Easy Salmon Recipe that Kids Will Actually Eat (2024)

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Easy Salmon Recipe that Kids Will Actually Eat (1)

This easy salmon recipe is simple enough for a toddler to make. Kids love the colorful pesto & crunchy pistachios, making it a perfect way to introduce fish to your little ones. But the bestthing about this salmon recipe is that it’s just three ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes, start to finish!

Easy Salmon Recipe that Kids Will Actually Eat (2)

Seafood can be a hard food for little kids. It often has a strong taste, unlike any other food they may have tried, and it can be dry or mushy, or anywhere in between, (don’t worry, I’ll tell you below how to perfectly cook your salmon). But seafood is an important part of a healthy diet, even for babies and toddlers. Salmon can be a good starter seafood for kids because of its bright color, fatty taste, and how good it can be either hot or cold.

Easy Salmon Recipe that Kids Will Actually Eat (3)

The first time Corban tried salmon, it was from cooking a whole salmon, and he refused to try it until I brought him the tail. He decidedthat was pretty cool, and was willing to take a few bites. Next we tried salmon skewers, which he thought were fun to play with, but still only took a couple of bites.

Easy Salmon Recipe that Kids Will Actually Eat (4)

Then I was sent a recipe for pesto pistachio salmon. Just three ingredients, salmon, pesto, pistachios, and voila…perfectly moist and crazy flavorful.

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Corban loved the pesto salmonso much, that now he gets to cookwhenever we’re having itfor dinner.

Watch On YouTube

In the video, we used pink salt because I let Corban choose what salt to use, but you could use any salt you like. You can even skip the salt and pepper all together if your pesto is really fresh and flavorful.

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This is one of those recipes that can be a quick five minute prep using a jarred pesto (we love Costco’s!), or can be made using your favorite fresh pesto recipe. We’ve tried it both ways, and each one was fantastic.

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For crushing the pistachios, you can use a meat hammer like Corban did, a rolling pin, or even a regular hammer. It’s a great way to get some frustration out!

Make sure you follow the step for covering the salmon with foil. It’s my secret to perfectly cooked salmon every time. The foil traps the moisture in as the fish cooks. That means no dried out sad fish, even if you’re hiding in the bathroom sipping a half a glass of wine and reading a cooking magazine and don’t hear the kitchen timer until your pre-schooler comes to tell you it’s been going off five minutes later. Or so I’ve heard.

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We hope your little one loves this easy salmon recipe as much as our mini chef does. Be sure to let us know in the comments if you try it. We love to hear from you!

THANKS FOR SUPPORTING EATING RICHLY EVEN WHEN YOU’RE BROKE

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THREE INGREDIENT EASY SALMON RECIPE

Easy Salmon Recipe that Kids Will Actually Eat (9)

Yield: 4 servings

Three Ingredient Easy Salmon Recipe

Easy Salmon Recipe that Kids Will Actually Eat (10)

This easy salmon recipe has just three ingredients! You can use jarred pesto, or homemade, but make sure to use unsalted pistachios. Adapted from food.com

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time12 minutes

Total Time17 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup pistachios
  • 4 ounce salmon fillets, Around 3-4 Fillets
  • salt and pepper, optional
  • 1/2 cup pesto

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Place pistachios in a bag and pound a few times until they are slightly crushed.
  3. Grease a baking sheet. We like olive oil but you can use a spray if you prefer.
  4. Place the salmon fillets on the sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper if you'd like them.
  5. Spoon the pesto onto each salmon fillet, then sprinkle on the crushed pistachios.
  6. Cover the whole thing with foil and bake it for 12 minutes.

Notes

Approximate cost/serving: This depends on the cost of your salmon. While farm raised salmon is going to be cheapest, we prefer sustainable, wild caught Alaskan salmon. The best way to make this affordable is to buy whole salmon and fillet it yourself. It's surprisingly easy! When we found a whole salmon for just $8/lb, this cost us less than $3 a serving. That's crazy!

Gluten Free: Yes completely! This can also be dairy free and paleo by making your own pesto with no parmesan.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

4 servings

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 332Saturated Fat: 3.34gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 397mgCarbohydrates: 7.3gFiber: 2.1gSugar: 2.68gProtein: 21.67g

Easy Salmon Recipe that Kids Will Actually Eat (11)

I am hosting Mini Chef Mondays along with 11 fabulous bloggers!

Be sure to check out each of their Mini Chef posts as well. We would love it if you would share your Mini Chef posts with us each week, too! Follow along socially and join in on the fun by using our hashtag #MiniChefMondays to share creations your mini chef created in the kitchen. Additionally, if you have a kid-friendly recipe that kids can easily recreate link up! Don’t have a blog? Share the URL of your instagram photo in our linky below.

  1. Homemade Maple Yogurt Recipe // Courtney’s Sweets
  2. Jello Play Doh // Momma Lew
  3. Best Baked Oatmeal Recipe with Apples and Pears // Baby Loving Mama
  4. 3 Bean Chicken Chili // We’re Parents
  5. Spicy Shredded Beef Quesadillas // Frugal Novice
  6. Easy Salmon Recipe That Kids Will Actually Eat // Eating Richly
  7. Homemade Chicken Nuggets // Giggles, Gobbles and Gulps
  8. Kid Safety Tips for Kids // Step Stool Chef
  9. Cooking with Kids // Vegging at the Shore
  10. Gingerbread Cookies and Cream Bars // Mom’s Messy Miracles
  11. Applesauce Muffins // O’Boy! Organic
  12. Chocolate Covered Pretzel Snowflakes // Can’t Google Everything

We'd love to keep in touch. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and get your free download of our favorite healthy cute kid snacks.

