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Here are the best sauces for salmon—easy ways to dress up your fish! Here are our favorite ideas for making a delicious meal, including dill sauce, chimichurri, miso sauce, and more.

Need a little something to dress up your fish? These baked salmon and grilled salmon recipes are on repeat at our house. As cookbook authors, we’ve found a little trick for how to take them to the next level—simply add a sauce!
Glistening green chimichurri covers the salmon in a garlicky, herbaceous blanket, and lemon caper sauce makes a tangy, bright pop. Miso sauce infuses loads of umami, and creamy dill sauce is extra classic. Each of these sauces brings something new to the table—and you can mix them up while the fish cooks.
The best sauces for salmon
Here’s a rich and creamy sauce for salmon that's a hit every time: lemon dill sauce! There’s no cooking required for this sauce: all you need is 5 minutes to stir it together in a bowl for a punch of tangy, herby flavor.
Chimichurri sauce is a great way to take salmon from meh to stunning! This Argentinian classic is simple to whip up and adds bright, garlicky flavor to grilled meats, chicken, fish or vegetables. It's perfect with grilled salmon!
Try this lemon caper sauce for salmon! This magical meld is so full of savory, salty, buttery goodness, you’ll want to swim in it. Drape it over a piece of grilled or baked salmon. Just a small drizzle packs a huge punch!
This honey garlic sauce comes together in less than 10 minutes, making it an easy, no-hassle sauce for quick meals. You’ll want to paint a swath of this sticky, flavor-popping sauce on just about anything! It's perfect on Honey Garlic Salmon.
Need a creamy condiment for dipping salmon? Try this This irresistibly zingy and balanced mustard sauce stars two types of mustard, mayonnaise and honey. It comes together in just 1 minute!
This salmon sauce is bursting with rich, creamy flavor with garlic, spinach, and earthy, bright bursts from tomatoes. Pan sear your salmon and remove it from the pan, make this sauce, and then add the salmon to the pan for 1 minute to warm through. It turns this fish into Tuscan Salmon!
Ready for the perfect zingy sauce for salmon? Try pesto salmon! Bright green pesto goes hand in hand with tender baked fish to make a stunning dinner. Because really: what isn’t better with a little pesto on top?
Here’s an impressive dinner idea that’s packed with umami and fantastically irresistible: miso salmon! This miso glaze that’s so full of flavor, you’ll want to brush a glossy swipe onto just about everything. Brush it on a filet of salmon before and after broiling, and it’s absolutely stunning.
This lemon pepper sauce is full of zingy, zesty flavor, but requires only 5 minutes and 5 ingredients. The butter is savory and creamy, punctuated by the zingy lemon and hint of spicy black pepper. While is common with wings, it’s also perfect with salmon!
This maple glazed salmon comes out perfectly tender and flaky, liberally spread with a sweet and tangy maple balsamic glaze. It's so tasty and takes just a few minutes to cook in the broiler.
Here the tender, flaky fish is draped in a lemon butter sauce that tastes like pure gold. It’s rich and zingy, bringing a pop of flavor to each bite.
A great remoulade sauce is perfect for salmon, a zingy mayo-based condiment that's common in Cajun and Creole cuisine. The rich mayo and briny capers meld perfectly with seafood. Serve with Salmon Burgers, Pan Seared Salmon or Grilled Salmon.
Here's a great dipping sauce for salmon: buffalo ranch! In just a few minutes, you can make a sauce that’s creamy, tangy, spicy, savory, and ideal for dunking just about anything. Try it with baked salmon or salmon bites!
Here’s a genius kitchen move: 5-minute pesto cream sauce! Did you know you can simmer pesto and cream and it thickens into a sauce? This bright green sauce is perfect for salmon, like Grilled Salmon or Baked Salmon.
Last up in our sauces for salmon: sour cream sauce! This one takes just 5 minutes to put together: the garlic, onion and chives make a quick sauce that’s bursting with savory flavor. It’s great with Grilled Salmon or Broiled Salmon.
More salmon recipes
The best ways to cook salmon? Here are a few basic ways to cook salmon that are ideal for adding sauces:
- Try easy and basic baked salmon, even quicker broiled salmon, or simple pan seared salmon.
- Opt for blackened salmon.
- Try grilled salmon or grilled marinated salmon.
- Make a salad or sandwich like salmon Caesar salad, salmon salad sandwich or salmon Nicoise salad.
Frequently asked questions
Pan-seared salmon pairs well with a variety of sauces, including lemon butter sauce, dill sauce, garlic herb sauce, or even a balsamic glaze for a touch of sweetness.
For baked salmon, you can use a marinade as a sauce, such as teriyaki sauce, honey mustard sauce, or a simple olive oil and herb mixture. These sauces will infuse the salmon with flavor while keeping it moist during baking.
The white sauce often served with salmon is usually a creamy dill sauce or a lemon dill sauce. These sauces complement the salmon’s flavor with their refreshing herbiness and tangy notes.
Lemon Dill Sauce for Salmon
This fast lemon dill salmon takes just 10 minutes to bake! Mix up the zesty dill sauce as it cooks. It’s the ultimate healthy easy weeknight meal!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the salmon
- 4 salmon fillets (skin on or off)
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
For the lemon dill sauce (makes about ¾ cup)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped dill
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 6 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F.
- Generously sprinkle the salmon with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper. Place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake the salmon for about 10 minutes until flaky and just cooked; test it with a fork to assess doneness. Watch the salmon to make sure not to overcook; the timing can vary based on the thickness of the salmon and variations between ovens.
- While the salmon bakes, mix together the sauce ingredients, adding the water last. Use the water to bring it to a loose, drizzle-able consistency. (You may need a touch more depending on your yogurt brand.)
- Serve the salmon and garnish each fillet with 2 tablespoons of the lemon dill sauce. Save leftover sauce refrigerated.
Let us know if you have any questions!