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

What to do with 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 long will cooked salmon last in the fridge? ›

How Long Does Cooked Salmon Last In the Fridge? Under the same refrigeration conditions, cooked salmon will last 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Cooked salmon only lasts a couple of days more than its raw counterparts, as the temperature in the refrigerator only slows down bacterial growth and spoilage.

Is salmon good after 5 days in the fridge? ›

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.

Can you eat five day old cooked salmon? ›

Information. 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 revive leftover salmon? ›

Preheat your oven to a moderate temperature (around 275°F to 300°F), place your salmon on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil, and pop it in for about 10-15 minutes until warmed through. This method yields evenly heated salmon with a tender texture.

What does eating salmon everyday do for your body? ›

Salmon is a good source of protein, which is important for maintaining bone health, preventing muscle loss and helping the body heal and repair. Its rich astaxanthin content may help maintain skin elasticity, reduce the signs of aging and protect the skin against UV damage.

Can eating too much salmon be unhealthy? ›

Eating large amounts of salmon and other fish could expose you to cancer-causing chemicals, or carcinogens. Fish get these chemicals by swimming in polluted water. Although both wild and farmed salmon carry this risk, the benefit-risk ratio for wild salmon is significantly greater.

When should you throw away leftover salmon? ›

Wondering how long you can store that leftover salmon? 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.

How can you tell if cooked salmon is spoiled? ›

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

Can dogs eat salmon? ›

However, well-cooked, boneless salmon is definitely on the list of people food approved for dogs. Choose fresh, boneless fillets, since they're less likely to harbor small bones. But be sure to check for tiny bones anyway before cooking.

Is it better to freeze salmon raw or cooked? ›

Does freezing salmon ruin it/Is it bad to freeze salmon? Freezing salmon is a great way to store salmon raw or cooked. The quality will start to go down for raw salmon after three months and six months for cooked salmon.

Can I freeze 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.

How long is vacuum sealed salmon good for in the fridge? ›

It is not recommended to re-freeze fully thawed raw product. After opening raw salmon, it is best to consume within 3 days of thawing. Smoked salmon packages can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. DO NOT Keep sealed vacuum-packed raw salmon in your refrigerator for more than 2 days.

Can you eat leftover salmon the next day? ›

If you're eyeing a piece of cooked salmon that's been sitting in the fridge for a few days, you don't have to guess if it's still good. The USDA says that cooked fish is safe to eat for three to four days.

Does salmon taste good leftover? ›

I know this post is about reheating salmon, but to be completely honest, leftover salmon is even better when it's left cold. Since salmon already has a strong flavor, it remains flavorful chilled. It's also nice and firm — even when flaked.

Can I reheat cooked salmon? ›

The key is to reheat your cold leftover salmon at a low temperature. Slowly reheat it to keep it moist and flaky, which is precisely what you want it to be. Also, before reheating the salmon in the oven, remember to cover it with aluminium foil.

Can you eat halfway cooked salmon? ›

Can You Eat Undercooked Salmon? It is never completely safe to eat undercooked salmon. That's because foodborne illnesses are much more likely to be passed on through salmon that has not been cooked thoroughly to a recommended internal temperature of 145 degrees F.

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