Flakey instant pot salmon comes together in a snap with just 5 ingredients and under 25 minutes to spare. This method for cooking salmon creates incredibly juicy, fall-apart tender salmon with little to no prep or hassle!
Why this recipe works
It takes less than a handful of minutes, 4 to be precise, to cook tender instant pot salmon. Pressure cooked salmon is great for busy weeknights and is ready in a fraction of the time compared to baked or grilled salmon, while still producing juicy flakey bits of fish that melt in your mouth. The longest step of this process is waiting for your instant pot to come to temperature.
This is an easy how-to recipe for basic instant pot salmon using only 5 ingredients – salmon, seasoned salt, black pepper, lemon slices, and water for the pressure cooker. You can switch up your seasonings and flavor profile to suit your taste if desired.
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
SALMON – Grab 1-inch thick center cut salmon. If you would like 2 servings, cut the salmon into 2 filets before cooking it. Once it’s cooked it can still be cut in half, but the cut will not be clean. Salmon cooks quickly, so if you use thinner or lighter cuts of salmon it may be done quicker, just like it would be with any other method.
SEASONING – We are keeping it nice and simple with some seasoned salt and black pepper with the addition of lemon slices. You can switch up the seasonings as you see fit. Some herbs and seasonings that pair well with salmon are smoked paprika, garlic powder, mustard powder, dried thyme, and onion powder as well as dill, parsley, and tarragon. It never hurts to play with seasonings to see what you enjoy best.
How to Make Instant Pot Salmon
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Season the salmon with seasoned salt and pepper.
- Put water in Instant Pot and position rack in place.
- Place salmon on rack and top with 3 lemon slices.
- Place lid on Instant Pot and close vent.
- Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes and do a quick release.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Store any leftover salmon in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Yes, you can use frozen salmon. However, I don’t typically recommend frozen salmon as you can’t necessarily season frozen foods without it all sliding off as it cooks. It’s best to allow the filets to thaw before pressure cooking. If this doesn’t bother you, then feel free to add an extra 2 minutes to the cook time for frozen filets.
Serving Suggestions
Top with a creamy lemon sauce that you can find in our baked salmon recipe if desired, or serve as is with a side of roasted potatoes, julienned peppers, rice, green beans, asparagus, pasta, or a nice leafy salad.
More Salmon Recipes
- Salmon Tacos
- Lemon Salmon
- Poached Salmon
- Maple Soy Salmon
- Smoked Salmon Dip
- Dijon Lemon Caper Salmon
- Pan Seared Salmon
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Instant Pot Salmon
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- ¾ pound center cut salmon about 1 inch thick
- ½ Tablespoon seasoned salt we used Lawry's
- ½ Tablespoon black pepper
- 3 slices lemon
- 1 cup water
Things You’ll Need
- Instant pot 6 quart
Before You Begin
- The Instant Pot will take about 12-15 to come to temp. Prep time in recipe includes bringing the Instant Pot up to temp.
- If you would like 2 servings, cut the salmon into 2 filets before cooking it. Once it’s cooked it can still be cut in half, but the cut will not be clean.
- If you use any thinner cut of salmon less than 1 inch, it may be done cooking sooner.
Instructions
- Season the salmon with seasoned salt and pepper.
- Put water in Instant Pot and position rack in place.
- Place salmon on rack and top with 3 lemon slices.
- Place lid on Instant Pot and close vent.
- Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes and do a quick release.
Nutrition
Chef Antoine Davis
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Gail says
Was surprised how much I liked this recipe. So easy to cook and salmon was flaky and delicious. This will be our new method of cooking salmon. Thanks for the great recipe.