Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 18 Comments

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A family favorite! This easy grilled pesto salmon recipe in foil, with sautéed peppers and shallots, requires virtually no clean-up. It’s equally good for weeknight meals and entertaining! 254 calories and 1 Weight Watchers SP
Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (1)

Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil

By no choice of my husband's, the grill has become my domain, and this easy grilled pesto salmon recipe has become a favorite around here. His mistake was helping me to get over my irrational fear of turning on the gas grill (see How to: Turn on a Gas Grill if you know that fear well). I now wield the tongs like Annie Oakley wielded her six-shooter. I am one with the fire.

As soon as the nice weather hits, I turn to barbecuing for about 75% of our meals. One of our favorites, thanks to my mum's ingenuity, is . Since that recipe is always such a success, I used the same principles, but changed up the flavors with a dollop of basil pesto and some sauteed red bell peppers and shallots.

Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (2)

And the leftovers? Amazing on a pizza! That was my husband's brilliant idea.

Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (3)

Tips for making this pesto salmon recipe:

  • Start by sautéing the peppers and shallots in a little olive oil. Cook them until they are just starting to soften. Remember, you'll be cooking them further on the grill.
  • While the peppers and shallots are cooking, smear the piece of salmon with some homemade or store-bought basil pesto. Make sure that you like the taste of the pesto you're using because, besides the salmon itself, this is the essence of the recipe.
  • Cover the salmon with the sautéed peppers and shallots, and wrap it all in one pretty foil package. Ten to fifteen minutes later, you will be rewarded with a tender, flavorful meal. Easy, right?
  • Use a double layer of regular foil or a single layer of heavy duty foil. Either works! I place the foil packet on a baking sheet so that it's easy to carry to and from the grill. When sliding the foil package off of the grill once the salmon is cooked, be sure to use tongs or a metal spatula because the foil will be hot.

Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (4)

How to tell when salmon is cooked:

  • The biggest challenge in any salmon recipe (okay, any fish recipe at all) is taking care not to overcook the salmon. If have a little trick for you.
  • Stick a small sharp knife into the thickest part of the salmon and hold it there for 10 seconds. Remove the knife and cautiously touch it to your upper lip (it's very sensitive to temperature). If the knife is hot, the fish is done. Seriously, it works every time.

Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (5)

Other easy grilling recipes:

{Cookin' Canuck}
How to: Grill Corn {Cookin' Canuck}
Chicken Shawarma with Lime Avocado Mayo {The Iron You}
Grilled Nectarine & Chevre Salad with Honey Fig Vinaigrette {Simple Healthy Kitchen}
Smoky Portobello Tacos {Dessert for Two}

Printable Recipe

Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (6)

Easy Grilled Pesto Salmon in Foil Recipe

This easy grilled salmon recipe in foil, with basil pesto and sautéed peppers and shallots, requires virtually no clean-up. It’s perfect for busy weeknights and entertaining! 254 calories and 1 Weight Watchers SP

4.86 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Entrees

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Gluten Free, Grilling Recipes, Healthy Dinner Recipes

Servings: 6 Servings

Calories: 254.1kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • ¼ cup minced shallots
  • 1 red bell pepper cut into thin strips
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 ½ pounds salmon salmon filet with or without skin (remove before eating)
  • 3 tablespoon basil pesto purchased or homemade

Instructions

  • Preheat the grill to medium heat.

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes.

  • Add the red bell pepper, salt and pepper, and cook until the bell pepper is just tender, about 3 minutes.

  • Lay the salmon on a double sheet of foil that is lightly coated with cooking spray.

  • Spread the pesto over the salmon and arrange the shallot and red bell peppers over the pesto.

  • Seal the foil by folding it as though you wrapping a present. Slide the foil packet onto the grill and close the lid. Cook until the salmon is just cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon. Take care not to overcook the salmon.

  • Unwrap the salmon from the foil,4cut into pieces and serve hot or at room temperature.

Notes

Weight Watchers Points: 1 (Freestyle SmartPoints), 6 (Points+)

Nutrition

Serving: 0.16of Salmon | Calories: 254.1kcal | Carbohydrates: 2.7g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 12.7g | Saturated Fat: 2.3g | Cholesterol: 65.2mg | Sodium: 186.2mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 0.8g

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

This recipes was originally published on May 27, 2014, and was updated on June 20, 2019.

Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (7)

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (8)

More Entrees

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  • Greek Baked Turkey Meatballs
  • Grilled Chicken Thighs with Sweet Chili Glaze
  • Grilled Salmon Recipe with Spice Rub

Reader Interactions

Comments

    4.86 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Comment

  1. Frances

    Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (13)
    Easy and the foil wrap keeps salmon from drying out. I used a pesto seasoning blend as a rub and then added a tab of pesto. I baked it in the oven at 400. We liked it very much. Will do again.

    Reply

  2. Ashley Judd

    Eating was believing! Absolutely delicious. Grilled on recommended temperature made the difference. Nice smoky outside, flake tender inside. I love simple, easy recipes as well. This one is a keeper .

    Reply

  3. Ashley Judd

    Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (14)
    It’s been a good while since I made oven baked salmon. My recipe is similar to yours but I haven’t tried it with peppers yet. Looks like it’s the highest time to do so!

    Reply

  4. Noelle

    Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (15)
    This was a great pesto flavor! Loved everything about this, can't wait to make again

    Reply

  5. Suzy

    Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (16)
    Simple and easy meals like this are the best! Loved the flavor and how easy it was to make@

    Reply

  6. Rocky Mountain Woman

    Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (17)
    I am trying to "become one with the fire" this summer! My goal for the summer is to learn how to cook over coals.

