Tequila Lime Salmon Salad is hearty, healthy, and delicious for any occasion. Salmon topped with a spicy tequila lime marinade and laid atop a bed of lettuce, corn, beans, avocado, pico, and more. So delicious!

Tequila Lime Salmon Salad recipe with tequila lime vinaigrette

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Why We Love This Salmon Salad Recipe

This Tequila Lime Salmon Salad is one of our new favorites. It’s chock full of beans, corn, pico, cheese, assorted lettuce, and the best lime vinaigrette. But the real kicker is the juicy and flavorful baked salmon!

  • Fresh. This salad is packed with greens, citrus, veggies, and avocado!
  • Healthy. Salmon is packed with lean protein, healthy fats, and omega-3!
  • Flavorful. The tequila lime marinade is just the perfect amount of spice.

Variations on Salad with Salmon

This salmon salad can be made with any kind of fish, like trout, pollack, tilapia, or arctic char. It’s extremely versatile and great made with grilled chicken or shrimp as well!

Salmon filets on a baking tray
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How to Store and Reheat 

Store leftover salmon salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Enjoy cold for the best taste and texture.

Serving Suggestions

This salmon salad is a hearty meal all by itself. For a bit more zest, you could also add some of this tomatillo avocado salsa on top. Serve it with a refreshing margarita!

Large salad filled with avocado, lettuce, corn, black beans and topped with tequila lime salmon

More Salad Recipes To Try

Notes from the Test Kitchen

  • You can prep the avocado ahead and drizzle it with lime juice to prevent it from browning.
  • You can marinate the salmon for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator, so feel free to prep the night before!
  • Properly cooked salmon is 145°F at the thickest point. It should easily flake apart with a fork.
Recipe Card

Tequila Lime Salmon Salad Recipe

4.84 from 6 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Becky Hardin
over the top view of salmon on a bed of salad
This salmon salad recipe is filled with flavor, it's healthy, and it's so easy to make. This Tequila Lime Salmon Salad is about to be your new favorite!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
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Equipment

Ingredients 

For the Tequila Lime Salmon

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (from 2 limes)
  • 4 teaspoons lime zest (from 2 limes)
  • ¼ cup tequila
  • 1 ounce taco seasoning
  • 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 4 skin-on salmon filets

For the Tequila Lime Vinaigrette

  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (from 1 lime)
  • 2 tablespoons tequila
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice (from ½ orange)
  • 4 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • ¼ cup canola oil

For the Salad and Toppings

  • ¼ head Iceberg lettuce rinsed and chopped
  • ½ bunch green leaf lettuce rinsed, trimmed, and chopped
  • ½ cup chopped fresh tomatoes
  • ½ cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 15 ounces canned black beans drained and rinsed (½ can)
  • 15 ounces canned sweet corn drained and rinsed (½ can)
  • 1 avocado peeled and sliced or chopped (see note)
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • Tortilla chips or strips, for serving

Instructions 

For the Salmon

  • Place olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, tequila, taco seasoning, and brown sugar in a gallon-sized Ziplock bag and mix until well incorporated.
    2 tablespoons olive oil, ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice, 4 teaspoons lime zest, ¼ cup tequila, 1 ounce taco seasoning, 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • Add the salmon filets and gently rub the marinade over the salmon. Close the bag and marinate it in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
    4 skin-on salmon filets
  • When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray it lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Remove the salmon from the marinade and place it, skin-side down, on the baking sheet.
  • Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and roast it for 4-6 minutes per half-inch thickness of salmon. Measure the salmon at the thickest part. 4 minutes will give you salmon with a pink center (medium-rare) and 6 minutes will be thoroughly cooked through.
  • Remove the cooked salmon from the oven and transfer to plate. Remove the skin before placing the salmon on the mixed salad.

For the Vinaigrette

  • Stir together all of the vinaigrette ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and whisk vigorously until emulsified.
    2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, 2 tablespoons tequila, 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice, 4 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, ¼ cup canola oil

To Serve

  • In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, beans, and corn. Mix gently.
    ¼ head Iceberg lettuce, ½ bunch green leaf lettuce, ½ cup chopped fresh tomatoes, ½ cup shredded Mexican blend cheese, 15 ounces canned black beans, 15 ounces canned sweet corn
  • Place the mixed salad in serving dishes and place the cooked salmon on top. Add sliced avocado and tortilla chips/strips and sprinkle with fresh cilantro. Drizzle with the Tequila Lime Vinaigrette.
    1 avocado, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, Tortilla chips

Video

Becky’s Tips

  • Note: Drizzle the cut avocado with lime juice to keep it from browning.
  • The salmon can be marinated and kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours prior to cooking
  • The salmon is done when it easily flakes apart with a fork. If desired, test the doneness with an instant-read thermometer – salmon is considered done at a minimum 145°F at the thickest part of the salmon.
Storage: Store tequila lime salmon salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. 
Calories: 946kcalCarbohydrates: 81gProtein: 49gFat: 45gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gMonounsaturated Fat: 24gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 1175mgPotassium: 1916mgFiber: 16gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 5151IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.84 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)
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12 Comments
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Mabanero
Mabanero
July 29, 2021 4:15 pm

I don’t like fish but really wanted to try this recipe. I used chicken thighs and it turned out great. Thanks!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
August 4, 2021 3:23 pm
Reply to  Mabanero

What a great way to repurpose a recipe!

DebK
DebK
September 5, 2022 8:46 pm
Reply to  Mabanero

Great base recipe! left off taco seasoning out s it is too much salt. I did use the tequila :-) Just marinate for an hour or two and sprinkle chili powder on top. I also just cooked on the stove top to sear the skin and keep the oven off in TX heat. As noted in reviews, asome don’t like fish BUT this is exactly the recipe to use to make you like Fish! keynote:
experience) – do not marinate fish for more that 4 hrs. it changes the texture. (aka ceviche)5 stars

Samantha Marceau
September 6, 2022 9:13 am
Reply to  DebK

Good tip, Deb!

Kit
Kit
March 21, 2021 1:12 pm

I would like to know why this meal is 1218 cal per serving I am on weight watchers and I entered all the nutritional information and it comes out to 43 points how can we make this with less calories

Barbara
Barbara
September 20, 2019 11:32 am

Easy recipies
Stingy with sugar and carbs, thank goodness!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
September 24, 2019 1:30 pm
Reply to  Barbara

Thanks, Barbara!

Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix
Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix
October 12, 2018 4:12 pm

Everthing was good except of Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix
lool, I live in Mexico and we do not have such a thing called Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix

Russ
Russ
May 21, 2017 6:42 pm

I made the vinaigrette, it was awful. Could you please double check the ingredients. It did not look anything like the picture.

Erin @ Brownie Bites Blog
Erin @ Brownie Bites Blog
March 28, 2017 4:10 pm

That vinaigrette sounds insane, omg yum!

Julie
Julie
February 20, 2017 1:20 pm

Could I make this without using tequila and still get the same flavors?