Why I love this grilled salmon recipe

Words can’t even begin to describe how much I love this salmon recipe. The marinade is so full of flavor, and the combination of ingredients are a little different than the ones we normally go for with salmon, which makes them such a good change of pace.

I’m not a huge fan of kabobs because they tend to dry out really quickly, but I am in love with these. The lemons slices add so much extra flavor, and since they’re grilled with the salmon, they’re way more mellow, almost caramelized in flavor. It’s just beyond perfect.

More grilling recipes you’ll love: smoked chicken wings / grilled chicken tenders / Dr. Pepper ribs

4 salmon kabobs on a white serving platter

Here’s what you’ll need to make them

closeup of salmon kabobs on a serving platter garnished with capers and fresh parsley

How to make salmon kabobs

Marinate the salmon. Put all of your ingredients into a mixing bowl, and stir until they’re combine. Next, cut your salmon into cubes, about 1 – 1.5 inches in size.

Add your cubed salmon right into the bowl with the marinade and cover the bowl. Let the salmon marinate for at least 30 minutes. Ideally, you want to let it set for an hour or so.

Now is also a great time to soak your wooden skewers. I like to put mine on a small quarter-sheet pan with water and top them with a bowl or saucepan to hold them down.

Assemble the kabobs. Push the salmon cubes onto the wooden skewers, placing a lemon slice in between the salmon.

Grill the kabobs. Preheat your grill to high heat (about 450˚F) with a grill grate or a piece of heavy duty aluminum foil. Grill the skewers for about 10 minutes total, turning once.

salmon kebabs with lemon on a serving platter

FAQs and tips for making the best grilled salmon

How long do you soak skewers for kabobs?

Wooden skewers should be soaked for at least 30 minutes to ensure they won’t burn on the grill. I like to start mine soaking at the same time I start my salmon marinade to make sure I don’t forget. If you’re using metal skewers, you can skip this step.

How long should you marinate salmon?

You need to marinade your salmon for at least 30 minutes for the flavor to soak into the fish. Normally, I recommend anywhere from 30 minutes to 8 hours. Since fish is more delicate than other proteins, it doesn’t need as much time to marinate, so you don’t need to worry about soaking it overnight.

How long do you cook kabobs on the grill?

Salmon kabobs only take about 10 minutes to cook on the grill. If you’re cooking other types of protein, or vegetable kabobs, you might need to adjust your cooking time.

Do you have to flip salmon on the grill?

Normally, you don’t need to turn salmon on the grill, because it cooks really quickly, but since we’re making skewers I prefer to cook them on both sides to get a nice caramelization. Turning the salmon won’t affect the cooking time though.

salmon and lemon kabobs on a plate with garlic rice

More easy salmon recipes

More kabob recipes you’ll love

close up of grilled salmon skewers on a plate with rice
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5 from 2 votes

Grilled Salmon Kabobs

By: Melissa Belanger
These grilled salmon kabobs are soaked in in a unique marinade blend that’s full of flavor and skewered with lemon. If you can’t cook them on the grill, they can also be baked in the oven. Either way, you’ll get delicious, perfectly seasoned salmon that pairs perfectly with your favorite sides.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 1 1/2 – 2 pounds salmon, cubed
  • 2 lemons, thinly sliced

For the marinade:

  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon
  • 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
  • 2 teaspoon capers
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions 

  • Add the marinade ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Whisk to combine.
  • Place the cubed salmon into the marinade and cover the bowl. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the salmon to marinate. While the salmon marinates, soak the wooden skewers.
  • Assemble the skewers with a lemon slice between each of the salmon cubes, about 5 salmon pieces per kabob.
  • Preheat grill to high heat, and add a grill grate or piece of heavy duty aluminum foil.
  • Grill salmon for 10 minutes, turning once to evenly brown both sides.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 17g, Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 47mg, Sodium: 399mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin C: 17mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Hi! I'm Melissa.

I create easy, dairy free recipes because I know how hard living without milk can be. I believe you can live a completely satisfying life without dairy, and I want to teach you how.

Read more about me

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5 from 2 votes

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2 Comments

  1. Carol says:

    5 stars
    Delish! Followed it exactly.
    Is there a non-grill cooking method you recommend? I thought maybe air fryer?

    Reply
  2. Sheri says:

    5 stars
    This was served at a Memorial Day BBQ and was amazing!

    Reply