A simple lemon garlic butter sauce goes with this easy Ninja Foodi Grill Salmon Recipe. It only takes minutes to cook on an indoor grill. Enjoy this delicious, healthy dinner all year long. It’s low carb and Keto friendly, too!.
If you’re looking for Ninja Foodi Grill recipes or seafood recipes, this simple recipe for salmon fillets cooked on an indoor grill will be a hit! The salmon is boneless and cooked just right, and the lemon garlic butter sauce makes it taste even better.
Before I cooked salmon on my new Ninja Foodi XL Grill, I didn’t really like it. Seriously — I’m not just saying this, even though it’s one of my favorite kitchen appliances.
I’ve made poached salmon and pan fried salmon. But grilled salmon with crispy skin is the BEST!
Enjoy this Ninja Foodi salmon recipe for a quick dinner anytime. It’s easy to make a meal that the whole family will love. Serve it with roasted potatoes and asparagus cooked in the microwave.
Here are the simple ingredients you need to make salmon on the Ninja Foodi XL Grill. You should be able to find all of them in your local grocery store:
Salmon is one of the most popular fish for grilling. It’s healthy, flavorful, and cooks up with ease. With the Ninja Foodi Grill, you can achieve restaurant-quality salmon at home with little effort. But how long should you cook salmon on the Ninja Foodi Grill for the best results?
The cooking time can vary based on the thickness of the fillets and how well done you prefer your salmon. With some simple tips and timing guidelines, you’ll have tender, flaky salmon ready in no time
Factors That Affect Cooking Time
There are a few factors that determine how long it will take to cook salmon to perfection in the Ninja Foodi Grill
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Size of the fillets—Salmon fillets that are thicker will take longer to cook than those that are thinner. Aim for fillets that are around 1-inch thick for ideal grilling.
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Doneness preference – Salmon can be cooked to various levels of doneness – rare, medium-rare, medium, medium-well, or well-done. The longer the fish cooks, the more well-done it will become.
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Bone-in vs boneless – Bone-in salmon fillets will take a bit longer to cook than boneless fillets of the same thickness The bones help insulate the meat so it retains more heat,
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Fillet temperature – Cooking times will be slightly longer if salmon has been refrigerated versus sitting at room temperature. Take the chill off refrigerated fish by letting it rest on the counter for 15-20 minutes before grilling.
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Grill temperature – Cooking at higher heat will reduce the cooking time. Always preheat the Ninja Foodi Grill before adding food.
Recommended Cooking Times
Here are general guidelines for how long to cook salmon fillets of varying thicknesses on the Ninja Foodi Grill:
- 1/2-inch thick fillets – 3-5 minutes per side
- 3/4 to 1-inch thick fillets – 4-7 minutes per side
- 1 1/2-inch thick fillets – 5-8 minutes per side
These times are for medium doneness. If you prefer your salmon more rare, take it off the grill a minute or two sooner. For well-done fish, cook it a minute or two longer.
Always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, especially for thicker fillets. The FDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of at least 145°F to destroy any potential parasites and bacteria. At 145°F, the salmon will have a medium doneness.
For reference, here are the recommended internal temperatures for varying levels of doneness:
- Rare – 125°F
- Medium-rare – 130-135°F
- Medium – 140°F
- Medium-well – 145°F
- Well-done – 155°F+
Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the fillet, taking care not to touch any bones. When the desired temperature is reached, use tongs to transfer the salmon to a plate. Keep in mind that the residual heat will continue to cook the fish as it rests, increasing the temperature by about 5-10 degrees F.
Grilling Tips for Perfect Ninja Foodi Salmon
Follow these tips to ensure your salmon fillets turn out moist, flaky, and full of flavor:
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Pat salmon dry – Gently blot the fillets with paper towels to remove excess moisture from the surface. Drier fish will caramelize and crisp up better on the grill.
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Brush with oil – Coat both sides of the salmon lightly with avocado, olive, or vegetable oil. This helps prevent sticking. Avoid basting sauces and marinades until the end or the sugars may burn.
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Get grill grates hot – Always preheat the Ninja Foodi Grill on high for 5-10 minutes before placing salmon on the grate. Hot metal seals the outside quickly so fish doesn’t fall apart.
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Don’t move the fillets – Resist the urge to prematurely flip or nudge the salmon. Let it cook undisturbed so the flesh develops a nice crust.
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Use a thermometer – This takes the guesswork out of doneness. Cook to your desired internal temp for ideal texture and moisture level.
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Let it rest – When salmon comes off the grill, let it sit 3-5 minutes before serving. This allows juices to redistribute so your fillets stay moist and tender.
Grilled Lemon Garlic Salmon
This easy grilled lemon garlic salmon recipe uses the Ninja Foodi Grill to make delicious salmon fillets in under 30 minutes.
Cook Time:
- 10 minutes to preheat grill
- 10 minutes to grill 4 salmon fillets
- 5 minutes resting time
Salmon fillets are seasoned with garlic powder, salt, and pepper then kissed with a little lemon juice for bright flavor.
After preheating the grill, the seasoned salmon fillets are cooked skin-side down for 5-8 minutes depending on thickness. A simple lemon garlic butter sauce finishes it off before serving.
