How to Smoke Salmon Recipe [+Video]

Smoked salmon is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a snack, appetizer, or part of a main course. Learn how to smoke salmon at home with our easy-to-follow recipe and video tutorial below.

We start this recipe with a dry brine that loads the salmon fillets with flavor and prepares them to soak in all the smoky flavor. This is a hot-smoked salmon recipe made on a wood pellet smoker.

We have covered all our bases when it comes to salmon here on the blog. We have air fryer salmon, grilled salmon, baked salmon, salmon in a salad, salmon bowls and stuffed salmon. We have been working on a smoked salmon recipe for years, and we have finally nailed it!

Ingredients for Smoked Salmon

Aside from the salmon filets, you’ll need just a few ingredients for the dry brine rub and then a few ingredients for the seasoning mix you rub all over it before smoking it. Here is what you will need:

Dry Brine

• Kosher Salt: adds flavor
• Brown Sugar: adds sweetness and flavor
• Black Pepper: adds flavor and tiny bit of heat

Smoked Salmon

• Salmon Filets: You can get smaller individual filets or get one big filet and then slice it into servings afterward
• Dijon Mustard: adds flavor
• Butter: adds rich flavor and helps keep the salmon moist
• Brown Sugar: adds a little sweetness and helps caramelize the outside of the salmon
• Dill: I almost always prefer fresh herbs for recipes, but for this one, I prefer dried dill.
• Smoked Paprika: adds more smoky flavor
• Salt and Black Pepper: adds flavor
• Maple Syrup: used to baste the fillets as they smoke

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

What is the Best Salmon for Smoking?

I always look for farm-raised salmon when it comes to smoking. They tend to have a higher fat content which helps them stay tender and flaky through the smoking process. King salmon is my go-to. Coho or Atlantic salmon is my backup. You want to avoid really lean salmon like sockeye salmon.

Why Brine Salmon

This brining process will eliminate some of the moisture from the inside of the fish while simultaneously infusing it with salt, which will help preserve the salmon and its moisture and help create a pellicle (see section below).

What is a Pellicle?

One Skillet Mexican Street Corn Chicken

Spice up your weeknight dinner with this easy one skillet Mexican street corn chicken recipe! Featuring tender chicken, charred corn, and a flavorful sauce, this dish is sure to be a hit with the whole family.

We are so obsessed with Mexican street corn here that we have been trying it all sorts of ways…elote corn salad, sheet pan Mexican street corn, in a pasta salad, and I still have so many ideas!

It pairs so deliciously with chicken, and I’ve tried this easy chicken dinner recipe a few ways. This version is my absolute favorite! We basically take tradition Mexican street corn and pile it over some crispy juicy chicken.

At first, I thought it would be best with grilled chicken, but that wasn’t it. It felt like two separate dishes and I didn’t like whole breasts as it didn’t feel as casual and easy to eat. So I cut the chicken into the bite-sized pieces and pan fried it, and it came together beautifully! If you are looking for a new chicken recipe, then give this one a try!

Ingredients for Mexican Street Corn Chicken

Try this delicious and easy one pan Mexican street corn chicken recipe for a flavorful and satisfying meal. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a taste of authentic Mexican street food in your own kitchen! Here is everything you will need:

• Corn on the Cob: We prefer fresh corn, but you can use frozen corn too if you need to. Scroll to the section below for more details.
• Egg: used for dredging the chicken
• Flour: sticks to the egg on the chicken to create a light crispy breading on the chicken
• Kosher Salt: adds flavor
• Black Pepper: adds flavor
• Chicken Breasts: I prefer the flavor and texture of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this recipe cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: helps cook the breaded chicken
• Chili Powder: adds a little heat and traditional elote flavor
• Smoked Paprika: adds rich smoky flavor
• Onion: Just a simple yellow onion works great.
• Garlic: adds flavor
• Salted Butter: helps sauté the vegetables and adds rich flavor
• Mexican Crema: a signature Mexican street corn ingredient that can be found in the refrigerated Latino food section
• Lime: adds acidity and flavor
• Cotija Cheese: another essential component for Mexican s

Healthy Thai Peanut Salad with Grilled Flank Steak

This vibrant Healthy Thai Peanut Salad with Grilled Flank Steak is a protein-packed dish bursting with bold, fresh flavors. Topped with a creamy homemade Thai peanut dressing, it’s the perfect balance of healthy and satisfying! Perfect for lunch or dinner!

Love the rich, nutty flavors of Pad Thai (Thai peanut noodles)? You’re in for a treat! Skip the pasta and give this Healthy Thai Peanut Salad with Grilled Flank Steak a try—it’s a fresh, feel-good twist on a classic favorite.

I can’t stand thinking up a healthy dinner idea every day! It’s exhausting. Cade isn’t much help either (sorry, Cade), and even brainstorming quick dinner recipes can feel like a chore. Throw in the “healthy” factor, and I’m already over it. That’s exactly why I came up with this Healthy Thai Peanut Salad with Grilled Flank Steak. It’s the result of a little rule I’ve been testing out over the past year.

When we started getting more and more requests for healthy dinner recipes, especially quick ones, I knew we needed to rethink things. Not just for adults, but for busy families juggling everything life throws at them.

So one day, as Cade and I were hashing this out, a light bulb went off: instead of stressing about brand-new recipes, why not start with dishes we already love and simply swap out the unhealthy ingredients for better, feel-good options? And guess what? It worked! This salad is proof that healthy can be delicious, simple, and totally doable! Even on a busy weeknight.

