20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy Weeknights (2024)

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20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy Weeknights (1)

By Katherine Gillen

Published Mar 3, 2021

So you roasted a big, fancy salmon fillet for last night’s meal…and now you’re stuck with what feels like a fridge full of fish. But lucky for you, your leftovers are actually pretty versatile—not to mention time saving and delicious. With these 20 leftover salmon recipes, you’ll be eating healthy, reducing food waste and getting dinner on the table in no time. We call that a win-win-win.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. Salmon Blt

If you already have a salmon fillet from last night waiting in the fridge, you’re halfway there. Plus, everyone knows leftovers taste better cold.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

2. Salmon Bowl With Farro, Black Beans And Tahini Dressing

Leftover fish and hearty salads are a match made in heaven. Since it’s best served room-temp, you could even pack it for lunch.

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3. Creamy Bowtie Pasta With Salmon And Asparagus

Coterie member Heidi Larsen knows that a little pasta goes a long way to elevate your humble leftovers. Ditto for the freshly grated Parmesan garnish.

4. Salmon Fajita Salad Boats

Think of this as the ultimate fridge cleanout opportunity. Throw whatever veggies you have in a skillet, garnish with yogurt or sour cream and voilà, dinner is served.

5. Easy Keto Salmon Cakes

They take less than 15 minutes to make and are keto diet-friendly. Need we say more?

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

6. Salmon And Smashed Cucumber Grain Bowl

Want to brighten it up a notch? Squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top right before you dig in.

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7. Honey Barbecue Baked Salmon Bowls

Leftover rice (or quinoa), meet leftover salmon. By adding a new component (like a sauce), your repeat meal becomes a masterpiece.

8. Greek Salmon Salad Bowls

You probably have most of the ingredients in your fridge already. Use a fork to break up your leftover cooked salmon for some welcome textural contrast.

9. Low-carb Salmon Salad

Yep, it’s not just convenient to repurpose last night’s dinner. It’s also incredibly healthy.

10. Sweet Potato Salmon Cakes

Swap the canned fish for leftover cooked salmon and you’ll be surprised at how fast these babies come together—we’re talking 15 minutes from start to finish. Thanks, Coterie member Monique Volz.

12. Salmon Rillettes

What are rillettes, you ask? They’re a fancy French way of saying “salmon spread on toast.” They’re also delicious.

11. Salmon And Quinoa Bowls With Kale And Tahini-yogurt Sauce

Allow Coterie member Phoebe Lapine to demonstrate that sometimes, leftovers taste better than the first time around. (We’re chocking it up to that tahini dressing.)

13. Yummy Salmon Burgers With Slaw

As if the crispy, pan-fried salmon burgers weren’t enough on their own, they’re paired with a tangy slaw that’s beyond easy to make. And with “yummy” in the name, how can you resist?

14. Easy Salmon And Dill Salad

Give us a cold salad and we’ll go weak in the knees. The only question left to answer: Should we pair it with matchstick veggies or crackers (or both)?

20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy Weeknights (16)

Spoon Fork Bacon

15. Roasted Salmon And Strawberry Grain Bowl

One bite and we’ve never felt healthier. The best part of all is that if you already have leftover cooked salmon, you can eliminate a few steps (and use it straight from the fridge).

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16. Salmon Cakes With Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce

This red pepper sauce is a thing of beauty on its own, but paired with the dill-flecked salmon cakes? Swoon.

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17. Salmon And Fennel Dinner Salad

Enjoy this lovely salad as a satisfying lunch or dinner—no side dishes necessary.

Get the recipe

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

18. Sheet Pan Eggs With Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese And Dill

It’s tasty with toast and a mimosa—and even better on a bagel sandwich.

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20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy Weeknights (20)

Hey Keto Mama

19. Keto Salmon Sushi Bowl

No rice, no problem, try this salmon sushi bowl made with cauliflower rice.

Photo: Jon Cospito/Styling: Erin McDowell

20. Layered Smoked Salmon Dip With Mini Bagel Chips

Picture everything you’d smear onto a bagel—from smoked salmon to chives to capers—bountifully stacked up on a plate.

Get the recipe

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20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy Weeknights (22)

Katherine Gillen

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...

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20 Leftover Salmon Recipes for Busy Weeknights (2024)

FAQs

How long can salmon stay in the fridge after cooked? ›

Cooked fish and other seafood can be safely stored in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Refrigeration slows but does not prevent bacterial growth. Therefore, it's important to use food within recommended time before it spoils or becomes dangerous.

Is leftover salmon any good? ›

Cooked salmon boasts a longer shelf life, remaining palatable for three to four days after being prepared. This makes it an ideal candidate for delightful leftovers.

Can I eat 5 day old cooked salmon? ›

In conclusion, leftover salmon can be stored safely in the refrigerator for up to three days after it has been cooked. After that, it should be discarded to avoid the risk of bacterial growth and spoilage.

Can you eat salmon after 7 days in fridge? ›

Raw fish and shellfish should be kept in the refrigerator (40 °F/4.4 °C or less) only 1 or 2 days before cooking or freezing. After cooking, store seafood in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Any frozen fish or shellfish will be safe indefinitely; however, the flavor and texture will lessen after lengthy storage.

Can I freeze leftover cooked salmon? ›

Cooked salmon can last in the freezer for up to 3 months. This duration ensures that when you're ready to savor it again, it retains much of its original flavor and texture. Thaw your salmon carefully.

Does salmon taste good reheated? ›

It always results in the reheated fish becoming dry and flavourless, which you don't want! The key is to reheat your cold leftover salmon at a low temperature. Slowly reheat it to keep it moist and flaky, which is precisely what you want it to be.

Can you eat salmon cold after cooked? ›

In short, fully cooked salmon that has been safely refrigerated for a sufficiently short period of time so as to have not gone bad can be heated to whatever temperature you want, or even eaten cold if you really want.

What is the tastiest way to cook salmon? ›

Wrap your salmon in a parchment packet with aromatics, citrus, veggies, and a drizzle of olive oil. The steam trapped in the packet will infuse the fish with flavor and cook it gently, making it tender and juicy. Bonus: The parchment packets only take about 15 minutes at 425°F and the cleanup is minimal.

Why is leftover salmon so fishy? ›

During storage, bacteria on the surface of the fish convert TMAO into a volatile compound called trimethylamine (TMA), which produces an unmistakably fishy odor the longer the fish is stored. The second fishy smell in cooked salmon (and other fatty fish such as mackerel and tuna) comes from a different source.

Can you eat 3 day old salmon? ›

According to the USDA guidelines, raw salmon should only be kept in the fridge for 1-2 days from the date you purchased it. If you're not going to eat it within 2 days, move it to the freezer, where it can be stored for months. Once salmon is cooked, it can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.

When cooked salmon goes bad? ›

Raw salmon has spoiled if it has a strong ammonia odor, white film on the meat, dull coloration, and mushy consistency. Leftover cooked salmon spoils after 2–3 days, or when it has a sour odor and slimy texture. Use salmon within 1–2 days of the “sell by” date on the packaging, or before the “best by” date.

How do you know if cooked salmon has gone bad? ›

If the salmon smells fishy, sour or ammonia-like, then it's gone bad.

Can you eat salmon after 4 days in fridge? ›

How Long Does Raw Salmon Last In the Fridge? The USDA recommends consuming raw salmon in the fridge within 1 to 2 days.

Can you reheat cooked salmon? ›

The key is to reheat your cold leftover salmon at a low temperature. Slowly reheat it to keep it moist and flaky, which is precisely what you want it to be. Also, before reheating the salmon in the oven, remember to cover it with aluminium foil.

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