Slow Cooker Salmon with Creamy Lemon Sauce
Jan 30, 2019, Updated Jun 26, 2023
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This Slow Cooker Salmon recipe makes tender, flaky fish, topped with a luscious creamy lemon sauce. Easy to put together, super flavorful, and cooked to a juicy perfection right in your slow cooker.
Along with this salmon, take your seafood dishes to the next level by making my delectable branzino and grilled swordfish recipes, too. The branzino fish is tender and flavorful, perfect for a sophisticated touch. Meanwhile, the swordfish is hearty and savory, making it a dish you’ll want to make on repeat!
AN EASY SALMON RECIPE THAT’S BIG ON FLAVOR
How do you prepare salmon with minimum effort and maximum flavor? Toss it in the slow cooker, set it, and forget it! I mean, don’t completely forget it. Come back in 2 hours to eat it, please.
This is the easiest way to cook salmon and the taste is excellent! It’s also very healthy, and Low Carb. Can be good for a Keto diet, as well, but watch your protein intake. Grams of protein per day should equal your body weight. Example: 150 pounds = 150 grams of protein per day, or less.
Moreover, since the fish cooks in liquid consisting of broth and lemon juice, it remains moist and flavorful all throughout.
Preparing salmon with the slow cooker method is a good way to ensure tender, juicy salmon each and every time. When done, we’re also going to make a quick creamy lemon sauce to go with our dinner that you can drizzle over the fish and a bed of creamy risotto or garlic mashed potatoes.
If you’re not into using a slow cooker, try this Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce.
HOW TO COOK SALMON IN A SLOW COOKER
- First, you want to choose a fresh salmon fillet that’s around 1.5 to 2 pounds. You can also use smaller, individual fillets – it doesn’t have to be just like the one you see here.
- Next, line your slow cooker with parchment paper, and arrange lemon slices right down the middle.
- Set the salmon fillet over the lemon slices and season with salt, pepper, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, and Italian Seasoning. I used garlic granules which is dehydrated finely minced garlic with a stronger taste than garlic powder. Also, if you have a favorite seasoning rub for fish, you can use that, instead.
- Our following step is to pour some vegetable broth and lemon juice into the slow cooker, all around the fish. DO NOT pour it over the fish.
- Finally, set your slow cooker on LOW and cook for 2 hours.
- When fish is done, lift up the slow cooker bowl and pop it in the oven for several minutes to get a bit of that browning on top of the fish.
- Remove from oven and lift out the fish by the parchment paper.
CREAMY LEMON SAUCE
- Combine lemon juice, chicken broth, and heavy cream in a small pot or saucepan and cook for 8 minutes, covered, on LOW.
- Remove cover, set heat to HIGH, and continue to cook until sauce has reduced and thickened; about 2 more minutes.
- Drizzle sauce over fish, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.
HOW TO USE UP LEFTOVER SALMON
- Cooking a large piece of salmon in the slow cooker is a great way to meal prep for the week. You can chop up the fillets and add some of it to a soup, or on top of a salad. Try it with my Salmon Cobb Salad.
- You can also make salmon patties, or even stir some into a casserole.
HOW TO STORE COOKED SALMON
- Let salmon completely cool. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
HOW TO FREEZE COOKED SALMON
- Place completely cooled salmon fillets in a freezer bag; set in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- When ready to serve, let salmon thaw overnight in the fridge. Transfer the fish to a rimmed baking sheet and warm it at 275F for about 15 minutes. Fish is done when internal temperature reaches 130F.
MORE SALMON RECIPES
- Garlic Butter Baked Salmon
- Pesto Salmon
- Flourless Salmon Piccata in Foil
- Maple Mustard Salmon in Foil
- One Sheet Pan Garlic Roasted Salmon with Brussels Sprouts
ENJOY!
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Slow Cooker Salmon with Creamy Lemon Sauce
Ingredients
FOR THE SALMON
- 3 lemons,, divided
- 1.5 to 2 pounds skin-on salmon fillet
- cooking spray
- salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic granules, or garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
- juice of 1 lemon
FOR THE CREAMY LEMON SAUCE
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice , (I just scoop out juice from the slow cooker where the fish was cooked)
- 1/4 cup chicken broth, water, OR white wine
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/8 teaspoon lemon zest
- chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
FOR THE SALMON
- Line slow cooker with a large piece of parchment paper.