The salmon skin gets beautifully crispy while the fish stays moist and tender within. It’s an easy yet impressive meal!
Tips for Leftover Salmon
Leftover grilled salmon will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Here are some tasty ways to use up those leftovers:
- Break salmon into chunks and add to salads
- Toss with pasta or rice
- Make salmon tacos or sandwiches
- Top pizza with salmon and veggies
- Stir into chowders or seafood stews
- Fold into an omelet or frittata
- Reheat in the oven at 300°F for 10 minutes
The Ninja Foodi Grill makes it simple to achieve professional-level results when cooking salmon at home. Follow the timing guidelines based on thickness, use a thermometer for precise doneness, and allow the fillets to rest before serving. In no time at all, you’ll be enjoying tender, flaky salmon with ease.
How to Cook Salmon on Ninja Foodi Grill
For best results, follow manufacturer’s directions when using. First, place the salmon filets, skin side down, on a clean plate. Next, pat them dry with a clean paper towel.
Next, drizzle a little avocado oil all over the fillets. You can use vegetable oil if you can’t find avocado oil.
Make sure you get oil on the skins, as well. This will help prevent the salmon skins from sticking to the grill.
Put the fresh fish on a plate next. Then, add garlic powder, sea salt, and ground black pepper to the salmon fillets. Then, rub the seasoning over the salmon — kind of like you would with a dry rub.
Squirt a little fresh lemon juice over the salmon. This will help to flavor the fish without actually soaking in marinade.
Lemon juice is very acidic, so you don’t need to marinate the salmon for long. To heat up, the Ninja Foodie indoor grill needs about 10 minutes. That’s just enough time for the fish fillets to get to room temperature.
Place the grill grate into your Ninja Foodie grill. Then hit the Grill button. Choose High, then choose Fish. Now, choose the desired level of doneness.
So, what temp should salmon be? The FDA recommends cooking salmon to 145 degrees f. However, a lot of people feel salmon is overcooked at this temperature.
Choose wisely. I like to grill salmon to 135 to 140 degrees to allow for carryover cooking. The internal temperature will continue to rise as the salmon rests. The total cook time may vary with thickness of salmon and desired doneness.
Press Start, to begin preheating the grill. Then, insert the Smart Thermometer into the thickest part of the fillet.
You can choose not to use the probe, but I find it easiest to cook with it in. When the grill is hot, use kitchen tongs to place salmon fillets on the grill.
Then, close the lid. You can whip up the delicious lemon garlic butter sauce now.
Put some butter in a small pot or pan and set it over low heat. This will make the sauce. Add minced garlic, a little lemon juice and a pinch of salt.
Stir, and allow to cook on low until the garlic is tender and light golden brown. Make sure it doesn’t burn! While the salmon cooks, turn off the stove and let the lemon basil sauce sit.
You don’t have to flip the salmon, although you can. I love the texture without turning it over. I usually add some sliced lemon wedges about halfway through cooking.
When the salmon reaches the desired temperature, remove to a platter or individual plates. (Use an oven mitt to remove temperature probe. ) Pour the warm garlic butter sauce over the salmon, barely cover with foil, and let it sit for three to five minutes.
The cooked fish should be tender and flaky. The color should be opaque — light pink. But the best thing is the crispy skin. Yum! It’s a wonderful contrast to the tender salmon.
You can also use a meat thermometer to double check the internal temperature if you like.
Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator. According to the USDA, it will keep for up to 3 to 4 days.
You can reheat salmon in the air fryer, microwave, oven or on the stove. Cold cooked salmon is actually delicious over fresh greens or in salad!.
NINJA FOODI XL GRILL BLACKENED SALMON! | Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill Recipe!
FAQ
How long should I grill salmon on the grill?
Do you have to flip salmon on the grill?
Do you have to flip salmon in air fryer?
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!
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 long do you cook fish on a ninja foodi Grill?
It takes some time to fry fish, so here’s a quick explanation. A typical fillet can be pan fried in 3 to 4 minutes per side. To cook fish on the Ninja Foodi Grill, preheat the grill to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the fish on the grill grate and cook for about 8-10 minutes, flipping once, or until the fish is cooked through.
How long to cook salmon in Ninja foodi?
How long to cook salmon in Ninja Foodi depends on the thickness of your filets and whether or not they are frozen. It also depends on the feature you are using. In this recipe, remember that we are using and discussing the pressure cooker feature. This recipe provides a decent metric of about 4 minutes on high pressure for a one-pound thawed filet.
How long does a ninja foodie Grill take?
The Ninja Foodie indoor grill takes about 10 minutes to preheat, which is just enough time to allow the fish fillets to sit at room temperature. Place the grill grate into your Ninja Foodie grill. Then hit the Grill button. Choose High, then choose Fish. Now, choose the desired level of doneness. So, what temp should salmon be?
How long do you cook a sirloin steak on a ninja foodi Grill?
Allow to preheat. Sprinkle both sides of steak with seasoning and press down so it sticks well. When Ninja Foodi Grill is done preheating it will say lift add food. Add steaks now. Sirloins we cooked 8 minutes flipping halfway through, filet cooked for 6 minutes flipping after 4 minutes.