Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa is our favorite Healthy Whole30 Salmon Recipe! This spice-rubbed grilled salmon recipe is served with creamy avocado salsa. It’s healthy, flavorful, easy, and so delicious. It’s a flavor match made in Heaven.
Whole 30 Grilled Salmon Recipe
Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa is so full of flavor. It’s the best Whole30 healthy dinner ever!
My favorite recipes are the ones that are easy, yet incredibly delicious. This healthy salmon recipe is not only one of the best Whole30 recipes I’ve tried, but it’s easy, delicious and good for you. That’s a grand-slam homerun recipe, in my book.
Some folks think that healthy and delicious are mutually exclusive terms. They believe that meals can be healthy or delicious, but never both. Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa is both.
It fits into the Whole30 eating plan, so you know it’s healthy, but it’s become a reader favorite too. It’s been a go-to recipe in our house since I first posted it in 2014. Deliciousness knows no bounds!
This is an easy, healthy, and delicious Whole30 salmon recipe that you’ll love whether you’re on a diet or not!
Healthy Salmon Avocado
I developed this easy grilled salmon recipe when a friend asked me to help her find a delicious Whole30-compliant recipe to share with her healthy eating group on Face Book.
After doing some research, I found out that Whole30 is a program that encourages participants to eat a super-healthy diet for 30 days. That means removing certain foods like sugar, grains, dairy, and legumes from your diet completely for a month.
I have heard a lot of people mentioning the Whole30 lifestyle change lately. It’s an effective way to detox your system of all the yucky stuff and restart a healthy lifestyle. And to tell the truth, couldn’t we all stand to eat a bit healthier?
This recipe fits into the program perfectly, so it’s ideal to add into your usual weekly dinner rotation.
Why you’ll love this Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa Recipe:
- Fancy but healthy: This dish looks like a gourmet chef created it. If you didn’t know it was super-healthy for you, you’d never guess. It’s delicious, impressive….and even healthy!
- It’s easy: While Grilled Salmon With Avocado Salsa looks impressive, nobody needs to know that it’s super-easy to put together. Take a look at the recipe card; it’s a breeze!
- It’s salmon: Salmon may be healthy, but it’s also scrumptious. Every time I go to a restaurant, I order salmon, because it is so delicious. Now you can make it and it’s still every bit as tasty as the restaurant version.
How to Make Grilled Salmon
We prepare this grilled salmon on an indoor grill during the winter, and an outdoor grill during the summer. And it’s made in under 15 minutes–an easy dinner we love to make year round.
Every time we make this Whole30 Grilled Salmon With Avocado Salsa, we add a little extra to the grill for our Cat, Dill. He’s just as excited as we are for fresh seafood!
- Make the rub and apply it to the salmon. Give it 30 minutes to chill and soak in. Preheat the grill.
- Make the salsa: combine the avocado, onion, lemon juice and cilantro. Chill until ready to serve.
- Grill the salmon until it flakes with a fork. (about 4 minutes per side.)
- Top the cooked salmon with the Avocado Salsa and serve.
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
For the Grilled Salmon Rub
Before grilling, the salmon gets a rub of some delicious spices.
It’s a simple mixture of:
- salt
- chili powder
- cumin
- paprika
- onion powder
- black pepper
Mix these spices together, brush olive oil onto the salmon filets. Cover with the rub mixture, then refrigerate for 30 minutes before grilling.
For the Avocado Salsa
The creamy avocado salsa (made with avocados, red onion, lime juice, and cilantro) is the perfect complement to the spices, keeping things fresh and delicious.
Ingredients:
- avocado (cut into cubes)
- red onion
- lime juice
- chopped fresh cilantro
Combine everything in a bowl and mix gently. You can keep it chunky or make it a little smoother if you prefer. Tip: this salsa is great for dipping and works with lots of other dishes too.
What is the Whole30 Diet?
Whole30 is a diet that involves removing all sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, and dairy from your diet for 30 days. You can find out more about Whole 30 on their website.
But remember: It’s not necessary to be on the Whole30 diet to enjoy this amazing grilled salmon recipe!
How Long Does it Take to Cook Salmon on the Grill?
For salmon filets that are approximately 1 inch thick, it should take about 8 minutes over a 500°F grill, or 5-7 minutes on an indoor grill that heats both sides of the fish. It’s super quick and easy!
How do you know when the salmon is done?
Grilled salmon is done cooking when the internal temperature reads 145°F. Salmon is easy to overcook, so watch yours carefully!
