Cooking salmon in the slow cooker produces perfectly cooked salmon with minimal effort. Using just a few ingredients, this low-carb, paleo, and whole30 recipe is not only healthy but easy too.
You knew you could make salmon the slow cooker right? You can pretty much make anything in the slow cooker in my opinion including fish.
How much salmon to use
I kept the instructions vague by listing 1-2 lbs of salmon. It’s really however much your slow cooker will fit. I used a large 1.5 pound salmon filet and my 6-quart slow cooker . I could have cut the fish into pieces to make it fit in my smaller 3.5-quart .
before
If your salmon doesn’t fit across the bottom of the slow cooker, you can layer your salmon by adding your salmon, and then adding a piece of parchment paper, then more salmon on top, then another piece of parchment. Like stacking the salmon in rows.
Salmon prep
Rub the salmon with a little bit of oil (I used extra-virgin olive oil) or you can even spray it lightly with cooking spray. Then you add the salt, pepper, garlic and dill. That’s it. I prefer to always cook salmon with the skin on, regardless of the method of cooking but if you want to take the skin off you can. When it’s done cooking, the skin should slide right off. To ensure that the salmon doesn’t stick to the slow cooker, you have 3 options: you can spray the slow cooker with cooking spray, line it with parchment paper or line it with aluminum foil.
after
As you see in the pics, I spray with cooking spray but the other 2 options are better for minimal clean up. Nope, no water is needed. I understand this is still a hard concept for some people to swallow. So while I never use any water, if it makes you feel more comfortable to do so, go ahead and add 1-2 tablespoons of water into the slow cooker before you add the salmon down. Trust me though, it’s not needed.
Cooking time
How long the salmon will take to cook will depend on how much salmon you’re using and how thick it is. My 1.5 pounds took a little under 2 hours on HIGH to cook. The FDA recommends that salmon be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. To check, push the tip of a thermometer into the thickest part of the salmon fillet.
Rule of thumb is it’s probably done if the flesh flakes easily with a fork. The white stuff you see on the salmon is its ‘sweat’. It’s totally normal and okay to eat. If there’s a lot, I’ll scrape if off otherwise I don’t bother.
Print
Slow Cooker Salmon with Lemon & Dill (Low-Carb, Paleo, Whole30)
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1–2 lbs salmon
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
- Handful fresh dill, loosely chopped
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker generously with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
- Rub salmon with olive oil then season with salt, pepper, garlic and fresh dill.
- Add salmon to the slow cooker. Top with lemon slices.
- Cook HIGH 1-2 hours or LOW 2-4.
This works with all types of salmon whether it be coho, sockeye, etc. If you don’t have fresh dill, you can substitute your favorite herb. Dry herbs can be used instead of fresh.
Other slow cooker salmon recipes:
Slow Cooker Italian Herb Salmon
Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Salmon Stew
Slow Cooker/Instant Pot Seafood Ramen
Low-carb, keto, paleo, whole30 – this recipe covers it all. I like to serve this salmon with a simple salad and either potatoes or riced cauliflower, depending on my diet. Here is 3/4 lb of salmon made in a smaller 3.5-quart slow cooker.
before
after
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Hi ~ I just found your recipe and used it tonight. The salmon turned out tender and delicious! Everyone loved it. Thank you!
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it. Thank you for the feedback!
Never written a post, but this recipe was awesome!! I blended everything in a bowl and rubbed it all over the salmon. Layered it in the slow cooker just how it was written. I then shredded it and made salmon tacos. My family loved it, even the picky eaters who dont like salmon. I even made a light cilantro ranch dressing to drizzle on top. Cant wait to try your other recipes!
I like your style Sandra! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe; I hope others are just as good to you.
Hi! I’m new to the crock pot world! can you cook frozen salmon in the slow cooker or do you need to thaw it first? Thanks!
Thawing is preferred but you can uses frozen. No adjustment to the recipe, just add the fish in frozen. Enjoy!
Hi Shannon, just stumbled across your blog today. Love the slow cook recipes. I’m new to the slow cook world. Any thought of adding nutritional info such as calorie count, sugar, carbs and fat count to the end of the recipe for those of us who have to count such things. I am gonna try the Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken recipe this weekend.
Hi Donna! Thanks so much for stopping by. I actually have a nutritional info plug-in that’s I’ve been too lazy to implement. Seeing this comment is the swift kick I needed. Stay tuned, nutritional info will be added by this weekend. Hope you enjoy some of the recipes the jerk chicken is a personal favorite:-)
Hello Shannon.
Nice blog!!!
Thanks for writing about slow cookware recipe.
I just like the recipe you provide to your articles
Really you’ve mentioned here nice information about food.
I would be very interested to hear more news on this.
have a nice day.
Thank you!
I love this idea! And your blog! I will let you know how mine turns out 🙂
Thank you so much! Definitely keep me posted on how yours is! xShannon
In the wintertime, my go to quick recipe in the slow Cooker is either a whole chicken seasoned with herbs or chicken breasts with mixed vegetables and brown rice.
Hi Shannon,
Thanks for the Post, about “SALMON WITH LEMON”
I likes your recipe very much,
cant wait to taste SALMON WITH LEMON.
Good day.
😉