- Cut one lemon into slices and arrange a layer of lemon slices down the middle of the slow cooker.
- Place salmon on top of lemon slices; spray salmon with cooking spray and season with salt, pepper, paprika, chili powder, garlic granules, and Italian Seasoning. Using your fingers, rub the seasoning all over the salmon.
- Pour broth and lemon juice into the slow cooker, all around the fish. DO NOT pour it over the fish.
- Liquid should come about halfway up the fillet.
- Cook on LOW for 2 hours, or until opaque and flaky.
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Lift up the slow cooker bowl and pop it in the oven for about 5 to 8 minutes to get a bit of that browning on top of the fish. (Most slow cooker bowls can handle oven heat up to 400F)
- Remove from oven and lift out the fish by the parchment paper; transfer to a cutting board and set aside.
FOR THE CREAMY LEMON SAUCE
- Set a small saucepan or pot over medium-high heat and stir in lemon juice, broth, and cream.
- Bring to a simmer.
- Set heat to LOW; cover the pot and cook for 8 minutes.
- Uncover; stir in lemon zest, set heat to HIGH and cook for 2 more minutes, or until sauce has thickened a bit and reduced.
- Remove from heat; taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly.
- Cut up the salmon into individual fillets.
- Pour sauce over the fillets and garnish with parsley.
- Serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Let salmon completely cool. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Place completely cooled salmon fillets in a freezer bag; set in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- When ready to serve, let salmon thaw overnight in the fridge. Transfer the fish to a rimmed baking sheet and warm it a 275F for about 15 minutes. Fish is done when internal temperature reaches 130F.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Can you use frozen salmon fillets?
Sounds wonderful. Never thought to cook salmon in the slow cooker. Also low points for ww. Will try as soon as I can get some salmon. Thanks for all the great recipes .
I hope you enjoy it! THANK YOU! 🙂
Could I make this without the parchment paper lining the slow cooker??
Sure! It’s just easier to lift out the salmon when you use parchment paper.
Have made this once and it was absolutely amazing and easy!! Definitely gonna do it again but could I do it on high for 1 hour on the slow cooker?
I love salmon. Thanks for the recipe
Very flavorful and tender salmon. The sauce was perfect. I added some capers to the sauce and it was great! My 4 and 6 year old loved it!!
Truly delicious and tender. I took the juice from the slow cooker, tossed it in the pan with cream and some more lemon, and cooked it down until it was pretty thick. It was AMAZING! The sauce was POWERFUL which I personally love 🙂 I paired it with an avocado for my greens and it was lovely. Thank you so much for this recipe! I will definitely be making it again.
This was HANDS DOWN the best recipe. The sauce was perfect (the best part actually) and not bitter. This turned out like something from a nice restaurant. (BTW, I’m wondering if the folks that had a bitter turn out accidentally used buttermilk? Just a thought!)
I made this for some very special people in my life and received NOTHING but rave reviews. I plan to use this as my “come over for dinner and I’ll impress you with a delicious meal” recipe!!
I plan to try this with sautéed shrimp tonight. Fingers crossed. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Thank you for sharing.
Made this tonight. The sauce is very bitter. What can be the reason? Is it the lemon slices. Everything else is okay except the taste😫😢😩
Oh no! 🙁 I’m so sorry that happened! I bet it was the lemon slices. Or the lemon rind. I have never had that problem with this recipe, and I’ve only used normal lemons, but maybe you can try it with meyer lemons next time. Again, so sorry it didn’t turn out for you. 🙁
I had the same issue. Even the salmon. Not even melted cheese could help the flavor. 😩
Hi!!
I am so, so sorry about your dinner. 🙁 If you have a minute, could you please let me know if it’s the sauce that was bitter or the salmon before you added the sauce? I have never had this issue, but maybe I have sweeter lemons? I don’t know… I’m wondering if I should state in the recipe for the rind of the lemon to be removed before adding it to the slow cooker.
Looks like a perfect weeknight dinner! Yum!
It is the umpteenth time that I made this salmon and it fascinates us, so tonight with a good salad it will be fantastic. Thank you for all your divine recipes. Kisses, take care of yourself. Greetings from Spain
That’s wonderful to hear! I am very happy everyone loves it! Thank you so much! 🙂
Looks so fabulous! I bet those flavors on it are absolutely amazing, can’t wait to give this a try!