Low Sodium Garlic Butter Salmon Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links, please see our Privacy Policy for more information.

This low sodium garlic butter salmon recipe is a fantastic salt-free grilled salmon recipe that’s topped with fresh garlic & herb butter. Each bite is tender, flaky, and melt-in-your-mouth good!

Not only delicious, this recipe cooks up fast! It’s ready in just 15 minutes, so it’s great for last-minute low sodium entertaining recipe or just as an easy weeknight meal. It’s a low effort, high reward dinner – you can’t beat this great salt-free recipe.

Want more low sodium seafood recipes? Try our low sodium shrimp scampi, low sodium baked halibut, and our favorite low sodium fish tacos!

low sodium salmon fillets grilled and toped with lemon herb butter.

Table of Contents

Grilling season is here (even though we grill year-round, even in the winter!) and this is my hands-down favorite low sodium grilling recipe. It couldn’t be easier to cook, takes very little prep time, and is restaurant-quality delicious.

Start by prepping your fish, get your grill ready, and cook to perfection. I like to sear the top of the salmon for just a minute to get a nice crust on top, then flip the fish and letting it cook until tender. We top it with a delicious herb and garlic butter that takes just minutes to make.

I like serving this up with our favorite low sodium grilled vegetables, low sodium crispy smashed potatoes, or adding a thick piece of salmon on top of low sodium pasta primavera.

Ingredients

See the recipe card below for a full list of instructions and ingredient amounts!

Living in New England, I can get great fresh salmon fillets all year long – but frozen salmon works just as well! Just be sure there is no added salt or sodium preservatives in your frozen salmon – always check labels before purchasing.

I like lightly brushing the fish with a little olive oil (or other neutral oil) before grilling. It helps the spices stick to the fillet, but keeps the fish from sticking to the grill.

I like to season simply with black pepper because the flavor of the fish really shines!

And the best part of this salmon is the garlic herb butter! It starts by mixing softened unsalted butter with Italian herbs like fresh garlic, thyme, rosemary, and parsley.

Fresh lemon is a must with fish! Finishing the dish with fresh lemon juice makes it pop, and adds a wonderful flavor without salt.

Additions and Substitutions

If you’d like, you can add 1 teaspoon of your favorite salt-free spice blend! Italian seasoning, Cajun spice blend (Tony Chachere’s has a great salt-free version), or steak spice would all be great options.

For extra heat, you can add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red chili flakes if desired.

For extra citrusy flavor, you can add lemon zest to the fish or the garlic butter as well.

How To Make This Recipe

a mixing bowl of unsalted butter with fresh parsley, rosemary, and thyme with fresh garlic for salmon.

Step 1: Make the garlic herb butter – leave a stick of unsalted butter on the counter until it comes to room temperature. Once softened, mix in the fresh garlic, thyme, rosemary, and parsley. You can either leave the butter out in the mixing bowl, or wrap in plastic wrap and roll into a log and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

unsalted salmon filets with olive oil and black pepper resting before the grill.

Step 2: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (around 400 degrees Fahrenheit). Clean the grates or griddle pan if you are using one. Pat the salmon dry with paper towels. Drizzle about 1 teaspoon of olive oil on each piece of salmon and sprinkle with garlic powder and pepper.

low salt salmon on the grill to get a char and grill marks on the flesh.

Step 3: When ready to cook, place the salmon skin side up on the hot grill. Sear for 1 minute, undisturbed, to get a nice initial crust.

a meat thermometer probing a piece of salmon on the grill to get it to temperature.

Step 4: Carefully flip the salmon using a wide spatula so it’s skin side down. Grill for 5–7 minutes, depending on thickness, until the internal temperature reaches 125 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit for medium doneness.

low sodium herb salmon with fresh garlic, butter, spices, and lemon juice.

Step 5: Remove the salmon the grill, and immediately top with 1 tablespoon of the herb butter. Let rest for 2–3 minutes before serving – the salmon will continue to cook slightly as it rests, and the butter will start to melt.

garlic butter salmon with fresh lemon squeezed on top with fresh herbs.

Step 6: Squeeze the fresh lemon juice over the fish before serving. Serve with lemon wedges and your favorite side dishes.

Recipe FAQs

How much sodium is in this garlic butter salmon?

This recipe has XX mg sodium per serving. It starts with fresh salmon fillets seasoned simply with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and topped with unsalted butter with fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and garlic. Top with lemon and serve with your favorite side dishes.

How to store leftover salmon

Store any leftovers in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven or the air fryer until how.

Can I use frozen salmon for this recipe?

Absolutely – if you don’t have fresh salmon, frozen fillets work great. Just be sure to let them fully thaw, and pat dry, before cooking.

Expert Tips

Make sure to check for bones before you cook your salmon. Run your fingers gently along the flesh-side of the fillet and use tweezers to pull out any small pin bones you feel.

Serve this flaky salmon with your favorite low sodium side dishes. We love serving this with low sodium baked potatoes, low sodium honey baked carrots, and our favorite low sodium cilantro lime rice.

If you don’t want to make the garlic butter as directed, you can simply melt a pad of butter over the cooked salmon fillet and top with the garlic and fresh herbs.

salt free salmon recipe cooked on the grill, skillet, or big green egg

More Great Low Sodium Summer Dinners

Let’s keep in touch – don’t forget to follow over on Instagram, Facebook, & my Youtube channel for more easy low sodium recipes.

If you made this recipe please leave a star rating & comment below. Your feedback helps other people who are making this recipe.

low sodium dinners cookbook low salt cookbook ideas for dinners side dishes and salads

Our FIRST Low Sodium Cookbook is now available!

Check out Low Sodium Dinners: 100+ Low Sodium Recipes That Actually Taste Good, available here:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

This post may contain affiliate links. Please note I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases from affiliate programs, at no additional cost to you. Please read our privacy policy for more information.