Instant Pot Frozen Salmon with Lemon - A 15 Minute Meal!

Salmon cooked from frozen is the ultimate quick and easy dinner. This Instant Pot Frozen Salmon is going to become a go-to weeknight meal. With garlic powder, crushed red pepper flakes, parsley, and lemon juice, flavor-packed meals don’t get any easier. Served with Lemon Dill Sauce, this one deserves to become a habit.

I almost always buy frozen fish. Wild-caught fish is flash-frozen at its peak, so I just feel better about serving it to my family.

The challenge comes in my frequent forgetfulness when it comes to pulling out meat to thaw.  

I mean, sure, I could always put it in a bowl of water and wait for time to do its thing.   This isn't a great solution when eight hungry eyes are looking at me wanting dinner five minutes ago.

Do you forget to thaw frozen protein, too?

If you do, meet your new best friend. Instant Pot Frozen Salmon is an absolute life-saver when it comes to getting dinner on the table fast.  

Cooking fish from frozen is the ultimate fast food!

Ingredients for Making Frozen Salmon in the Instant Pot

• Avocado Oil  - You can use another oil, but I recommend avocado oil for its neutral flavor and high heat tolerance.
• Garlic Powder - Garlic powder is easy to drizzle over the salmon filets; if you prefer, fresh minced garlic also works.
• Salt and Pepper -  Adjust the seasonings to your preference. I used fine sea salt. If you are using a coarser salt, you may need more. Freshly ground black pepper is always best.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes - This adds a very subtle kick of heat. If you would like more heat, you could use ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
• Frozen Salmon -  I recommend wild-caught. Any kind, such as sockeye salmon or King Salmon work. Just make sure what you use is cut into portions.
• Lemon Juice - Fresh squeezed is best, but bottled will work in a pinch.
• Parsley - If you don't have fresh, two teaspoons of dried parsley will work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips and Tricks

• General safety guidelines recommend that salmon be cooked to at least 145° F.   Some chefs suggest that it tastes better rarer. (America’s Test Kitchen suggests 125° F.) This is entirely a matter of personal preference; feel free to adjust the cooking time according to yours.
• To avoid having undercooked parts, try to keep the filets from overlapping as much as possible. (But don't stress a little overlapping.)
• Frozen salmon fillets that are roughly the same size and thickness will work best.

How Long to Cook Frozen Salmon in the Instant Pot

Generally speaking, I recommend cooking salmon from frozen for 5 minutes.  However, you may need to adjust this.

If you have especially large or thick frozen salmon fillets, increase the cooking time to get to the desired doneness.

Conversely, thinner pieces may need a shorter time.

If you cook less than the amount called for in the recipe, reduce the cooking time by 1 to 2 minutes.

What Can I Do if My Fish Is Undercooked?

If your salmon is undercooked after releasing the pressure, return the lid to the pot and let it continue to steam. The pot will be hot enough that the fish will continue to steam.

Variations

For a fun twist, you can top the fish with Keto Pesto or Keto BBQ Sauce prior to cooking. Make sure you use just enough to coat the top only, because any dripping down could lead to the burn signal. You can also add the sauces after cooking.

Tools Needed to Make Instant Pot Salmon Frozen

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• Instant Pot
• Trivet
• Instant Read Thermometer

What Do You Serve with Pressure Cooker Salmon?

• Keto Green Beans
• Cauliflower Rice
• Keto Asparagus
• Asparagus Fries

Sauces for Instant Pot Frozen Salmon

I recommend adding a sauce to your salmon for a fuller flavored meal. Here are some suggestions.

• Lemon Dill Sauce
• Tartar Sauce 
• "Honey" Mustard
• Melted Butter

How to Make Instant Pot Frozen Salmon

Cooking frozen salmon couldn't be easier!

First, start by combining the oil, garlic powder, salt, red pepper flakes, and ground pepper in a small bowl.

Next, drizzle or brush over the salmon.

Combine the water, lemon juice, and parsley in the bottom of your pressure cooker, and then add the trivet.

After that, place the salmon fillets in the instant pot, skin side down. If you like, you can top with lemon slices.

Next, close the lid and seal. Pressure cook for five minutes.  If your salmon is particularly thick or the pieces are large, you may need to add an extra minute.

Finally, do a quick pressure release when the time is up.   Top with your favorite sauce and enjoy!

More Keto Instant Pot Recipes to Try

• If you like Jalapeno Poppers, you will  love this Instant Pot Jalapeno Popper Chicken.
• If you are craving comfort food, it doesn't get any better than this Keto Mushroom Soup.
• Want to improve the taste of your meals?  This Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth is easy to make and tastes great.  It is also a fabulous way to save money.