Cajun Salmon Sheet Pan Meal
This Cajun salmon sheet pan meal is a quick and easy dinner packed with bold flavor and made with simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store. The Cajun seasoning adds a delicious kick, and with everything cooked on one pan, cleanup is a breeze, just line your baking sheet with parchment paper and you’re good to go.
The salmon turns out perfectly juicy and flaky every time, thanks to a simple oven-baking tip that locks in moisture. Paired with crispy roasted potatoes, this one-pan dinner is great for busy weeknights and sure to become a go-to favorite.
Ingredients
- Baby potatoes (cut in half) or cauliflower florets (for a low carb option) – baby potatoes will cook quickly in the oven when they are cut down in half and help to make this recipe so filling and perfect for weeknight meals! If you are low carb, you can also use fresh or frozen cauliflower florets in place of the potatoes.
- Spices: Cajun seasoning and salt – Cajun seasoning helps to add spice and flavor to this dish. Use your favorite Cajun seasoning, I like to make my own Cajun seasoning.
- Avocado oil (or olive oil) – avocado oil is very neutral and works well here to coat the potatoes. It also can withstand high heats which makes it great for this recipe since it cooks in a very hot oven. You can also use extra virgin olive oil, melted coconut oil or melted ghee (those can change the flavor slightly).
- Salmon – use your favorite salmon here. I prefer to use wild caught salmon (which I buy frozen then defrost 24 hours ahead of time).
- Green beans (or your favorite vegetable) – green beans cook up quickly and pair so well with the potatoes and salmon. You could also use asparagus, bell peppers, or sliced carrots.
- Fresh lime – lime juice adds freshness and helps all the flavors pop.
How to make Cajun salmon sheet pan meal
Cut baby potatoes in half. Add olive oil and Cajun seasoning. Add potatoes to parchment paper lined baking sheet. Cook in 450F oven for 15 minutes. After baking potatoes for 15 minutes, pull the potatoes from the oven. Add salmon to the sheet pan and coat with Cajun seasoning. Add trimmed green beans to the potatoes and bake in 450F for an additional 12 minutes. Squeeze with lime after baking.
Top tips
- The key to making this sheet pan Cajun salmon in 30 minutes is to use a hot oven (450F) and start the potatoes before the rest of the ingredients!
- Make it low carb! Cauliflower florets can be used in place of the baby potatoes in this recipe! You can use fresh or frozen cauliflower. If you choose to use cauliflower instead, follow the recipe exactly as written, substituting the cauliflower for the potatoes.
- If you want to double this recipe, use a separate baking sheet for the potatoes and simply add the sheet pan with the salmon and green beans after the potatoes have been cooking for 15 minutes.
Common questions
How to make moist flaky salmon?
The trick is to allow your salmon to fully defrost in the fridge for at least 24 hours. After the salmon is defrosted, allow it to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before cooking. Because there will be less of a temperature difference in the fish in cooking, the fish stays moist and flaky!
How to choose salmon at the grocery store?
I almost always buy my salmon frozen. This way I don’t have to rush to use it within 1-2 days of grocery shopping!
Depending on where you live and where you are shopping, most of the fresh salmon being sold at the grocery store was previously frozen (and defrosted before selling to you). I like to bypass this by just buying it frozen!
After defrosting, the salmon should not have a fishy smell or brown spots. This is a sign the salmon has started to spoil.
What other vegetables could you use?
If you don’t love green beans (or don’t have them on hand) you could also use:
- Asparagus
- Broccoli (cut into bite size pieces)
- Bell peppers (cut into thin slices)
- Mushrooms (cut into thin slices or quartered)
Storing leftovers
Fridge: you can store leftover Cajun salmon in the fridge for up to 3 days. I would recommend reheating it in a skillet over medium low heat, in the air fryer at 350F for 3 minutes or in a 350F oven for 7-8 minutes until warmed through.
How to serve leftover Cajun salmon sheet pan meal?
If you find yourself with leftover Cajun salmon, there are some fun and creative ways to use them!
- Fish tacos with pineapple coleslaw
- Served over salad greens (I love this cruciferous crunch salad)
- Mixed with eggs and baked into a frittata (like this smoked salmon frittata)
- Served with sesame ginger broccoli slaw or red cabbage slaw
If you love this recipe, you should try
- Greek Salmon and Veggies
- Pesto Salmon Sheet Pan Meal
- Italian Salmon Salad
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Herb Crusted Salmon
- Teriyaki Salmon and Veggies
- Pecan Crusted Salmon
Cajun Salmon Sheet Pan Meal
Guided Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 2 pound baby potatoes
- 1/2 tbsp cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 pounds salmon
- 1/2 tbsp cajun seasoning
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 pound green beans
- 1/2 medium lime, juiced
- pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450F
- Cut the potatoes in half (to reduce the cooking time)
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper
- Add the avocado oil, 1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning and 1/2 tsp salt to the potatoes and stir them well to combine (you can do this in a bowl or right on the parchment paper)
- Cook the potatoes in the 450F oven for 15 minutes.
- While the potatoes cook, prepare the green beans by trimming the ends if necessary.
- After the potatoes cook for 15 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven.
- Add the defrosted room temperature salmon and cover in 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning. Use your fingers to sprinkle seasoning for a more even coverage
- Top the potatoes with the trimmed green beans and cook the entire sheet pan meal in the oven for 12 minutes.
- Remove the sheet pan from the oven and squeeze fresh lime juice over the entire dish. Sprinkle the green beans with salt and stir the green beans and potatoes together.
Recipe Notes
- Fridge: you can store leftover Cajun salmon in the fridge for up to 3 days. I would recommend reheating it in a skillet over medium low heat, in the air fryer at 350F for 3 minutes or in a 350F oven for 7-8 minutes until warmed through.
- Freezer: storing leftover salmon in the freezer is not recommended.
- The key to making this Cajun salmon sheet pan meal in 30 minutes is to use a hot oven (450F) and start the potatoes before the rest of the ingredients!
- Make it low carb! Cauliflower florets can be used in place of the baby potatoes in this recipe! You can use fresh or frozen cauliflower. If you choose to use cauliflower instead, follow the recipe exactly as written, substituting the cauliflower for the potatoes.
- If you want to double this recipe, use a separate baking sheet for the potatoes and simply add the sheet pan with the salmon and green beans after the potatoes have been cooking for 15 minutes.
This looks super tasty!! I can’t wait to give it a try! It’s all delicious ingredients :)