Cornmeal-crusted salmon with steamed mixed vegetables and a stainless steel fork on a round white plate with another plate behind next to a white towel and a glass of water all on a wooden surface (with logo overlay)

Cornmeal-Crusted Salmon

Cornmeal-crusted salmon is a perfect quick weeknight meal. The cornmeal gives a subtle sweet taste to the fish with a crisp coating.

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Salmon has been one of our go-to meals lately on nights the boys aren’t home. They aren’t fans of seafood yet, but I wasn’t at their age, either. Salmon is great because we keep it in the freezer and it only takes a few minutes to thaw enough to work with.

That also means, though, that I have to come up with new recipes for salmon. Justin and I like to try new things and have a variety in our meals. We’ve done breaded fish before in a few different ways, including a fried tilapia sandwich and sheet pan baked tilapia. Those have always included breadcrumbs, though, and I wanted something new.

We had cornmeal in the pantry since I recently used it to make a dairy-free substitute for breadcrumbs. I also used almond milk and plant-based butter to eliminate as much dairy as possible. I try to eat as little dairy as I can, so the parmesan cheese was the only real dairy when we first made cornmeal-crusted salmon here. that being said, it does work just as well with whole milk and dairy butter, too.

Cornmeal-Crusted Salmon Step by Step

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup cornmeal
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 1 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tbsp pepper
  • 2 fillets salmon, skin-on
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 tbsp butter, melted
Ingredients for cornmeal-crusted salmon in stainless steel bowls on a wooden surface

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400F.

In a shallow bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, parmesan cheese, and seasonings.

Cornmeal mixture with a wire whisk in a white square bowl on a wooden surface

Dip each piece of salmon into the milk then coat with the cornmeal mixture, pressing to make sure it sticks well.

Salmon fillets, milk, and cornmeal mixture in separate bowls next to a baking dish with a cornmeal-crusted salmon fillet inside all on a wooden surface

Place salmon skin-side down in an 8×8 baking dish and pour the melted butter over the salmon.

Cornmeal-crusted salmon in a metal baking dish on a wooden surface

Bake for about 5-8 minutes, until the salmon is flaky. Serve immediately.

Cornmeal-crusted salmon with steamed mixed vegetables and a stainless steel fork on a round white plate with another plate behind next to a white towel and a glass of water all on a wooden surface (vertical)

Cornmeal-Crusted Salmon Leftovers

Store any leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I would only leave it for up to one day. It makes a great lunch the following day if needed. Reheat in the oven or in a skillet until just warmed through.

What to Serve with Cornmeal-Crusted Salmon

There are a variety of options to serve with cornmeal-crusted salmon. Since we wanted to keep it a light meal, we heated a package of frozen steamer vegetables. It would also be good with cornbread or corn muffins to continue the cornmeal flavor. You could also try some steamed rice with the salmon.

Recipe

Originally Published On: March 28, 2022

Cornmeal-crusted salmon with steamed mixed vegetables and a stainless steel fork on a round white plate with another plate behind next to a white towel and a glass of water all on a wooden surface

Cornmeal-Crusted Salmon

Cornmeal-crusted salmon is a perfect quick weeknight meal. The cornmeal gives a subtle sweet taste to the fish with a crisp coating.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Course:
Main Dish
Cuisine:
American
Keyword:
cornmeal
|
salmon
Dietary Needs:
Egg-Free
|
Nut-Free
Meat:
Seafood
Cooking Method:
One-Pan Meals
Servings: 2 fillets
5 from 9 votes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup cornmeal
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 1 tbsp parmesan cheese (grated)
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tbsp pepper
  • 2 fillets salmon (skin-on)
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 tbsp butter (melted)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400F
  • In a shallow bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, parmesan cheese, and seasonings
  • Dip each piece of salmon into the milk then coat with the cornmeal mixture, pressing to make sure it sticks well
  • Place salmon skin-side down in an 8×8 baking dish and pour the melted butter over the salmon
  • Bake about 5-8 minutes, until the salmon is flaky
  • Serve immediately
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Nutrition Facts
Cornmeal-Crusted Salmon
Amount Per Serving (1 fillet)
Calories 409 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 8g40%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 119mg40%
Sodium 188mg8%
Potassium 969mg28%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 37g74%
Vitamin A 420IU8%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 110mg11%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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27 thoughts on “Cornmeal-Crusted Salmon”

  1. I am *SO* intimidated by Salmon, but I think this is such a fun recipe to try! I also love cornmeal, so this is like a perfect combination of sweet and healthy!

  2. Cornmeal and fish sounds like a really good combination, both as far as flavor and for texture as well. I haven’t cooked fish in a while and it sounds like an easy dinner idea.

  3. This sounds like a great combo; the crispy cornmeal coating seems like just the right addition. And such an easy recipe. Good to get the health benefits of salmon as well!

  4. Mary K Stallings

    Definitely forwarding this recipe to my sister who always loves Salmon. I don’t think she’s tried this recipe before. Thanks for sharing!

  5. Jennifer Prince

    I’ve never tried making salmon at home, but this looks like the perfect recipe. I need to try it!

  6. Oh wow, that is different. I have such huge salmon lovers in the family (all of the kids who are grown). The only one who doesn’t care for it (yet) is the teen. 🙂 It’s nice to come across a different way to make it.

  7. I always people who can enjoy Salmon because there are so many dishes like these that I would love to enjoy but can’t. I some how never developed a taste for it. Would share this with my husband, he would love to try this recipe for himself.

  8. 5 stars
    That looks really delish, parmesan does me in!!! Yummm!
    I’m surprised you know “tilapia,” haha. I’ve always thought it was just around here that we call that fish that.

  9. Blair Villanueva

    5 stars
    This looks very delicious. If I want a hearty meal, I would love to pair it with steamed rice, or mashed potatoes. I love salmon!

  10. Oh this sounds like a great way to get a crisp on it! I am for sure adding this to our upcoming meals!

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