25 Best Side Dishes For Salmon

Laura Hauser

August 23, 2025

Lemon Pasta

Lemon Pasta

Taking centre stage is a delectable yet effortless lemon pasta recipe that’s sure to satisfy your taste buds. This mouthwatering dish combines the brightness of lemon with the richness of cream and the subtlety of white wine, all perfectly balanced by the al dente texture of its noodles. In just 15 minutes, you can create a truly impressive meal.

To elevate this simple yet satisfying recipe, add a piece of crispy pan-fried salmon on top, and enjoy a hearty and healthy dinner that’s bursting with flavour.

Buttery Garlic Green Beans

Buttery Garlic Green Beans

Roasted Parmesan Rosemary Potatoes

Roasted Parmesan Rosemary Potatoes

Kudos to those who add a pinch of magic to their roasted potatoes – it’s all about the combination of garlic, parmesan cheese, and rosemary that takes them to the next level. The earthy and nutty undertones from these ingredients blend seamlessly with the savory flavors, creating an explosion of taste that will leave you wanting more.

With a crispy exterior giving way to a fluffy interior, these roasted potatoes are truly a delight to the senses, a culinary experience that’s nothing short of pure bliss.

Lemon Butter Broccolini

Lemon Butter Broccolini

Unlock the potential of broccolini as a culinary star! While it may not have the same level of fame as its larger counterpart, this cruciferous vegetable has a lot to offer. Its compact size belies a robust flavor profile that is simply bursting with character. And the best part? All you need are just two simple ingredients – lemon and butter – to bring out its full potential and create a mouth-watering side dish that pairs perfectly with salmon.

Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce

Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce

Opulent flavors from Thailand are just a few clicks away! Imagine a dish that combines the freshness of vegetables with the richness of a creamy peanut sauce, all wrapped around tender rice noodles. Our Thai noodle salad is an absolute showstopper, featuring a vibrant medley of carrots, cabbage, bell peppers, and radishes. And let’s not forget the pièce de résistance – the most divine peanut sauce you’ve ever had the pleasure of savoring!

Its sweet, creamy, and subtly zesty flavor will leave you craving for more. Whether you’re in the mood for something new or just want to elevate your dinner game, this recipe is sure to hit the spot.

Baby Bok Choy

Baby Bok Choy

Delightful and effortless, baby bok choy is an ideal accompaniment to salmon – a match made in culinary heaven! With its crunchy leaves infused with the unmistakable flavors of garlic, ginger, and soy sauce, this side dish is a true delight. Although it may seem straightforward, the result is anything but ordinary, serving as a testament to the beauty of simplicity in cooking.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Although many people grew up disliking Brussels sprouts due to being overcooked, this perception can be quite unfair to these often misunderstood vegetables. When prepared correctly, they reveal a delightful complexity of flavors that is sure to surprise even the most skeptical palate. The perfect balance of sweet and earthy notes, complemented by nutty undertones and a creamy texture, makes for an incredibly enjoyable experience.

What’s more, perfectly cooked sprouts retain their crunchy exterior while developing a tender interior, defying common misconceptions about their texture.

Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro Lime Rice

Lush and vibrant, cilantro lime rice is a culinary delight that elevates the humble side dish to new heights. Its unique flavor profile, achieved through a combination of basmati long grain rice browned in olive oil, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice, makes it a game-changer for those seeking something beyond the ordinary. This recipe is so impressive that it can even give Chipotle’s version a run for its money.

Pair it with a perfectly grilled salmon fillet for a truly show-stopping meal.

Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce

Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce

Crafting the perfect accompaniment to a delicious meal can be achieved with just a few simple ingredients. This mouth-watering asparagus side dish, roasted to crisp perfection and coated with hollandaise sauce, is sure to elevate any culinary experience. By combining the most fundamental pantry staples – olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper – you can add a burst of flavor to your asparagus. Next, pop it in the oven and let the magic happen.

To take this dish to new heights, top it with a rich and luscious hollandaise sauce, resulting in nothing short of gastronomic perfection. Serve alongside baked salmon for a match made in heaven.

Asian Coleslaw

Asian Coleslaw

Zest up your meal with a vibrant and healthy side dish, featuring shredded green and purple cabbage, carrots, and red bell peppers smothered in a tangy rice vinegar dressing. The palette of colors is almost as impressive as its nutritional benefits. You don’t need to be a health aficionado to recognize that this dish is not only delicious but also packed with goodness. And the best part? It’s incredibly quick to prepare, taking under 15 minutes from start to finish.

Creamy Mushroom Risotto

Creamy Mushroom Risotto

People often assume that preparing a rich and creamy mushroom risotto requires an enormous amount of time and effort. However, the truth is quite the opposite – this dish is surprisingly quick and easy to make. The combination of sautéed mushrooms, onions, and parmesan cheese with perfectly seasoned rice makes for a truly satisfying side dish that pairs incredibly well with salmon. In fact, its rich flavor profile makes it an excellent accompaniment to many other main courses as well.

Lemon Herb Couscous

Lemon Herb Couscous

Discovering new side dishes that complement the rich flavors of salmon is always a delightful experience. One such perfect accompaniment is lemon herb couscous, which forms the centerpiece of this vibrant bowl. The Israeli couscous is expertly combined with cucumber, tomatoes, nuts, and raisins, all brought together by a light and tangy lemon vinaigrette that adds a refreshing touch to the dish.

To elevate it further, top the couscous with a perfectly seared salmon fillet, creating a unique and healthy meal that you won’t want to miss.

