Cedar Plank Salmon is easy to make on your grill. Topped with avocado peach salsa, it's the perfect summer dinner recipe. This is a 30-minute dinner recipe that is pretty enough to serve to company!

Cedar plank salmon on a blue table with peach salsa on top and a fork taking a bite.

Grilled cedar plank salmon coming in hot! 

Why you need this cedar plank salmon in your life

  • Tender salmon infused with smoky cedar flavor.
  • Topped with our favorite avocado peach salsa for big-time summer vibes.
  • Cooked on your BBQ for super cool summertime living.
  • Made with basic pantry spices that you likely have on hand right now.
  • Sugar-free! Those peaches give all the sweetness this recipe needs.
  • It's a Whole30 + gluten-free recipe that's easy to make, healthy, and delicious. Just like we love it!
A close up of this cedar plank salmon with some peach salsa over the top.

How to make this cedar plank salmon recipe

This recipe is super easy to make. Here's how you do it:

  1. Soak your cedar plank in water for at least 15 minutes.
  2. Put the salmon on the soaked cedar plank then drizzle it with oil and sprinkle with spices.
  3. Grill for about 20 minutes.
  4. EAT!

See how easy that was?

Full recipe instructions in the recipe card below.

How to make avocado peach salsa?

This is our favorite peach salsa recipe with a diced avocado mixed in. The creamy avocado marries well with sweet peaches and makes salsa so good you could eat it by the spoonful.

But burying your salmon in the salsa is an even better idea.

  • Grab your cutting board, a sharp knife, and a mixing bowl.
  • Chop the mango, and avocado into similar sized pieces. Then put them into your mixing bowl with some minced red onion, cilantro, and if you're feeling brave, some minced jalapeño.
  • Now squeeze a little lime juice and sprinkle some salt and pepper over the top and give it a good mix.

That's it! Now you have your avocado peach salsa ready and waiting for the salmon to come off the grill.

And if you'd like to remove the peach skin, here's a tutorial on how to peel peaches.

Avocado peach salsa in a glass bowl.

Have you cooked salmon on cedar planks before? If not, you might have a few questions …

How long should you soak cedar planks?

You want to submerge the cedar plank in water for at least 15 minutes. This is to prevent it from burning. Some people suggest leaving it in water longer for more cedar flavor, but we haven't noticed much of a difference.

If we're making this for company, we'll often start soaking the planks as we're getting ready so we don't forget to do it later. They can soak for at least 2 hours if needed.

What does cedar plank salmon taste like?

Cooking salmon on a cedar plank gives it a mild smoky flavor with a little hint of maple sweetness. In this recipe, there is only a little spice on the salmon so that it doesn't overpower the smoky flavor from the planks.

Can you reuse cedar planks for salmon?

Technically, yes. But you probably don't want to. Chances are that the plank will be quite charred and a mess to store. If it's not, you may be able to get another use out of it.

Fish skin can be harder to scrub off planks so if you're hoping to reuse it, remove the skin from the salmon first. Here's a step by step on how to remove salmon skin here. It's pretty easy.

Also, cedar planks will absorb some of the flavors of the food you cook on it. So if you are able to reuse your plank, you'll want to make this recipe or a similar salmon recipe the next time you use it.

Where can I buy cedar planks?

Many grocery stores sell them in the fish department. It's very convenient! You can also find them at specialty food stores and (of course!) you can buy them on Amazon.

You can also find cedar planks in hardware stores. Cedar is generally not treated, but ask before buying planks at a hardware store just to be safe.

A close up of grilled cedar plank salmon with peach salsa on top and a fork taking a piece.

What to serve with this grilled cedar plank salmon

Keep the house cool by cooking outside or choosing a no cook side dish. Here are a few favorite summer sides that go great with this recipe:

Grilled salmon with peach salsa and some slices of peaches beside it.

Easy salmon recipes

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Grilled cedar plank salmon with peach salsa and some slices of peaches beside it.

Cedar Plank Salmon with Avocado Peach Salsa

  • Author: Kristen Stevens
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Grill
  • Cuisine: North American
Print Recipe

Description

Cedar plank salmon easy to make on your grill. Topped with avocado peach salsa, it's the perfect summer dinner recipe. It's s 30-minute dinner recipe that is pretty enough to serve to company!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 – 1 ½ lb salmon fillet, preferably with the skin removed
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon EACH: onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, sea salt, and pepper

Avocado Peach Salsa

  • 3 medium peaches, diced 
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • ½ red bell pepper, diced
  • ⅓ cup diced red onion
  • ½ cup minced cilantro
  • Juice from 1 lime
  • 1 minced jalapeño (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon EACH: sea salt  and pepper (more to taste)

Instructions

  1. Soak your cedar plank in water for at least 15 minutes, or up to 2 hours.
  2. While the cedar plank is soaking, make the salsa. Mix all the ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl.
  3. Turn on your BBQ to medium-low heat. 
  4. Place the salmon on the cedar plank and drizzle the top with the oil. Sprinkle the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper over the top.
  5. Put the salmon on your bbq and turn it to low heat. Close the lid and cook the salmon for 20 minutes, or until the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
  6. Serve the salmon with the salsa over the top.

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Grilled cedar plank salmon topped with avocado peach salsa and the recipe title on top of the picture.