Salmon with Dill Sauce

Salmon with Dill Sauce is a classic flavor combination that’s perfectly creamy, tangy, fresh, and garlicky! Whether you’re serving grilled salmon, roasted salmon, or cold poached salmon, this simple yogurt dill sauce is the perfect finishing touch on a healthy and easy 20-minute dinner!

Salmon is definitely our favorite fish around here, but sometimes it’s nice to jazz up the same old dish with a bright burst of flavor. This creamy dill sauce with mayonnaise and Greek yogurt is the perfect addition to salmon fillets since it only requires about 5 minutes of prep and can be made in advance and refrigerated until you’re ready to eat. It’s creamy, tangy, and garlicky, with some fresh lemon juice to bring out the flavors in the herbs and the fish.

5-Minute Creamy Dill Sauce for Salmon, Veggies, & More

So, what’s so great about this super simple creamy sauce? Other than the fact that you only need a handful of simple ingredients, barely any dishes (one small bowl and a spoon is all it takes), and pairs perfectly with just about any kind of flaky salmon recipe… well, what more do you need?! You’ll love this recipe because… 

• It takes 5 minutes to prepare. In this house, we’re huge fans of any dinner element that we can make in minutes. You can even make this sauce ahead of time and have it ready to go when needed.
• It only requires 4 main ingredients. You likely have everything you need to make this creamy lemon dill sauce in your kitchen already.
• It’s a versatile, easy recipe. Yep, you can pair it with SO much more than just salmon! Use it as a dressing for a simple side salad, as a dip or dressing for any kind of roasted vegetables, pasta salad, potatoes, you name it! It’s even delicious with poultry dishes like grilled lemon chicken or homemade breaded chicken tenders. 

As you may have guessed, we love serving this tangy dill sauce with a simple salmon recipe. No matter how you prepare your salmon, it’s a quick meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or for easy dinners for entertaining without much effort. 

Should I use fresh dill or dried dill in the creamy dill sauce?

Yes, you can use dried dill weed instead of fresh dill in this recipe. If you’re new to cooking with fresh herbs, you must remember that you use less dried herbs than fresh. The ratio to remember for dried to fresh herbs is 1:3. For example, in this recipe, we use 1 tablespoon of fresh dill, so you would sub 1 teaspoon of dried dill.

Best Ways to Cook Salmon

This dill sauce recipe pairs perfectly with any kind of salmon. If you have a favorite way to prepare salmon, go ahead and use that recipe! Here are some tips on the best ways to make salmon with dill sauce.

Baked Salmon in the Oven

You only need a baking sheet and parchment paper or aluminum foil, and some yummy seasoning to make the perfect oven-baked salmon. It’s a quick and fail-safe way to prepare fresh salmon. I recommend using this easy baked salmon recipe to roast the fish at 400 degrees F for 8-11 minutes.

Poached Salmon

Garlic and herb poached salmon is super easy — you can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes! To poach the salmon, try this poached salmon recipe. Serve the poached salmon warm, at room temperature, or cold, and finish with the dill sauce and some lemon slices.

Grilled Salmon

This method is sure to result in delicious salmon. The delicious lemon dill sauce balances out the smoky flavor of the grilled salmon, making it a refreshing meal. To grill the salmon, we like to rub the fish with olive oil and then season the grilled salmon with our House Seasoning (a blend of equal parts garlic powder, kosher salt, dried parsley, minced onion, and dried basil). Of course, if you don’t want to mix together the all-purpose House Seasoning, you can simply season the fish with salt and pepper. Once the fish is seasoned, grill over medium heat for about 5 minutes per side. You know the salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork. If you’re using an instant-read thermometer, the USDA recommends a minimum internal temperature of 145°F, which should be measured at the thickest part of the fillet.

Pan-Fried Salmon

Skillet-fried salmon is one of the quickest ways to cook salmon! Try this easy skillet blacked salmon recipe for pan-fried salmon! Blackened salmon seasonings are bold and spicy – the tangy, creamy dill sauce will balance the flavors perfectly.

Best Sides Serve with Salmon and Dill Sauce

This basic salmon fillet pairs nicely with just about any of your favorite sides. Here are a few easy options to get you started:

• Pasta tossed in pesto or dressed with butter and Parmesan
• Rice
• Crusty French baguette or dinner rolls
• Grilled potatoes or roasted baby potatoes
• Green beans
• Broccoli
• A simple green salad or cucumber salad

Serving the salmon with wine? As a general rule, rich oily fish like salmon pairs well with full-bodied white wines like oak-aged Chardonnay, Viognier, Marsanne, White Rioja, White Burgundy, and White Pinot Noir.