How to Make Your Favorite Recipe Healthy

Our new rule is simple: start with a favorite recipe, add more fruits and veggies, and swap out sugars and processed ingredients for healthier alternatives.

It’s easier than you’d think! For example, we took a classic lasagna recipe and made a few clever changes. We used thinly sliced zucchini instead of pasta and cottage cheese instead of ricotta. The result? A dish so good that no one even noticed the swaps. It all bakes together perfectly, and the zucchini melts right in, making it an effortless upgrade.

Who says healthy eating can’t be sneaky and delicious?

Ingredients Needed For Healthy Thai Peanut Salad with Grilled Flank Steak

Salad Ingredients:

• Flank Steak
• Mixed Greens
• Spinach
• Red Bell Pepper
• Orange Bell Pepper
• Red Cabbage
• Avocados
• Carrot
• Cucumber
• Jalapeño
• Sesame Seeds
• Cilantro
• Dry Roasted, Salted Peanuts
• Green Onions

Sauce and Dressing Ingredients:

• Creamy Peanut Butter
• Sriracha
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Toasted Sesame Oil
• Warm Water
• Rice Vinegar
• Fresh Ginger, grated
• Garlic
• Soy Sauce
• Honey

Viral High Protein Eggs and Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl

Start your day with a viral high protein powerhouse—a creamy, savory blend of cottage cheese and perfectly hard-boiled eggs, topped with fresh avocado and vegetables. Packed with over 20 grams of protein, this trending eggs and cottage cheese breakfast bowl is quick, delicious, and totally crave-worthy.

To be honest, I eat this more often for a low-carb lunch than I do for breakfast. It also makes a pretty dang good afternoon snack. I usually do a half serving if I’m eating it as a snack. Whichever way you eat it, it’s a great option for any meal if you’re looking for a healthy, satisfying and flavorful dish. In this recipe, you’ll be eating just 15 carbohydrates along with 21 g protein, 7 g fiber and 25 g fat.

Ingredients Needed for Cottage Cheese and Egg Breakfast Bowl

I bet you never thought you could have a healthy, protein-packed breakfast with only a few ingredients and in just a few minutes. The combination of creamy and crunchy textures with all the savory flavors is so satisfying. Here is everything you need:

• Cottage Cheese: I use low fat, but you can use any variety of cottage cheese you love. It is high in protein and acts as the base for the savory bowl.
  • NOTE: If you end up with extra cottage cheese, use it to make our wild blueberry cottage cheese pancakes for breakfast tomorrow!
• Hard Boiled Eggs: Adds extra healthy protein and can be made days ahead of time making this a quick and easy recipe.
• Grape Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes also work just fine.
• English Cucumber: Adds crunch and fresh flavor, plus no need to peel or remove the seeds.
• Avocados: Adds creaminess and healthy fat.
• Salt and Black Pepper: Adds flavor.
• Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds a little sweetness and a little heat.

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card down below. Keep scrolling for all the details!

How to Make a Cottage Cheese and Egg Breakfast

I almost shouldn’t even call this a recipe because there’s not much to it. Making a savory cottage cheese breakfast bowl is just a matter of assembling the different ingredients and then digging in.

1. Start with the Cottage Cheese Base: Add about 1/2 cup of cottage cheese to a bowl.
2. Add the Components: Slice the egg in half and place on top of the cottage cheese, add the avocado, cucumber and tomatoes followed by a

Easy BLT Pasta Salad

This easy BLT pasta salad recipe is unique with it’s creamy basil dressing and fun shaped pasta. Load it up with salty, crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes and don’t forget the smokey cheddar cheese! BBQ side dishes are jealous when our best pasta salad shows up!

STOP cooking your pasta al dente for pasta salads! This might go against everything you’ve ever heard, but pasta that is slightly overcooked will hold the flavor of the dressing better making a more flavorful pasta salad.

BLTs are Claire’s obsession and she’s always encouraging me to make it into another recipe, so here we are with another pasta salad recipe. We like this served at room temp or slightly warm though cold works as well, but tbh an accidental warm pasta was used once and we’ve really never gone back as it turned out the best.

We also used to make a mayo-based dressing for this pasta salad, but we tried it with this healthier basil dressing and we’ve only used it since. So that’s the dressing we are including in the recipe with a shortcut for using a store-bought ranch if you’re short on time.

If you aren’t familiar with a BLT sandwich, BLT stands for bacon, lettuce and tomato. For a sandwich, we layer those between two pieces of toast that have been slathered with mayo and then devour. We are keeping those same delicious flavors in this tasty pasta salad and adding a fabulous basil dressing, pasta, smoky cheese and creamy avocado.

Ingredients for BLT Pasta Salad

You’ll need a few ingredients for making the homemade dressing, but the pasta salad itself is only needs 6 simple ingredients. Here is everything you will need:

For the Dressing

• Plain Greek Yogurt: lightens up the dressing a little while adding good protein
• Mayonnaise: adds creaminess and tang to the dressing
• Buttermilk: added to thin out the dressing a little while keep the tangy flavor
• Fresh Herbs: Basil, Parsley, Dill and Chives
• Worcestershire: adds depth of flavor
• Seasonings: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Kosher Salt and Black Pepper

For the Salad

• Radiatore or Cavatappi Pasta
• Smoked Cheddar Cheese: sharp cheddar cheese
• Romaine Lettuce: chopped into bite-sized pieces
• Cherry Tomatoes: halved
• Bacon: cooked ahead of time and chopped
• Avocado: adds creaminess and healthy fats

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Easy BLT Pasta Salad

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