Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Skip the pricey store-bought seasoning blends and make your own salmon seasoning at home with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. This rub is savory, smoky, and sweet, giving your salmon a boost of flavor. It can be used for grilled, baked, fried, or air fried salmon.
How long it takes: 5 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: a jar or small bowl
Servings: ⅓ cup
I love a good homemade seasoning recipe!
Whenever I go to a kitchen store, I’m always tempted by the jars and tins of fancy spice blends and rubs, but then I have to remind myself how flippin’ easy they are to make at home. Why spend all that money when I already have all the ingredients on my spice rack?!
This salmon seasoning is a perfect example of how you can take a bunch of everyday pantry staples and make them into the kind of pricey gourmet spice rubs which stock the shelves at your favorite cooking shop.
You can use this salmon rub to make baked, broiled, or grilled salmon. However you decide to cook it, the rub adds just the right amount of flavor to complement the fish without overpowering it. Brown sugar helps form that slightly sweet caramelized crust that’s so good, garlic and onion powder add savory flavor, and smoked paprika gives your salmon a subtle smokiness.
After you try this salmon seasoning, make a batch of Cajun seasoning, chili seasoning, or one of my other homemade seasoning recipes. My steak seasoning will take your grilled steak to the next level!
Flavorful Salmon Seasoning
Quick and easy. It goes without saying that making this salmon seasoning is easy—just mix everything together and you’re done. But cooking salmon is also quick and easy, making it ideal for busy weeknights. (Not sure how to cook salmon? Start with my best grilled salmon recipe, air fryer salmon, or easy baked salmon.)
Suitable for seafood skeptics. Seafood isn’t everyone’s cup of tea especially if you have some picky eaters in the house. The beauty of this salmon rub is that it has an understated sweetness from the brown sugar that’s enough to coax even the most ardent salmon haters to give it a try.
Layers of flavor. Skip the bottle of expensive, overly sweet. too salty sauce! This salmon seasoning adds so much more depth to your fish.
Ingredient Notes
Be sure to check the recipe card below for measurements and instructions.
- Brown Sugar: You can use either light or dark brown; dark brown has a more pronounced molasses flavor.
- Paprika: Paprika has a mildly sweet, earthy taste. Use sweet Hungarian paprika for a little more oomph, but skip the spicy varieties unless you want your salmon fiery hot.
- Smoked Paprika: Even if you bake your salmon in the oven, it will have a nice, smoky flavor thanks to the addition of smoked paprika.
- Garlic and Onion Powder: This duo adds a savory element to our salmon seasoning.
- Dried Thyme: Thyme pairs beautifully with salmon, bringing an earthy, woodsy herbal note to this rub.
- Mustard Powder: Ground mustard is bright, sharp, and zippy. It’s a key supporting player in everything from my crockpot mac and cheese to breaded pork chops—and, of course, this salmon seasoning.
- Kosher Salt: The best salt to use for cooking.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground pepper is more assertive than the kind you buy already ground, which loses its flavor over time.
How To Make Salmon Seasoning
Combine. Measure out all of the ingredients into a small bowl or jar, and mix well.
Season salmon. For every eight ounces of salmon, rub a teaspoon of oil into the top, then pat in a tablespoon of salmon seasoning.
Broil, grill, air fry, or bake the salmon. For more how-to information, refer to my recipes for broiled salmon, grilled salmon, or baked salmon. You can also use it for air fryer salmon and air fryer salmon bites.
Salmon is pretty versatile. You can pair it with herbs, pesto, chimichurri, barbecue, lemon, soy sauce, and more. For recipe inspiration, check out my list of 15 easy salmon recipes.
Oil salmon before adding the seasoning. The oil will help the seasoning stick. Coating the salmon in oil also ensures that the salmon won’t stick to your cooking surface and helps the salmon brown.
Recipe Variations
- Adjust as desired: You can change the ratios of your salmon seasoning according to your tastes; use more smoked paprika for a smokier flavor, less salt if you’re watching your sodium, etc.
- Use coconut sugar: Coconut sugar is a less-processed alternative to regular sugar and it has a slightly caramelized flavor that’s similar to brown sugar.
- Try rosemary: Rosemary is another herb that pairs well with salmon. Instead of dried thyme, try using crushed dried rosemary instead.
Make a batch of salmon seasoning ahead of time and keep it on hand in your pantry or another cool, dry place. It will keep for up to 6 months. Then, whenever you’re making salmon for dinner, you’ll have your seasoning ready to go!
Seasoning Mix Recipes
Salmon Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl or jar, blend together brown sugar and spices until well combined.
- For 8 oz. of salmon: Rub 1 teaspoon olive oil into top side of salmon (skin side down). Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of seasoning onto salmon; lightly pat with fingertips to adhere.
- Broil, grill, or bake salmon as desired.
Notes
- Single batch makes ⅓ cup. Nutrition information is for rub only.
- Store rub in a tightly covered jar or container. Small recycled jars work well. It will keep for up to 6 months in your pantry.
- If you’re watching your sodium intake, feel free to use less salt. It’s easy to make this salmon rub just the way you prefer.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
I haven’t tried the seasoning yet, though I have been looking for sauces and seasonings for salmon. Do you have any sauce ideas for salmon? I’d. be interested to try them if you do. thank you
Hi! I have over 15 salmon recipes, and many of them have sauces – see them here: https://www.rachelcooks.com/15-easy-salmon-recipes/. You also can’t go wrong with hot honey, bbq, or yogurt mixed with salt, pepper, garlic, fresh dill, and lemon juice.
Excellent flavor. My family loved this on salmon.
So glad you liked it! Thank you for leaving a review!
What a great blend of spices! Absolutely loved it on salmon. Can’t wait to try it on on chicken, pork and burgers, too!
So glad you liked it! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review – it means a lot!
fantastic!
Thank you!
Love the salmon spice! I am finding so many great recipes for seasonings. Because of my health I have cut out sugar and use very limited salt so to be able to make your seasoning combos is awesome!
Yes, making your own is such a great way to control what goes into your body! Thanks for leaving a comment!