Wondering what to serve with salmon? Each recipe in this list of 30+ healthy sides matches the naturally rich and buttery deliciousness of salmon perfectly.
From juicy baked salmon filets and seared steaks to grilled salmon burgers and pan-fried salmon patties – there’s a side for that!
When it comes to fish and seafood, few dishes rival the popularity of salmon.
Whether baked, roasted, poached, pan-fried, grilled, smoked, or even stuffed, one thing’s for sure – with the right side dishes, you’re in for a memorable meal with rich flavor.
For that reason, I’m super excited to share this list of over 30 of the best sides to serve with salmon.
Each of the recipes will not only complement your favorite salmon recipes but also steal the spotlight!
Best Sides for Salmon
It’s worth noting that each of these side dish recipes is easy to prepare using ingredients that align with a health-conscious approach to nutrition.
From refreshing raw vegetable salads and hearty potato salads to wholesome grains and roasted or sauteed vegetables, this list of healthy recipes has you covered!
So, without further ado, here’s what to serve with salmon:
Side Salads
At the start of this lineup of sides to make with salmon, I’ve curated a list of side salads that pair perfectly with this versatile fish.
Each recipe showcases a different medley of fresh veggies bound in a simple homemade dressing, from cool and creamy sauces to light and refreshing vinaigrettes.
These easy salads are perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
The crunch of chopped romaine and raw veggies like bell pepper, radishes, cucumber, carrots, and celery, alongside tomato, crumbled feta, and a simple citrus vinaigrette, delivers a satisfying mouthful of tastes and textures.
This simple salad can be served as an appetizer, but you can also plop a piece of salmon fillet on top and enjoy it as an entree.
Salmon is considered a superfood thanks to its high levels of good-for-you omega-3 fatty acids, but why stop there?
Serve your favorite fish with this detoxifying side salad made with kale greens, juicy beets, walnuts, and garlic, and there certainly won’t be a shortage of nutrient-rich superfoods on your plate.
This easy recipe combines everything we love about classic egg salad and creamy cucumber salad in one dish.
Most importantly, if you make this salad, it would be in your best interest to double the recipe so there is enough left over for an epic egg salad sandwich.
This fresh salad is all about color and crunch from a medley of chopped veggies, including cucumbers, tomatoes, red bell peppers, radishes, and onion.
However, if these veggies don’t suit your fancy, have no fear! You can easily swap in raw veggies that better suit your taste.
Elevate your salmon meals with a traditional creamy German cucumber salad, or try a lightened-up version dressed in a tangy vinegar-based dressing.
Either way, the complexity and crunch of the thinly sliced cucumbers and onions provide a palatable contrast to simply seasoned, moist, and flaky pieces of salmon.
This Mediterranean-inspired masterpiece celebrates the versatility of beetroots, allowing you to choose between roasting, steaming, or boiling them until tender and juicy.
From there, you’ll toss the cooked beets with olive oil, garlic, fresh herbs, and a pinch of salt, and that’s all there is to it!
You can enjoy this salad with salmon right away, but it’s even better if you let it marinate for a bit to intensify the earthy, sweet, savory, and herbaceous deliciousness.
This assembly of roasted veggies brings the deeply savory and smoky elements of roasted eggplant and the vibrance of bell peppers, tomatoes, and herbs together to capture the rustic essence of Mediterranean cuisine.
Beyond being one of the best sides for salmon, this dish doubles as a delicious spread for sandwiches, wraps, and more!
Next up is another side salad that you can savor with salmon while simultaneously transporting your taste buds to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean.
For this great recipe, you'll need fresh tomatoes, red onions, feta cheese, and olives tossed with olive oil, balsamic, and oregano.
The sweet, savory, pungent, and tangy flavors and juicy, crunchy, and tender textures will keep you returning for more. Plus, it's perfect for showcasing those homegrown tomatoes.
Potato Salads
Next up, we have potato salads.
These recipes are particularly perfect with grilled or smoked salmon filets during backyard BBQ season.
They deliver a delightful contrast of fork-tender potatoes and an array of crisp veggies tossed in a fragrant, zesty vinaigrette or a rich, creamy dressing.
It’s hard to choose which one to try first!
Typically, “bound” potato salads are held together with heavy mayo or thick, creamy dressings, but this one gets its cohesive consistency from nothing more than oil and vinegar.
With the delicate crisp of cucumbers and the hearty nature of potatoes, this is the perfect potato salad to round out a filling and satisfying salmon meal.
