Smoky, salty, and melt-in-your-mouth amazing, these smoked salmon recipes are as indulgent as it gets.
Did you know you can easily make it yourself at home? Even without a smoker, just toss a fillet of salmon on the grill and cook it over low heat.
And if you don’t have access to a grill, you can easily mimic the flavor using an oven and some liquid smoke.
Of course, it’s way easier to buy it ready-made. That way, you can whip up these smoked salmon recipes in a snap!
The Best Smoked Salmon Recipes
Did you know there are two kinds of smoked salmon?
One is hot-smoked after curing in salt. It’s cooked between 120°F and 180°F (49°C-82°C), so it’s flaky and delicious.
And as the name suggest, that cooking is done in a smoker, giving the fish a distinct flavor.
I’ll talk about cold-smoked salmon a little later. For now, here’s my favorite hot smoked salmon recipes!
1. Brown Sugar Smoked Salmon
Before you plate it, let’s talk about how you make it.
Coat a fillet of salmon in a four-ingredient rub, then toss it on the smoker at low heat.
Be sure to use quality fillets for the best results.
This is a very beginner-friendly recipe., so if you’ve never smoked salmon before, it’s a great place to start.
2. Easy and Tender Smoked Salmon Fillet
This mouthwatering fillet will be the talk of your next cookout.
It has a simple rub of mustard with salt and pepper to taste. Then, for a mildly sweet flavor, toss it on cherry wood or applewood and let it smoke.
When it’s done, you’ll have a picture-perfect, flaky, smoked salmon.
If you need some light summer sides to match, I suggest going with corn on the cob and a cucumber tomato salad.
3. Traeger Smoked Salmon
If you’re fortunate enough to have access to a Traeger, you’re part of a lucky bunch.
And if you’ve been on the fence about splurging, this smoked salmon recipe should convince you to take the plunge.
The salmon is so rich and flaky it melts in your mouth. There’s also a brown sugar brine and a slathering of maple syrup that gives it a gorgeous caramelized glaze.
Perfection like this is well worth the investment of a Traeger – I promise!
4. Creamy Smoked Salmon and Rocket Risotto
Now that you know how to smoke salmon, let’s talk about dinner options – starting with this risotto recipe.
This dreamy rice dish gets infused with butter and white wine, making it lavishly rich. Plus, it’s full of succulent bites of salmon.
Since the salmon is already cooked, you’ll want to toss that in towards the end.
5. Seattle-Style Smoked Salmon Chowder
The Emerald City is well known for its famous fish market, Pike’s Place.
So it’s not the least bit surprising Seattle whips up a mean salmon chowder.
I love how the capers give this creamy and tomatoey bowl a salty bite. It’s also got a ton of garlic, a handful of shrimp, and bite-sized pieces of smoked salmon.
If you’re a fan of chowder or salmon, you’re going to want to get in on this asap.
6. Honey Smoked Salmon
It’s astounding how honey and a smoker can infuse salmon with an incredible balance of flavors.
Choose wood chips to match your taste preference and start smoking.
There’s a good deal of brining and basting so the final result won’t come quickly.
But that just gives you all the more reason to invite friends and crack open a couple of cold ones while you wait.
7. Asian Salmon (Candied Salmon)
I think this salmon is more addictive than candy! And it’s one of my favorite recipes that use liquid smoke.
The marinade is a sweet sauce with an infusion of smoky goodness. For the grand finale, there’s a sprinkle of crispy ginger on top.
The liquid smoke is an important component because you’ll grill the salmon rather than smoke it.
That means cook time is minimal, and it doesn’t require a smoker.
8. Avocado Smoked Salmon Salad with Dijon Honey Vinaigrette
If you asked me what’s next on my salad list, I would say this. I mean, look how gorgeous this bountiful salad is!
It’s got an abundance of goodies to go with the smoked salmon, like cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocado.
It may be hard to tell, but there are also some mixed greens hiding in there.
9. Creamy Salmon Risoni
This is an exceptional use of risoni pasta.
It’s creamy and garlicky like all the best comforting dishes. But what makes it extravagant is the addition of hot smoked salmon.
Hot smoked just means it’s cooked at a higher temperature as opposed to cold smoked. It also means it has a smokier flavor.
10. Seared Salmon Over Whole Wheat Pasta
If you prefer pasta as a side to go with your salmon, try this. It features a succulent salmon filet on top of garlicky wheat pasta.
