3-Ingredient Everything Bagel Salmon Recipe

Welcome to Fearless Meals, a column where we help you get through your busy week with speedy, easy, low-stress dinner recipes that call for 5 ingredients or less from our favorite grocery store, Trader Joe’s.

As a busy working parent who also loves to cook, I’m passionate about keeping my dinners equal parts delicious, budget-friendly, and efficient. The thing is, life gets busy, parents like me get tired, and making dinner can sometimes feel like a chore after an already exhausting day. Lucky for us, Trader Joe’s offers solace to anyone who wants to cook a nutritious and delicious dinner in a hurry.

Case in point: this everything bagel salmon. I make this salmon dish at least twice a week, keeping things interesting by switching up the side dishes. I can grab everything I need during my weekly trip to Trader Joe’s—their versatile Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend is the key ingredient.

There’s a lot to love about this recipe. It’s made with just three ingredients, you can make it using fresh or frozen salmon, it’s loaded with flavor, and ready in under 30 minutes.

How To Make 3-Ingredient Everything Bagel Salmon

For 3 to 4 servings, you’ll need:

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Your salmon will be ready for cooking in just a couple of minutes, so be sure to have your oven hot and ready to keep the dinner train moving.

Place the salmon skin-side down on a parchment-lined sheet pan. You can use a quarter or half sheet pan for this portion size.

Brush the salmon with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Use a spoon or spatula to slather the salmon with mustard, covering the entire fillet. Sprinkle the top with Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend until fully coated.

Bake the salmon until the center is slightly pink and no longer translucent, about 25 minutes. Allow the salmon to cool in the pan for a couple of minutes before serving.

Store any leftover salmon in an airtight container and enjoy it again for lunch tomorrow over salad or on a sandwich.

What I Serve With Everything Bagel Salmon

I mix things up by making a variety of easy sides to go with this salmon recipe, whether roasted, steamed, stir-fried, or air fried. Here are some of my favorites:

• Charred lemons: If you really want your dish to shine, char some lemons. Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat in a small frying pan. Place the lemon halves face down and don’t move them. Char for 3 to 4 minutes until the edges are dark golden brown. This warms up and sweetens the juices and makes the acidity of the lemons brighter. Plus, they look beautiful!
• Sheet pan roasted vegetables: You can’t go wrong with a side dish of hearty roasted vegetables. Toss chopped carrots, broccoli florets, diced butternut squash, and drained canned chickpeas with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Roast at 375°F for 35 to 40 minutes, until crisp and golden, tossing the vegetables about halfway through cooking.
• Coconut rice: Soak 1 cup of jasmine rice in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse the rice and pour it into a medium pan with a can of coconut milk, 1 cup of coconut water, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Bring the rice to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook covered, stirring periodically, until the rice is tender.
• Trader Joe’s bagged salads: If you’re looking for an easy-to-prepare side, be sure to stop by the prepared salad section at Trader Joe’s and pick up the prepared Crunchy Slaw Salad or the Mediterranean or Caesar salad kit.

Other Uses for Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend

Beyond salmon and avocado toast, there are a million ways to use everything bagel seasoning. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Everything bagel jammy eggs: Boil 2 to 3 large eggs in simmering water with a teaspoon of white vinegar for exactly 6 minutes. Transfer the eggs into an ice bath to stop the cooking. After 5 minutes, peel the eggs, removing any excess shell. Slice the eggs in half, sprinkle them with Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning and a bit of chili crisp oil, and serve them with toasted and buttered sourdough or baguette slices.
• Butternut squash soup: If you’re looking to add additional flavor and a little crunchy texture to thick, creamy, slightly sweet squash soups, finish each serving off with a dollop of crème fraîche and a sprinkle of the seasoning.
• Cheesy everything bagel popcorn: Popcorn may be delicious all on its own, but once you lightly spray it with avocado oil spray and toss it with a teaspoon of nutritional yeast and a generous sprinkle of Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning, it will be downright irresistible!