Health Benefits of Salmon

Salmon is high in protein, low in carbs and sugar, and it’s a great way to incorporate healthy fats into your diet. When the fish is grilled and finished with a dollop of dill sauce, it’s a healthy, low-carb, Keto-friendly meal. Each 2-tablespoon serving of the yogurt dill sauce includes less than 50 calories, less than 2 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of protein, and less than 0.5 grams of sugar. The total nutrition facts for your salmon with dill sauce will vary depending on the cooking method that you use for your salmon, the amount of olive oil and seasoning on each piece of fish, and the size of your individual fillet.

Cook’s Tips and Recipe Variations

• Prepare the yogurt dill sauce in advance, cover it, and keep it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• We prefer the thick, creamy texture of whole milk or 5% fat plain Greek yogurt (I do not recommend using fat-free yogurt). You can also substitute with an equal amount of sour cream.
• Don’t like mayonnaise? Use 1 full cup of Greek yogurt and omit the mayonnaise.
• Fresh dill is always my preference, but it’s not always available year-round. If you can’t find fresh dill, dried dill weed will work as a substitute (just decrease the amount that you’re using to 1 teaspoon).
• For a zesty mustard dill sauce, add a couple of tablespoons of Dijon mustard.
• If you don’t want to make the House Seasoning, you can simply season your salmon with olive oil, salt, and pepper. It will still be delicious!

More Easy Salmon Recipes to Try

Skinny Frittata with Smoked Salmon and Spinach

Maple Pecan Crusted Salmon

Salmon Salad with Avocado Dressing

5-Ingredient Mediterranean Salmon in Foil Packets

Honey Soy Glazed Salmon

Sweet Heat Southern Glazed Salmon

Salmon with Dill Sauce

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 10 minutes minutes

0 minutes minutes

Total: 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 47.3 kcal

This grilled salmon is paired with a homemade creamy dill sauce! It's the perfect combination of tender fish with a garlicky sauce.

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Ingredients

  

For the Salmon:

• 1 – 1 ½ lb. salmon fillet, cut into 4 pieces (or more salmon, as needed to feed your group)
• Olive oil

For the House Seasoning:

• ¼ cup garlic powder
• ¼ cup kosher salt
• ¼ cup dried parsley
• ¼ cup dried minced onion
• ¼ cup dried basil

For the Dill Sauce:

• ½ cup whole milk plain Greek-style yogurt (or sub with sour cream)
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (or sub with 1 teaspoon dried dill weed)
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (or more to thin, as necessary)
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Prepare the House Seasoning:

• Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Prepare the Salmon:

• Rub each piece of salmon with olive oil and sprinkle with house seasoning, to taste (I use about 1 teaspoon of olive oil and ¼ teaspoon of seasoning per piece).

Prepare the Dill Sauce:

• Stir together all sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Grill the Salmon:

• Heat coals, gas grill, or grill pan to medium heat. Place salmon on the grill. Cover and grill over medium heat for about 5 minutes per side (maybe a few more minutes, depending on the thickness of your fish). The salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork.
• Place a dollop of dill sauce on each salmon fillet just before serving.

Notes

• For roasted or baked salmon, follow these recipe instructions. Top the baked fish with the creamy dill sauce!
• To poach the salmon, try this recipe. Serve the poached salmon warm, at room temperature, or cold and finish with the dill sauce.
• Prepare the yogurt dill sauce in advance, cover, and keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• We prefer the thick, creamy texture of whole milk or 5% fat plain Greek yogurt (I do not recommend using fat-free yogurt). You can also substitute with an equal amount of sour cream.
• Don’t like mayonnaise? Use 1 full cup of the Greek yogurt and omit the mayonnaise. You will need to season with additional salt.
• Fresh dill is always my preference, but it’s not always available year-round. If you can’t find fresh dill, dried dill weed will work as a substitute (just decrease the amount that you’re using to 1 teaspoon).
• For a zesty mustard dill sauce, add a couple of tablespoons of Dijon mustard.
• If you don’t want to make the House Seasoning, you can simply season your salmon with olive oil, salt and pepper. It will still be delicious!
• Have leftover salmon or dill sauce? We like to use the cooked salmon to make salmon salad for sandwiches the next day. Simply combine the cooked salmon with mayonnaise (or leftover dill sauce), season with salt and pepper, and stir until the mixture resembles tuna salad. You can also use cooked salmon to prepare these Salmon Patties.

Keyword: dill sauce with mayonnaise, salmon with dill sauce, yogurt dill sauce for salmon

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Author: Blair Lonergan

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