A recipe for salmon fillets, seasoned with Cajun spices, then baked and served over a bed of Cajun rice. Serve with a bit of squeezed lemon and happiness ensues.
Cajun Baked Salmon Recipe with Cajun Rice
I guess it's fairly obvious by now what the favorite fish is in the Madness household. That would be SALMON. Salmon has a flavor that is unique unto itself and it's something I grew up on.
When I learned to cook on my own, salmon is one of the first things I learned to make.
I mostly prefer a simple salmon fillet, either grilled, blackened, pan seared, or baked.
This version takes salmon fillets and bakes them. I typically purchase several pounds of salmon from a local grocer and separate them into 6 ounce fillets so I almost always have them on hand in the freezer.
Knowing me, you KNOW I enjoy things a bit spicy, so I went the Cajun route and seasoned the salmon with Cajun seasonings, with some extra garlic and cayenne powder because I LOVE those particular flavors as well as the spice level.
Cajun Baked Salmon with Cajun Rice Ingredients
- Olive Oil.
- Jalapeno Peppers. Chopped.
- Yellow Onion. Chopped.
- Celery Stalk. Chopped.
- Garlic Cloves. Minced.
- Long Grain Rice.
- Chicken Stock.
- Tomato Sauce.
- Cajun Seasonings.
- Garlic Powder.
- Cayenne Powder
- Salt and Pepper.
- Hot Sauce.
- Salmon Fillets.
- Lemon.
- Chopped Parsley. For serving.
How to Make Cajun Baked Salmon with Cajun Rice - The Recipe Method
Baking salmon is quite simple. Just season and bake at 425 degrees. You want 4-6 minutes per inch of salmon thickness, depending on how you like it done. I like it to be slightly pink in the middle, not overly pink.
Extremely easy to cook and hard to mess up. Add this to your "Quick and Easy Meals" recipes menu and you'll be good to go.
And that includes the rice.
Let's talk about the rice. Cajun style! It's quite a lot like a Mexican Rice Recipe, but made with Cajun seasonings instead.
While the rice is simmering and building flavor, bake your salmon and everything is done at the same time, just in time for serving. Serve the salmon over the top of the rice with a few squeezes of fresh lemon juice for a nice citrus pop.
You're good to go.
While this is one of the simplest recipes you'll make, it's certainly on Mike's Favorites list. I hope you like it, too!
Recipe Tips & Notes
- I typically purchase several pounds of salmon from a local grocer and separate them into 6 ounce fillets so I almost always have them on hand in the freezer.
- The fact that you can prepare rice while baking your salmon makes this recipes to be one of the quickest and easiest to make. Enjoy!
Storage & Leftovers
Storing your Cajun Baked Salmon in an airtight container in the fridge may allow to keep it for up to 2-3 days. To maximize the storage life, make sure to refrigerate it promptly.
Try Some of My Other Popular Salmon Recipes
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Cajun Baked Salmon Recipe with Cajun Rice
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 jalapeno peppers chopped
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup long grain rice
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasonings divided
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Hot sauce to taste
- 4 8- ounce salmon fillets
- 1 lemon
- Chopped parsley for serving
Instructions
- Heat a pot to medium heat and add olive oil.
- Add peppers, onion and celery and cook about 6 minutes to soften.
- Add garlic and cook 1 more minute, stirring.
- Add rice and stir. Cook a couple minutes to brown slightly.
- Add chicken stock, tomato sauce and 1 tablespoon Cajun seasonings, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Reduce heat to simmer and cook 20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through.
- While rice is cooking, heat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Pat salmon dry and season each side with remaining Cajun seasonings, salt and pepper.
- Set into a baking dish and bake 10-12 minutes, or until cooked through. You want 4-6 minutes per inch of thickness, depending on how you like it done.
- Remove from heat.
- Squeeze juice from half a lemon into the rice along with a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce. Stir.
- Serve the salmon over rice on pretty plates. Top each with extra squeezed lemon juice and chopped parsley.
Nutrition Information
Lina says
Awesome recipe as the others. I am receiving the emails from Pepper Madness and slowly become mad about spicyness. Thank you Mike! Great selection and varieties of recipes
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you're enjoying the spicy recipes, Lina!
Banks says
Super easy recipe for a quick, healthy meal. We grilled the salmon instead of baking it and it worked great. Will be revisiting this recipe soon.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Banks!