a perfectly seared salmon fillet for a unique and healthy meal you won’t want to miss.
13. Sugar Snap Peas
With the perfect combination of sweet, salty, crisp, and buttery, these sugar snap peas deserve the spotlight.
Sauteed in oil and butter, this side dish is ready in under 5 minutes! Sure, it’s simple, but it’s absolutely spectacular.
You can end there, but you can also customize it according to your preferences.
Sliced almonds, pine nuts, Sriracha sauce, garlic, parmesan cheese – the list goes on.
14. Honey Glazed Carrots
Carrots are already delicious, but if you drizzle them with honey, they become even more irresistible.
These carrots infused with honey, brown sugar, and orange juice have such unique and amazing flavors.
Pair this with seared salmon for the perfect contrast of sweet & savory flavors and tender and crunchy textures.
15. Lemon Roasted Red Potatoes
Red potatoes with lemon, garlic, and rosemary are roasted to perfection in this next recipe. It can’t get any better than this!
The ingredients may be simple, but the flavor isn’t. The combination of lemon, garlic, and rosemary is divine.
Plus, this recipe is extremely easy to make. The only “hard” part is slicing the garlic.
16. Parmesan Broccoli
Roasting broccoli with parmesan cheese makes the veggie kid-friendly. That creamy, nutty flavor is just pure bliss.
After all, who can say no to baked cheese… loads and loads of it? This side dish is so ridiculously tasty, it’s borderline addictive!
17. Roasted Sweet Potatoes
These roasted sweet potatoes are wonderfully sweet, crisp, and tender. It’s love at first bite!
Roasting sweet potatoes makes them crispier and sweeter than ever.
Their sweetness and crunch make them a fine side dish to rich and tender salmon.
Plus, this side is a cinch to make. All you need are sweet potatoes and a bunch of spices & seasonings.
18. Balsamic Roasted Baby Carrots
What do you get when you put baby carrots, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar in an oven? A lip-smacking side dish, that’s what.
These carrots are sweet, crunchy, and absolutely delicious. Any entrée will be lucky to have it as a companion.
It’s great with salmon, in particular, though. Together, they make a glorious harmony of flavors and textures.
19. Pesto Zucchini Noodles
As much as I love pasta, it can be a calorie overload. That’s where zucchini noodles come in – they’re super healthy and still delicious.
In this recipe, you’ll toss zoodles with a creamy pesto sauce for a wonderfully rich and earthy side dish.
Serve with pan-seared salmon for a light and guilt-free meal.
20. Lemon Roasted Asparagus
Recipes that are tasty, nutritious, and easy to make are hard to come by. You can just imagine how ecstatic I was when I came across this one.
All it takes are 7 ingredients, 1 bowl, and 10 minutes of roasting. As a busy bee, this means a lot!
Did I mention that this dish is only 118 calories per serving? This recipe is gold!
21. Sesame Rice
Steamed white rice may be a little too boring. But it only takes one ingredient to transform it into something extraordinary: sesame oil.
This dish may look plain, but it’s full of excitement. Just a few drops of toasted sesame oil is enough to pack rice with flavor!
22. Cucumber Dill Salad
In the mood for a light and refreshing meal? Pair your salmon with crisp and refreshing cucumber slices coated with sour cream and dill.
Who can resist the classic combo of sour cream and dill? As simple as it may be, it hits the spot.
Plus, this dish comes together in a jiffy. Just 10 minutes, and you’re done!
23. Rice Pilaf with Dried Fruits and Almonds
Have you ever tried basmati rice with dried fruit and almonds? If you haven’t, you’re in for a treat.
Apart from the intriguing addition, this dish is also infused with cumin, cinnamon, and turmeric for maximum flavor.
The aroma, flavors, and textures of this dish are sensational! Try this rice pilaf with grilled salmon for a meal you won’t soon forget.
24. Sauteed Mushrooms with Garlic Butter
Sautéed mushrooms with garlic butter are another wonderful partner in crime for salmon.
The earthy and rich flavors of the mushrooms complement the salmon’s natural butteriness, while the garlic butter adds an extra layer of richness.
Once you try this combo, you’ll never go back to boring old side dishes again!
25. Microwave Corn on the Cob
What’s better than biting into juicy, sweet corn on the cob during the summertime? Pairing it with a delicious, flaky salmon fillet, that’s what!
The sweet corn kernels complement the savory flavors of the salmon. The contrast between crunchy and tender is delightful, as well.
Plus, the colors of yellow and pink look so vibrant and appetizing on your plate. It’s a match made in heaven.
Did the broccolini with butter, garlic and lemon on my charcoal grill. Did this all in a grill pan. Toss the veg with evoo and kosher salt. Grilled 3 mins each side on med hot grill then put in a 1/4 sheet pat lined with aluminum foil, with the butter and garlic pressed garlic and put in the “warming” part of the grill for another 3 mins, tossing once. A big improvement over my other methods. Thanks! …Michael