• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Maven Cookery
  • Game Day Recipes
  • Recipe Collections
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • One Pan Meals
    • Dinner Ideas for Two
    • Dinner Party
    • Freezer-Friendly
    • Make-Ahead
    • Holidays & Celebrations
  • Recipes by Type
  • Air Fryer
  • Appetizers
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Dessert Recipes
  • Grilling & BBQ
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Main Course
    • Beef
    • Pork
    • Chicken
    • Fish & Shellfish
  • Mexican Recipes
  • Oven Roasted
  • Salad Recipes
  • Sauces & Dips
  • Seasoning Blends
  • Side Dishes
  • Soups & Stews
  • How-To
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Main Dishes
  • Air Fryer
  • Game Day
  • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Air Fryer
    • Game Day
    • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Recipes by Type / Main Course / Instant Pot Salmon for Two (5 Ingredients)

    Instant Pot Salmon for Two (5 Ingredients)

    by Marilyn · Sep 16, 2019 · Updated: Jan 23, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Yummly
    • Twitter
    Instant Pot Salmon and asparagus for two, ready in under 15 minutes; plated and ready to serve.

    Instant Pot Salmon with herbs and butter is one of my go-to dishes. The flavors are simple and pleasantly satisfying. The asparagus is cooked with the salmon for a quick and easy satisfying dinner for two. 

    Instant Pot Salmon and asparagus for two, ready in under 15 minutes; plated and ready to serve. this Recipe for Later

    This Instant Pot salmon recipe is one of those quick and easy go-to recipes that you will find yourself making again and again. You can readily have this meal on the table in under 15 minutes - perfect for a busy weeknight. Best of all, it consistently comes out moist, flaky, a delightfully flavored.

    The recipe is made with two 6-ounce servings.  This is the recommended serving size for most. I do find that for both myself and my daughter, that these are a bit large. We also have some leftovers that we can either reheat or use on top of salads.

    Storage Tips: Leftover Instant Pot salmon can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. It makes a great protein topping for salads.

    Serve your Instant Pot salmon with a small side salad and some halved grape tomatoes, if you like. Otherwise, you can make the Instant Pot Rice Pilaf (as shown in the photo down the page) or any other Instant Pot, microwave, or stovetop rice dish to serve with the salmon and asparagus.

     

    Instant Pot Salmon with asparagus for two ready in under 15 minutes.

    What I Love About This Instant Pot Salmon Recipe:

    • 5 Ingredients. Salmon, seasonings, butter, lemon, and asparagus. I don’t include salt, pepper, water or broth in these numbers as they are kitchen staples.
    • Simplicity. You can have this whole meal ready and served in under 15 minutes.
    • Moist and Delicious. Pressure cooking the salmon ensures it retains its moisture and gets infused with flavors.
    • One-Pot Meal. The Instant Pot salmon and asparagus are cooked together in the same pot. Even the lemon-butter sauce is cooked in the pot. Simple is always better.

    Raw salmon fillets, evenly sized and ready to prepare for cooking

    HOW TO COOK SALMON:

    • Start with a quality filet of salmon. Your fishmonger or grocer will be able to help you with the different types of salmon and their taste profiles.
    • Choose salmon that has been fished or farmed responsibly. There is an ongoing debate about whether wild or farm-raised salmon is better. In my opinion, and that of my fish grocer, it depends on the source and the fishing and farming practices.
    • Compare the quality, price, and flavor to get the best balance. Fresh wild-caught salmon can be very expensive. I also find that some types taste too strong for my preferences. If it is a matter of eating salmon that is affordable and not eating it at all, I would choose one that I can afford and is of high quality.
    • Keep the skin on your salmon. Whether you want to bake, fry or pressure cook, keeping the skin on salmon while cooking holds the fillet together.
    • Choose evenly sized fillets. Choosing similar size fillets, as in the picture above will make sure that your salmon gets done evenly.
    • Remove tiny pin bones. Using your fingers, gently feel along the top edge of the salmon for any pin bones. Use tweezers or needle-nose pliers to remove any bones.
    • Use parchment paper.  For Instant Pot salmon, laying the salmon on parchment paper keeps the juices flowing around the salmon. You can also wrap salmon in parchment paper and place the packet on a baking sheet for baked salmon.
    • Test for doneness. The USDA recommends that salmon be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Push the tip of an instant-read thermometer sideways into the thickest part of the salmon for best results. Visually, the salmon should be opaque and flake easily when tested with a fork.
    • Keep it simple. Salmon is rich and filling comfort food. Serve with side dishes that are not heavy and filling. The asparagus in this recipe pairs perfectly. If you want a starch with it, rice pilaf is also lighter and pairs well with Instant Pot salmon as in the featured picture below.

