If you’re craving some lighter and fresher this summer season but are tired of eating the same chicken dishes over and over again, you’ve got to make this grilled salmon recipe with tangy chimichurri sauce! Salmon filets are brushed with homemade chimichurri sauce, then grilled to flaky perfection. The beauty of grilling salmon is that it takes just 10 minutes to cook — less time on the grill means less room for error. There’s nothing worse than dry, bland salmon, and this chimichurri version is anything but! And if you’re thinking “chimi-what?” it’s essentially an herb sauce made with fresh herbs, garlic, vinegar, a few choice spices, and olive oil. Your food processor does the hard work for you, but the sauce tastes like something you’d find at a fancy seafood restaurant! If you’re a sauce fanatic like I am, you might want to double the chimichurri recipe so you can coat every bite of salmon liberally in it. This recipe is quick, easy, healthy, and can be paired with grilled veggies or a side salad for a dinner the whole family will love. Make it on a weeknight or prep a batch for a dinner party — people will think you hired a caterer for the party!
Ingredients for Grilled Chimichurri Salmon
This is a straightforward recipe that combines basic ingredients like herbs and vinegar in a way you might not have thought to try before. Love when I can potentially help you learn something new in the kitchen! Gather the following ingredients to make the salmon with chimichurri:
Salmon filets Fresh parsley Fresh cilantro Garlic Red wine vinegar Kosher salt Red pepper flakes Olive oil Lemon wedges, for serving
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Grill Chimichurri Salmon
If you’ve shied away from grilling salmon thinking it’s difficult or time-consuming, think again! Salmon fillets grill in about 10 minutes and you only have to flip them once. I hate having to stand and babysit anything at the grill for too long, so this is the type of grilling recipe I adore.
Make the Chimichurri Sauce:
Grill the Salmon:
How Long Does it Take to Grill Salmon?
This recipe calls for 6- to 8-ounce salmon filets, which cook very quickly on the grill. Grill salmon filets of this size for no more than 10 to 12 minutes total over medium-high heat (400ºF). However, I find that my grill runs hot even when I am trying to be modest with the heat and I personally don’t ever need to cook it longer than 10 minutes. If you use different sized filets, or buy one large filet from the seafood counter, you might have to adjust the grill time.
More Easy Salmon Recipes:
ALL OF MY SALMON RECIPES! Also, be aware of visual clues such as the color of the flersh going from a deeper pink/orange color that it has when it’s raw, to a lighter opaque pink. You can also insert a meat thermometer into the thicket part of the filet. Technically, the internal temperature should register 145ºF. However, I prefer to grill the salmon until it reaches 135ºF to 140ºF, then remove the salmon to a plate, and cover it with foil to rest for a few minutes before eating. The carry-over heat should bring the internal temperature up to 145ºF. Chimichurri Sauce: Store separately in an airtight container, it’ll keep for about 4-5 days in the fridge. It will likely turn a bit darker in color as it oxidizes over time and won’t be quite as bright. One way to combat this is to squirt in a bit of lemon juice into the food processor when you’re blending it up. The acid will help slow the oxidation process. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Grilled Honey Lemon Butter Salmon — EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and a FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon!! Wonderfully tender, so juicy, just melts in your mouth, and has FABULOUS flavor!! Sheet Pan Honey Lemon Salmon – Make salmon at home in 30 minutes that tastes better than from a restaurant! Easy, tender, and packed with flavor from the honey and lemon butter! Foil Pack Lime Cilantro Salmon — EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and a FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon!! Tender, juicy, and bursting with Mexican-inspired flavors that everyone loves! Honey Dijon Salmon – Easy, ready in 20 minutes, juicy, tender, and so flavorful from the honey, Dijon, and lemon juice! If you’re trying to incorporate more fish in your diet, this is the recipe to make! Sheet Pan Chili Dijon Salmon – A 5-ingredient salmon recipe that tastes 5-STARS and is ready in 25 minutes!! Loaded with layers of incredible flavor from two types of chili sauce, Dijon mustard, and honey! Sheet Pan Asian Salmon and Broccoli — An EASY recipe that only uses 7 ingredients, is ready in 20 minutes, and tastes way BETTER than salmon you’d get in a fancy restaurant!! IMPRESS your family and friends with this FOOLPROOF recipe!! Salmon Florentine — You don’t need to go to Florence, Italy to enjoy this FAST and EASY Italian-inspired salmon recipe at home! Tender flaky salmon is bathed in a decadent cream sauce made with heavy cream, wine, Parmesan cheese, and more! Fresh spinach and mushrooms add extra texture and flavor to this super flavorful fish dish! Salmon Niçoise Salad with Basil Vinaigrette — An ELEGANT French-inspired salad with juicy salmon, tender potatoes, soft-boiled eggs, crispy haricots verts, and more. And it’s all drizzled with a super FLAVORFUL fresh basil vinaigrette!! This BEAUTIFUL salad has something for everyone!!
