Lemon Pepper Salmon (Hot Smoked Salmon Recipe)
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Lemon Pepper Salmon is not only melt-in-your-mouth delicious, but it’s a healthy fish dinner too! Make a simple, tangy rub for smoked salmon to really elevate the dish. Our flavorful lemon pepper salmon recipe is perfect for an easy main dish or appetizer, and your family will love it!
There are two methods for smoking fish: hot smoking and cold smoking.
Personally, I prefer both the flavor and texture of hot smoked salmon. It’s nice and flaky, with an extra layer of flavor.
Cold smoked fish is firmer and is more often served as an appetizer with crackers and spreads.
Cooking salmon filets has never been easier! This simple recipe might be my new favorite way to cook fresh salmon! It’s a great recipe that gives you flaky salmon easily every time.
People often assume that cooking salmon is a rigorous process, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Delicious salmon recipes like this need only simple ingredients and a little bit of meal prep, and you’ll have an easy dinner in no time. It’s one of the easiest ways to cook wild salmon! Perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
Table of Contents
Lemon Pepper Salmon
After mixing up a quick salmon rub for smoking, the fish only takes 90 minutes to cook. It’s one of many reasons why I love this lemon pepper salmon recipe so much!
If you’re short on time, or don’t own a smoker, I do have a recipe for air fryer salmon with a honey mustard glaze.
While it doesn’t have the delicious smoky flavor of hot smoked lemon pepper salmon, it will be ready to eat in just 10 minutes!
Keep reading to learn how to cook salmon in a smoker, plus the difference between hot and cold smoking salmon!
Lemon Pepper Salmon Rub for Smoking
- Kosher salt – It’s important to use kosher or sea salt, as regular table salt is iodized and can add an unpleasant metallic flavor to the fish.
- Lemon pepper seasoning – I keep things easy and buy a lemon pepper seasoning blend.
If you’d like to make your own lemon pepper, or even a completely different rub for smoked salmon, you certainly can! - Dijon mustard – I prefer Dijon, but whole grain mustard, yellow mustard, or even honey mustard would be good too.
If you aren’t a fan of this lemon pepper rub for smoked salmon, check out my tutorial on how to cook salmon in a smoker. I use a simple spice blend for that recipe!
Tips for How to Cook Salmon in a Smoker
- Prevent fish from sticking.
Be sure to lightly oil the smoker grates so you can remove the cooked filet without it tearing.
Or, follow my lead — place the filet on a sheet of aluminum foil before applying the salmon rub for smoking.
You can transfer it directly to the hot smoker, plus it’s easy to remove when the fish is done!
- Monitor the wood chips and water level.
It’s important to maintain a high level of moisture inside the smoker, so check it periodically and fill it with more water as needed.
The same goes for the wood chips or pellets. Depending on the size of the wood chamber, you may need to add more.
- Let the fish rest!
Rest the hot smoked filet for 10 minutes or so before slicing.
This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the fish, creating perfectly flaky and scrumptious bites of lemon pepper salmon!
Serving Suggestions
For a healthy entree, I like to serve lemon pepper salmon with brown rice and grilled asparagus. You can also add green beans as a yummy side dish option, too.
Veggies are the best way to round out a healthy option and simple weekly meal plan.
It’s also delicious on salads or a bed of buttery pasta — even cacio e pepe would be tasty!
As an appetizer, pair this lemon pepper salmon recipe with cream cheese on crackers or pumpernickel bread!
You can also just top with lemon zest, black pepper, and lemon wedges and have the best baked lemon pepper salmon in an easy way.
Since this recipe has so much flavor, it can stand alone as a meal!
Lemon Pepper Salmon Recipe FAQ
Fruit woods like cherry and apple tend to pair really nicely with fish, but each variety lends its own unique flavor.
Avoid heavy flavors like mesquite, as they can easily overpower the flavor of salmon.
As you might guess from the name, the primary difference between hot and cold smoking is the temperature the food is cooked at!
Hot smoked salmon is cooked on a smoker to a temperature above 120°F. This creates a flaky texture with a noticeable smoky flavor.
In comparison, cold smoking can be done indoors. Also, cold smoked fish is typically cooked toward the rare side (below 115°F), for a smoother, silkier texture with a fresh, less smoky flavor.
I’m all about making my own lemon pepper seasoning as a topping, but you can also add lemon slices, fresh parsley, fresh lemon juice, garlic powder, or anything else that you’re craving to the top of the salmon. This is what makes this easy recipe so simple to whip up and flavor.
Find a topping that the whole family will enjoy, and then use it. They’re user in-house recipe testers and the ones that are going to be eating it!
How to Store Hot Smoked Salmon
If you have leftover salmon, allow them to cool, then wrap the filet in plastic wrap. Store it in the refrigerator and enjoy it again within 7 to 10 days.
This is an easy way to enjoy this delicious meal again!
That being said, it will easily last up to 3 weeks if it’s vacuum-packed. You can also freeze smoked fish for up to a year, then thaw it in the refrigerator before serving.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Smoker Recipes
Lemon Pepper Salmon (Hot Smoked Salmon Recipe)
Equipment
- wood chips or pellets (whichever your smoker uses), soaked in water
Ingredients
- 3 pounds salmon filet, leave skin on
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning
Instructions
- Prepare your wood chips by soaking them in water for at least 30 minutes prior to smoking.
- Check the filet to ensure all of the pin bones have been removed. If you notice any, use a pair of tweezers or small needle nose pliers to pull them out.
- Rinse the filet to remove any debris, if necessary, then pat the salmon dry with clean paper toweling.
- Using a basting brush, apply mustard to the flesh side of the salmon; sprinkle salt and lemon pepper seasoning evenly over the mustard.
- When the salmon is ready, put a light coating of oil on the salmon skin, or spray the grates with cooking spray, to prevent it from sticking to the grates. Alternatively, place the salmon on a sheet of aluminum foil (I do this so I can just grab the foil to remove the filet from the smoker without worry of tearing the fish)
- Smoke the salmon at 225°F for 90 minutes, or until the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 140°F.
- When it is fully cooked, carefully remove the hot smoked salmon from the smoker. Allow the fish to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published October 2021, updated and republished July 2024
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I have not tried this recipe but I have to comment that wood chips should not be soaked before smoking anything! All you are creating is steam until the wood dries out and can burn to create real smoke. It’s a long-held fallacy that wood needs to be wet to avoid flames or burning too fast. Just use larger chunks but leave the water out of the smoker! I have smoked a LOT of meat and fish over the years and dry chips are the way to create the thin blue smoke that holds the wood flavor. Thanks for considering this.
Great tips and advice, Sandy. Thank you!
TSRI Team member,
Becca
I’m still new to smoking, but this was an awesome recipe. Easy to follow.
Absolutely loved this recipe! The lemon pepper salmon turned out perfect, and it was so simple to make.
Hi Riley!
We’re so glad you enjoyed!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn