✔ Updated · 30 ideas: cold, quick, cozy + brunch
Leftover salmon is a gift: it's already cooked, so dinner is halfway done. These 30 easy recipes turn yesterday's fillet into crispy salmon cakes, creamy pasta, fried rice and more.
The best ways to use leftover salmon are salmon cakes, salmon fried rice, creamy lemon salmon pasta, salmon salad sandwiches, tacos, quiche and chowder. Flake it cold into salads, dips and bowls, or add it at the very end of hot dishes and warm it just through so it stays moist. Use cooked salmon within 3 to 4 days.
- No-cook: salmon salad, dip, Niçoise, spring rolls.
- Fast hot meals: fried rice, pasta, tacos, quesadillas.
- Brunch: scramble, frittata, quiche, salmon cakes.
- Safety: fridge 3 to 4 days; reheat to 165°F.
No-Cook Leftover Salmon Recipes
Cold salmon is delicious, so these need nothing more than a fork and a bowl. Flake it into big chunks, check for stray bones and you're off.
1. Salmon Salad
Like tuna salad, only better: flaked salmon, mayo, celery, red onion, dill and lemon. Great on crackers or in lettuce cups.
How: Mix 2 cups flaked salmon with 1/3 cup mayo, diced celery, red onion, chopped dill and a squeeze of lemon.
2. Salmon Dip
Cream cheese, lemon, green onion and flaked salmon whipped into a party dip in 10 minutes.
How: Beat 8 oz cream cheese with 1/4 cup sour cream and lemon; fold in 1 cup salmon, dill and green onion. Chill 1 hour.
3. Dill Salmon Sandwiches
Salmon salad with dill and capers piled on soft bread with cucumber. The lunchbox upgrade.
How: Spread bread with salmon salad, add thin cucumber slices and a few capers; make the night before if you like.
4. Salmon Niçoise Salad
The French classic with salmon in place of tuna: potatoes, green beans, eggs, olives and tomatoes.
How: Arrange boiled potatoes, green beans, hard-boiled eggs, olives, tomatoes and salmon; drizzle with Dijon vinaigrette.
5. Salmon Caesar Salad
Crisp romaine, croutons, Parmesan and creamy dressing, topped with big flakes of salmon.
How: Toss romaine with Caesar dressing and croutons, then top with chilled salmon and shaved Parmesan.
6. Salmon Pasta Salad
Short pasta, peas, cucumber and salmon in a lemony yogurt-dill dressing. A brilliant cookout side.
How: Toss cooled pasta with peas, cucumber and salmon; dress with Greek yogurt, lemon, dill and a little mayo.
7. Salmon Spring Rolls
Rice paper rolls with salmon, crunchy veg, herbs and noodles, dunked in sweet chili or peanut sauce.
How: Soften rice paper, fill with vermicelli, salmon, carrot, cucumber, mint and basil; roll tightly.
8. Salmon Avocado Toast
Smashed avocado on toast topped with salmon, lemon, chili flakes and a few pickled onions.
How: Mash avocado with lime and salt, spread on toast, top with salmon flakes and chili flakes.
Rice, Tacos and Bowls
9. Salmon Fried Rice
Day-old rice, scrambled egg, peas and salmon tossed in a hot pan with soy and sesame. Ready in 15 minutes.
Get the recipe →
10. Spicy Salmon Sushi Bake
All the flavor of a spicy salmon roll in a casserole you scoop onto nori sheets. Party favorite.
Get the recipe →11. Cooked Salmon Sushi Rolls
No raw fish needed: seasoned rice, cooked salmon, cucumber and avocado rolled in nori.
How: Spread seasoned sushi rice on nori, line with salmon, cucumber and avocado, roll tightly and slice.
12. Salmon Rice Bowls
Rice topped with salmon, cucumber, edamame, avocado and spicy mayo. Like a poke bowl, made with cooked salmon.
How: Top warm rice with salmon, veg and avocado; drizzle with sriracha mayo and sprinkle sesame seeds.
13. Salmon Tacos
Warm tortillas with salmon, crunchy cabbage slaw, avocado and a lime crema.
How: Warm salmon briefly in a skillet with chili powder and lime; fill tortillas and top with slaw and crema.
14. Salmon Quesadillas
Salmon, spinach and melty pepper jack in a crisp tortilla. Leftovers to lunch in 10 minutes.
How: Layer cheese, salmon and spinach on a tortilla, fold and cook 2 to 3 minutes a side until golden.
Cozy Pasta, Soups and Bakes
15. Creamy Lemon Salmon Pasta
Garlic, lemon, cream and dill sauce with flaked salmon folded in at the end so it stays tender.
How: Simmer garlic in butter, add cream, lemon zest and Parmesan; toss with pasta, then fold in salmon and warm 1 minute.
16. Salmon Pesto Pasta
Basil pesto, cherry tomatoes and salmon flakes. Hot for dinner, cold for lunch the next day.
How: Toss hot pasta with pesto and halved tomatoes; add salmon and a squeeze of lemon.
17. Salmon Mac and Cheese
Creamy cheddar mac with salmon and peas, finished under a crunchy breadcrumb topping.
How: Fold salmon and peas into stovetop mac and cheese, top with buttered panko and broil until golden.
