Cedar Plank Salmon with Lemon, Garlic & Herbs
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With a quick lemon-garlic marinade and smoky flavor from the plank, this cedar plank salmon is bold, delicious, and hassle-free—no flipping, sticking, or fussy cleanup.
Cedar plank salmon shows up on restaurant menus all the time, but it’s so easy to make at home. I love marinating the salmon in lemon zest, garlic, and herbs—the citrus and garlic add zing, while the herbs and cedar plank lend a woodsy, smoky flavor. To keep things simple, I buy salmon fillets already skinned and cut into portions. Once home, I quickly mix the marinade, pop the salmon in the fridge, and go about my day. Come dinnertime, all that’s left to do is soak the plank, fire up the grill, and prep a few sides.
The plank keeps the fish from sticking to the grates and makes cleanup a breeze. Serve the salmon with a fresh corn salad, sautéed zucchini and cherry tomatoes or ratatouille.
“This recipe was so perfect and easy to follow! My picky kids loved it and my husband asked for salmon this way from now on.”
What you’ll need to make Cedar Plank Salmon
- Cedar planks – Used for grilling and infusing the salmon with subtle smoky flavor. Soak them in water ahead of time so they don’t catch fire. You can usually find them near the seafood section at most large grocery stores.
- Salmon fillets – Look for skinless, center-cut fillets, about 6 ounces each—they cook more evenly and fit well on the planks.
- Olive oil, lemon zest, garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt & pepper – These come together to make a simple marinade that keeps the salmon moist and full of fresh, bright, herby flavor.
- Lemon wedges – A final squeeze at the table adds a pop of freshness and ties everything together.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Marinate the salmon. In a dish large enough to hold the fish, mix the olive oil, lemon zest, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Add the salmon and turn to coat evenly. Let sit for at least 30 minutes or until ready to grill.
Step 2: Soak the cedar plank.
Meanwhile, submerge the plank in a sink or bowl of water for at least an hour so it doesn’t catch fire on the grill. When ready to cook, pat it dry and place the marinated salmon on top, skin side down.
Pro Tip: Weigh down the plank with a can or bowl while it soaks to keep it fully submerged.
Step 3: Grill the salmon. Place the cedar planks on the grill grates and grill over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked to your liking. Serve right from the plank or transfer to a platter.
Pro Tip: Cedar planks are safe to grill on as long as they’re soaked thoroughly, but feel free to keep a spray bottle of water nearby just in case the edges start to flame—it’s easy to manage if it happens.
Other salmon recipes you may like
Cedar Plank Salmon with Lemon, Garlic & Rosemary
Cedar plank salmon sounds fancy, but it couldn’t be easier—just marinate, grill, and let the plank do the work.
Ingredients
- Cedar plank(s) for grilling
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest, from 2 lemons
- 1½ teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 1½ teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 (6-oz) salmon fillets, skin removed
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Fill a large bowl or sink with water. Soak the cedar plank(s) under the water for at least 1 hour.
- In a baking dish large enough to hold the salmon, combine the olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon zest, rosemary, thyme, and garlic. Mix well. Add the salmon and turn to coat evenly with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until ready to grill (you can do this up to 4 hours ahead of time).
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (400°F to 450°F).
- Pat the soaked plank(s) dry and place the salmon on top. Place the plank(s) on the grill grates, close the cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until salmon is done to your liking. Douse or mist the plank(s) with a bit of water if it catches fire. Serve the salmon on a platter right off the plank(s) with lemon wedges.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Calories: 478
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated fat: 7 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Sodium: 392 mg
- Cholesterol: 94 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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This recipe is perfect as is. The cedar plank protects the salmon from the heat, gives it a nice lightly smoked flavor, and no worries about it sticking to the grill. Everyone loved it!
I had fresh caught Chinock, “King” Salmonfrom Lake Michigan. I love your ingredients for marinating, but I like spicy and crunchy. I added 1 tsp. Chopped fresh jalapeño, 1 tsp. Cayenne, 1 T. Chopped pine nuts. It was perfect. Tried and True.
Big fan of all your gluten free and dairy free. A place I can ALWAYS go and find what I need. Thank you for all the easy marvelous receipes
I made this last night and it was out of this world! Wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I made this recipe last night, and it was very good! Even my 8 year old daughter who hates fish (except fried) liked it! My husband did catch the cedar planks on fire though because he didn’t take the spritzer bottle outside with him. Lol. I will make this again, I loved it.
No one in our family really likes fish, but we’ve loved pretty much all of your recipes, and this looked so good, I had to give it a try. It was amazing! We ate every morsel, and I’ll be making it again soon. Thank you, Jenn, and keep up the good work!
Great flavors and so quick and easy to prepare. This will be a regular on our bbq grill.
Hi Jennifer,
Can I substitute dried rosemary and thyme for the the fresh, an, if so, how much?
Looking forward to trying this one over the weeekend:)
Sure, Lynda, that’ll work. I’d use about 1/2 tsp of each. Hope you enjoy!
WE LOVE THIS RECIPE!!! We have grilled it several times and have gotten compliments EVERYTIME! Moist, flavorful and liked the smokiness from the cedar plank!! Thank you for another wonderful recipe!
Another delicious recipe! Simple but super flavorful!
This is the best recipe for salmon, simple yet really tasty …the flavor of the fish shines through. We’ve used the plank method and also baked it in the oven using these ingredients and it is always perfect!