    Salmon with herbs and asparagus served on rice pilaf

    Instant Pot Salmon and asparagus for two, ready in under 15 minutes; plated and ready to serve.

    Instant Pot Salmon and Asparagus for Two (5 Ingredients)

    Instant Pot Salmon with herbs and butter. The asparagus is cooked with the salmon for a quick and easy meal. This gourmet one-pot meal is one of my go-to dishes. The flavors are simple and pleasantly satisfying.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 2 mins
    Cook Time 9 mins
    Total Time 11 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2
    Calories 424 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot
    • Steam rack
    • 2 pieces of parchment paper, cut to fit salmon pieces

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 cup chicken stock
    • 12 oz salmon fillet, skin-on, cut into 2 equal pieces
    • Virgin olive oil
    • Herbes de Provence
    • 8 oz asparagus spears, tough ends trimmed and spears halved
    • Coarse salt, such as sea salt or kosher salt
    • Freshly ground black pepper
    • 3 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

    Instructions
     

    • Add broth to the inner pot and place the steam rack in the pot. Place 1 piece of salmon, skin side down, on each prepared piece of parchment paper and brush top with oil. Sprinkle with herbes de Provence. Arrange both pieces on steam rack, without overlapping. Arrange asparagus on top of salmon. Drizzle with a little oil and season with salt and pepper.
    • Close and lock the lid and turn the steam release handle to Sealing. Set your Instant Pot to pressure cook on Low for 5 minutes.
    • When the cooking time is done, press Cancel and turn the steam release handle to Venting. When the float valve drops down, remove the lid. The fish should be opaque and should flake easily when tested with a fork. (If more cooking time is needed, continue pressure cooking on Low for 1 minute.)
    • Transfer salmon to serving plates and arrange asparagus on top of and around salmon. Cover with foil to keep warm.
    • Set your Instant Pot to sauté on More. Cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes or until liquid is reduced to ¼ cup. Add butter and lemon juice; cook, stirring, until butter is melted. Drizzle sauce over fish and asparagus. Serve immediately.

    Cooks Tips

    • Using your fingers, carefully check the salmon fillet for tiny pin bones. Remove any bones with tweezers or needle-nose pliers.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 424kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 37gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 139mgSodium: 659mgPotassium: 1157mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1458IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 4mg
    Collections Instant Pot
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was @MavenCookery or tag #mavencookery!

     

    More Main Course Recipes

    • intant pot country style ribs 12x
      Mouthwatering Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
    • chuck steak recipe 12x
      Tender Beef Chuck Steak Recipe
    • air fryer italian sausage 12x
      Easy Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers
    • air fryer country style ribs boneless 12x
      Air Fryer Country Style Ribs (Boneless)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elaine Freemal says

      August 21, 2020 at 7:29 pm

      5 stars
      This was the first time I made salmon in the Instant Pot. It turned out delicious. The asparagus was cooked to the perfect doneness as was the salmon. It is a keekper.

      Reply
    2. Cody Dude says

      October 17, 2020 at 12:35 pm

      Does the salmon need to be thawed or can it be frozen? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Marilyn says

        October 17, 2020 at 5:13 pm

        It doesn't have to be fresh salmon. But I would thaw it ahead of time before cooking. Keep it wrapped and put it under cold running water. You'll get better results!

        Reply
    3. Karin says

      March 29, 2021 at 7:37 pm

      This was very tasty but I ended up cooking my salmon about 8 minutes on Low.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    As Featured In...

    Media where Marilyn Haugen's recipes have been featured.
    Marilyn Haugen - Cookbook Author and Founder of Maven Cookery

    Hi, I am Marilyn

    I am a best-selling cookbook author, recipe developer, and mom to an amazing lady. I am crazy about eating, cooking, and celebrating with family and friends. Maven Cookery was developed to share my recipes and help make delicious comforting meals easier to make for the home cook.

    Dinner Ideas for Tonight

    • air fryer brats 12x
      Easy Air Fryer Brats With Johnsonville Bratwurst
    • thick cut pork chops 12x
      Juicy Thick Cut Pork Chops, Pan Seared and Oven Baked
    • baked cod panko crusted sq
      Easy Crispy Panko Crusted Baked Cod
    • green chili chicken enchiladas garnished 12x
      Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas (Air Fryer + Oven)
    • brisket flat recipe sandwich 12x
      Brisket Flat Recipe
    • air fryer shrimp 12x 1
      Easy Air Fryer Shrimp in Minutes
    • All Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Air Fryer
    • Game Day
    • Cookbooks

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    © All Rights Reserved

    • Contact Me
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

    Get The Latest

    Sign Up for my latest recipes. You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Want More Recipes

    Check out My Cookbooks on Amazon for hundreds of tried and tested recipes.

    Copyright © 2022 Maven Cookery a Food Blog by Marilyn Haugen