Salmon is a pliant protein that can be cooked in any way you want: from searing it hot and fast to roasting it low and slow, or even steaming it.
If you’re in a pinch and looking for an easy high-protein dinner idea, canned salmon is a great option. Here are a few can salmon and rice recipes you can try to get that protein on the table without breaking the bank.
Baked Salmon and Wild Rice Casserole
If you love wild rice, you’re going to swoon over this casserole. Chewy, nutty, and packed with fill-you-up goodness, this creamy casserole is as good for you as it is delicious! It’s easy to make, and it comes together in an hour.
The casserole is layered with drained, canned salmon and flaked wild rice. It’s then covered with a light, milky sauce that’s reminiscent of risotto.
There’s also sweet butternut squash, earthy cranberries and parmesan cheese to round out the flavors in this healthy dinner recipe. It’s a perfect dish for the winter, and it’s sure to leave you feeling satisfied and happy — all at the same time.
This casserole is made in just one hour and 30 minutes, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights! And it’s easy to customize and adapt. Just adjust the ingredients according to your taste preferences, and your family will be begging you for more!
For this casserole, you’ll need a medium-sized saucepan and a small baking dish. Start by melting butter. Once the butter has melted, add flour to the pan. Stir constantly for 2 to 3 minutes. Continue stirring and adding milk a little at a time until the sauce is smooth and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
In the meanwhile, fry up some mushrooms, onions, garlic and slivered almonds or pine nuts. Next, add in thyme, sage and pepper. This is a really easy recipe to put together, and it’s a great way to use up leftover wild rice from the other recipes on this site!
After cooking, drain the rice and reserve it for another meal. If you’re planning to freeze this dish, then thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
When ready to serve, arrange the salmon on top of the rice and broccoli. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and remaining cheddar cheese, then bake in a 350 deg oven for about 25 to 30 minutes.
This is a tasty and easy meal to prepare, but you can make it more elegant by serving it on a platter with some fresh cut dill. You can also garnish with some extra parmesan if you want to go all out!
Simple Salmon Pasta
If you’re looking for a quick and easy pasta dish, this simple salmon pasta is a great choice. It’s perfect for a weeknight meal and is sure to please the whole family.
It’s super simple to make and comes together in just 30 minutes. Plus, the lemon garlic butter infuses both the sauce and salmon to make it super flavorful.
The pasta sauce is made with a simple combination of melted butter, fresh lemon juice and zest, garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat. It’s a perfect way to add some fresh, bright flavor to your pasta and is definitely one of our favorites!
We love adding a bit of shredded Parmesan cheese to this sauce as it really adds some richness and depth. For the best results, be sure to use freshly grated cheese – it melts much better than powdered or pre-shredded cheese.
You’ll want to use a box grater with the smallest holes (like the prickly side of the box grater) so that the cheese melts more easily. This will ensure that your sauce is smooth and creamy instead of lumpy and clumpy.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving a cup of the pasta water for the sauce.
When the pasta is ready, add it to the skillet with the drained salmon and a splash of the reserved pasta water to help it mix in easier. Stir to combine and heat through.
For even more flavor, you can toss in some capers at this point and serve the entire meal with a drizzle of olive oil on top. The capers add a nice salty, briny bite that really compliments the other flavors in this recipe.
Once the sauce is heated through, add some of the flaked salmon and stir to combine. You can also toss in some green/spring onions, roasted mushrooms or broccoli florets for extra color and texture.
This simple salmon pasta is a quick, healthy meal that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or lunch! It’s also an excellent way to use up leftover salmon if you have any in the fridge.
Salmon Quiche
If you’re looking for a quick and easy meal for a busy weeknight or lunch on a hectic day, this Salmon Quiche is a great choice. It uses a few basic ingredients you should always keep in your fridge and freezer, and it’s an ideal way to use up leftovers.
It’s also a great recipe for meal prep since it makes one large bowl, so you don’t have to worry about preparing extra servings. The combination of canned salmon and cooked rice works well together in this dish because the rice will absorb the liquid from the fish.
This salmon and rice bowl is a perfect lunch or dinner recipe for those who are short on time or don’t want to spend too much effort on food preparation. It’s made using a few simple and healthy ingredients, so you can feel good about enjoying this delicious dinner or lunch!
A delicious alternative to the typical chicken or turkey quiche, this smoked salmon and spinach pie has an unusual flavor that is a great change of pace. It uses a puff pastry crust and is filled with a custard-like egg mixture, smoked salmon, and creme fraiche or goat cheese.
You can substitute a store-bought frozen crust for this quiche if you prefer. If you do, be sure to blind bake it for 15 minutes before filling. If you choose to make your own crust, roll out the dough to a 10 inch tart pan or deep pie pan and press it into the pan to form a crust.
After the crust is baked, you can fill it with a custard-like egg and milk mixture and add some onion, flaked salmon, asparagus, and half of the cheese evenly. Then pour the egg mixture over the top and cover with the remaining cheese.
The smoked salmon in this quiche tastes fantastic and is also a great source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins A, D, and B-12. It’s easy to make this a vegetarian or vegan friendly dish by substituting the fish for other types of meat and using non-dairy milk and cream instead of butter. It’s a wonderful lunch or dinner that you’ll want to serve over and over again!
Salmon Fried Rice
Salmon fried rice is a quick and easy meal that comes together in minutes. It’s the perfect comfort food for any night of the week and is a great way to use up leftover fish.
For an extra boost of flavor, try a small amount of dark soy sauce. It will add more depth of flavor and deepen the color.
You can also swap in other veggies if you prefer. Just make sure they are tender enough so that they don’t overcook.
This recipe from Emily’s Tiktok series is a favorite of many people (including me). It’s super simple, takes less than 10 minutes to make and comes together perfectly if you have leftover cooked salmon or rice in your fridge.
A bowl of this is a satisfying dinner that will leave you feeling full and energized. It’s also an easy lunch if you want to grab something quick and healthy for work or school. You can serve it with kimchi, avocado and roasted seaweed snacks for mini wraps.
The original version of this dish went viral on Tiktok and sparked some controversy. While there’s a lot of debate over whether this was an invention or a recipe that’s been around forever, it does come together quickly and tastes delicious. It’s easy to make, perfect for using up leftover salmon or rice, and is a great alternative to the traditional tacos.
You can prepare this dish the day before and store it in the fridge for a few days. Just be sure to reheat it before serving.
In a large pan or wok, heat oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add the onion and green onions. Stir-fry for a few minutes.
Once the onion has softened, add the garlic and grated ginger. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes.
Next, add the beaten eggs. You can do this on the side, or if you want to do it on the inside, just scramble them in the pan after they’re added.
Finally, add the peas, salmon and green onions. Mix well and remove from the heat.