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Justine Doiron

just real good food

Fish, Gluten Free, Recipes, Special Diets · October 6, 2021

Greek Yogurt Marinated Salmon

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Greek Yogurt Marinated Salmon

Greek yogurt salmon is still one of the best-kept secrets on the internet. It’s so good, and so many people sleep on it.

But once you discover it, it will change your life. This yogurt marinated salmon recipe is the easiest way to get oven-baked salmon that is slightly crispy, while still being buttery on the inside. It is a quick salmon recipe that will BLOW your mind with its simplicity, as well as its flavor.

I’m a pescatarian who loves a good salmon recipe, and this one is up there in my top favorites. It is simple, done all in the oven and finished in under 15 minutes. Read on to hear me go on and on how amazing a greek yogurt marinated salmon is (but like, in a good way).

Greek Yogurt Marinated Salmon

Table of contents

  • What does yogurt marinating do?
  • How long should I marinate this greek yogurt salmon?
  • Ingredients for this yogurt-marinated salmon
  • How to make this baked salmon with greek yogurt
  • Ways to serve this greek yogurt salmon recipe
  • Looking for more dinner ideas?
  • FAQ
raw salmon, cubed

What does yogurt marinating do?

Yogurt marinating is amazing because it does so many things to a recipe.

Yogurt is (obviously) a dairy product. However, many people overlook that dairy contains natural sugars. These sugars in the yogurt help create a crispy, golden crust around proteins that take on the flavor you include in the marinade. This is because, in high heat, the yogurt caramelizes first, leaving the inside of the meat to cook at a slower pace and remain juicy, tender and soft.

This works perfectly with salmon because you can achieve the buttery inside you normally get from slow roasting, while still maintaining that beautiful, crisp outside.

greek yogurt marinade

How long should I marinate this greek yogurt salmon?

If you’re looking at meats that can be tough, such as chicken or beef, you’d want to use a yogurt marinade for as long as possible. This is because yogurt marinades help enhance tenderness in meat, and the longer they can marinate, the better texture you will achieve.

However, we are lucky that salmon is a naturally tender fish. So this marinade needs almost no resting time. I usually toss my salmon and immediately roast it, but you can let it sit in the marinade for 15-30 minutes if you prefer.

For this recipe, we are using the yogurt for the browning and crisping aspect of the marinade, not the tenderization, so timing is not as much of a factor here.

salmon in marinade

Ingredients for this yogurt-marinated salmon

Here is everything you will need for this easy salmon recipe:

  • 1 pound salmon
  • 1/3 cup plain nonfat greek yogurt
  • 1 heaping tablespoon Calabrian chili paste
  • 1/2 lemon, both the zest and the juice
  • Salt to taste

Optional for serving:

  • 1 cup quick-cooking farro
  • 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, stems removed
  • 1 tablespoon chili crisp of choice
salmon on baking sheet

How to make this baked salmon with greek yogurt

This recipe is a case of toss-roast-serve. It’s so easy, and here’s the breakdown of how to do it:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place a rack on the second-to-top shelf.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the greek yogurt, chili paste, lemon zest and lemon juice and salt. The mix will with thick and chunky.
  3. Remove the skin from the salmon and cut into 2-inch pieces.
  4. Add the salmon pieces to the greek yogurt mixture and toss until each piece of salmon is well coated.
  5. Evenly space out each piece of salmon on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  6. Bake the salmon for 8-9 minutes at 400°F on the second-to-top rack. Then without opening the door of the oven, switch the oven setting to broil on HIGH (ideally the 500°F setting, if you have it) and cook for another 4 minutes, or until the salmon is golden brown and slightly charred on top. Remove from the oven.
  7. If you are planning to serve with the farro, use the time the salmon is roasting to boil it per package instructions, then toss with the flat-leaf parsley.
  8. Serve the salmon with the farro or how you like. Top with chili crisp for some extra, optional, heat!
baked salmon

Ways to serve this greek yogurt salmon recipe

The best part of this salmon recipe is that you can mix and match it with whatever dinner side you are feeling! I love this with just plain ol’ roasted veggies.

For this recipe, I opted to serve this with 10-minute farro and flat-leaf parsley. The freshness of the parsley helps cut the fattiness of the salmon, and farro is just a hearty grain in general. But here are a few other ideas of how to serve this salmon:

  • With white rice and roasted lemony broccoli.
  • On top of avocado toast! Because, obviously.
  • As a part of a pack-and-go lunch with some raw vegetables on the side.
  • On a flatbread with tzatziki, shallots and lightly dressed greens

It’s really easy to get creative here, and I highly recommend playing around with how you like this best!

farro in pot

Looking for more dinner ideas?

Idk if lunch or dinner is my favorite, but I definitely have recipes for both! Here are my favorite main courses:

Za’atar Tofu Sandwich with Harissa Carrots & Mashed Lemon Dill Chickpea Avocado
If you are craving a hearty, filling, vegan sandwich packed with flavor – this is it. This sandwich uses distinct Middle Eastern spices to create a balanced, spicy, umami flavor explosion. Plus it is packed with protein, carbs and healthy fats, making it the perfect easy lunch or dinner. I rarely pick favorite recipes, but this one is definitely top of my list!
Check out this recipe
Za'atar Tofu Sandwich with Spicy Carrots & avocado mash
Easy BBQ Salmon Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Perfect for a healthy lunch or easy weeknight dinner, this is a quick, flavorful meal that requires zero active cooking. All you need to do is set your oven to one temperature, prep a few things, toss it all together and eat!
Check out this recipe
BBQ Salmon Stuffed Sweet Potats
Sriracha Lime Air Fryer Tempeh Bowl
If you are looking for a hit of flavorful protein that is crispy, spicy and perfect for meal prep, this lime sriracha tempeh bowl is it. It takes 10 minutes to prep, gets crispy in the air fryer and is a great addition to any salad or nourish bowl.
Check out this recipe
Greek Yogurt Marinated Salmon

FAQ

Can I meal prep this salmon recipe?

