Grilled Blackened Salmon
On February 22, 2023 (Updated December 06, 2024)
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Perfectly savory with just the right amount of heat, this grilled blackened salmon is the best dinner around. It’s easy to make and ready in 30 minutes, making it a great option to add to your weekly meal plan this week.
Blackened Salmon on the Grill
If you’ve never tried blackened fish, you’re in for a treat! This combination of robust seasoning and seafood is the perfect mix of flavors and textures. This salmon gets a crunchy “blackened” crust from the high heat of the grill and cooks through over lower heat for a flaky finish.
This recipe is easy and straightforward. All you need is your favorite grill (any type will do) and 30 minutes of your time. And while we don’t stress the healthier side of things too much on this site (it is BBQ-focused, after all), this salmon is a reasonably healthy meal that is low in carbs and packed with protein.
Ingredients for Blackened Salmon
Here’s what you’ll need to make this grilled blackened salmon.
- 4 whole salmon filets
- 3 Tablespoons avocado oil
Last up, you’ll need to make the blackened seasoning with the following ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¾ teaspoon fresh ground white pepper
- ¾ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano leaves
For a full recipe post, click this link to read more about my awesome Best Blackened Seasoning.
How to Grill Blackened Salmon
Once you have your ingredients ready to go, you’re ready to fire up the grill and make this salmon. Here’s how to grill blackened salmon.
- Preheat. Fire up your grill and allow it to preheat to 400 degrees F for two-zone grilling with a direct heat side and an indirect heat side. Prepare the salmon while the grill preheats.
- Season. Make the blackened seasoning in a small bowl. Drizzle the salmon with avocado oil and then sprinkle the fish liberally with the blackened seasoning.
- Oil the grates. Place a folded paper towel between a set of tongs. Dip the paper towel in avocado oil and then brush the oiled paper towel over the grates to fully coat them in oil.
- Sear. Place the seasoned fish skin side up over the direct heat side of the grill, directly on the oiled grill grates. Sear the fish for 3-4 minutes to develop a dark crust on the fish.
- Grill. Flip the salmon over and move it to the indirect heat side of the grill. Continue to cook the fish until the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 degrees F as measured with a meat thermometer. This time may vary depending on how thick your filets are.
- Serve. Remove the grilled blackened salmon from the grill to a serving platter. Enjoy immediately.
How Long to Grill Blackened Salmon
It takes approximately 10-15 minutes to grill blackened salmon.
To begin, sear the salmon for 3-4 minutes over direct heat to develop a nice crust on the salmon. Next, a final 6-8 minutes over indirect heat finishes cooking the meat. Be sure to keep an eye on the temperature of the fish and remove it once it reaches 145 degrees F.
Tips for Grilling Blackened Salmon
Here are some tips for grilling blackened salmon. It can be tricky to grill fish as it tends to stick to the grill grates, so these tips should help you get that fish cooked just right!
- Oil your grates. A little high-heat cooking oil (like avocado, vegetable, or canola) will prevent your fish from sticking to the grates. It will also help that signature crispy blackened crust to form during the cooking process.
- Cook to temperature. The time guidelines on the recipe are just guidelines. Your salmon may be thicker or thinner than what was tested and your grill might be higher or lower temperature. Using an instant-read thermometer to track the internal temperature of your fish will help you achieve perfect results.
- Any blackened seasoning will do. This recipe can use the homemade blackened seasoning provided or a store-bought blackened seasoning if you’ve already got a favorite.
More Grilled Blackened Recipes
The blackened seasoning is delicious on all kinds of fish. If you loved this recipe, I highly recommend trying out these other recipes from Hey Grill Hey.
- Blackened Grilled Shrimp Skewers
- Grilled Cod with Blackened Seasoning
- Grilled Mahi Mahi with Blackened Seasoning
Grilled Blackened Salmon Recipe
Once you finish smoking and enjoying this grilled blackened salmon recipe, be sure to come back to this post and leave us a comment letting us know how it turned out. Hey Grill Hey is dedicated to creating an environment of supportive and backyard-friendly BBQers that are here to help you become a backyard BBQ hero.
Grilled Blackened Salmon
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillet skin on
- 3 Tablespoons avocado oil
Blackened Seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¾ teaspoon fresh ground white pepper
- ¾ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Preheat. Preheat your grill to 400 degrees F with two zones of heat (one high heat side, one low heat side).
- Make the seasoning. Combine all ingredients for the blackening seasoning in a small bowl. Drizzle the salmon with avocado oil and liberally sprinkle the top of the salmon filets with the blackened seasoning.
- Oil the grill grates. Dip a folded paper towel in avocado oil and brush it lightly across the grill grates to coat them in oil.
- Sear. Set the salmon, seasoning side down, on the high heat side of the grill, and sear with the lid open for 3-4 minutes or until a beautiful crust has developed on the seasoning.
- Finish cooking. Flip the filets over, move to the indirect heat side of the grill, and close the lid of the grill. Cook for an additional 6-8 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 degrees F and flakes easily with a fork. If your filets are really thin, they will cook faster, if they are thick, they will take a little longer. Use a thermometer to track your internal temperature so you don’t end up with over- or undercooked fish.
- Serve. Remove the salmon from the grill to a serving dish. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Your seasoning is perfect. Super easy to make, plenty of flavor! This blackened salmon has become a staple in my diet, thanks for another great recipe!
Anyone who knows spices would understand that a teaspoon of cayenne means very spicy. A one star review because of this is uncalled for.
Soooo, I take it you didn’t know your spices! Why’s that Susie’s fault. common sense goes along way
That’s harsh. Why did you add cayenne if you don’t like spicy food? I don’t like olives but I’m not going to give a one star review to a recipe that uses them.