Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon is a healthy, zesty seafood recipe that only takes a minute to prep, and cooks in about half an hour! You’ll love this flavorful salmon recipe seasoned with fresh herbs, garlic, and green onions.

 

Grilled Salmon in Foil

When it comes to cooking fish, there’s no better combination than good-quality fillets, real butter, fresh lemon, and garlic. Talk about tempting! And, although you might feel intimidated about cooking a whole salmon fillet, it doesn’t have to be difficult. This easy foil packet cooking method takes all the guesswork out of the process. Just fire up the grill (or oven), and let the foil do the rest!

Grilled lemon butter salmon is a healthy dinner that’s a snap to make.

For this recipe, I use fresh thyme, green onions, garlic, and lemon zest to flavor the fish. However, you could easily swap in other ingredients that you enjoy: fresh sprigs of dill, some minced shallot, lime instead of lemon, or whatever you like! Dinner? Done. ✅

What You’ll Need

Here’s a full rundown of the ingredients for grilled salmon. It’s a simple recipe that’s well-balanced and nutritious, with a pungent bite from the garlic and green onions and the light richness of butter and fresh lemon.

• Salmon: I used a large, whole salmon fillet with the skin on, but this recipe would also work with individual fillets, skin on or off. You’ll need 1.5 to 2 pounds, total. 
• Salt and Pepper: To taste.
• Thyme: Finely chop some fresh thyme leaves, or substitute dried thyme if you prefer.
• Green Onions: The green onions should be thinly sliced, for sprinkling over the salmon fillet.
• Garlic: Mince or press some fresh garlic. I don’t recommend using powdered garlic in this recipe – the intense, roasted flavor of powdered garlic isn’t as good as bright, fresh garlic cloves in this recipe.
• Lemon and Lemon Zest: Zest the lemon, and then slice it. 
• Butter: Cut the butter into thin pats for scattering over the fish.
• Parsley: Chopped fresh parsley makes a pretty optional garnish.

How To Grill Salmon

Now comes the fun part! Once your ingredients are gathered and prepped, it’s time to assemble the foil packet.

1. Arrange the Salmon on the Foil. Cut a large piece of foil, about 20 inches square. You will need a wide roll of foil to do this. Lay the salmon fillet on top of the foil, skin side down, and sprinkle it generously with salt and pepper. 
2. Top the Salmon. Sprinkle the top of the salmon with the chopped thyme, green onions, and garlic, plus the lemon zest. Arrange the lemon slices on top, followed by the pats of butter. 
3. Seal and Rest. Fold the foil over the salmon. Then fold the edges of the foil over twice, to make a sealed packet. Let the packet rest on the counter for about 10 minutes.
4. Grill the Sealed Packet. While the fish is resting, preheat your grill to medium-high ( 375˚F to 425˚F). Next, place the salmon packet on the grill, and cover the grill. Let the salmon cook for about 18 minutes.
5. Grill the Opened Packet. Open up the foil packet (carefully do this away from your face, to avoid getting burned by the steam). Close the grill again, and let the opened salmon packet cook for 5 to 8 more minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through. Check it for doneness using an instant-read meat thermometer (the internal temperature should register at 145˚F).
6. Enjoy! Let the grilled salmon rest for about 5 minutes before garnishing with parsley and serving.

Easy Serving Ideas

To serve this grilled salmon, almost any side dish works beautifully! A baked potato is a classic choice, and these Air Fryer Baked Potatoes are guaranteed to be crispy and tender.

Keep things light and low-carb with this simple recipe for Creamy Spaghetti Squash. Juicy, summery chopped veggies are at their colorful best in this easy, summery Chopped Egg, Cucumber, and Tomato Salad. This crowd-pleasing favorite makes a healthy lunch or dinner when paired with flavorful lemon butter salmon.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Leftover salmon should be stored in the fridge, in airtight containers, or in zip-top bags for 2 to 3 days. You can also freeze it for 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

To reheat, place the fish in a covered skillet over medium-low heat until heated through. You can also reheat salmon in a 350˚F oven until heated through.

ENJOY!

More Healthy Salmon Recipes

• Salmon Tacos with Mango Avocado Salsa
• Creamy Garlic Dijon Salmon
• Salmon Cobb Salad with Spinach and Feta
• Salmon Picatta in Foil