Rather than searing the salmon, replace it with one of the tasty smoked salmon recipes from above.
I prefer the easy and tender smoked salmon filet, but that’s just me.
11. Smoked Salmon Cream Sauce with Gnocchi
Tender gnocchi and smoked salmon all in one dish? Don’t mind if I do!
Both of these delightful ingredients are swimming in a rich, creamy sauce with a touch of nutmeg. I like to add some fresh cracked pepper on top too.
You can have this ready in under 15 minutes making it a good one to keep on hand for busy weeknights.
12. Lemon Garlic Smoked Salmon
Here’s an easy recipe for when you get a hankering for zesty and smoky salmon.
Salmon filets get smothered in butter and garlic, then roasted with lemon slices on top.
This pairs exceptionally well with sides like grilled asparagus, garlic bread, and veggie kabob skewers.
Easy Cold Smoked Salmon Recipes
This is probably what you expectied when you came here.
When we say “smoked salmon” most people think of “raw” salmon served on crostini.
Of course, it’s not raw. Instead, it’s cured in salt then smoked in very low temperatures for up to a day.
It doesn’t cook and turn flaky but retains its smooth, silky texture.
And while it looks a lot like lox, it’s actually different again. Lox is cured and preserved in a salt brine – not smoked.
But a lot of people refer to lox as smoked salmon, so it’s up to you which you use.
13. Smoked Salmon Dip
There is no way I can talk about smoked salmon without mentioning my favorite salmon dip.
This is way better than the store-bought stuff and it’s as easy as mixing everything together.
I could slather this on everything. But when I have company I settle for a side of crackers, chips, and veggie sticks.
14. Smoked Salmon Sushi Roll-Ups with Citrus Soy Sauce
For the longest time, I thought sushi was super hard to make. That all changed when I came across this recipe.
If you crave sushi like I do, you need to give this one a whirl tonight.
The inside is overflowing with a zesty mixture of cream cheese, cucumber, and avocado.
But my favorite part is that this recipe skips the rice and rolls everything in smoked salmon instead.
15. Everything Smoked Salmon Tart
If you’re looking for a unique appetizer with wow factor, this is it.
For dinner gatherings or Sunday brunch, this striking tart will dazzle your guests.
The toppings are a combination of all the best flavors that come with lox and bagels, making it tangy, creamy, salty, and fresh.
But it wouldn’t be complete without everything seasoning!
16. Smoked Salmon Pasta
There’s pasta, and then there’s this smoked salmon pasta that’s on a level of its own.
This 20-minute dinner is cozy, a touch rustic, and crammed with smoked salmon.
It’s classy enough for date night and yet not too involved that you can’t whip it up on a random weeknight.
17. 5-Minute Healthy Avocado Toast with Smoked Salmon
Can you blame me for craving this every morning?
This recipe gives you a whole new perspective on what you can do with avocado toast.
It’s super healthy and ridiculously tasty. Plus, there’s some wiggle room in toppings so you can tailor it to your tastes.
I like mine with arugula, but spinach is great too!
18. Smoked Salmon, Avocado, and Arugula Salad
If I dreamt up my idea of a perfect salad, this is what it would be.
It’s creamy, savory, fresh, and full of all my favorite ingredients.
Besides the given (smoked salmon and avocados), there’s a zippy champagne vinaigrette to make everything pop.
It takes all but five minutes to pull together and seriously hits the spot!
19. Smoked Salmon Bagel
So technically these are lox, which is cured like smoked salmon – so I think that counts!
Lox and bagels are a classic morning partnership, and this is how to do it properly.
It starts with a toasted bagel, followed by a thick layer of cream cheese, Persian cucumber, thinly sliced salmon, and red onion.
Oh, and don’t forget the capers!
20. Smoked Salmon Cheese Ball
Who said cheese balls couldn’t be elegant?!
The inside is a savory and creamy combination of smoked salmon and cream cheese with a hint of lemon pepper.
Meanwhile, the outside is a fresh and crunchy mix of herbs and nuts.
This recipe has just the right touch of class making it excellent for special occasions. And yet, it’s kitschy enough to serve as a game-day snack.
Plus, this is a fantastic use of leftover smoked salmon – if you have some, that is.
20 Smoked Salmon Recipes (Hot and Cold)
Smoky, salty, and melt-in-your-mouth amazing, these smoked salmon recipes are as indulgent as it gets. Trust me; nobody will be able to resist.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep a delicious recipe in a flash!
