Grain bowls are one of my go-to meals, and this spiced salmon grain bowl is the perfect dinner for one! Grains tossed with chimichurri sauce for flavor, topped with spiced salmon nuggets and crunchy cucumber. This comes together so fast and is warm, comforting and so flavorful!

I know some people think grain bowls were a super trendy thing years ago, but I can tell you they have never left my kitchen.
I often eat non-bowl food in a bowl, so anything that is meant for bowl life is a forever winner in my book.
These spiced salmon grain bowls are SO good, and super easy to throw together (also, flexible!) with just a little bit of planning. Let's go!
First, the grains
I kind of feel like a liar because the bowls you see here are actually filled with cauliflower rice....so not a grain. But! Obviously, this dish can be made with whatever you prefer. I switch between cauli rice, regular rice and farro. But quinoa, brown rice, etc. are all great.
For ease (and because I'm lazy) I keep a few of those microwavable packages of rice around so I can make a rice bowl in literally minutes. Costco happens to sell the same thing, but with cauliflower rice!
Regardless of how you cook your grains, you can make them when you want to make this bowl, or prep ahead of time. This is a great way to use up leftovers too, so keep that in mind next time you make a pot of grains!
The key in this recipe is to toss your base with a few tablespoons of cilantro chimichurri (or any kind of chimichurri) to add SO much flavor to the entire bowl. It's such a great trick.
Spiced salmon nuggets
Salmon being the protein source for this bowl should not surprise anyone, as my obsession with salmon is no secret. If you follow my tip to keep individual-sized portions of salmon in the freezer, you can make this bowl and not worry about random leftovers.
But you can also make more of the salmon and keep it on hand so you can create these grain bowls throughout the week. Whatever you prefer!
Another tip to make this the absolute easiest? Make my house seasoning ahead of time and use that to spice these little chunks of salmon instead of the mix of spices below. You can also use another mix if you prefer - taco seasoning or cajun seasoning would both be super good.
What you'll need
Salmon. You'll need about a filet's worth of salmon, with the skin off. You can use frozen (and thawed) or fresh!
Spices. I often just use my house seasoning when I make this, but all you need is chili powder, ground cumin and smoked paprika for wonderful flavor.
Flour/Cornstarch. Technically optional, but I love adding to make the salmon a little bit crispier as it cooks.
Rice/Grains. See above - use whatever you prefer!
Cilantro chimichurri. You'll mix this in with the base of your choice and then drizzle a little more on top. If chimichurri isn't your thing, pesto would be delicious too!
Cucumber. For crunch and freshness. You can also use radish or carrot for the same effect. If you're looking to add more vegetables to this dish, try roasting up some broccoli or cauliflower! Corn is also really good here.
Greek yogurt. I love a creamy element to mix in with my grain bowls. If I had avocado on hand this day, I would have added that too!
Hot honey. If you don't have a bottle of hot honey, try making your own! I love the sweet and spicy flavor this brings to the dish, but you can leave out if you prefer.
Optional toppings: Fresh herbs (cilantro, green onions, parsley, basil, etc.), avocado, pickled onions and anything else you like!
Putting it all together
- If you aren't using pre-cooked or leftover grains, cook those up first.
- Toss the salmon with salt, spices and flour to coat really well. Sear, flipping occasionally, until cooked and crispy on all sides. Remove salmon from pan and reduce heat to low.
- Add cooked grains to pan and toss with remaining oil, along with a few tablespoons of chimichurri. Mix until everything is combined and warmed through.
- Add grains to bowl and top with salmon, cucumber and yogurt. Drizzle remaining chimichurri and hot honey on salmon.
- Done!
Looking for more easy dinners for one?
- Sheet pan chicken and rice
- Cherry tomato confit pasta
- Air fryer frozen chicken wings
- Crispy baked herb crusted salmon
Spiced Salmon Grain Bowl For One
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
Grain bowls are one of my go-to meals, and this spiced salmon grain bowl is the perfect dinner for one! Grains tossed with chimichurri sauce for flavor, topped with spiced salmon nuggets and crunchy cucumber. This comes together so fast and is warm, comforting and so flavorful!
Ingredients
- 4-5 oz salmon, cut into 2-inch chunks (skin removed)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon flour or corn starch
- 1 teaspoon neutral oil (I used avocado oil)
- 1 cup cooked rice or grains*
- 4 tablespoons cilantro chimichurri
- ¼ cup chopped cucumber
- 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon hot honey (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine 4-5oz salmon, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ¼ teaspoon ground cumin, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes and ¼ teaspoon flour or corn starch. Mix well.
- Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a skillet. Once hot, add salmon in a single layer. Let cook for 4-5 minutes, flipping once, until salmon is just cooked through (you can use a meat thermometer to check or just pull one out and cut into it). Remove salmon from pan and set aside.
- In same pan, add 1 cup cooked rice or grains and 3 tablespoons cilantro chimichurri. Toss to combine and cook for about a minute until everything is warmed through.
- Add rice/grains to bowl and top with salmon, ¼ cup chopped cucumbers, 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt and any other toppings you want! Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon of chimichurri and 1 teaspoon hot honey (if using). Serve warm!
Notes
- This recipe is a great way to use up leftover rice or cooked grains, but if you want/need to make them from scratch you'll need about ½ cup of dried rice or grain (quinoa, farro, etc.). Cook according to package instructions and then toss with chimichurri.
- I always have cucumber around and I love the crunch, but you can add any vegetable you want here. Carrots and/or radish are other great raw options, and if you have a few extra minutes you can steam or roast some broccoli, cauliflower or green beans to add.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
Nico
I love this recipe! I discovered it a few months ago when I decided to start cooking more and I keep coming back to it. It's become a absolute staple for me, alongside several other of your For One recipes. Thank you!
Mansee Muzumdar
Thank you so much for the kind comment, Nico! So nice to hear!