This Traeger Grilled Salmon recipe is simple, healthy, and incredibly delicious. All you need is some salmon, ghee, lemon, your favorite dry seasoning, and a pellet grill. This Traeger Salmon also comes together quickly, making it the perfect easy meal.

Grilled salmon on a sheet pan surrounded by asparagus, potatoes and grilled lemon.

Traeger Grilled Salmon

We purchased a Traeger Pellet grill last summer, and let me tell you…, I’m IMPRESSED! I love this thing, and in turn, I now use my Traeger grill to cook as much as possible. Pre Traeger, I had baked my salmon in the oven, and while it worked fine, this is now my go-to salmon recipe as it imparts such a great flavor.

This Traeger Salmon recipe can be made with either 1 large filet, or multiple smaller cuts of salmon. You can also customize the flavors a bit, and use your favorite spice rub or seasoning for this recipe.

Grilled salmon is perfect for a weeknight dinner, paired with Smoked Asparagus and Truffle Mashed Potatoes. You can also use this Traeger Salmon for my Pasta Alla Salmone recipe, which the entire family will enjoy.

Wild Salmon vs Farm Raised Salmon

Wild caught salmon are caught in their natural environment, are a deeper shade of red, and overall lower in fat and total calories. Wild-caught salmon is also more nutrient dense, being that it’s higher in many vitamins and minerals such as potassium, zinc and calcium (as opposed to the Farm-raised variety).

Farm-raised salmon are raised in crowded pens, are more of a light pink color, and are higher in saturated fat and total calories than wild-caught salmon. Additionally, farm-raised salmon contain more contaminants than wild-caught salmon.

Ingredients

Wild Salmon: (1) 12 oz or (2) 6oz fresh salmon filets. You can find good quality wild salmon in most grocery stores, and you will want to look for a deep pink salmon filet. For this recipe, I used coho salmon, but you can use any type of salmon, such as sockeye salmon or king salmon. Both would be delicious.
Ghee:I love using Ghee, but you can also use butter, avocado oil, olive oil or smoked butter
Lemon: You will want to use fresh lemon for this recipe. With only a few ingredients in this recipe it's important that we use high quality (which does not always mean expensive) products.
Seasoning: Use your favorite seasoning blend or dry rub. I personally enjoy using herbs de Provence, or New Bae, Amore or Jerk Seasoning from Primal Palate. Any of these would be good choices.
Sea Salt or Kosher Salt: You will want to adjust the salt based on the dry rub or seasoning you use. If your seasoning already has salt, just add a pinch. If you use something like Herbs de Provence, you might need to add a little more salt.

Wild uncooked salmon on parchment paper with oil, seasonings, lemon and salt in small bowls.

Instructions

Preheat your pellet grill to 350 degrees f.
Gently rinse your salmon filets, then pat them dry with a paper towel.
Combine the ghee, lemon juice, spice rub and salt in a small bowl. Next, use a basting brush to evenly distribute the ghee and spice mixture over the top of the salmon fillet.
Place salmon skin side down onto the grill grates of your wood pellet grill.
Cook with the lid closed until the internal temperature of the salmon has reached 140 degrees F, which is about 15-20 minutes for 6” filets. (The amount of time my vary depending on the size of your salmon).
Once the salmon is done, remove the filets from the grill and serve with an additional squeeze of lemon juice.

Two raw salmon filets on parchment paper with melted butter next to it in a small bowl.

Two salmon filets with one being brushed with an herb butter mixture.

Salmon filets on the grill grates of a smoker.

Tips And Tricks

Check The Internal Temperature: Depending on the size and thickness of your salmon, cooking time will vary. Start checking the internal temperature using an instant read thermometer at about the 15 minute mark.
Use Fresh Organic Ingredients: This easy recipe only requires a handful of ingredients, so it’s very important that you use good quality, fresh ingredients for great results. Not only are higher quality ingredients better for you, but they also allow for a more robust flavor.
Use Good Quality Salmon: Do your best to use wild salmon, and if you can try using wild king salmon as it has a higher fat content resulting is a very juicy salmon.

Variations

Change Up The Fish: If you don’t have salmon on hand, this recipe works well with wild cod or sablefish!
Fat: If you don’t like ghee or butter, you can swap it out for Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Avocado Oil.
Extra Smoky: Try using smoked butter.
Place Around With The Spices: You can swap out any spice mix to keep things interesting! Want a little heat? Try using a chipotle spice mix. Want to add a French twist? Try using Herbs de Provence. Enjoy a touch of sweetness? Add some brown sugar to your spice blend. The options are endless.

What To Serve With Traeger Grilled Salmon

Two pieces of grilled salmon on a baking sheet surrounded with asparagus, potatoes and grilled lemons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Need To Flip Salmon When Grilling?

No. You do not have to flip salmon when grilling. Place the salmon skin side down on the grill grates of your Traeger smoker and leave it there for the entire cook-time.

What Should I Put On Salmon Before Grilling?

Salmon is very versatile; you can season salmon many ways prior to grilling it. You can use any dry-rub that you enjoy, or keep it super simple and season with salt and pepper. If you are using a leaner salmon like coho or sockeye, you may want to brush the salmon filet with olive oil or butter prior to grilling, as the additional fat will help keep the fish moist.

How Do You Know When Grilled Salmon Is Done?

Grilled salmon is done when it has reached an internal temperature of 140 degrees f.

What Is The White Stuff That Comes Out Of Salmon?

The white stuff on salmon is a protein that exists in the fish called albumin. When the salmon is exposed to heat the liquid coagulates, which is the white stuff you see coming out of the fish.

What Kind Of Wood Chips Should I Use For Salmon?

I really like using Applewood, Hickory or Mesquite to enhance the smoky flavor, but you can use any wood pellets that you like.

Two grilled salmon filets with asparagus and roasted potatoes on a baking sheet.

How To Serve

Serve this Traeger Grilled Salmon alongside veggies and potatoes to make it a full meal. You can also use this salmon for other recipes like my Pasta Alla Salmone.

How To Store

You can store this grilled salmon in an airtight food storage container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

More Smoker Recipes

Smoked Butter With Sea Salt