This Ninja Foodi Grill Salmon recipe is great for a quick and easy family dinner. The marinade is very flavorful, and the salmon itself is very tender. You will make this weeknight meal over and over again. Don’t skip the squeeze of lemon juice at the end – it transforms the flavors.
This Ninja Foodi Grill Salmon Recipe is just what you need if you want a quick and easy salmon recipe.
This easy salmon is perfect for those who want to try grilling fish for the first time.
Making a healthy meal for them takes only minutes of your time. They will keep coming back for more.
The Ninja Foodi Grill has revolutionized indoor grilling allowing home cooks to enjoy delicious grilled meals year-round. With its innovative grill grates and smart cook system, the Ninja Foodi Grill excels at cooking proteins like salmon to tender flaky perfection.
In this comprehensive guide you’ll learn everything you need to know to cook moist flavorful salmon fillets in the Ninja Foodi Grill. We’ll cover tips for choosing the best salmon, marinating and seasoning recommendations, step-by-step cooking instructions, approximate cook times, doneness tips, and even tasty sauce ideas to complement the salmon.
Benefits of Cooking Salmon in the Ninja Foodi Grill
Cooking salmon on the Ninja Foodi Grill offers several advantages over using a conventional oven or outdoor grill:
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It’s easy to grill inside with the Ninja Foodi Grill. The 500F high-density grill grate quickly sears foods and brings grill marks and smoky flavor inside. No need to fire up the outdoor grill in bad weather.
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Perfect results: The smart cook system maintains an even temperature and monitors doneness with a food probe to prevent over or undercooking. Say goodbye to dried-out salmon!
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Faster cooking: The Ninja Foodi Grill preheats in just 5-10 minutes and cooks salmon fillets in under 15 minutes. Much faster than firing up a gas or charcoal grill.
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Flexible features: the Foodi Grill can do more than just grill. It can also air crisp, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, and more, all with delicious results.
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Less messy: There’s no charcoal or gas to deal with. Simply place the fillets on the nonstick grill grate, select your settings, and cook. Minimal cleanup too.
Choosing Salmon for the Ninja Foodi Grill
The first step to grilling up perfect salmon is selecting high-quality fish:
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Wild-caught salmon offers the best flavor and texture. Opt for salmon like king, sockeye, or coho.
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Sustainably farmed salmon is a good option when wild is not available. Look for the MSC or ASC certification labels.
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Fillet thickness should be around 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. Thinner fillets will cook too quickly.
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Skin-on vs skinless is personal preference. Skin holds moisture in but takes longer to crisp up.
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Fresh vs frozen – you can use either, just thaw frozen fish properly first.
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Portion size of 6-8 oz per person is ideal. Buy accordingly.
Seasoning and Marinating Salmon for the Grill
A simple marinade or dry seasoning blend enhances the flavor of the salmon. Consider the following options:
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Lemon-Herb Marinade: Combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Let salmon marinate 15-30 minutes.
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Soy-Ginger Marinade: Whisk soy sauce, brown sugar, grated ginger, garlic, and sesame oil together. Marinate salmon 1-2 hours.
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Cajun Blackening Seasoning: Coat fillets with a blend of paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, thyme, oregano, and black pepper.
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Mediterranean Rub: Dust salmon with dried basil, oregano, thyme, fennel, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
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Spicy Jerk Seasoning: Rub salmon with a blend of spices like allspice, brown sugar, chili powder, thyme, garlic, and salt.
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Lemon Pepper: Season fillets with salt, pepper, and lemon pepper seasoning before grilling.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Grilling Salmon
Follow these simple steps for foolproof salmon cooked to tender, flaky perfection:
1. Pat Salmon Dry and Brush with Oil
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Pat fish fillets dry with paper towels. Damp fish may cause sticking.
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Brush both sides lightly with avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or canola oil. The oil enhances browning.
2. Season the Salmon Generously
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Season fillets on both sides with desired marinade or spice blend.
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Let marinade salmon fillets rest 10-30 minutes to absorb flavors.
3. Preheat Ninja Foodi Grill on Grill Setting
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Select “Grill” and set to high (500°F) to preheat grill grate. Takes 5-10 minutes.
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Insert food probe in thickest portion of fillet if desired. Useful for thicker fillets.
4. Add Salmon Skin-Side Down First
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When preheated, place fillets skin-side down if using skin-on salmon.
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Grill skin-side down prevents sticking and results in crispy skin.
5. Close Lid and Grill Approximately 5-8 Minutes
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Close grill lid after adding salmon fillets.
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Cook approximately 5-8 minutes, depending on thickness.
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Leave lid closed for even cooking – don’t peek!
6. Flip and Cook Salmon Flesh Side
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After initial 5-8 minutes, flip fillets over using tongs or spatula.
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Cook flesh side for another 3-5 minutes until done.
7. Check Salmon Doneness
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Salmon is done when it flakes easily and is opaque throughout.
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Aim for internal temp of 130-140°F for medium doneness.
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If using probe, it will beep when salmon reaches set temperature.
8. Let Salmon Rest Before Serving
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When cooked, transfer salmon to a plate and tent with foil.
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Letting it rest 5 minutes allows juices to re-distribute.
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Salmon will continue to cook slightly during this time.
