A delicious way to incorporate more heart-healthy salmon into your week, this Chimichurri Salmon recipe uses a simple homemade chimichurri sauce to elevate a simple baked salmon to a at-home gourmet experience.

Chimichurri Salmon Recipe

Many of us know that we need to incorporate more fish into our diets.

With heart-healthy, brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids; calcium; vitamins D and B12; and a load of minerals like zinc, iron, iodine, magnesium and potassium, fish rightly deserves it’s title as a nutritious “superfood.”

And while coating it in Shake n’Bake or incorporating it into a casserole are definitely kid-friendly options, they are not the healthiest ways to serve fish.

Buying a great-quality, fresh salmon filet and topping it with a zesty chimichurri sauce is one of my favorite ways to serve fish – even to kids. Salmon is incredibly easy to bake, and chimichurri sauce can be whipped up in minutes with a good-quality blender. This chimichurri salmon recipe is simple, quick and a crowd-pleaser!

(If your kids are unsure, serve the chimichurri sauce on the side – and skip the optional red pepper flakes. And if all else fails, that great condiment equalizer – ketchup – can be offered alongside the chimichurri sauce to make it more encouraging to try the “green ketchup.”)

What is chimichurri sauce?

A traditional Argentinian condiment, I was first exposed to the bright flavors of chimichurri by a chef at Chuck Hughes’ Garde Manger in Montreal. It is a perfect combination of earthy herbs, pungent garlic, and tangy red wine vinegar. It can be used as a marinade or a topping for any baked or grilled meat (it’s most often seen on beef dishes).

It’s a great option if you’re trying to reduce salt in your diet, as the acidity has that same flavor-enhancing effect that many of us rely on salt for.

You can adjust the texture of this chimichurri sauce to your personal preferences. I’ve served it in a more authentic way on our steak salad (with the herbs simply chopped for texture) and also as the creamy texture you see here. Ella prefers the smoother texture, so I tend to stick to that.

How long should I cook salmon?

The size of your salmon will dictate how long you cook it, in addition to your desired texture. I like my salmon to be flaky and tender, so I pull it out of the oven right when it hits an internal temperature of 145ºF, but some people want theirs to have a bit of crisp to it. This guide on how to bake salmon will help you find the optimum baking temperature and time if you want a different result than what I achieved with my baked salmon.

Ella and I used our new Hurom Hexa Power High Speed Blender to make this chimichurri sauce.

I’ve used this high speed blender to make everything from breakfast smoothies to velvety smooth soups. I wasn’t sure how it was going to do with the small amount of ingredients we needed for the chimichurri, but it blended them perfectly! There were no unpleasant, leafy bits of cilantro and the garlic and onion was pureed perfectly, resulting in a silky, smooth sauce.

The Hurom blender is also really quiet, so I can make recipes at nap time without worrying that I’ll wake up the children. If you’re in the market for a new blender, or find that your blender isn’t doing a great job of creating smooth soups, sauces and smoothies, I highly recommend it!

What to Serve with Chimichurri Salmon:

Roasted potatoes
Mashed potatoes
Roasted vegetables – zucchini, asparagus, broccoli, etc.
Cucumber Avocado Salad
A simple salad with orange poppyseed dressing
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

This dish pairs well with so many sides, but I like to stick with simple sides that allow the salmon to be the main attraction. If serving to kids, pair it with their favorite side to keep the overwhelm to a minimum.

Chimichurri Salmon Ingredients

Salmon
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Chimichurri Ingredients

Red wine vinegar <– we were out and used white wine vinegar, you can also use balsamic vinegar
Extra-virgin olive oil
Garlic cloves
Shallot <– I think this is an essential ingredient but you can use green onions or sweet onion if you can’t find shallots
Jalapeño pepper
Fresh cilantro
Fresh flat-leaf parsley
Fresh oregano <– can use dried oregano
Salt
Red pepper flakes, optional

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: while fresh cilantro and fresh parsley are essential to the chimichurri sauce, all other ingredients can be substituted, if needed. While I like the delicate flavor of shallots in this sauce, we substituted with half a sweet onion, swapped the red wine vinegar for white wine vinegar, and also used dried oregano instead of fresh and the chimichurri still turned out delicious. Don’t let not having every single ingredient stop you from trying out this amazing condiment!

