Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmon (from frozen!)
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!
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.
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!
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…
- Instant Pot Garlic Herb Pulled Chicken
- Slow Cooker/ Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
- Veggie-Loaded Instant Pot Tomato Soup
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
Loving this Instant Pot lemon garlic salmon and hungry for more?
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Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Salmon (from frozen!)
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 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.
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This looks great! I would need to make the meal for 2 adults, 2 kids, though. How do I get more than 2 pieces of salmon to fit in my IP? I have the same 6-qt. IP as you.
You can layer the fish on top of one another and cook for an addition 2 minutes (maybe more if the cut of fish is extra thick)!
I can’t wait to try this! I’ve had forgotten frozen salmon in my freezer for over a month. I can finally cook it!
Right!? Total game changer!
I don’t have an instant pot; and probably won’t get one. The meals look good, how can I make these recipes without an I.P. ? Thank you
Many Instant Pot recipes can be made in a slow cooker or on a stove stop…but how varies from recipe to recipe.
This is amazing! I often forget to thaw my proteins too and my go to is always frozen chicken breasts in the crockpot but that still takes at least 3 hours. I don’t keep stock of fresh herbs unless I specifically buy them for a recipe. Would this work without the herbs on the bottom or is their a substitution?
I am new to Instant Pot. If I want to cook a smaller amount of salmon should I shorten the time?
As long as they are not too thick, than you could probably use a smaller amount fish with a 5 minute cook time.
Yummy! My frozen salmon still has scales on – I can just peel off at the end of cooking right??
Have you ever tried the salmon from frozen doing pot in pot? I’d love to be able to cook the salmon and some veggies all at once. Any ideas?
I’m confused. How is the cook time 17 mins but you put it on high pressure for 7 then quick release. Is it 17 mins? (I’m super new to the instant pot) much appreciated bc we love Costco salmon!
I put 17 minutes because it takes your IP about 10 minutes to get up to pressure.
I followed this recipe and it did not cook the salmon throughout. It was still raw inside.
Hi Rebecca!
I’m sorry to hear the recipe wasn’t a success! Was the salmon extra thick? Or perhaps did you have two pieces stacked on top of one another? Those are the two situations in which my salmon has still be raw in the middle but it typically works like a dream for me.
What if I don’t have any lemons? I also just have some dill garlic powder, salt and pepper should that be good still?
Made this tonight and it was amazing. For my rather thin 1/2 pound filet, I cooked at high pressure for 5 minutes with 1 minute natural release, and then used quick release. The salmon was perfectly cooked and delicious. I seasoned with lemon pepper and served with lightly sautéed vegetables. I will use this technique again and again. Thanks so much.
such a life saver & delicious! thank you!! 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Any suggestion on cooking time is the salmon is NOT Frozen? I have some fresh salmon I need to use!
Depending on how thick it is, I would say about 3 minutes on high pressure with a quick pressure release in the end. Also, if it is one large piece (I always buy 1 pound filets), I’d cut it into 3-4 pieces
Thank you! ❤️
Cooking with frozen foods is a smart strategy for days when you do not have the time to make meticulous meals from scratch!
Made this last night. It was perfect exactly as written in the recipe. Definitely the tastiest, easiest, fastest way to make salmon and accompanying veggies.
Thank you. Awesome.
Cooking with frozen foods is a smart strategy for days when you do not have the time to make meticulous meals from scratch!
Thanks for being so thorough and giving detailed directions. I appreciate how you give directions for both frozen and thawed salmon. I am looking forward to having you be my go-to site!
Girl! I just pulled out some salmon for dinner tonight! Thanks for the inspiration!!! Happy cooking!
Super easy and quick! Perfect for the summer when it is too hot to turn on the stove or oven. I just added the butter and salt and pepper when cooking and was plenty flavorful.
I was skeptical about cooking frozen salmon in the instant pot. This was delicious, quick, and my new favorite recipe for salmon. It was perfectly cooked from frozen in minutes!
I would have never thought that you can use frozen salmon like that – fantastic!
Great recipe! If this helps anyone else- I had a 1 pound frozen salmon filet which was no more than 1 in thick in center. I did 9 min but it was not fully cooked, still raw inside. I set it for 2 more and it was ok but slightly, well, mush? Next time I did this recipe I put the same shape and weight filet in for 13 min and it was perfect. Very moist but flaky and stable. Hope you enjoy! P.S. I’m at high altitude if that matters?
Loved the recipe. I added fresh green beans. If an old fart, single guy, new to cooking, can manage to prepare this great meal, anyone can.
Ha! I love this, Kenny! Thank you for taking the time to share your success! 💚
I have the same question as the lady beneath me. I don’t have any lemon juice. Will some lemon pepper seasoning be okay? I’m worried it won’t come out well and Id have wasted salmon!
Hi Alicia! Lemon pepper would be a lovely addition and really give the salmon lovely flavor. You could also up the garlic and salt in this recipe to give the fish extra flavor in place of the lemon.
I so enjoyed this, served over a bed of spinach. My brand of instant pot seems to take a little bit longer, plus I was nervous because this was my first time cooking salmon from frozen, so I did end up just slightly overcooking my fish. It was still very delicious, but next time I will use your recommended time. Thanks for sharing such a great recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Deborah.
For the lemon juice, do you use fresh or bottled?
I use fresh usually, but bottled will work too
I love salmon! i eat it everyday
So glad you enjoy it as much as I do!