This Cilantro Lime Salmon is a fresh, lean, low calorie dinner perfect for any night of the week. We’re talking bright lime, super fresh cilantro, a sweet buttery honey sauce, with a flavorful rub. All served atop salmon, this dish will have you in a tropical state of mind soon enough! Did I mention it’s ready in only 30 minutes?
I love this dish for so many reasons. It’s so fresh and bright, with super juicy, light salmon that will make you feel as if you’re on a sunny patio, no matter the snow on the ground! I like to make this dish when the sun starts to break through on a snowy winter day, something about it reminds me that summer is just around the corner!
This dish is for cilantro lovers! I know there’s plenty of you out there, people just like me who crave that special little herb. Buy it alongside some mint and whip up some of my lip smacking mojitos to really get in a sunny spirit.
Are You A Salmon Newbie?
Salmon has a mild flavor, with a nice juicy meaty texture. It is a really great base for a lot of flavorful sauces such as honey mustard, teriyaki, or even delicious dill. It’s a great lean protein that doesn’t require too much reworking to turn into a beautiful dinner.
This dinner is super simple and will make fish addicts out of any who try it, so let’s get cookin’!
Ingredient Notes
- Salmon – 1 large piece of salmon.
- Spices – Smoked paprika and chili powder.
- Butter – Unsalted and melted.
- Honey – A bit of honey will lend this dish some sweetness to help balance the sourness of the lime.
- Cilantro – One of the key flavors of the dish! I must urge you to pick up this herb fresh, dried just doesn’t have the same effect!
- Lime juice – I recommend only using fresh lime juice, it really is worth the extra effort.
- Salt & pepper – To taste.
Not A Cilantro Fan?
Cilantro is just one of those herbs that some people can’t stand, if that’s the case with you I recommend substituting it with chopped fresh parsley.
How To Make Cilantro Lime Salmon
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the lime slices on the bottom of the sheet in a long line, we will place the salmon over this.
- Prep the rub and sauce: In a small bowl whisk together the paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper. In another bowl, stir together butter, lime juice, honey, and garlic.
- Prep the salmon: Rub the salmon on both sides with the dry rub then lay it over the lime slices on the baking sheet. Pour the honey/lime sauce evenly over the salmon. Fold the sides of foil up over the salmon, we don’t want to cover the salmon just keep the sauce from spilling over.
- Bake: Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Switch oven to broil and cook another 5 minutes. Sprinkle chopped cilantro over the top and serve.
Grilling Salmon
You can absolutely grill this salmon if you prefer and choose it over using your oven. Prepare the salmon the same way as stated in the recipe, except try and cover the top of the salmon with foil, then carefully transfer the aluminum packet to the grill. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the salmon is almost cooked completely.
Keep in mind that cooking time can vary based on the thickness of your salmon. After the 15 to 20 minutes, carefully pull back the aluminum foil to completely expose the top of the salmon. Continue grilling for another 3 to 5 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through.
Storing Leftovers
Salmon will keep in the fridge covered in an airtight container for up to 3 days, just be sure it has fully cooled before popping in the fridge. You can also freeze this recipe! Pop in an airtight container and store frozen for 4 – 6 months, just allow to thaw in the fridge overnight and heat back up to temperature in the oven when ready to feast.
How To Serve
This cilantro lime salmon is an absolute treat on its own, but if we’re serving it up for dinner we might want some sides to pair along with it. In that case I have some perfectly curated recipes listed below.
- Greek Salad
- Creamy Polenta
- Potato Croquettes
- Green Bean Casserole
- White Beans With Bacon And Herbs
- Harvest Rice
- Creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo
More Must Try Salmon Recipes:
- Firecracker Baked Salmon
- Maple Mustard Glazed Salmon
- Honey Garlic Salmon and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
- Honey Mustard Salmon
- Salmon With Dill Sauce And Roasted Baby Potatoes Sheet Pan Dinner
- Bruschetta Salmon
- Lemon Dill Pan Fried Salmon
- Baked Salmon Teriyaki
Looking for more recipes? Follow on… My Newsletter Pinterest Facebook Instagram
Cilantro Lime Salmon
Ingredients
- 1 lime cut into slices
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ¼ cup butter unsalted, melted
- juice of 2 limes
- 2 tbsp honey
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 lb salmon 1 large fillet
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the lime slices on the bottom of the sheet in a long line, we will place the salmon over this.
- Prep the rub and sauce: In a small bowl whisk together the paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper. In another bowl, stir together butter, lime juice, honey, and garlic.
- Prep the salmon: Rub the salmon on both sides with the dry rub then lay it over the lime slices on the baking sheet. Pour the honey/lime sauce evenly over the salmon. Fold the sides of foil up over the salmon, we don't want to cover the salmon just keep the sauce from spilling over.
- Bake: Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Switch oven to broil and cook another 5 minutes. Sprinkle chopped cilantro over the top and serve.
Video
Recipe Notes
- Salmon will keep in the fridge covered in an airtight container for up to 3 days, just be sure it has fully cooled before popping in the fridge.
- You can also freeze this recipe! Pop in an airtight container and store frozen for 4 – 6 months, just allow to thaw in the fridge overnight and heat back up to temperature in the oven when ready to feast.
Perfect dinner party meal! I made up the sauce and headed into town to my condo in the city. Forgot to put the limes under the salmon (never give me a Glass of wine before dinner is on the table ) but it was still tender and delicious. Served it with quinoa (put the buttery sauce on it!) and a side salad with and avocado lime cilantro dressing. Definitely will make this again! Thanks Jo!
I made this for the family last night and it was a huge hit. I didn’t have any honey but substituted brown sugar for the honey, mixd with the lemon juice, garlic and butter it helped to make the dish pop. Definitely will repeat this recipe again. Being in the Pacific Northwest we have lots of varieties of salmon to work with. Thank you..
I made this recipe for the first time over the weekend and it was absolutely delicious!! Definitely a new staple in our household!
We make salmon a lot so I wanted something good that stuck on it well. I made one slight variation and put the cilantro in the liquids and it was amazing all together. My husband couldn’t figure out how I made it with all the different flavors. Having a rub and a sauce to cook it in was great!
This salmon recipe is a keeper! Fabulous flavor and so easy to make! My husband and I are not big fish eaters, but we will be making this again! We swerved it with your Harvest Rice. Yummy! Great pairing!