This delightful dish takes new potatoes to new heights!
Imagine creamy baby potatoes, tender-crisp asparagus, crunchy cucumbers, and zesty radishes adorned with a red wine vinaigrette made with ingredients you probably have in your pantry.
This side dish option is perfect served with salmon dinner during the spring and early summer months when new potatoes, asparagus, and radishes are in season.
Instead of mayo, this recipe recruits the iconic avocado to achieve a super creamy and satisfying yet good-for-you potato salad experience.
You also get bursts of cherry tomatoes, crunchy radishes, and snow peas in every bite!
That said, you can easily mix and match your favorite fresh veggies, making this simple recipe a must-have in your spring and summer side dish rotation.
Regarding presentation, this stunning potato salad undeniably takes the cake.
It features tender, naturally buttery new potatoes, juicy red tomatoes, and red onion coated in a light garlic and dill dressing.
Serve this delicious side dish alongside a whole grilled or smoked salmon filet at your next outdoor dinner party, and your guests won’t be disappointed.
Slaws and Shredded Veggie Salads
This next group of salmon side dish recipes features coleslaw and shredded veggie salads that add freshness and crunch to the meal.
Imagine various shredded veggies tossed in tangy oil and vinegar, like beets, cabbage, and turnips.
Whether you're grilling, baking, or pan-searing salmon, these recipes are a perfect match, but if you really want these slaws to shine, try them in salmon tacos!
Raw beets are relatively dense and fibrous, so they’re often skipped over as a potential coleslaw ingredient.
But here's the secret: after shredding or spiralizing, you can soak beets in oil and vinegar. This trick gently breaks down the tough fibers yet retains the crunch.
Ultimately, this beet salad is just plain delicious and a great way to add color to your spread of sides.
Cabbage probably comes to mind when you think of coleslaw, but this recipe ditches tradition and casts shredded turnips as the star.
On top of that, carrots, crunchy pumpkin seeds, and a zesty citrus dressing take this simple dish to a whole new level.
This pleasantly peppery unconventional slaw is quick, easy, and fantastic with chargrilled and pan-seared salmon.
Suppose you’re looking for a flavorful, colorful side dish to impress guests the next time you serve salmon.
This shredded cabbage slaw boasts a medley of red cabbage, green cabbage, orange carrots, and fresh green herbs.
Instead of creamy dressing, this slaw is held together with oil and vinegar, making it nutritious, delicious, and a perfect side dish to make ahead.
As the name suggests, this cabbage salad was crafted with super healthy, nutrient-packed ingredients, including green cabbage, carrots, red bell peppers, apples, fresh dill, and a low-fat dressing.
This is an excellent choice for serving salmon at a large gathering or potluck.
The ingredients are budget-friendly, so you can make a big batch to share with friends and family without breaking the bank.
Roasted Vegetables
Get ready to step up your salmon game with one of these roasted veggie masterpieces.
From vibrant summer produce to hearty cold-weather crops, this hand-picked selection of roasted vegetable recipes embraces the variety of fresh produce available each season to bring out the best in your salmon!
So far, we’ve discussed cold salmon accompaniments. Now, let’s talk about hot sides, starting with this medley of lightly seasoned, roasted mixed vegetables.
I used broccoli, asparagus, bell peppers, and zucchini, but you can use whatever veggies you already have on hand and need to make use of.
Roasted asparagus pairs with practically every meat and fish dish, and salmon is no exception.
With simple preparation and only four ingredients, you can have this easy side dish on the table in 25 minutes or less.
Not to mention, once you've trimmed and seasoned the asparagus, the oven takes care of the roast so you can focus on the salmon.
When the earthy sweetness of roasted carrots and the mouthwatering flavor of caramelized onions team up, even picky veggie eaters can’t resist.
Fortunately, this recipe is super simple.
After prepping the carrots and tossing them with oil and seasoning, the oven makes the roasting magic happen while you caramelize the onions on the stove.
If you’re cooking salmon on the grill or in a pan, you might as well put that empty oven to good use.
Oven-roasted cauliflower is one of the most straightforward sides for hectic weeknights and elegant occasions!
This method helps create fork-tender, lightly caramelized cauliflower with delightfully crisped edges. Simply put, this cauliflower is downright delicious and a great addition to your dinner table.
Whether roasting salmon or setting the Thanksgiving table, these humble roasted root veggies, including potatoes, beets, carrots, and sweet potatoes, are perfect for the occasion.
