Caesar Salmon Bites

(4)

These salmon bites capture all the flavors of a classic Caesar salad. As an appetizer, these bite-size pieces of tender salmon, coated in a creamy dressing, are perfect served on toothpicks or skewers. Or enjoy them as a main dish, served over brown rice or dressed greens.

Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
25 mins
Servings:
6
  • These Caesar salmon bites come together in just 25 minutes, from start to finish.
  • Parmesan cheese adds calcium and protein, making it a tasty yet nutritious ingredient in this dish.
  • Evenly spaced salmon pieces ensure a perfectly baked, crispy texture when cooked under the broiler.

Easy to make and even easier to enjoy, these Caesar Salmon Bites bring together all the classic flavors of a Caesar salad in a fresh, fun way. Tender, bite-size chunks of heart-healthy salmon are coated in a creamy Caesar dressing. To ramp up the flavor, we add more garlic, cracked black pepper and Parmesan cheese to ensure that unmistakable traditional Caesar flavor. These bites take just 25 minutes from start to finish—perfect as a last-minute appetizer. They’re also a great protein-rich addition to any salad or grain bowl. Read on for our expert tips, including how to ensure the best bake on these bites.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • Space the salmon pieces apart on the baking sheet so the hot air can evenly circulate around them, lightly browning the top and sides.
  • Look for skinless salmon or ask to have the skin removed at the seafood counter. 
  • Use pieces of salmon with the same thickness to ensure you don’t undercook or overcook your salmon. Center-cut pieces will work the best.

Nutrition Notes

  • Salmon is considered a fatty fish, but the fat is heart- and brain-healthy omega-3s. Salmon is also an excellent source of protein, and its pink color is evidence of the antioxidants hiding in its flesh. Some types of salmon, like sockeye, provide high levels of vitamin D, a nutrient found in very few foods. 
  • Parmesan cheese adds a bit more protein and some calcium to these bites. It is one of the saltier cheeses, so if your body is sensitive to sodium, you could reduce the amount of salt you add to this recipe or skip it altogether.
  • Yogurt Caesar salad dressing is a tasty concoction of several ingredients, and what exactly is in yours will depend on the brand. Essentially, though, yogurt Caesar dressing has several dairy components, including yogurt and Parmesan cheese, and may also contain buttermilk. All these ingredients add calcium and protein to these bites.
Prepared salmon cubes in a bowl surrounded by various ingredients and seasonings on a marble surface

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Hannah Greenwood

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 1 pound skinless center-cut salmon fillet (about 1-inch thick), cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 2 tablespoons yogurt Caesar salad dressing

  • 2 medium cloves garlic, grated (1 teaspoon)

  • ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper, divided

  • ¼ teaspoon salt, divided

  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, plus wedges for serving

  • teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • Small fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to broil with rack in middle position. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil; lightly coat with cooking spray. Pat salmon pieces dry with a paper towel. Stir 2 tablespoons dressing, the grated garlic, ¼ teaspoon pepper and ⅛ teaspoon salt together in a large bowl. Add the salmon; toss to coat.

    A bowl with cubed salmon covered in a seasoning or marinade, ready for cooking

    Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Hannah Greenwood

  2. In a small bowl, combine ½ cup Parmesan, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne and the remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper and ⅛ teaspoon salt. Sprinkle over the salmon mixture; toss to coat.

    A hand sprinkling breadcrumbs over cubed salmon on a plate

    Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Hannah Greenwood

  3. Arrange the salmon pieces in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Broil until lightly browned on top and opaque throughout, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges and sprinkle with fresh basil, if desired.

    Bite-sized salmon pieces coated in a breadcrumb mixture, arranged on a foil-lined tray

    Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Hannah Greenwood

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: about 3 to 4 salmon bites

Calories 160, Fat 8g, Saturated Fat 3g, Cholesterol 50mg, Carbohydrates 3g, Total Sugars 0g, Added Sugars 0g, Protein 19g, Fiber 0g, Sodium 331mg, Potassium 287mg

a recipe photo of Caesar Salmon Bites

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Hannah Greenwood

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I use a different kind of fish?

    Absolutely. Just be sure to choose a “fatty” fish because lean fish, like cod, cook differently. Some suggestions that would work well include tuna, halibut, steelhead trout or even peeled and deveined shrimp.

  • Can I use regular Caesar dressing?

    Yes! Yogurt-based Caesar dressing tends to be thicker and sticks to the salmon pieces the best, but any creamy Caesar dressing will work.

  • My salmon bites were not cooked all the way through. What happened?

    Make sure your oven rack is set in the middle position. If the salmon is too close to the heat source, it will cook too quickly on the outside while remaining undercooked on the inside.

  • How should I store and reheat leftovers?

    This dish is not ideal for storing, as the exterior of the fish may become soggy in the fridge, and it can dry out when reheated. However, if you need to store it, place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To regain some of the crispiness, reheat it in an air fryer.

  • What should I serve with Caesar Salmon Bites?

    If you’re serving the salmon bites as an appetizer, pair them with our Smashed Roasted Potatoes, Oven-Fried Panko & Parmesan-Crusted Zucchini or Cauliflower Chips. If it’s more of a meal you’re after, you can serve them on top of dressed leafy greens or your favorite pasta, rice, farro or quinoa.

EatingWell.com, June 2025

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.