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How to Grill Salmon in Foil

Learn how to grill salmon in foil! Grilling salmon in tin foil makes sense for so many reasons: it helps “steam” the fish so it won’t dry out, grilling fish can be hard as the flesh is so fragile, and, it’s just plain fun! Similarly to my easy grilled trout, this recipe is made with just 4 basic ingredients, this grilled salmon in foil is a quick and easy summer dinner. Read below for all of my grilled salmon in a foil packet tips, how long to grill salmon in foil, serving suggestions, and so much more.

This foil wrapped salmon on grill is a great way to cook fish outside if you don’t like it smelling up your kitchen – and you know, no clean-up required! If you love grilled foil packets as much as I do, be sure to give these grilled tilapia foil packets, grilled kielbasa foil packets, or grilled potato packets a try. I’ve also included grilling instructions in my teriyaki salmon recipe.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Grilled salmon in foil packet on a plate

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What You’ll Love about Grilled Salmon in Foil

  • Quick and easy
  • Made with just 4 basic ingredients
  • Delicious garlic butter flavor
  • Vegetable is already included
  • Won’t make a mess of your kitchen

Salmon in Foil VIDEO

Grilling Salmon in Tin Foil Ingredients

You need just a few basic ingredients to make these grilled salmon foil packets:

  • Salmon fillets – Look for salmon fillets that are close to the same size and shape so that they cook at the same time
  • Sea salt
  • Asparagus – Look for fresh asparagus stalks with tight tips that aren’t soft
  • Butter
  • Garlic – Use fresh garlic for best flavor or frozen garlic cubes for a shortcut
Ingredients for grilling salmon in tin foil

How to Grill Salmon in Foil

Let’s get to the good stuff – cooking salmon in tin foil on grill!

  • Season salmon. Sprinkle salmon fillets with sea salt.
  • Assemble salmon foil packets. Place asparagus stalks on the bottom of a large piece of foil (about 14″ long) and top with salmon. Dot with butter and sprinkle with minced garlic.
  • Roll up foil packets. Fold up the long sides of the foil and roll together. Fold up each end so the foil packet is crimped shut.
Asparagus and salmon in tin foil for grilling

How Long to Grill Salmon in Foil

Once the foil packets are prepped, it’s time to grill. The grilled salmon in foil takes less than 15 minutes to cook.

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and grill packets over direct flames for about 10-12 minutes or until salmon flakes easily. You can press the top of the salmon lightly and if it flakes, it’s done.

When is grilled salmon done?

The salmon will flake easily when it’s cooked and will be an opaque pink color. You can also leave the center a little translucent if you prefer it that way.

Once you take the grilled salmon in foil off the grill, open up the foil packets or the salmon and asparagus will keep cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use wild-caught or farmed salmon?

It depends on your preferences and budget! Salmon varieties have different flavors and textures so I recommend trying a few out to see what your family likes best!

When families tell me that salmon tastes too strong or fishy for them, I often recommend that they try farmed salmon as the flavor is milder.

How long does it take to grill salmon in foil?

These salmon foil packets will take about 10-12 minutes on a medium-high heat grill. You can also start checking it around 8 minutes to see if it’s done and then check every minute.

What wine pairs well with grilled salmon?

If you’ll be enjoying your grilled salmon with some wine, a full-body white like chardonay, a rose, or a lighter red like Pinot Noir will all pair well with grilled salmon.

Can I make this with a different vegetable?

Yes, you can cook the salmon foil packets with a vegetable (an easy way to get a side done!) or without a vegetable, it’s up to you.

If you choose another vegetable, just make sure it’s something that will take about 10 minutes to cook. Sliced zucchini, green beans, broccolini are a few good options.

Grilling salmon in tin foil packets on two plates

Storage Instructions

Remove salmon from foil and store any leftover foil grilled salmon in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Can I freeze grilled salmon?

Yes, you can also freeze grilled salmon in a stasher bag for 2-3 months.

How to reheat grilled salmon?

Reheat the grilled salmon in a hot skillet or a 350 degree F. oven. Microwaving is not recommended.

Grilled salmon is also delicious chilled or served at room temperature so you don’t necessarily have to reheat it.

Plate with grilled salmon in foil

How to Serve BBQ Salmon in Foil the Whole Family

Serve up the salmon with a few sides and follow the Division of Responsibility. It doesn’t have to be complicated. And if your kids are learning to like salmon, feel free to serve it with a dip like BBQ sauce, ketchup, or ranch!

Here are some tips for serving salmon to picky eaters.

What to Serve with Simple Grilled Salmon in Foil

Serve the best grilled salmon recipe in foil with a simple side:

More Easy Salmon Recipes

If you like this grilled salmon in tin foil recipe, you might also like some of these other easy salmon recipes:

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Grilled salmon in foil packet on a plate

How to Grill Salmon in Foil (Grilled Salmon in Foil)

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Description

Learn how to grill salmon in foil! This EASY grilled salmon in foil is made with just 4 ingredients and takes less than 15 minutes to make!ย 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 46 oz. salmon fillets
  • 1/2ย  tsp. sea salt
  • 16 oz. asparagus, trimmed
  • 4 Tbsp. butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced


Instructions

  1. Season salmon with sea salt.
  2. Place asparagus on the bottom of a 14″ long piece of foil and top with salmon. Dot with butter and sprinkle with garlic.
  3. Roll up foil packets by rolling over long edges together and then folding each end to crimp shut.ย 
  4. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill foil packets for 10-12 minutes, until salmon is flaky and asparagus is tender.


Notes

  • Open the foil packets right away after cooking or they will continue to cook.

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