Absolutely! This salmon is perfect for meal prep because it will hold up in the fridge for 5-7 days, and the small pieces make it perfect for portioning.

Does the salmon have to be cut up?

I prefer the salmon to be in pieces because it optimizes the caramelization from the yogurt, and helps achieve even cooking. With small pieces, the salmon can cook quickly and brown on all sides, whereas with larger pieces you risk undercooking in the center and not achieving the full crispness on the outside.

How long does this salmon last?

This salmon will keep for 5-7 days in the fridge.

How should I store this meal-prep salmon?

I recommend storing this salmon in an airtight container and keeping it in the back section of your fridge.

Greek Yogurt Marinated Salmon

And that’s it for this Greek Yogurt Marinated Salmon!

If you make it, please tag me on Pinterest or Instagram so I can see! It’s my favorite thing to scroll through stories and see what you all are making <3

And of course feel free to leave any questions, comments or reviews! This is the best place to reach me, and I’d love to hear from you.

Greek Yogurt Marinated Salmon

5 from 2 votes
Yogurt marinades are the best-kept secret when it comes to cooking salmon. This salmon is buttery on the inside but crisp and lightly spicy on the outside. It's easy to make in less than 15 minutes and one of my more addicting dinner recipes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time:5 minutes mins
Cook Time:10 minutes mins
Total Time:15 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Fusion
Keyword: dinner, greek yogurt, salmon

Ingredients

  • 1 pound salmon
  • 1/3 cup plain non fat greek yogurt
  • 1 heaping tablespoon calabrian chili paste
  • 1/2 lemon for both the zest and the juice
  • Salt to taste

Optional for serving:

  • 1 cup quick-cooking farro
  • 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley stems removed
  • 1 tablespoon chili crisp of choice

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F. Place a rack on the second-to-top shelf.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the greek yogurt, chili paste, lemon zest and lemon juice and salt. The mix will with thick and chunky.
  • Remove the skin from the salmon and cut into 2-inch pieces.
  • Add the salmon pieces to the greek yogurt mixture and toss until each piece of salmon is well coated.
  • Evenly space out each piece of salmon on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Bake the salmon for 8-9 minutes at 400°F on the second-to-top rack. Then without opening the door of the oven, switch the oven setting to broil on HIGH (ideally the 500°F setting, if you have it) and cook for another 4 minutes, or until the salmon is golden brown and slightly charred on top. Remove from the oven.
  • If you are planning to serve with the farro, use the time the salmon is roasting to boil it per package instructions, then toss with the flat-leaf parsley.
  • Serve the salmon with the farro or how you like. Top with chili crisp for some extra, optional, heat!

Posted In: Fish, Gluten Free, Recipes, Special Diets

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    October 10, 2021 at 11:00 pm

    I’m wondering how this recipe would work on salmon that has been frozen and then defrosted?
    Any tips? Thanks in advance 🙂

    • Justine says

      October 11, 2021 at 1:29 pm

      Hello! If you defrost the salmon for 12 hours in the fridge, the recipe should work just the same 🙂

  2. Robin says

    October 19, 2021 at 9:08 pm

    When a recipe says where to place a rack, is that assuming the heat source is up top or on the bottom? Mine is at the bottom with a broiler drawer underneath. (I also can’t fit a large sheet pan in because it’s that old and small) Thanks!
    And thanks for all of your awesome recipes! So glad I found you ☺️

    • Justine says

      October 19, 2021 at 9:14 pm

      Hello! It’s assuming the heat is coming from the top, is there any way you can use the broiler drawer in batches? If not, roast at 450F checking frequently 🙂

  3. Eleanor says

    October 19, 2021 at 10:18 pm

    5 stars
    This looks amazing!! But my oven doesnt broil (and its electric so takes ago to heat). What can I do?

    • Justine says

      October 19, 2021 at 10:48 pm

      Hi! There is a workaround of cooking the salmon at 450F for the full time and keeping an eye on it! It won’t brown as much on the top, but should still get nice and golden. Hope you like!

  4. Deb says

    October 21, 2021 at 10:51 am

    I made this today, it was excellent! Great flavour combo, will make again for sure!

    • Justine says

      October 21, 2021 at 3:48 pm

      Omg I love this! So glad you liked it!!

  5. Beth says

    October 24, 2021 at 2:01 pm

    5 stars
    This sounds delicious! However, I have two kids who are sensitive to spicy things. Any ideas for something else to add to the yogurt marinade besides chili paste?

    • Justine says

      October 27, 2021 at 6:23 pm

      I recommend either a sundried tomato pesto or a romesco in its place!

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Hey! I'm Justine. A recipe developer, highly dedicated eater, and bread enthusiast with an archive of both savory and sweet. This is where I store all my recipes, feel free to take a look around!
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