20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy Weeknights (2024)

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20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy Weeknights (1)

By Katherine Gillen

Published Mar 3, 2021

So you roasted a big, fancy salmon fillet for last night’s meal…and now you’re stuck with what feels like a fridge full of fish. But lucky for you, your leftovers are actually pretty versatile—not to mention time saving and delicious. With these 20 leftover salmon recipes, you’ll be eating healthy, reducing food waste and getting dinner on the table in no time. We call that a win-win-win.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. Salmon Blt

If you already have a salmon fillet from last night waiting in the fridge, you’re halfway there. Plus, everyone knows leftovers taste better cold.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

2. Salmon Bowl With Farro, Black Beans And Tahini Dressing

Leftover fish and hearty salads are a match made in heaven. Since it’s best served room-temp, you could even pack it for lunch.

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3. Creamy Bowtie Pasta With Salmon And Asparagus

Coterie member Heidi Larsen knows that a little pasta goes a long way to elevate your humble leftovers. Ditto for the freshly grated Parmesan garnish.

4. Salmon Fajita Salad Boats

Think of this as the ultimate fridge cleanout opportunity. Throw whatever veggies you have in a skillet, garnish with yogurt or sour cream and voilà, dinner is served.

5. Easy Keto Salmon Cakes

They take less than 15 minutes to make and are keto diet-friendly. Need we say more?

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

6. Salmon And Smashed Cucumber Grain Bowl

Want to brighten it up a notch? Squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top right before you dig in.

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7. Honey Barbecue Baked Salmon Bowls

Leftover rice (or quinoa), meet leftover salmon. By adding a new component (like a sauce), your repeat meal becomes a masterpiece.

8. Greek Salmon Salad Bowls

You probably have most of the ingredients in your fridge already. Use a fork to break up your leftover cooked salmon for some welcome textural contrast.

9. Low-carb Salmon Salad

Yep, it’s not just convenient to repurpose last night’s dinner. It’s also incredibly healthy.

10. Sweet Potato Salmon Cakes

Swap the canned fish for leftover cooked salmon and you’ll be surprised at how fast these babies come together—we’re talking 15 minutes from start to finish. Thanks, Coterie member Monique Volz.

12. Salmon Rillettes

What are rillettes, you ask? They’re a fancy French way of saying “salmon spread on toast.” They’re also delicious.

11. Salmon And Quinoa Bowls With Kale And Tahini-yogurt Sauce

Allow Coterie member Phoebe Lapine to demonstrate that sometimes, leftovers taste better than the first time around. (We’re chocking it up to that tahini dressing.)

13. Yummy Salmon Burgers With Slaw

As if the crispy, pan-fried salmon burgers weren’t enough on their own, they’re paired with a tangy slaw that’s beyond easy to make. And with “yummy” in the name, how can you resist?

14. Easy Salmon And Dill Salad

Give us a cold salad and we’ll go weak in the knees. The only question left to answer: Should we pair it with matchstick veggies or crackers (or both)?

20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy Weeknights (16)

Spoon Fork Bacon

15. Roasted Salmon And Strawberry Grain Bowl

One bite and we’ve never felt healthier. The best part of all is that if you already have leftover cooked salmon, you can eliminate a few steps (and use it straight from the fridge).

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16. Salmon Cakes With Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

This red pepper sauce is a thing of beauty on its own, but paired with the dill-flecked salmon cakes? Swoon.

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17. Salmon And Fennel Dinner Salad

Enjoy this lovely salad as a satisfying lunch or dinner—no side dishes necessary.

Get the recipe

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

18. Sheet Pan Eggs With Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese And Dill

It’s tasty with toast and a mimosa—and even better on a bagel sandwich.

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20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy Weeknights (20)

Hey Keto Mama

19. Keto Salmon Sushi Bowl

No rice, no problem, try this salmon sushi bowl made with cauliflower rice.

Photo: Jon Cospito/Styling: Erin McDowell

20. Layered Smoked Salmon Dip With Mini Bagel Chips

Picture everything you’d smear onto a bagel—from smoked salmon to chives to capers—bountifully stacked up on a plate.

Get the recipe

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20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy Weeknights (22)

Katherine Gillen

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...

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20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy Weeknights (2024)

FAQs

How long can salmon stay in the fridge after cooked? ›

Cooked fish and other seafood can be safely stored in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Refrigeration slows but does not prevent bacterial growth. Therefore, it's important to use food within recommended time before it spoils or becomes dangerous.