    This is a lovely recipe! Thanks for sharing it.

    Reply

  7. Shirley

    when the cold weather hits here ( Montreal) , how long would you cook this in the oven? Great flavours! Thank you!

    Reply

  8. Cassie Sue

    Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (18)
    I made this last night and it was fantastic! And it really couldn't be any easier. Even my husband who swore that "Pesto is not his favorite" thought it was delicious. I did add a little red pepper flakes to the salmon, and topped it with some parmesan cheese when it came out of the oven (to woo the hubby) but those items really were not needed. I served it alongside some mashed potatoes.

    I will be making it again in the future. Thanks!

    Reply

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Grilled Pesto Salmon Recipe in Foil | Easy Salmon Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to grill salmon in foil or not? ›

If you're looking to cook a large fillet of salmon on the grill, wrap it in foil! It's much easier to manage this way, and you'll get a tender piece of fish that is impressive looking. This method takes about 14 to 18 minutes.

How do I make sure salmon doesn't stick to foil? ›

Prepare the Salmon: Place each salmon fillet on an individual piece of foil. Drizzle them with olive oil, ensuring a nice, even coating. This step not only adds a touch of richness but also helps prevent sticking.

When baking salmon do you cover it or leave it uncovered? ›

Bake salmon, uncovered, 4 to 6 minutes per ½-inch thickness. Bake a dressed salmon 6 to 9 minutes per 8 ounces of fish. Always check your fish at the minimum baking time to ensure your baked salmon doesn't get overcooked.

Do you use baking paper or foil for salmon? ›

Fold a fillet into a cut piece of parchment, and then layer it with seasonings or perhaps vegetables or citrus fruit. Then simply bake the packets until done. The steam created by the parchment produces reliably moist salmon, and opening the individual packets at the table makes for a fun way to start dinner.

Should salmon be flipped when grilling? ›

When grilling salmon with skin, always start with the fillets skin-side down and there's no need to flip. The skin is more durable than the flesh and can withstand more time on the hot surface of the grill without overcooking while protecting the tender flesh from the direct heat of the grill.

Should you oil salmon before grilling? ›

Right before placing it on the grill, lightly rub the salmon with olive oil on both sides, and sprinkle with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Always season fish just before grilling to avoid moisture loss and flare-ups.

How long do you cook a 1 inch piece of salmon? ›

Since most fillets are about one inch thick in the thickest part, bake until salmon is cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes. As a general rule, bake salmon for 10-12 minutes per inch of thickness at 425 degrees Fahrenheit to get perfectly baked salmon that is moist, flaky, and full of flavour.

How to keep grilled salmon moist? ›

I recommend grilling salmon at a medium-high heat, or 375 to 400 degrees F so that it gives the salmon a nice char while sealing in all of the moisture.

How do you cook salmon so the white stuff doesn't come out? ›

It tastes completely fine, it's good for you, it's just another protein that comes out from the side of the salmon." Albumin also appears when you cook your salmon quickly. The easiest way to prevent albumin from appearing is to cook salmon slowly over low heat — and to make sure you don't cook it to death.

What to season salmon with? ›

Salmon does not need much seasoning to be flavorful. You can season it with just salt and black pepper or with a combination of lemon juice, fresh herbs, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, butter, minced garlic, and any other flavors you desire. 3. Dry the salmon to ensure crispy skin.

Is it better to bake salmon at 350 or 400? ›

What's the Best Temperature for Baking Salmon? If baking individual salmon fillet portions, a higher temperature of 400 to 425 degrees F is best.

How to tell when salmon is done? ›

Internal temperature: Use an instant-read meat thermometer; the salmon should register 145°F (63°C) at its thickest part. Flakiness: When gently pressed with a fork, the fish should easily flake apart. Avoid overcooking, as it can dry out the salmon. Cook with the skin side down for best results.

Do you flip salmon in foil? ›

This grilled-salmon-in-foil method is dependable and stress-free because there's no flipping required, and the foil keeps the fish skin from sticking to your grill grates and causing a mess that can also result in the loss of your precious protein.

Is salmon better in foil or no foil? ›

Cooking salmon in foil just makes things easier. It creates a buttery, fresh, evenly cooked fish without having to be as precise. Moisture is preserved while flavor is exploded! Your fish won't have any char marks either!

How to stop salmon sticking to foil? ›

Brush one side with olive oil or melted butter. This will help prevent sticking. Place your salmon fillet on one side of the foil.

Is it better to grill fish in foil or on the grill? ›

Grilling fish in foil is the best solution. It keeps the fish intact, locks in moisture and helps the heat distribute evenly. It also allows you to add in herbs and aromatics to perfectly season your grilled fish fillets.

Is it better to grill with or without aluminum foil? ›

There is scientific evidence that cooking foods in aluminum foil leaches the metal into food at higher amounts than is safe for our bodies to absorb, based on the World Health Organization's acceptable limits.

Can you grill salmon without foil? ›

While you can grill salmon without foil (see these classic Grilled Salmon Fillets and Cedar Plank Salmon for recipes), for a foolproof method that works especially well for a large piece of salmon, use the foil packet method. Using foil to make a packet around the salmon keeps the salmon moist when grilling.

Why cook salmon in foil? ›

So, the first thing we love about baking salmon in foil is that it keeps the moisture in. The foil seals in moisture and boosts the flavor even with very little seasoning! Also, we love to bake our Salmon because it requires little attention from the chef. You simply throw the salmon in, set the timer, and off you go.

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