I’m the first to admit that I reach for store-bought seasoning blends far too often.

If you have the time, you can really enhance the flavor of your seafood by making your own homemade seasoning.

This salmon seasoning is packed with dill, chili powder, garlic, onion, and mustard. Once you try it, you’ll never use the store-bought stuff again.

The best homemade salmon seasoning

I cook salmon at least a few times a month. It’s a healthy source of protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants, plus it just tastes darn good. Especiallly with this rub, which I’ve been for years.

Ingredients you’ll need

• Dried dill – I find that dill helps salmon shine. If you’re not a big fan of dill, you can skip it, but I recommend at least trying it in this recipe because it brings all of the flavors together wonderfully. 
• Dried mustard – dried mustard brings a bright, acidic kick to this seasoning blend that helps balance out the other flavors.
• Chili powder – chili powder brings a nice, smoky undertone to the overall flavor of this seasoning. Could also swap for smoked paprika
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Salt – Use a course ground Kosher or sea salt
• Black pepper – Freshly cracked

Equipment you’ll need

• Bowl – or a jar

Tips for using this seasoning

I tend to have a pretty heavy hand when it comes to seasoning food, probably thanks to being a BBQ chick, but when it comes to fish, you want to pull your punches a little bit. 

A light, even layer of seasoning across all sides of your fish is more than enough. Over-seasoning your salmon can cause the seasoning to burn while it’s cooking, and you also don’t want to diminish the fish’s natural flavor.

What can you use this seasoning on? 

I created seasoning for grilling salmon. It does not contain sugar, which tends to burn at high heat.

The great thing about this salmon seasoning blend is that it tastes great on all types of seafood. From fish and shrimp to crab and lobster, this blend pairs wonderfully with so many different things.

It’s also a great all-purpose seasoning for chicken, pork, and other white meats. You could use this seasoning on any of these recipes:

• Grilled Halibut with Easy Lemon Sauce
• Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon
• Smoked Chicken Thighs
• Blue Moon Beer Smoked Chicken
• Crispy Chicken on the Pellet Grill

How long is this seasoning good for?

If you plan to make a larger batch of this seasoning to keep on hand, you can store it in an airtight container for up to 6 months with no issues.

It’s always a good idea to check the expiration date on your individual spices to gauge how long your blend will be good before it starts to lose its potency. 

Spices don’t technically expire, at least not in a way that will get anyone sick. The thing with ground and dried spices is that they tend to lose their flavor over time, which is why an airtight container is essential.

Another issue you may encounter is clumping. Especially in humid environments, spices tend to start to clump over time. If this happens, just give the container a good shake and break up any hard clusters with a spoon or a fork, and you’ll be good to go.

How to make this salmon seasoning

1. Use high-quality herbs and spices 

While it’s easy to choose the cheapest option on the grocery store shelf when shopping for spices, the quality matters more than you think. The higher-quality spices, while a bit more expensive, will take you a lot further in terms of flavor.

Your spices should be bright and aromatic, not dull. Look for organic options when they are available, and if you have access to fresh, locally-grown spices, that will be your best bet.

Also, check the expiry date. You don’t want anything near the end of its shelf life.

2. Blend your herbs and spices

This step probably goes without saying, but you need to mix all of your spices together.

Add them to a bowl and mix them thoroughly with the end of a butter knife or a small spoon. The goal is to have a consistent, well-incorporated seasoning blend.

A great way to whip up any seasoning blend is to add it to an empty spice jar and give it a good shake. This is also a fantastic way to store any leftovers.

Generally, this recipe is enough for four medium-sized salmon filets or a whole side of salmon. If you want to make more, you can multiply the recipe.

Grilled salmon rub

My favorite way to prepare samon is outdoors on my griddle. The flattop surface works great for cooking delicate food like fish.

I start by preheating the griddle to medium heat. While it’s warming up I’ll apply a nice even coating of the seasoning to my salmon fillets.

I’ll give the griddle a light layer of oil, and then place the salmon fillets on, along with some slices of lemon to get a nice char.

After a few minutes I’ll flip the salmon, and squize some juice form the charred lemon and then place a slice of lemon on top.

We have a full recipe Blackstone Salmon you can check out for all the steps.

You could also use a pellet grill, which will give the salmon some nice smokey flavor or even dice some salmon into cubes and make smoked salmon burnt ends.

More Rubs and Seasonings

We have easy homemade rubs and seasoning for a variety of different grilled and smoked foods.

• Smoked Turkey Rub
• The Best Prime Rib Rub
• BBQ Coffee Rub – Great on steak
• Homemade Brisket Rub
• Ultimate Dry Rub for Ribs

Print

The Best Homemade Salmon Seasoning

Fresh and citrusy salmon seasoning, with just a hint of chili.

Course Rub/Seasoning

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 11kcal

Author Breanna Stark

Ingredients

• 2 tsp dried dill weed
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp sea salt or Kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper course grind

Instructions

• Combine all of the spices in a bowl or empty seasoning container. Mix until well combined.
• Use immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Notes

If you plan to make more than 4 servings or want to make a large batch to keep on hand, you can multiply the ingredients evenly. 

Nutrition

Calories: 11kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 592mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.5mg