How do you use a lot of salmon? ›

Here are 11 things to do with this incredibly versatile fish.
  1. Cook the whole side. If you're serving a crowd, you can grill or roast a whole side of salmon. ...
  2. Treat it like beef. ...
  3. Toss it in pasta. ...
  4. Put it in a sandwich (or a taco). ...
  5. Add it to hash. ...
  6. Make cakes (or burgers). ...
  7. Jar it. ...
  8. Give it a hot oil treatment.
May 23, 2017

How do you make leftover salmon moist? ›

Add oil: Putting oil on your fish will help seal in the moisture that is already there. Low and slow: Remember that fast high heat cooking methods are the worst way to retain the delicious texture and taste of your salmon. Low and slow are the way to go.

Can I eat salmon 5 days after cooked? ›

Cooked salmon can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to three to four days. Make sure to allow the cooked salmon to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Place it in the coldest part of the fridge to keep it as fresh as possible.

What is the best way to reheat cooked salmon? ›

Instead, it's best to reheat it slowly, at a low temperature. Put the fish on a rimmed baking sheet and warm it a 275°F oven for about 15 minutes, until it reaches an internal temperature of 125°F to 130°F. Follow this tip: Go low and slow when reheating your leftover salmon fillet to ensure that it won't dry out.

Is it better to reheat salmon or eat it cold? ›

Salmon has a particularly great texture after it has been cooked and cooled, and you can use it in a whole swath of great summer salads. And since it has a strong taste to begin with, eating it cold doesn't dull its flavor and it can stand up to crunchy vegetable counterparts and acid-tinged dressings.

Can I freeze leftover cooked salmon? ›

Cooked salmon can last in the freezer for up to 3 months. This duration ensures that when you're ready to savor it again, it retains much of its original flavor and texture. Thaw your salmon carefully.

Does salmon taste good reheated? ›

Reheating salmon in the microwave is okay and safe to eat. It's just that the dish may not taste as desirable compared to other reheating methods. Also, the fish smells may linger in the microwave.

What is the healthiest way to eat salmon? ›

Poached Salmon is the healthiest way to cook salmon and will be ready in just 10 minutes! Although it seems fancy, this poached salmon recipe is crazy simple and rewards a tender, delicate, flaky piece of salmon that is light and refreshing.

What is the most popular way to eat salmon? ›

Baked salmon is one of the most popular and depending on your recipe, easy ways to serve salmon. The standard means of baking salmon is to preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake the salmon for at least 12 minutes. If you want it really cooked, then you can bake it for up to 15 minutes.

Why do people put lemon juice on salmon? ›

Why do people like to squeeze lemon on fish? It's the acid. Acid, in this case the juice of lemons or limes, is a flavor enhancer, in the same way salt is a flavor enhancer. Vinegar does the same thing, as does cooking food in wine.

What does soaking salmon in milk do? ›

Apparently, the proteins present in milk can bind to the fatty acids that have been exposed to air and give salmon its fishy odor or taste and mitigate them to be more neutral. (Fishiness is caused by the oxidation of fatty acids.)

How do you eat leftover cold salmon? ›

Eating cold leftover salmon is a great way to save time and effort. You don't have to worry about reheating it or going through the whole cooking process again. I like to eat it as is, make salmon salad out of it, add it to a salad or even make a sandwich.

Can you eat 6 day old salmon? ›

Raw fish and shellfish should be kept in the refrigerator (40 °F/4.4 °C or less) only 1 or 2 days before cooking or freezing. After cooking, store seafood in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Any frozen fish or shellfish will be safe indefinitely; however, the flavor and texture will lessen after lengthy storage.

Is salmon good after 7 days in fridge? ›

How Long Can Raw Salmon Stay in the Fridge? Salmon can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days per USDA guidance, once it's fully thawed. When storing in the fridge, make sure your temperature is 40F/4.4C or colder to ensure it won't go bad sooner than two days.

Can I eat 4 day old salmon? ›

Raw fish and shellfish should be kept in the refrigerator (40 °F/4.4 °C or less) only 1 or 2 days before cooking or freezing. After cooking, store seafood in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Any frozen fish or shellfish will be safe indefinitely; however, the flavor and texture will lessen after lengthy storage.

How can you tell if cooked salmon has gone bad? ›

If the salmon smells fishy, sour or ammonia-like, then it's gone bad.

Can I eat salmon after 5 days in fridge? ›

How Long Does Raw Salmon Last In the Fridge? The USDA recommends consuming raw salmon in the fridge within 1 to 2 days.

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