Are you like me and NEVER remember to defrost your fish for dinner? This Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmon is going to rock your socks then! Wildly easy to throw together, super flavorful and cooked to perfections FROM FROZEN in your handy dandy IP….this going to be your new fast food!

Overhead on the delicious Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmon served in a white plate with two lemons on the side

Instant Pot lemon garlic salmon

I always have the best of intentions. In the beginning, it always seems like a really good idea.  

Frozen fish

I buy it at the store for a killer deal. Wild caught and frozen at its peek of freshness. It seems like the perfect thing to keep in the freezer for those nights when I am at a loss what to cook or at the end of the week when the fresh protein supply is looking pretty meager. 

Making Instant Pot lemon garlic salmon with frozen salmon and some green herbs

It always seems like a really good idea….

Until I forget to defrost it. Not once. Not twice. But for weeks at a time. Every time I need that frozen fish the most is the time I completely forget to take it out of the freezer.

Sure, could I put it in a water bath to help speed up the process? Totally, and I have. Except those extra crazy nights that I need that quick and fast meal also tends to be the night when my family (and myself) are clamoring for dinner to be on the table as fast as humanly possible. On those nights when I need it the most, we are NOT in the mood to wait for our frozen fish to enjoy a little spa soak in order to be soft enough to then be cooked.

Life changing cooking hack

I had started bypassing frozen fish all together… until I learned a brilliant and amazing and downright life changing hack that has saved my busy mama behind more than once in recent months…

You can cook fish from frozen in the Instant Pot!

Turning on Instant Pot to cook the most flavorful dish in the world - from frozen salmon

Cooking frozen fish in Instant Pot

Now, I am still kind of new on the Instant Pot scene. It took me a while to give up my loyal slow cooker and embrace pressure cooking. But now that I have, there is no way in heck I can go back. Because, guys…..FROZEN FISH IN THE INSTANT POT….in like, 15 minutes…start to finish!!!!

Its winning all the way around (except for maybe for the fish). Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmon is wildly easy to throw together, is super flavorful and cooked to perfections FROM FROZEN in your handy dandy IP!

Guys, this going to be your new fast food!

Other Instant Pot recipes you are going to love…

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Instant Pot lemon garlic salmon served with vegetables and a metal fork on the side
Overhead on the delicious Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmon served in a white plate with two lemons on the side
5 from 5 votes

Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmon (from frozen!)

Yield: 3 – 4
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
This Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmon is going to rock your socks then! Wildly easy to throw together, super flavorful and cooked to perfections FROM FROZEN in your handy dandy IP….this going to be your new fast food!

Ingredients
 

  • 1 1/2 pounds frozen salmon filets
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 3/4 cup water
  • fresh dill, basil, parsley or a mix, a few springs
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder or to taste , or to taste (or 2 cloves garlic, minced)
  • 1/4 or to taste sea salt , or to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 lemon, sliced thinly
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil, or melted coconut oil

Instructions
 

  • Pour water and lemon juice into your Instant Pot. Add fresh herbs to the water/lemon juice mixture and place steamer rack in Instant Pot.
  • Drizzle salmon with oil and season with salt and pepper. 
  • Sprinkle garlic powder over the salmon and place on the salmon in a single layer on the steamer rack in the Instant Pot. *
  • Layer lemon slices on top of the salmon.
  • Place the lid on the Instant Pot, lock in place and turn the valve to sealing.
  • The use the Manual setting to cook on HIGH pressure for 7 minutes.*
  • It will take your Instant Pot about 10 minutes to get up to pressure. 
  • Once the time is up, switch the valve to venting to quick release the pressure.
  • Enjoy warm over a salad, with roasted veggies or any other way that you can dream up!

Notes

* If your salmon pieces are frozen together, run them under water until they are able to be separated. Stacking salmon might make it too thick to cook all the way through.
* If your salmon is thicker than 1 inch, consider adding an extra minute or two to the cook time.
* If your salmon is extra thin, consider reducing time by 1 minute
  • If the salmon is still not cooked all the way through once cook time is up (salmon cuts vary in shape and size), replace lid and let it sit in the hot IP for a few extra minutes to steam.
Calories: 379kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 46g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 125mg, Sodium: 136mg, Potassium: 1182mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 91IU, Vitamin C: 27mg, Calcium: 37mg, Iron: 2mg

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