This salmon seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices that creates the perfect sweet and savory flavor for salmon and other types of seafood. A pantry staple that takes just minutes to put together and tastes so much better than store bought spice rubs!
I prefer to make my own seasonings whenever possible as they’re easy to make and taste amazing. Some of my favorites include steak seasoning, Cajun seasoning and this flavor packed salmon seasoning.
I prepare salmon at least once a week as it’s healthy, readily available, and my whole family enjoys it. When I need a super quick meal, I sprinkle my homemade salmon seasoning over the fish, pop it in then oven, and dinner is ready in a flash!
Salmon seasoning ingredients
This spice mix contains a number of ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry, or can be readily located at any grocery store.
- Brown Sugar: This seasoning blend is not designed to be overly sweet, but the brown sugar really enhances the flavor of the spices and provides a counter balance to the salt.
- Paprika: My spice rub uses both sweet paprika and smoked paprika for maximum flavor.
- Pepper: I recommend using freshly ground black pepper, as it has a lot more flavor than the pre-ground pepper.
- Salt: Use kosher salt, as it does not have the same harsh taste as regular table salt.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic is a must-have when it comes to adding flavor to any type of protein!
- Onion Powder: I pair the onion powder with garlic powder for a greater depth of flavor.
- Mustard Powder: A bit of dry mustard works beautifully with the brown sugar and spices.
- Herbs: I use a dried Italian herb seasoning blend because it contains a number of herbs all in one bottle. If you don’t have Italian seasoning on hand, you can mix together equal parts of dried oregano, dried parsley, dried basil and dried thyme.
How do you make salmon seasoning?
Start by placing all of the herbs, spices and seasonings in a medium bowl. Stir everything together until it’s well combined. Use the seasoning right away, or pour it into a jar or airtight container for later use. Rub the spice blend all over your salmon, then bake, saute or grill as desired.
Tips for the perfect spice blend
- Don’t be tempted to omit or substitute for the smoked paprika. The smoked version adds a ton of flavor and is readily available in the spice aisle of most grocery stores.
- This rub can be used on other types of seafood and meat such as swordfish, halibut, shrimp, chicken and pork tenderloin. It also works well on roasted vegetables or potatoes.
- Serve your cooked salmon with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon for even more flavor.
- Use 2 tablespoons of rub per pound of salmon.
Recipe FAQs
Salmon has a pronounced flavor and meaty texture, which means that it pairs beautifully with stronger flavors including herbs, lemon, garlic, paprika, mustard and even chili powder.
I typically pan sear, bake or grill my salmon. These three methods are simple, fast and easy. Other options include using a broiler, air fryer, Instant Pot, or you can even poach or steam your salmon.
This seasoning will stay fresh in a sealed container at room temperature for 4 months. I often make a double or triple batch so that I always have some on hand.
Flavor Variations
While this spice blend is delicious as-is, you can add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your personal tastes.
- Spicy Rub: Add up to 1/2 teaspoon of either cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, or ground chipotle pepper to the mix.
- Garlic Delight Seasoning: Double the amount of garlic powder in the recipe for an extra kick.
- Mexican Style Rub: Add 2 teaspooons chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin and 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander to the spice blend.
I always have a jar of salmon seasoning in my pantry to turn ordinary fish into a spectacular meal!
More seasoning blends to try
Salmon Seasoning Video
Salmon Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Use immediately, or store in a jar or airtight container for later.
- Salmon seasoning stays fresh for up to 4 months when stored in a cool, dry place.
Notes
- This rub can be used on other types of seafood and meat such as swordfish, halibut, shrimp, chicken and pork tenderloin. It also works well on roasted vegetables or potatoes.
- Use 2 tablespoons of rub per pound of salmon.
Stephanie says
A friend of mine has a recipe that uses these same spices, and the day I was at her house and she was making it it smelled amazing! I bet this is absolutely delicious.
Kim says
I am a huge fan of homemade spice blends and this one looks perfect for seafood dishes.
Sonal Gupta says
I love how versatile this seasoning is. Definitely making a batch. You other spice mixes look so good too.
Jen says
I love making homemade seasoning mixes. This one was delicious on salmon!
Tayler says
I’ve used this seasoning several times and oh my goodness is it delicious! Great on more than just salmon too!
Tayler Ross says
I used this seasoning for salmon last night and it was incredible! We will be using it often!
Kathleen says
We also eat salmon at least once a week. This seasoning sounds like a perfect combination of flavors for salmon. Looking forward to trying this on my salmon.
Luci Petlack says
I make my own recipe seasoning mixes as well, but I don’t have a go-to one for salmon! THANK YOU!! Trying it this weekend!
Laressa says
love this on fish, it’s like a tangy cajun seasoning!
Aimee Mars says
I already had all the ingredients. Super easy to mix together. Thank you for sharing!