18. Salmon Chowder
A thick, creamy soup of potatoes, corn, bacon and salmon. Pure comfort on a cold night.
How: Simmer potatoes and corn in broth with bacon and onion, add cream, then stir in salmon for the last 2 minutes.
19. Salmon Ramen
Upgrade instant noodles with salmon, a soft egg, bok choy and a drizzle of chili oil.
How: Cook noodles in seasoned broth with bok choy; top with warmed salmon, a halved soft-boiled egg and green onion.
20. Fish Pie
Salmon and white fish in a creamy parsley sauce under fluffy mashed potato. A British classic.
How: Mix salmon, cooked white fish and peas in white sauce, top with mash and bake at 400°F for 25 minutes.
21. Salmon and Potato Bake
Sliced potatoes, salmon and spinach baked in a garlicky cream sauce under melted cheese.
How: Layer par-cooked potato slices with salmon and spinach, pour over garlic cream, top with cheese and bake until bubbling.
Brunch and Egg Dishes
22. Salmon and Egg Scramble
Soft scrambled eggs with salmon, chives and a spoonful of cream cheese. Fancy brunch in 5 minutes.
How: Scramble eggs gently over low heat; fold in salmon, cream cheese and chives just before they set.
23. Salmon Frittata
Eggs, salmon, asparagus or spinach and goat cheese, finished in the oven. Slices beautifully.
How: Pour 8 beaten eggs over sautéed veg and salmon in an ovenproof skillet; bake at 375°F for 15 to 18 minutes until set.
24. Salmon Quiche
Buttery crust, silky custard, salmon, leeks and Gruyère. Delicious warm or cold the next day.
How: Fill a pie crust with salmon and soft leeks, pour over 3 eggs whisked with 1 cup cream, bake at 375°F for 35 minutes.
25. Salmon Soufflé
Light, puffy and impressive, with salmon, chives and parsley. Serve it straight from the oven.
How: Fold whipped egg whites into a thick salmon and cheese sauce; bake in a buttered dish at 375°F for 25 minutes.
26. Salmon Eggs Benedict
Toasted English muffins, warmed salmon, poached eggs and lemony hollandaise.
How: Top toasted muffins with warm salmon and a poached egg, then spoon over hollandaise.
Salmon Cakes, Burgers and Hash
Salmon cakes are the most-requested leftover dinner in my house. Max calls them "fish nuggets" and somehow there are never any left for lunch the next day.
27. Salmon Cakes
Crispy outside, tender inside, with lemon and dill. The best use for slightly dry leftover salmon.
How: Mix 2 cups salmon with 1 egg, 1/2 cup panko, mayo, Dijon and herbs; shape 6 patties and pan-fry 3 to 4 minutes a side.
28. Salmon Burgers
Bigger salmon patties on toasted buns with tartar sauce, lettuce and pickled onions.
How: Shape the salmon cake mix into 4 patties, chill 20 minutes, then pan-fry and serve on buns.
29. Salmon Croquettes
Southern-style patties with cornmeal crust and a little onion and bell pepper. Great with grits.
How: Mix salmon with egg, cornmeal, onion and pepper; fry in a little oil until golden on both sides.
30. Salmon Hash
Crispy potatoes, onions and peppers with salmon folded in and an egg on top.
How: Fry diced cooked potatoes until crisp, add onion and pepper, fold in salmon and top with fried eggs.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Salmon
Cooked salmon keeps 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge at 40°F or below. Get it into the fridge within 2 hours of cooking. For longer storage, freeze it wrapped tightly for up to 3 months for best quality, then thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Eat it cold: totally safe within 3 to 4 days, and the best way to keep it moist.
- Oven: cover with foil and warm at 275°F for about 15 minutes until it reaches 165°F.
- Skillet: add a splash of water or broth, cover and warm over low heat.
- Microwave: cover and use 50% power in short bursts to avoid rubbery edges.
- In recipes: add it at the end; it only needs warming through.
More Salmon Ideas
Cooking a fresh fillet tonight? Pair it with one of our best side dishes for salmon, and make extra on purpose so you can try a recipe from this list tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do with leftover cooked salmon?
Turn it into salmon cakes, fried rice, creamy salmon pasta, salmon salad sandwiches, tacos, a quiche or a chowder. Cold salmon is great flaked into salads, dips and rice bowls, while hot dishes only need the salmon added at the end to warm it through.
Can you eat leftover salmon cold?
Yes. Cooked salmon that was refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking is safe to eat cold for 3 to 4 days. Cold salmon is excellent in salads, sandwiches, dips and grain bowls, and it stays moister than reheated salmon.
How long is leftover salmon good for in the fridge?
Cooked salmon lasts 3 to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container at 40°F or below. If you won't use it in time, freeze it for up to 3 months. Throw it out if it smells sour or feels slimy.
How do you reheat salmon without drying it out?
Reheat it low and slow. Cover it with foil and warm it in a 275°F oven for about 15 minutes, or cover it in a skillet with a splash of water over low heat. Heat until it reaches 165°F, or simply eat it cold.
Can you use leftover baked salmon in pasta?
Yes, it is one of the best uses. Make the sauce first, toss it with the hot pasta, then fold in flaked salmon for the last minute so it warms through without breaking up or drying out. Lemon, dill, garlic and cream all pair well.
