Salmon is one of my favorite fish to make quick, healthy meals with. One of the ways we love to eat salmon is with these Salmon Rice Bowls. It’s the perfect gluten-free dinner for a busy weeknight, but I also like it for lunch. And with the honey lime sauce and cilantro lime dressing, it’s packed with flavor!
My family loved these bowls. The flavors blend and complement each other with a hint of sweet, tangy, and salty. You can use up to 1 tablespoon of honey in these bowls, but I like it less sweet. Some of my kids topped them with sriracha sauce to give them a sweet and spicy flavor.
Easy Salmon Bowls
Salmon is high in healthy fats and lower in mercury and other toxins compared to some fish. It is also readily available in most supermarkets. Many salmon bowl recipes opt for an Asian flavour and use brown sugar and soy sauce or tamari sauce for flavour. However, I wanted to do something a little different and opted for a honey lime salmon with a cilantro lime dressing.
The result is tasty and refreshing. I prepare the salmon simply and bake it in the oven. If you prefer, you can use an air fryer, although I haven’t tried it.
I use skin-on and skinless salmon, depending on what I have on hand. If you want the salmon to be crispy, place it skin side up under the broiler (low broiler) for the last 1-2 minutes of cooking.
What rice to use (or not)?
There are many options when it comes to rice. There is brown rice, white rice, and even sushi rice. I prefer white rice because it has less phytic acid and arsenic than other options. You can also use lettuce for a low-carb version.
If you still want the texture of the grain but don’t want rice, quinoa is a good substitute. Whatever you choose, just cook it according to the package directions. This is something you can do ahead of time to make meal prep easier.
Dressing for your salmon dish
These are already packed with flavor, but feel free to add more garnishes to make them more nutritious and flavorful. For a spicy salmon bowl, I like to add a little siracha to the dressing. Here are a few more ideas.
- Chopped scallions or chives
- Drizzle a little sesame oil
- Spicy mayonnaise
- Splash of rice vinegar
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Sesame seeds
Honey-Lemon Salmon Bowls with Cilantro-Lemon Dressing
These healthy salmon bowls are packed with bold flavors and easy to make. Customize them with your favorite ingredients
For salmon with honey and lemon
For the rice bowls
- 2 cups cooked rice (or quinoa, or cauliflower rice)
- 2 avocados (sliced)
- 1 cucumber (sliced)
- mixed vegetables of your choice (spinach, arugula, etc.)
For the dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 limes (juice)
- ½ cup fresh cilantro
- 1 nail garlic
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- salt (to taste)
- black pepper (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon Honey (or less, optional)
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Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
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In a bowl, mix together the honey, olive oil, maple syrup, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt and black pepper for the salmon marinade.
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Place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them, making sure each fillet is well coated. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.
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Place the marinated salmon fillets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven for about 12 to 15 minutes or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
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While the salmon is baking, prepare the rice bowls. Divide the cooked rice or quinoa into serving bowls and top with sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and mixed greens.
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In a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the cilantro-lime dressing: olive oil, lemon juice, Greek yogurt, chopped cilantro, garlic, salt, black pepper, and honey (if desired).
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Place cooked salmon in each rice bowl.
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Drizzle the cilantro-lime dressing over the rice bowls and enjoy!
Nutritional data
Honey-Lemon Salmon Bowls with Cilantro-Lemon Dressing
Amount per serving (1 bowl)
Calories 775
Calories from fat 423
% Daily Value*
Fat 47 grams72%
Saturated fat 7g44%
Trans fats 0.003 g
Polyunsaturated fat 8g
Monounsaturated fat 28 g
Cholesterol 95 mg32%
Sodium 269 mg12%
Potassium 1600 mg46%
Carbohydrates 52 grams17%
Fiber 9g38%
Sugar 19g21%
Protein 40 grams80%
Vitamin A 1820IU36%
Vitamin C 22 mg27%
Calcium 102 mg10%
Iron 3 mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Try adding some sriracha on top for a sweet and spicy version.
Want more salmon recipes? Try this pan-seared Asian ginger salmon with roasted vegetables, garlic powder, and teriyaki sauce.
What are your favorite ways to enjoy salmon? Leave a comment and let me know!
