Easy Salmon Salad Recipe With Canned Salmon

I have been trying to find ways to eat more salmon, and this fresh, delicious salmon salad is a great way to do it! This easy recipe comes together quickly and uses delicious ingredients like fresh dill, lemon, and parsley, and has a refreshing crunch from celery and green onions. Even my four year old loves it!

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Why You Will Love This Recipe

There are so many reasons to love this delicious salmon salad recipe! It has so much flavor and is perfectly filling. Here’s a few other reasons to love it:

Salmon is SO Good For You – Not only is salmon a great source of protein, but it is a great source of healthy fats. Especially when it is wild caught and not farmed, salmon is one of the best fish for you. It has one of the highest omega-3 contents of any fish, and is also really high in vitamin D. It is good for your bone health, brain function, heart health, skin health, and may even help prevent cancer (source). I don’t know about you, but I’m sold!

Fresh Flavors – This recipe is uses fresh lemon juice, fresh herbs, and fresh veggies. The combination of flavors and textures is so refreshing!

A Quick & Easy, Nutritious Meal – This salmon salad is an easy way to throw together a quick meal that is nutritious and high in protein. The recipe also makes a good amount, so you can pull out the leftovers when you need a high protein snack. 

Ingredients For This Salmon Salad Recipe

The salad ingredients are really simple, and come together quickly. This recipe is perfect for a quick lunch or snack when you don’t have a lot of time but still want something filling and nutrient dense

• 3 Cans of Salmon – When you buy canned salmon, look for wild-caught salmon with no additives. Wild salmon has a lot of benefits to farmed salmon. 
• 1/4 Cup Avocado or Olive Oil Mayonnaise – Read your ingredient label when purchasing mayo from the store. Even some “olive-oil mayos” still have seed oils in them. I personally like the chosen brand, or primal kitchen. You can also make your own mayo with oil, egg, and lemon juice!
• 2-3 Medium Stalks of Celery, chopped
• 1 Bunch of Green Onions (About 1/3 cup), chopped
• 1/3 Cup loosely packed fresh dill, or freeze dried dill works great too
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional) – If I want my kids to eat salmon salad, I leave this out. But if I’m making it for myself, it’s really delicious with the touch of spice!
• Juice from 1 lemon
• 2 Tsp Dijon Mustard
• Salt & black pepper to taste
• Lemon Zest & Fresh Parsley, for Serving

Other Things You Might Need

You won’t need much to make salmon salad. These supplies will help:

• Large Glass Bowl
• Mixing Spoon
• Cutting Board & Knife

How To Make Easy Salmon Salad

1. Prepare the fresh ingredients: Chop parsley, dill, celery, and green onions. Juice the lemon.

2. Combine everything: In a large bowl, combine canned salmon with all other ingredients. Stir well, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Here is where I like to decide if I want a little more dill or parsley, or even lemon juice. Experiment with what you like! 

3. Serve with fresh parsley, and a little bit of lemon zest on top (if you are a lemon lover like me). Enjoy plain, with crackers, or as a topping on your favorite salad base. 

Recipe Variations

This recipe certainly has room for creative variations. Here’s a few you could try:

Try a Different Protein

If you don’t care for salmon or don’t have any on hand, try your favorite protein. You could used cooked chicken for a take on chicken salad, or I personally make this recipe often with canned tuna in place of salmon. It’s really delicious and can be a cheaper option.

Switch It Up With Different Veggies

A few ideas would be finely diced red onion instead of green onions, or add in a bell pepper. Any fresh, crunchy veggies would be good! 

Play With Different Flavors and Textures

This salmon salad recipe is one of my favorite ways to use up extra ingredients in my fridge. Here are a few ideas to spark your creativity:

• For a greek salmon salad, try adding kalamata olives and feta cheese. 
• Try your favorite choice of veggies to add flavor and texture in different ways. You could try cherry tomatoes, cucumber, or chopped carrots. 
• Change up the flavor with a citrus vinaigrette. There are really endless opportunities!

How To Store Leftover Salmon Salad

Leftover salmon salad keeps really well in an airtight container in the fridge. It should stay fresh for about a week. 

What To Serve With Salmon Salad

My absolute favorite thing to eat this dish with is homemade sourdough crackers. The combination is SO good. It’s also really good on a piece of sourdough bread (think salmon salad sandwich), or plain with a spoon. I like to make a batch of this salmon salad at the beginning of the week and have it ready to go for a quick high protein lunch or snack! It’s a really easy lunch meal prep if you have need quick (and healthy) lunch options. 

What’s your favorite way to eat salmon salad? I’d love to hear in the comments!