The Best meat thermometer!
I love using this meat thermometer for making sure the grilled salmon is 145 degrees! Easy for beginners & totally worth the $10 cost!
Best Healthy Salmon Recipe
If you’re in the market for a delicious, easy, and healthy salmon recipe, you’ve come to the right place. This recipe has been pinned more than 2 million times and continues to be a hit because it’s just so delicious.
I’m so proud every time I hear someone say that they’ve fallen in love with this recipe. You can feel like a 5-star chef in your own home!
Looking for more healthy salmon recipes? Here are some favorites:
- Baked Salmon with Basil Walnut Pesto
- Grilled Garlic Butter Salmon
- Hoisin Salmon and Asparagus
- Pecan Crusted Honey Bourbon Salmon
- Caprese Stuffed Salmon
- Grilled Caesar Salmon Foil Packets
- Honey Mustard Salmon
- Lemon Butter Salmon
- Herb Crusted Salmon with Goat Cheese Polenta
What to Serve on the Side
We love to pair this grilled salmon with healthy sides such Lemon Butter Asparagus or Roasted Vegetables. This recipe really doesn’t even need a side dish.
The avocado salsa can serve as a side, so you have an amazing 15-minute meal from start to finish on your plate!
Here are some other healthy sides we love to serve with salmon:
- Mexican Grilled Corn
- Sweet Potato Chips
- Herb Roasted Potatoes
- Maple Butternut Squash
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Caprese Farro Salad
- Melting Potatoes
- Sautéed Asparagus
- Cheesy Baked Tomatoes
It’s not often that I make healthy recipes, and especially Whole 30 Recipes, but this grilled salmon recipe is an absolute favorite. I just might have to make more easy and delicious healthy meals! I hope you give it a try and let me know below how you like it!
See the recipe card below or watch either video for How to Make Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa. Enjoy!
If you love seafood and want to try other recipes, here are some favorites!
- Seafood Lasagna
- Grilled Shrimp
- Parmesan Baked Tilapia
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe
- Best Crab Cakes
- Shrimp and Grits
- Buffalo Shrimp Tacos
- Cod Fish Tacos
- Shrimp Ceviche
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds salmon fillets skin on or off
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ancho chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
For the Avocado Salsa
- 1 avocado cubed
- ½ red onion sliced or diced
- 2 limes juiced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Mix the salt, chili powder, cumin, paprika, onion powder, and black pepper together. Rub the salmon fillets with olive oil and this seasoning mix.1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ancho chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon ground paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 pounds salmon fillets, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Combine the avocado, onion, lime juice, and cilantro. Chill until serving time.1 avocado, ½ red onion, 2 limes, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
- Preheat the grill to medium (350-375°F).
- Grill the salmon to desired doneness (about 3-4 minutes per side).
- Top with avocado salsa and enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Use a salmon side or pre-cut salmon fillets — both work!
- Make sure your grill is clean and preheated before adding the salmon.
- Start the salmon skin-side down to help it release from the grill more easily.
- Keep the lid down as the salmon cooks to maintain a consistent temperature.
- Only flip the salmon once!
- Salmon is cooked through when it reaches 145°F internally at the thickest point.
Nutrition Information
This was AMAZING. I can’t wait to make it again. Is the nutrition information for the whole recipe, or per serving? Thanks!
Hi Teresa, nutritional information is for 1 serving!
Our absolute favorite way to cook salmon!! The avacado salsa is the perfect addition 🤩
My family regularly requests this meal! It is so satisfying and fresh! We adjust the ingredient portion to our tastes and it is wonderful EVERY TIME!!
I make this for my family at least 2-3 times a month. We ALL love it. I just refer back to it so I can make the spice rub. I make it in bulk and store it in a jar.
Was delicious, I have prepared this salmon quite a few times , I had some friends for dinner and everyone enjoyed and
love it .
I use this recipe all the time! It is so tasty. I usually broil my salmon though. About 6 min under the broiler.
Thanks for sharing that tip, Julie!
I’ve been using your spice rub on grilled salmon for years, not because we follow the whole 30 plan but because it is so darn good!! I make it exactly as shown but I make extra rub per pound so it can generously coat every square inch of the fish. I like it with the salsa, but it is just as good on it’s own. Thank you again for posting such a great recipe that’s become a staple in my home!
It was soooooo good and fresh and tasty
Glad you enjoyed it, Kandis!
Fabulous !!!!
Thanks for stopping by and letting us know!
Delicious!
Thanks for sharing!