Sugar Snap Peas

Sugar Snap Peas

Among the many delightful vegetable dishes that are easy to prepare and impressive in presentation, sugar snap peas stand out for their unique flavor profile. Achieving the perfect balance of sweet, salty, crisp, and buttery notes is what sets them apart. A quick sauté in oil and butter brings this side dish to life in under 5 minutes. Although it’s a simple recipe, its impact is undeniable, making it an excellent choice for accompanying various meals.

To take it to the next level, feel free to get creative with added ingredients such as sliced almonds, pine nuts, Sriracha sauce, garlic, or parmesan cheese – the possibilities are endless.

Honey Glazed Carrots

Honey Glazed Carrots

Sweetly enhancing the natural taste of carrots is a simple yet effective way to create an irresistible side dish or snack. By drizzling them with honey, you’ll unlock a depth of flavor that’s sure to impress even the most discerning palates. These carrots infused with not only honey but also brown sugar and orange juice have developed such unique and amazing flavors profiles.

When paired with seared salmon, the perfect contrast of sweet & savory flavors and tender and crunchy textures is created, elevating the overall dining experience.

Lemon Roasted Red Potatoes

Lemon Roasted Red Potatoes

Packed with the perfect balance of flavors, red potatoes roasted with lemon, garlic, and rosemary are a culinary delight in this next recipe. While the ingredients may be straightforward, the end result is anything but ordinary, boasting an exquisite combination of citrusy lemon, pungent garlic, and fragrant rosemary that elevates the dish to new heights.

On top of its simplicity, what makes this recipe truly exceptional is its ease of preparation, requiring only a few basic steps, with the most challenging part being the delicate task of slicing the garlic to release its full flavor potential.

Parmesan Broccoli

Parmesan Broccoli

Savoring roasted broccoli with a generous sprinkle of parmesan cheese makes this once-neglected veggie a kid-friendly favorite. The combination of creamy, nutty flavors creates an indulgent experience that’s hard to resist. Let’s face it – who can say no to the promise of baked cheese, lavished in abundance? This humble side dish is so tantalizingly delicious that it’s almost addictive by nature!

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

You don’t have to be a seasoned chef to create a mouth-watering roasted sweet potato dish that’s both sweet and crispy. The sweetness and crunch that result from roasting these root vegetables make them an ideal side dish to pair with rich and tender salmon. Their versatility also means they can be prepared in no time, requiring only a few simple ingredients: sweet potatoes, a medley of spices & seasonings, and minimal effort.

Balsamic Roasted Baby Carrots

Balsamic Roasted Baby Carrots

Beneath the simplicity of combining baby carrots, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar lies a truly exceptional side dish experience. The result is sweet, crunchy, and undeniably delectable. This harmonious union will be a valuable companion to any entrée, but it particularly shines when paired with salmon. The symphony of flavors and textures that unfolds makes for an unforgettable culinary combination.

Pesto Zucchini Noodles

Pesto Zucchini Noodles

While many of us adore pasta dishes, the truth is that they can be calorie-packed. Luckily, there’s an alternative that still satisfies our cravings: zucchini noodles, or ‘zoodles.’ These spiralized veggies are not only low in calories but also incredibly tasty.

Lemon Roasted Asparagus

Lemon Roasted Asparagus

Poring over countless recipes online, it’s not uncommon for me to get excited about one and then be let down by the complexity of the ingredients or cooking time. However, when I stumbled upon this particular recipe, my enthusiasm was palpable. What caught my attention was its simplicity – all you need are 7 basic ingredients, a single bowl to prepare everything in, and just 10 minutes of roasting time. As someone who values efficiency in their daily routine, this was music to my ears!

The cherry on top is that each serving comes in at a mere 118 calories, making it an absolute winner in my book!

Sesame Rice

Sesame Rice

Painted as an unassuming side dish, steamed white rice often falls short of its potential. However, the addition of just one ingredient can elevate it to extraordinary heights: sesame oil.This humble-looking dish belies its exciting flavors, with only a few drops of toasted sesame oil needed to pack rice with a rich and savory taste!

Cucumber Dill Salad

Cucumber Dill Salad

Unsurprisingly, a light and refreshing meal is always on our minds. When it comes to pairing ingredients, salmon pairs particularly well with crisp cucumber slices that have been coated in a tangy mixture of sour cream and dill. It’s a classic combination that never fails to hit the spot, and one that many people swear by for its simplicity and efficacy. Furthermore, this dish is incredibly easy to prepare, requiring only 10 minutes from start to finish.

Rice Pilaf with Dried Fruits and Almonds

Rice Pilaf with Dried Fruits and Almonds

Undoubtedly, one of the most delightful experiences in culinary exploration is combining basmati rice with dried fruit and almonds. If you haven’t yet had the pleasure, be prepared for a taste sensation like no other. This dish not only boasts an intriguing mix of sweet and savory elements but is also enriched by the warm, aromatic flavors of cumin, cinnamon, and turmeric. The harmonious balance of aroma, flavors, and textures in this rice pilaf is truly sensational!

To elevate it to new heights, try pairing it with grilled salmon for a meal that will linger in your memory long after the last bite.

Sauteed Mushrooms with Garlic Butter

Sauteed Mushrooms with Garlic Butter

Combining sautéed mushrooms with garlic butter creates a match made in heaven for salmon lovers. The earthy and rich flavors of the mushrooms beautifully complement the salmon’s natural butteriness, while the garlic butter adds an extra layer of richness that elevates the dish to new heights.

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