Traeger Grilled Salmon Recipe Easy and Healthy – Fit Mama Real Food (2024)

The best Traeger grilled salmon recipe! If you have a Traeger grill and salmon on hand and don’t know what to do, this way of cooking salmon will leave you with great results every single time. Whether it’s a whole salmon or salmon pieces, you’ll find everything you need to know in this guide. This easy recipe leaves you with juicy salmon with so much flavor. Delicious fish for the entire family is definitely within reach!

Traeger grilled salmon recipe

If you’ve ever cooked salmon and were left thinking it could be better, cooking it on the Traeger will get you there! It’s the best way to cook salmon because it’s harder to overcook it.

Living in the Pacific Northwest, salmon has always been a part of what we cook and eat. It wasn’t until I started cooking it on the Traeger that I had the best salmon of my life.

This next-level salmon is left with a little smoky flavor and the best results you could ask for.

Why a Traeger is my favorite

ATraeger grillis different than a regular barbeque – it’s an electric wood pellet grill that also can be used as a smoker. It burns wood chips or pellets.

The way that it cooks meat in a slower way than a barbeque or an oven leaves you with moist meat with great flavor.

It’s electric and easy to use – simply get your Traeger smoking and then set the Traeger temperature to your desired heat and cook your meat!

Salmon is a great place to start, so if you’re new to cooking with a Traeger, prepare to impress yourself! Another great recipe to try isTraeger Burgers!

Different types of salmon to use with this recipe

There are so many different types of salmon to use, from Alaskan salmon to Atlantic salmon, fillets to the whole salmon.

My favorite choice is king salmon, but if you’re looking at price, it’s at the top of the salmon list as far as expense. It’s a high quality fish. Maybe that’s why it’s so yummy!

For more affordable salmon options, look for sockeye salmon and coho salmon. These fresh salmon options can often be found at grocery stores in the fish department, or also frozen. Both are good choices for cooking on the Traeger smoker.

While not actually a salmon, steelhead would be another good choice. It looks like salmon, has the same pink color, and is quite delicious!

I find that you can get a better price per pound by purchasing whole salmon instead of salmon filets.

The thickness of your salmon and whether you choose salmon fillets or whole salmon will determine the amount of time needed to cook the salmon.

In the recipe card note section, I’m sharing how to determine how long to cook your salmon.

What you need for this Traeger grilled salmon recipe

• whole salmon fillet
• extra virgin olive oil
• sea salt
• pepper
• garlic powder
• lemon

How to make the best Traeger grilled salmon

Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.

1. When you’re ready to cook your salmon turn theTraegeron to smoke and leave the lid open for 5 minutes to start the smoke. Close the lid and set the temperature to 450 degrees F (or high heat). It will take about 15 minutes to get up to the temperature.
2. Prepare your salmon while the Traeger pellet grill heats up. Place the salmon on a large cutting board or baking sheet and dab any excess liquid off using a paper towel. With a basting brush, brush the olive oil on the top of the fillet. Combine the sea salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the salmon. Add the fresh lemon slices and your salmon is ready to cook!
3. When the grill is up to temperature, place the piece of salmon on the grill grates with thesalmon skin side down. Close the lid and cook for 20-25 minutes until the salmon flakes easily. You can use a meat thermometer to check the thickest part for when the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F – the cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your piece of salmon.

Watch me make this grilled salmon recipe

The full how-to video can be watched below or on my YouTube channel!

See what flakey salmon looks like and cook your grilled salmon perfectly every single time.

How to cook salmon on a barbeque

Don’t have a Traeger grill or smoker? Here’s how to cook on a gas grill or charcoal grill.

Flavor and prepare the salmon in the same way as for a Traeger, but instead heat your BBQ to medium heat. Place salmon on the heated grill grates and cook for 15-20 minutes with the lid closed, or until the salmon is cooked to your liking.

A barbeque will cook the salmon a bit quicker than a Traeger grill.

Different ways to flavor your salmon

This is my go-to wild-caught salmon recipe that leaves you with delicious fish.

Here are 3 other ways to simply season your Traeger grilled salmon recipe:

1. Spread avocado oil mayonnaise on top of the salmon and season with sea salt and Italian seasoning or fresh herbs.
2. Use a mixture of olive oil and coconut aminos along with fresh garlic and grated ginger to give the salmon a teriyaki flavor profile.
3. Spread barbeque sauce or a little brown sugar with ketchup on the salmon for a sweet and flavorful option.

Substitutions

Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this Traeger salmon recipe.

If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!

Salmon– Use fillets instead of whole salmon. This cooking method can be used with other fish types as well.

Olive oil– Avocado oil is a great alternative to use.

Lemon slices– Use lemon juice to get that lemon flavor, or opt for orange slices for another fresh flavor choice.

What to serve with grilled salmon

Round out your easy meal with any of these delicious sides! Salmon is quick-cooking making it great for any day of the week, along with these other healthy choices.

• Lemony Traeger asparagus recipe
• Strawberry kale salad with poppy seed dressing
• Avocado mango salad
• Mexican street corn salad
• Healthier mac and cheese
• No knead einkorn bread
• Crispy sweet potato fries with chipotle mayo
• Easy-baked kale chips

More salmon recipes you’ll love

• Traeger burger recipe
• Traeger pork loin roast recipe
• Jerk salmon salad
• Salmon sushi bowls
• Sheet pan teriyaki salmon bowls
• Almond flour-crusted salmon
• Salmon with mango salsa
• Baked salmon recipe with mayonnaise

If you try this traeger grilled salmon recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!

XO

Heather

Originally published July 2022. Updated November 2023.