Approximate Ninja Foodi Grill Salmon Cook Times
Use these cook times as a guide, adjusting as needed:
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1/2 inch thick fillets – 8-10 minutes total
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3/4 inch thick fillets – 10-12 minutes total
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1 inch thick fillets – 12-15 minutes total
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1 1/2 inch thick fillets – 15-18 minutes total
If using a probe, program it 5°F below your desired final temperature. For example, 125°F for medium-rare doneness.
Testing Salmon Doneness
It’s important not to overcook salmon to dryness. Check for doneness by:
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Temperature – use a probe or instant read thermometer. 130°F = medium rare. 140°F = medium.
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Flake test – salmon flakes with a fork when fully cooked. Should not appear translucent.
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Color – opaque and pale pink when cooked through. Still bright pink if undercooked.
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Texture – salmon should feel firm but tender and juicy when done. Does not feel squishy.
Err on the side of slightly undercooking, since salmon will continue cooking after removed from the grill.
Sauce and Serving Suggestions
A flavorful sauce complements the salmon beautifully. Consider making:
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Lemon Dill Sauce: Mix Greek yogurt, lemon juice, dill, garlic, salt, and pepper.
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Mango Salsa: Combine mango, red onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, and salt.
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Hoisin Glaze: Whisk soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic.
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Avocado Crema: Blend avocado, Greek yogurt, lime juice, cilantro, and salt.
Grilled salmon pairs well with rice, roasted potatoes, asparagus, zucchini, greens, and fresh bread.
Cleanup and Storage Tips
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After grilling, toss out marinade and thoroughly clean grill grate and drip tray.
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Leftover grilled salmon keeps 3-4 days refrigerated. Reheat gently before serving.
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For longer storage, freeze cooled, cooked salmon in airtight bags up to 3 months.
Get Grilling Salmon with the Ninja Foodi
The Ninja Foodi Grill makes it so easy to enjoy restaurant-quality salmon fillets at home with little effort. In just 10-15 minutes, you can serve up tender, juicy salmon with crispy edges and tons of flavor. Experiment with different seasonings and sauces to keep dinnertime exciting. Happy grilling!
Tools Needed to Make Grilled Salmon on the Ninja Foodi
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- Ninja Foodi Grill
- Shallow Dish or Freezer Bag
- Fish Spatula
- Meat thermometer to make sure the meat is the right temperature
When it comes to storage, you have a few options. For up to two days, put the Ninja Foodi salmon in a container that won’t let air in and put it in the fridge.
If you want to meal prep with this recipe, I suggest storing the salmon in individual portions.
Once it is cooked, allow it to cool completely before storing. This salmon will last in the fridge for up to two or three days.
You can also freeze this salmon. I recommend freezing leftover salmon in individual portions for easy thawing and reheating.
Cooked salmon will last in the freezer for up to three months. Before you eat it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. The next day, heat it up in the oven, on the grill, or in the microwave.
Ingredients for Making Ninja Foodi Grilled Salmon
- Salmon: For this recipe, you’ll need 1 ½ pounds of salmon. I recommend using skinless salmon fillets for this recipe.
- Soy sauce or gluten-free tamari: This is what the salmon will be seared in. If you don’t want to eat soy sauce, use gluten-free tamari instead. You could also use coconut aminos.
- Brown sugar: This recipe needs ¼ cup of brown sugar. If you can’t have sugar, pick a brown sugar substitute like Swerve.
- Avocado oil: Use your favorite heat-safe oil. Olive oil will work, but I don’t think extra virgin olive oil is necessary.
- If you don’t have lemon pepper, use ½ teaspoon of black pepper and ½ teaspoon of fresh lemon zest instead.
- Onion powder: For this recipe, you will need 1 teaspoon of onion powder.
- Sea salt: You can change the amount of salt to your liking.
- Make sure the salmon is completely thawed before marinating if you are using frozen salmon.
- Putting my salmon in a ziplock bag is how I like to do it. This helps to coat the salmon in the marinade evenly.
- Let the salmon sit in the sauce for at least 30 minutes, but no more than 2 hours.
NINJA FOODI XL GRILL BLACKENED SALMON! | Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill Recipe!
FAQ
At what temperature do you grill salmon?
Do you have to flip salmon in air fryer?
Do you put salmon directly on grill or foil?
How do you cook salmon on a ninja foodi Grill?
Preheat your Ninja Foodi Grill to Grill – MAX. Set your timer for 5 minutes. Add the salmon to the Foodi grill grate and close the lid. (If you have fish fillets with skin, make sure you put them on the indoor grill skin side down) Cook for 5 minutes to the desired doneness. Serve your Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill Salmon with lemon juice, and enjoy!
Is smoked salmon good for you?
Salmon is a source of high-quality protein, magnesium, and selenium. In addition, it provides healthy fatty acids for the body. It contains large amounts of omega 3, which prevents cardiovascular diseases, has anti-inflammatory properties, and prevents certain types of Cancer.
How do you cook salmon on a ninja foodi smart XL?
Add the salmon to the Foodi grill grate and close the lid. (If you have fish fillets with skin, make sure you put them on the indoor grill skin side down) Cook for 5 minutes to the desired doneness. Serve your Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill Salmon with lemon juice, and enjoy! Are you looking for a deliciously easy meal to prep outdoors?
How do you Make Ninja foodi salmon?
Make a light, delicious Ninja Foodi Salmon that is easy to make in the Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot. Pour water and lemon juice into the Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot. Add lemon slices and dill. Add the wire rack/trivet into the pot at the lowest setting. Add the fillets to the rack/trivet, cut to fit if needed.