Baked Paprika Salmon

Two big flavors coming together in the most wonderful way: paprika salmon. It’s baked salmon made with a smoky-sweet spice rub, all finished in 20 minutes. Add this paprika salmon to your “too busy to think of yet another dinner recipe” list now before you forget!

Paprika can easily overwhelm a delicate white fish, but with salmon, it’s a perfect match. I love how it brings smoky warmth and depth, especially when paired with brown sugar, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. As the salmon bakes, that spice rub turns slightly sticky and caramelized, creating bold flavor on the outside while the fish stays tender and flaky inside.

This is one of those dinners I lean on when I want a big payoff with very little effort. A whole salmon fillet gets brushed with olive oil so the spices cling, then finished with a shower of parsley for a fresh, bright contrast. From fridge to table in about 20 minutes, it’s a simple, satisfying meal that always disappears fast.

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Paprika Salmon Recipe

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 14 minutes mins

Total: 19 minutes mins

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Two big flavors coming together in the most wonderful way: paprika salmon. It's baked salmon made with a smoky-sweet spice rub, all finished in 20 minutes. Add this paprika salmon to your "too busy to think of yet another dinner recipe" list now before you forget!

4

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 teaspoons paprika (see notes)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• ▢ ½ teaspoon EACH: Italian seasoning, and garlic powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
• ▢ 1 ½ lb salmon
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ Minced parsley (to serve)

Instructions 

• Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix the paprika, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, ½ teaspoon EACH: Italian seasoning, and garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
  
• Lay the salmon on the baking sheet and sprinkle the spice mix over the top. Drizzle the top with olive oil and then use your fingers to press the oil into the spices so that it forms a light paste.
  1 ½ lb salmon, 1 tablespoon olive oil
  
• Bake the salmon for 8 minutes for individual fillets or 14 minutes for a whole fillet. Sprinkle the top with some minced parsley before serving, if you'd like.
  

Notes

Paprika is a spice made from dried, ground red peppers. Naturally, it has a sweet, smoky taste that pairs perfectly with salmon.

This paprika salmon recipe uses sweet paprika; it’s the most common variety sold in grocery stores. You can also use Spanish or smoked paprika to give some extra smokiness to the dish. Alternatively, there are some paprika seasonings that skew towards the hotter side, if you want to add a little heat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 = ¼ of the recipe, Calories: 278kcal (14%), Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 34g (68%), Fat: 14g (22%), Saturated Fat: 2g (13%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 94mg (31%), Sodium: 221mg (10%), Potassium: 845mg (24%), Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 1g (1%), Vitamin A: 145IU (3%), Vitamin C: 3mg (4%), Calcium: 22mg (2%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

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