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

Hurom High-speed blender
Measuring cups and spoons
Baking tray
Parchment Paper

How to Make Chimichurri Salmon

Preheat your oven to 350ºF (or whichever desired temperature you want based on your salmon texture preference).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the salmon fillet on top.

Drizzle or brush the salmon with olive oil and rub the oil into the salmon.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Bake for 25 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 145ºF.

(If you want a slightly crunchy texture, turn on the broiler setting for 2 minutes.)

While the salmon is baking, prepare the chimichurri sauce.

Start by placing the olive oil and vinegar in the blender to ensure even blending.

Add in the garlic cloves, shallot, cilantro, parsley and oregano.

Add a small amount of the salt, jalapeño pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. (You can increase these later but you can’t take away.)

Puree the chimichurri ingredients together until smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit more olive oil to thin it out.

Taste and adjust with more salt, jalapeño pepper, and optional red pepper flakes, if desired.

When the salmon is done baking, pour the chimichurri sauce over the salmon.

Cut into 3oz portions and serve.

Pin this Super Simple Salmon Recipe:

Grab your free printable for Chimichurri Salmon recipe:

Want to Save This Recipe?

Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Sugar, Spice and Glitter.

Yield: 6 servings

Chimichurri Salmon

Name: Chimichurri Salmon
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Seafood recipe
Ingredients: 5lb Salmon filet; 2 Tablespoons olive oil; Salt and pepper, to taste; 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 1/2 cup red wine vinegar; 3-4 garlic cloves; 1 shallot; 1 jalapeno pepper; 1/2 cup fresh cilantro; 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley; 2 tablespoons fresh oregano (or 2 teaspoons dried); 1 teaspoon salt; Red pepper flakes, optional

A delicious way to incorporate more heart-healthy salmon into your week, this Chimichurri Salmon recipe uses a simple homemade chimichurri sauce to elevate a baked salmon to a at-home gourmet experience.

Prep Time 8 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Additional Time 2 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

5lb Salmon filet
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

For the chimichurri sauce:

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
3-4 garlic cloves
1 shallot
1 jalapeno pepper
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons fresh oregano (or 2 teaspoons dried)
1 teaspoon salt
Red pepper flakes, optional

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350ºF (or whichever desired temperature you want based on your salmon texture preference).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the salmon fillet on top.
Drizzle or brush the salmon with olive oil and rub the oil into the salmon.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Bake for 25 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 145ºF.
(If you want a slightly crunchy texture, turn on the broiler setting for 2 minutes.)
While the salmon is baking, prepare the chimichurri sauce.
Start by placing the olive oil and vinegar in the blender to ensure even blending.
Add in the garlic cloves, shallot, cilantro, parsley and oregano.
Add a small amount of the salt, jalapeño pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. (You can increase these later but you can't take away.)
Puree the chimichurri ingredients together until smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit more olive oil to thin it out.
Taste and adjust with more salt, jalapeño pepper, and optional red pepper flakes, if desired.
When the salmon is done baking, pour the chimichurri sauce over the salmon.
Cut into 3oz portions and serve.

Notes

While fresh cilantro and fresh parsley are essential to the chimichurri sauce, all other ingredients can be substituted, if needed. While I like the delicate flavor of shallots in this sauce, we substituted with half a sweet onion, swapped the red wine vinegar for white wine vinegar, and also used dried oregano instead of fresh and the chimichurri still turned out delicious. Don't let not having every single ingredient stop you from trying out this amazing condiment!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1078Total Fat: 78gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 59gCholesterol: 238mgSodium: 642mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 84g

Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.

A simple baked salmon recipe with homemade chimichurri sauce - a heart-healthy meal your whole family will love

This simple baked salmon recipe with homemade chimichurri sauce is a delicious way to enjoy salmon. I like to double the chimichurri sauce recipe and keep extra on hand for the next time we have steak or baked chicken – it’s incredibly versatile!

For more delicious ways to incorporate more seafood into your week, check out our Fish Tacos recipe with homemade crema sauce or our Simple Lobster Thermidor recipe.

Chimichurri Salmon