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The Best Grilled Salmon

Grilled salmon with crispy skin and tender, flaky flesh—marinated briefly for bright garlic-lemon flavor. This easy seafood recipe cooks fast on a medium-high grill with simple seasoning and clear doneness timing.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
marinating 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 430
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Marinade
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 garlic minced
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 0.25 salt to taste
  • 0.25 pepper to taste
Salmon
  • 4 salmon fillets 6 oz each, skin-on
  • 1 fresh dill for serving
  • 1 lemon wedges for serving

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet
  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Make the marinade
  1. In a small bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until combined.
  2. Brush the marinade over the salmon fillets, skin-side up, and make sure each piece is coated evenly.
Marinate
  1. Let the salmon sit for 15 minutes at room temperature so the flavors can soak in, with the surface looking glossy from the marinade.
Grill the salmon
  1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates well so the skin releases cleanly.
  2. Place the salmon on the grill skin-side down, laying them down carefully and avoiding movement so grill marks can form.
  3. Grill skin-side down for 6-8 minutes, watching for crisping skin at the edges and a slightly opaque top surface.
  4. Carefully flip the salmon and grill for 2-3 minutes until cooked to your desired doneness, with the flesh turning flaky and opaque.
Serve
  1. Serve immediately with fresh dill and lemon wedges, letting the bright citrus lift the grilled flavor.

Notes

For the crispiest skin, let the salmon come to a warm start after marinating and keep it undisturbed during the first 6-8 minutes skin-side down. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 2 days; freeze cooked salmon up to 2 months. For a lower-sodium option, use reduced-sodium salt or a salt-free seasoning blend in place of regular salt.