Salmon is one of my go-to fishes for healthy, fast meal prep. One way we love to eat salmon is with these salmon rice bowls. It’s the perfect gluten-free dinner on a busy weeknight but I also like it for lunch. And with the honey lime sauce and the cilantro lime dressing, it’s packed with flavor!

My family loved these bowls. The flavors all blend together and complement each other with a little sweet, sour, and salty. You can use up to 1 tablespoon of honey in these, but I like it less sweet. Some of my kids topped theirs with sriracha for a sweet and spicy flavor.

Easy Salmon Bowls

Salmon is high in healthy fats and lower in mercury and other toxins compared to some fish. It’s also readily available at most grocery stores. Many salmon bowl recipes go for an Asian flavor and use brown sugar, and soy sauce or tamari sauce for flavor. I wanted to do something a little different though and opted for a honey lime salmon and a cilantro lime dressing.

The result is flavorful and refreshing. I keep it simple when cooking the salmon and bake it in the oven. You could use an air fryer if you prefer, though I haven’t tried it.

I use both skin-on and skinless salmon, depending on what I have on hand. If you want crispy skin on your salmon, then pop it skin side up under the broiler (low broil) for the last 1-2 minutes of cooking.

What Rice to Use (or Not)

There are a lot of options when it comes to rice. There’s brown rice, white rice, and even sushi rice. I prefer white rice because it’s lower in phytic acid and arsenic than other options. You could also use lettuce instead for a low-carb version.

If you still want the grain texture but don’t want rice, then quinoa makes a good substitute. Whatever you choose just cook it according to the package directions. This is something you can do ahead of time to make meal prep easier.

Topping Your Salmon Bowl

These already have so much flavor, but feel free to add some more garnishes for more nutrition and flavor. For a spicy salmon bowl, I like to add a little siracha to the dressing. Here are a few more ideas.

• Chopped green onions or scallions
• Drizzle of sesame oil
• Spicy mayo
• Splash of rice vinegar
• Red pepper flakes
• Sesame seeds

Honey Lime Salmon Bowls with Cilantro Lime Dressing

These healthy salmon bowls are packed with bold flavors and easy to make. Customize it with your favorite toppings

For the Honey Lime Salmon

For the Rice Bowls

• 2 cups cooked rice (or quinoa, or cauliflower rice)
• 2 avocados (sliced)
• 1 cucumber (sliced)
• mixed greens of choice (spinach, arugula, etc.)

For the Dressing

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 limes (juiced)
• ½ cup fresh cilantro
• 1 clove garlic
• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• salt (to taste)
• black pepper (to taste)
• 1 TBSP honey (or less, optional)

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

• In a bowl, whisk together honey, olive oil, maple syrup, lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper for the salmon marinade.

• Place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them, ensuring each filet is well coated. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.

• Place the marinated salmon fillets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.

• While the salmon is baking, assemble the rice bowls. Divide the cooked rice or quinoa among serving bowls and arrange sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and mixed greens on top.

• In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the cilantro lime dressing: olive oil, lime juice, greek yogurt, chopped cilantro, garlic, salt, black pepper, and honey (if desired).

• Place the cooked salmon on each rice bowl.

• Drizzle the cilantro lime dressing over the rice bowls and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Honey Lime Salmon Bowls with Cilantro Lime Dressing

Amount Per Serving (1 bowl)

Calories 775
Calories from Fat 423

% Daily Value*

Fat 47g72%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Trans Fat 0.003g

Polyunsaturated Fat 8g

Monounsaturated Fat 28g

Cholesterol 95mg32%

Sodium 269mg12%

Potassium 1600mg46%

Carbohydrates 52g17%

Fiber 9g38%

Sugar 19g21%

Protein 40g80%

Vitamin A 1820IU36%

Vitamin C 22mg27%

Calcium 102mg10%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Try adding a little sriracha to the top for a sweet and spicy version. 

Want more salmon recipes? Try this sheet pan Asian ginger salmon with roasted veggies, garlic powder, and teriyaki sauce.

What are your favorite ways to enjoy salmon? Leave a comment and let me know!