Sockeye Salmon Recipe: Grilled Chili Lime Salmon

This Sockeye Salmon Recipe features Grilled Chili Lime Salmon with Pineapple, and is perfect way to make fish the main meal at your spring and summer cookouts!

If you landed here looking for a STRAWBERRY SALSA salmon recipe, you aren’t lost!  Check the recipe card notes to swap the grilled pineapple for strawberry salsa.

Sockeye Salmon Recipe: Grilled Chili Lime Salmon with Pineapple

Can I confess something?  As much as I adore the idea of a cookout– I usually find myself eating semi-sad sandwiches made up of hamburger buns and hamburger toppings– without the meat.

Does this happen to you too?  

If you, like me, choose to avoid red meat– you may feel a little left out when grilling season begins.  If you’ve found yourself gazing sadly over piles of grilled red meat, wishing for a healthier option– I’ve got one for you!

This year, as the grills fire up and spring turns into summer– reclaim your grill!!!  It’s time to bring seafood out of the kitchen and onto the fire, with this Sockeye Salmon recipe!

Grilling Sides of Salmon

For this recipe, we’re grilling a whole side of salmon.  Salmon sides are easy to grill, because they’re large and fatty– not delicate like salmon fillets.

What type of salmon should you buy?  I recommend sockeye salmon for this recipe, because its strong flavor compliments the tart pineapple and the spices.

Learn more about salmon:  Check out this post– Types of Salmon: An Ultimate Guide.

How to Grill Pineapple Rings

Cut the pineapple into rings, brush it with the marinade, and grill it until it has nice dark lines on each side.  Then, rub the spices onto your salmon, spray the grill with oil, and cook the salmon for just a few minutes on each side.

If you’re nervous about losing pineapple rings inside the grill– you can use a grilling basket or a non-toxic grilling mat.

How to Grill a Side of Salmon

Next, heat up the grill, making sure that the grill plates are clean (so that your fish doesn’t stick to the plates), and you’re almost ready!

Pat your fish dry, rub the seasoning on, and set the fish grill.  Let it cook a little over halfway, and then flip.  Don’t walk away while you’re grilling this fish– it cooks fast!

Want more tips about how to grill seafood?  Check out this post on How to Grill Fish! 

Serve the salmon and pineapple together, and smile happily as you eat a healthy, delicious meal at your next cookout!

Grilled Chili Lime Salmon with Pineapple

Want more COOKOUT + BARBECUE recipe ideas?  Try these:

• Kipper Recipe: Smoked Fish Sliders
• Lavender Lemonade
• Grilled Pineapple Salsa Recipe from Striped Spatula

Want more SUMMER SALMON recipe ideas?  Try these:

• King Salmon Recipe: Grilled Salmon with Plum Sauce
• Poached Salmon with Blueberry Sauce
• Seared Salmon with Cherry Almond Topping

5 from 6 votes

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Sockeye Salmon Recipe: Grilled Chili Lime Salmo

This Sockeye Salmon Recipe features Grilled Chili Lime Salmon with Pineapple, and is perfect way to make fish the main meal at your spring and summer cookouts!  

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 356 kcal

Author Champagne Tastes

Ingredients

Grilled Pineapple:

• 1 pineapple, outer skin removed + fruit cored
• 1 TB olive oil
• 2 TB honey OR sorghum syrup OR turbinado sugar (raw sugar)

Chili Lime Salmon:

• 1 lb sockeye salmon fillet, skin on
• olive oil spray
• 1 lime, zested and juiced
• 1 TB chili powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Grilled Pineapple:

1. Preheat grill to high heat.

2. Cut cored pineapple into rings, about 1/2" thick.  Line a baking sheet with foil, and then lay pineapple slices flat on a the sheet.  Brush pineapple with oil on both sides, and then drizzle with honey.  Let pineapple marinate while the grill continues to heat up.

3. Tip: A grilling mat is useful to help you grill pineapple without risk of it falling through the grill.

   Once grill is hot, grill pineapple 2-3 minutes per side, until the honey begins to caramelize.  Set pineapple aside.

Grilled Chili Lime Salmon:

1. Prepare grill plates by cleaning if needed, and spraying with oil.  Allow the pineapple juices to burn off as and make sure the grill is still very hot.

2. Pat salmon dry, and then pat it dry again.  Wet fish may stick to the grill.  Rub chili powder and lime zest onto the flesh side of the salmon.  Sprinkle both sides of the salmon with salt.

3. Set salmon, skin-side down, on the grill. 

   Tip: Cooking skin-side down will make your fish easier to flip.

4. Grill 9 minutes total per 1" thickness, flipping halfway through.

   Tip: If fish sticks to the grill when it's time to flip, leave it for another 30 seconds, and then flip.

5. Sprinkle salmon with the lime juice.  Serve salmon immediately with the grilled pineapple. 

   Serving tip: Serve the fish whole for a gorgeous presentation, or divide into 4 servings and then serve.

Recipe Notes

Recipe variations:

• Strawberry Salsa instead of Pineapple: Dice strawberries + a small handful of fresh mint.  Drizzle with honey. 
• Sear Pineapple + Salmon on the Stovetop:  Use a very hot, oiled cast iron pan.  Cook times will remain the same.  

Nutrition Facts

Sockeye Salmon Recipe: Grilled Chili Lime Salmo

Amount Per Serving

Calories 356 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 12g 18%

Saturated Fat 1g 5%

Cholesterol 70mg 23%

Sodium 251mg 10%

Potassium 302mg 9%

Total Carbohydrates 41g 14%

Dietary Fiber 4g 16%

Sugars 31g

Protein 26g 52%

Vitamin A 18.5%

Vitamin C 137%

Calcium 4.2%

Iron 10.1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.