These Blackened Baked Salmon Bites are delicate and flakey, yet pack a very bold punch in flavor. With just a handful of spices and 15 minutes, you can make an incredibly tasting meal!
I love these blackened baked salmon bites because they are just SO flavorful! Adding them to a salad, sandwich, or rice bowl just really takes the dish up a notch!
I love the contrast of fiery heat from paprika and cayenne, earthiness from the herbs, and subtle hint of sweetness all combined to coat the flakey salmon bites – there’s really nothing better! For another spicy-sweet salmon dish, try my Chili Crisp Honey Salmon!
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Ingredients
This is one of my simplest recipes on the blog! Just one key ingredient, salmon, and a bunch of spices! Even if you don’t already have these on hand, buying them for this recipe is surely an investment, as you’ll be making this time and time again!
- Salmon
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried thyme
- Dried oregano
- Cayenne
- Brown sugar
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Blackened Baked Salmon Bites
Directions could not be easier!
- Remove skin from salmon. If buying from a fishmonger or butcher, you can always ask them to do this step. Cut off the belly (the thinner side), and add to a bowl. Cut the rest of the salmon into 1-2 inch cubes, making sure they are even in size. Add to the bowl. I like to cut the belly off separately because it is thinner.
- Mix the spices together, then pour into the bowl of salmon bites. I find I get more even flavoring when I mix the spices together first, rather than just pouring them individually into a bowl of the salmon. Mix the seasoning into the salmon until all pieces are coated on all sides.
- Add the salmon bites to a lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. If there are some uneven pieces, group the bigger pieces together on one side of the sheet pan, and the smaller pieces on the other.
- Bake the salmon, placing the larger-sized pieces towards the back of the oven and smaller pieces towards the opening.
- Once cooked, serve with any sides of your liking!
What is blackened salmon?
Traditional blackened salmon (or chicken!), has lots of seasonings, cooks in a pan, and is coated with butter. The cooking process darkens the spices to appear black without being burnt.
Blackening became popularized in the 1980s in New Orleans with Cajun-Creole influence. Unlike charring, a method of cooking that relies on a high heat temperature, blackening is more about the spices and bold flavor caramelizing into a darker color.
This Blacked Baked Salmon Bites recipe is less traditional in a few ways. First, this salmon is baked rather than pan-seared. However, because we roast the salmon at a high temperature of 450F, caramelization and blackening does occur especially on the sides where the salmon is touching the pan.
Second, I use olive oil instead of butter. You are welcome to use butter if you’d prefer. I find salmon rich enough without the butter so I prefer olive oil, but you do you!
Third, as the name suggests, these are salmon bites rather than filets. The blackening spices are just DELICIOUS. I can’t have enough. Salmon bites allow more surface space to pick up that seasoning… helloooo flavor! They also provide for an easier snacking experience, and these blackened baked salmon bites are just as enjoyable as a snack as they are a meal.
How to serve Blackened Baked Salmon Bites
Some of my favorite ways to serve these blackened baked salmon bites are as follows:
- On the bed of a salad. Whether it’s a Caesar salad, or a simple salad with a lemon mustard vinaigrette, these salmon bites are an excellent addition
- Over a bed of rice, on the side of couscous, or alongside a creamy pasta. These blackened baked salmon bites go perfectly with any carb.
- On the side of roasted or grilled vegetables, such as broccoli, zucchini, or peppers.
Storage
Store the blackened baked salmon bites in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Heat in the microwave at 30 second increments. They will not take long to heat up. You can also enjoy cold.
Looking for other dinner ideas?
Try these:
And if you want something a little sweet after:
Here are some of my desserts:
Rating
If you love this recipe, don’t hesitate to leave a review and five-star rating! I’d love to see your creations on Instagram!
📖 Recipe
Blackened Baked Salmon Bites
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon skin removed, cut into cubes
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450℉. Add oil to the bottom of a sheet pan (alternatively, use parchment paper). Set aside.
- Remove skin from salmon. Cut off the belly piece. If longer than three inches, cut down the middle to make more of a square shape. For the rest of the salmon, cut into equal sized, 1-2 inch cubes. Place the salmon in a bowl.
- Mix together the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, cayenne, kosher salt, and brown sugar together.
- Toss the spice mix into the bowl with the cubed salmon. Mix thoroughly until all pieces of salmon are coated in the seasonings.
- Pour the salmon onto the sheet pan. If there are some pieces larger than others, group them to one side of the sheet pan. Group the belly pieces on the other size. Drizzle with the olive oil, then place in the oven with the larger pieces towards the back of the oven, belly pieces towards the oven door. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through to your liking. Serve, and enjoy!
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