From fresh salads to quinoa to crispy potatoes, there’s not much that doesn’t go well with this healthy fish. Here are all the best sides to with salmon!
Salmon is one of the easiest healthy dinner ideas out there. If you’re a seafood lover, you already know: salmon is where it’s AT for quick weeknight dinners. But have you ever been stumped on what to serve it with? If you’re trying to keep things quick, sometimes it’s hard to find a fast side dish that can compete with the speed of salmon.
At the same time, if you’re serving salmon for a dinner party, there’s some room for making a showy side. Here are our best sides to serve with salmon, ordered in terms of speed! So if you’re making a quick weeknight dinner keep to sides at the top of the list. If you’re entertaining, head lower down the list.
And now, our best sides to serve with salmon (in order of cook time)!
Here's our top side to go with salmon: lemon green beans! These beans are so easy to make and come together in 10 minutes, making them perfect for a quick weeknight meal. They come out crisp tender and flavored with zesty lemon. Even though they're quick, they look beautiful and dress up any meal. If you've got an Instant Pot, try Instant Pot Green Beans with Lemon.
Total time: 10 minutes
Here's another one of our quick sides to go with salmon: the best broccoli! It's bright green and crisp tender, served with red onion, olive oil, and feta cheese crumbles. If you prefer, try Sauteed Broccoli, Instant Pot Broccoli, or Roasted Broccoli instead. Or go for broccoli's elegant cousin: this Perfect Roasted Broccolini!
Total time: 10 minutes
These truly are the best sauteed mushrooms, and the meaty flavor is perfect with salmon! They're tender and juicy, with a brightness at the finish. Fresh thyme and oregano give an herby punch. Take one bite and you'll exclaim "Wow!"
Total time: 10 minutes
Here's a fantastic side to go with salmon, or really any meal! Our Italian-style chopped salad is everyone's favorite. It features crunchy romaine, colorful veggies, Parmesan cheese, and our zesty Homemade Italian Dressing. The kicker? Jarred pepperoncini, which bring a tang and crunch. Another option? Radish Chopped Salad Recipe with blue cheese dressing.
Total time: 15 minutes
This Mediterranean-style cauliflower goes perfectly with salmon! This lemon herb steamed cauliflower cooks in minutes and is so good, you won’t want to stop eating it! The lemon zest makes it bright, and using Italian seasoning and olive oil gives a savory flair. Even better: it takes only 10 minutes to cook. (Got a pressure cooker? Try our Instant Pot Cauliflower.)
Total time: 15 minutes
Farro is a chewy, tender whole grains that's a unique variation to rice. It's quick to cook and tastes so good mixed with garlic and fresh herbs! Here it's mixed with sage, thyme and oregano. If you want to dress it up for entertaining, try Farro with Mushrooms & Parmesan. Or try our Perfect Wild Rice!
Total time: 20 minutes
Asparagus is a perfect side to go with salmon! Use this method for baking in a hot oven until tender, then spritzing it with lemon: the way to make this healthy veggie taste over-the-moon good. The finishing touch: gooey melted Parmesan cheese. For plant based, try Roasted Asparagus or Sauteed Asparagus. Or, make it into a salad: Asparagus Salad with Feta.
Total time: 20 minutes
What's better with salmon than crispy Brussels sprouts? This is the best classic Brussels sprouts recipe: they're roasted at very high heat until perfectly salted and crispy. If you have an Instant Pot, you can shortcut the time with Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan.
Total time: 30 minutes (15 minutes in Instant Pot)
Lentils are a perfect protein-packed side to go with salmon! This Mediterranean-style lentil salad is full of flavor. It's fresh and healthy, mixed with crunchy veggies, feta cheese and pistachios. It’s a tasty way to add plant based protein alongside fish.
Total time: 30 minutes
These roasted sweet potatoes are a great side to with salmon: the subtle sweetness of the potatoes pairs perfectly with the savory salmon. These sweet potatoes are so tasty, lightly seasoned with garlic powder and roasted until caramelized in a hot oven. Don't want to dice? Try our Quick Baked Sweet Potato.
Other options: try Mashed Red Potatoes, Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
Total time: 35 minutes
Lemon Green Beans (& More Easy Sides!)
(14 votes, average: 4.79 out of 5)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
These zesty steamed green beans are the epitome of an easy side dish! This healthy recipe is the perfect side to go with salmon.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans*
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus zest from 1 lemon (1 tablespoon)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Trim the green beans.
- Place 1 1/2 cups water into a saucepan or pot and bring it to a boil.
- Once boiling, add the green beans in the steamer basket. Steam with the lid on 4 to 5 minutes until just tender (test with a fork).
- Carefully remove the beans to a bowl. Toss with the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, kosher salt, and plenty of fresh ground black pepper.
Notes
*This recipe is easily doubled to feed a crowd.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Sides to Go with Salmon, Green Beans Recipe, Easy Green Beans,
Some favorite salmon recipes
Of course, we couldn’t leave you with just the sides! Here are our top favorite salmon recipes:
- Salmon with Capers: The fish is oven baked in foil until it’s perfectly tender, then topped with a delicious garlic butter sauce.
- Seared Salmon, Cajun Salmon or Blackened Salmon It’s a favorite easy way to cook fish in a flash, and the flavor is unbeatable.
- Oven Baked Salmon: This easy oven baked salmon comes out perfectly tender and flaky! Cooking salmon in foil makes a moist piece of fish every time.
- Teriyaki Salmon: A weeknight go-to, this easy healthy dinner recipe features a quick homemade sauce.
- Lemon Dill Salmon This fast lemon dill salmon takes just 10 minutes to bake! Mix up the zesty dill sauce while the salmon cooks.
- Broiled Salmon with Bourbon Glaze: Another super quick way to make salmon is in the broiler! This one is painted with a savory sweet bourbon glaze.
- Easy Cedar Plank Salmon: You haven’t lived until you’ve tried cedar plank salmon! This easy method of grilling on a wooden plank infuses a smoky flavor that’s irresistible.
Another fun side for salmon? Try Creamy Parmesan Orzo.
Wondering the best salmon to buy? Got to How to Buy Sustainable Fish & Seafood.
About the Authors
Sonja Overhiser
Cookbook Author and writer
Sonja Overhiser is author of Pretty Simple Cooking, named one of the best healthy cookbooks of 2018. She’s host of the food podcast Small Bites and founder of the food blog A Couple Cooks. Featured from the TODAY Show to Bon Appetit, Sonja seeks to inspire adventurous eating to make the world a better place one bite at a time.
Alex Overhiser
Cookbook Author and photographer
Alex Overhiser is an acclaimed food photographer and author based in Indianapolis. He’s host of the food podcast Small Bites and founder of the recipe website A Couple Cooks. Featured from the TODAY Show to Bon Appetit, Alex is author of Pretty Simple Cooking, named one of the best vegetarian cookbooks by Epicurious.
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