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This helps us to cover some of the costs for this site. Thank you so much for your support!

Nutritional and cost information is for estimating purposes only, and subject to variations due to region, seasonality, and product availability.

Easy Salmon Recipe that Kids Will Actually Eat (2024)

FAQs

How do I get my child to eat salmon? ›

Sometimes, a tasty dip or sauce can make fish more appealing to children. Serve fish with a side of tartar sauce, a bit of ketchup, or a mild creamy sauce like yogurt-based ranch dressing. These condiments can add flavor and make the eating experience more enjoyable.

Which salmon is best for kids? ›

Salmon is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids that provide well documented benefits for the heart and brain. Wild salmon is a great choice and farmed salmon is a good alternative. Women of childbearing age and young children should continue to eat fish known to be low in contaminants.

Is cooked salmon good for kids? ›

Salmon is the natural choice for parents wanting to add more oily fish to their children's diet. It's a good source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids (which aid the development and function of a child's brain and nervous system) and has a more delicate flavour than alternatives like mackerel, trout or sardines.

What is the easiest way to eat salmon? ›

Pan-seared salmon is one of the easiest and most favorite ways to serve salmon. If you want to satisfy your cravings for healthy fats, then pan-sear your favorite fish. This is a favorite method because you can prepare the meal easily in under an hour. Simply sear on each side and get it to your desired cook.

Can kids eat salmon everyday? ›

The FDA and EPA recommend that children eat salmon twice a week. Due to the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, along with iodine, iron, and choline, salmon is considered a superior food to support the rapid brain development that takes place during early childhood.

What is the safest fish for kids to eat? ›

Salmon, trout and herring are considered low in mercury and high in brain-boosting DHA. Other types of seafood considered "best choices" include shrimp, cod, catfish, crab, scallops, pollock, tilapia, whitefish, trout, perch, flounder, sole, sardine, anchovy, crawfish, clams, oyster, and lobster. Choices to avoid.

How often should kids eat salmon? ›

Eat 2 servings a week from the “Best Choices” list. How Much Should My Child Eat? Younger kids can eat fish too. You can introduce nutritious foods like fish to complement breast milk or infant formula in your baby's diet once they are about 6 months of age.

What is the tastiest salmon to eat? ›

Chinook: The largest (and often most expensive), the king or chinook is prized for its high-fat content and buttery texture. Sockeye: An oilier fish with deep red flesh, sockeye salmon has a stronger flavor and stands up well to grilling.

Which salmon is least fishy? ›

Overall, Coho salmon is a popular choice for those who prefer a milder and more delicate fish flavor.

Can kids eat too much salmon? ›

Limit Total Servings

Mercury contamination is less of a concern when it comes to salmon, which tends to have little to none. Still, limit your child's total salmon consumption to about twice a week.

What is the best fish for kids to eat? ›

Try a variety of fish: Cod, tuna, salmon, mackerel, canned and fresh fish, steamed, grilled, or even occasionally deep-fried can all make delicious treats for kids . In summary, fish is an important source of nutrients present in daily meals.

Why does my baby throw up after eating salmon? ›

Food-protein induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is probably a non IgE-mediated food allergy characterized by repeated and projectile vomiting, pallor and lethargy, sometimes followed by diarrhea; the symptoms appear within 4–6h after the ingestion of the offending food and are resolved within a few hours.

What is the tastiest way to cook salmon? ›

Salmon Method: Poached in Olive Oil

Heat over low heat until the oil reaches 120 degrees F, at which point you'll transfer the entire pan to a 225-degree F preheated oven for 25 minutes. Results: I will admit that this method yielded the best-tasting salmon — but what would you expect from cooking something in fat?

Why do you soak salmon in milk? ›

Apparently, the proteins present in milk can bind to the fatty acids that have been exposed to air and give salmon its fishy odor or taste and mitigate them to be more neutral. (Fishiness is caused by the oxidation of fatty acids.)

What not to do with salmon? ›

Here are five common mistakes that we all make when cooking salmon at home and how to avoid them.
  1. Not removing pin bones. Fact: Most salmon fillets have pin bones in them. ...
  2. Mistreating the skin. ...
  3. Using the wrong pan. ...
  4. Overcooking your fish. ...
  5. Reheating leftover salmon.
May 17, 2021

Why can't I catch salmon? ›

Salmon have a seriously thick and tough jawline, and if your hook is dull, catching a salmon can be very difficult, even when it bites. Make sure that hook is razor sharp to increase your chances of a catch.

Is salmon fish good for kids? ›

Salmon is an extremely rich source of proteins which are essential for growing kids. The good quality protein in Salmon helps provide children with the energy their bodies need through the day. It makes them smarter and healthier! Salmon is a great source of natural Omega-3 fats.

Why do salmon stop eating? ›

Most of them stop eating when they return to freshwater and have no energy left for a return trip to the ocean after spawning. After they die, other animals eat them (but people don't) or they decompose, adding nutrients to the stream.

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