The veggies are generously seasoned with aromatic, savoy spices that scream cozy fall and winter flavor.
Sauteed and Steamed Vegetables
These sauteed and steamed veggie recipes are easy to make and incredibly versatile.
You can mix and match your favorite fresh vegetables to create your perfect side for salmon.
Whether you prefer the rich flavors of sautéed veggies or the wholesome simplicity of steamed greens, there's something here for everyone.
Serving salmon with a side of peas and carrots evokes that nostalgia connected to childhood frozen TV dinners.
This recipe, however, is the grown-up version made with fresh ingredients and a sophisticated selection of seasonings.
On top of that, peas and carrots are a nutritional powerhouse packed with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably figured out that beets are one of my favorite veggies to serve with salmon.
The beets in this healthy side dish are shredded and cooked on the stovetop with aromatic garlic and onions, plus a splash of lemon juice to brighten up every flavor.
With a bundle of fresh beetroot, you can make two different sides to serve with salmon.
The first is the beetroots, and the second is the leafy green tops - so don’t toss them!
Beet greens are safe to eat, loaded with nutrients, and quite tasty when sauteed with simple spices.
Don't have any fresh green beans on hand? No problem!
This recipe transforms frozen green beans, sun-dried tomatoes, and a simple blend of spices into a remarkably flavorful side of green beans with the right amount of snap!
All in 10 minutes!
With nothing more than fresh-picked zucchini, olive oil, and garlic, you can create a restaurant-worthy zucchini side dish that everyone will love.
You only need a few minutes to chop the zucchini and about five minutes to cook them.
A healthy side for a salmon dish in about 10-15 minutes? Yes, please.
Salmon isn’t forgiving when overcooked (and NO ONE likes dry, overcooked salmon).
But with the assistance of your Instant Pot, you can have your favorite veggies steaming while the fish has your undivided attention.
After chopping the veggies, the Instant Pot’s convenient steaming setting takes over. It preserves the natural flavors, bright colors, and tender-crisp texture.
Grains
Last but certainly not least - the mighty whole grains!
Each of these dishes offers a hearty and satisfying side for salmon thanks to the nutrient-dense goodness of grains.
Choose from chilled, refreshing grain salads or warm, comforting rice and quinoa dishes.
Whatever you decide, these side dish recipes will upgrade your favorite salmon dishes to gourmet feast status.
When you need a great side for salmon or any dish for that matter, you can always count on black rice.
It is often described as having a “nutty” flavor and dense, chewy texture like brown rice.
What could be better than a grain salad that features fluffy quinoa, zesty feta, tender beans, and an array of fresh veggies and herbs, all dressed in oil and citrus?
These simple ingredients and fresh flavors are what Mediterranean cuisine is all about!
This salad is a favorite at dinner parties, potlucks, and BBQs. If you have leftovers, lucky you! The flavors will meld and mingle overnight, resulting in a salad that’s even better the next day.
This quick and easy chilled grain salad celebrates quinoa, which happens to be one of the healthiest whole grains because it’s a complete vegetable protein with all nine essential amino acids.
As if that isn’t enough, you also get a nutritional boost from seven layers of fresh green ingredients: crisp cucumbers, tart Granny Smith apples, crunchy celery, protein-packed shelled edamame, vibrant green peppers, wholesome pumpkin seeds, and fragrant parsley.
This dish strikes the perfect balance between a light salad and a stick-to-your-bones casserole. It’s loaded with quinoa, roasted vegetables, rich olive oil, and tangy feta.
Whether you serve it hot or slightly warm, it’s delicious!
Plus, it's a convenient meal prep choice as it’s already packed in a container. Just add salmon for extra protein, and voila, a satisfying midday meal.
Beets, quinoa, goat cheese, and grapefruit may seem like a peculiar mash-up of tastes and textures, but it’s actually perfect.
Whether you serve this salad as a standalone side or enjoy it as a main course salad with salmon on top, it is a must-make!
And if you have some leftover salmon, you can take it to work to eat for lunch.
This bulgur grain salad captures the freshness, vibrancy, and textural dimensions of traditional Middle Eastern tabbouleh with bonus apples and walnuts in every bite.
It’s a very nourishing meal by itself. Add salmon, and you’ll be well on your way to hitting those daily protein goals!
Meet Maria
Maria Ushakova is a holistic nutritionist and food blogger. She focuses on developing easy recipes using real food ingredients. She believes that healthy food is delicious and anyone can learn how to cook it. Maria’s work has appeared on numerous popular websites as well as in print.
