5 Minute Creamy Dill Sauce for Salmon

This creamy dill sauce for salmon comes together in just a few minutes and is made with a handful of simple ingredients! It’s the perfect compliment to air fryer salmon and crispy salmon cakes – made with a combination of fresh squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, fresh dill, garlic, sour cream, and mayo – you might just have everything you need in the fridge right now!

 

The Best Dill Sauce for Salmon Recipe

• This sauce is not a boring, humdrum, basic sauce. It is LOADED with fresh, herby flavor. If you’re not a huge fan of garlic, you can omit it or use a bit less but I am obsessed with the flavor of fresh garlic in this recipe. Just be sure to either finely mince it or grate it on a micro plane so the pieces of garlic are super small and mix in easily.
• Simple ingredients, amazing sauce for your favorite salmon recipes! This recipe uses the simplest dill sauce ingredients to deliver an amazing, fresh, and versatile sauce that can be used on salads, in wraps, with salmon fillets cooked any way you like, and with any other favorite dishes – it even works as a veggie dip!

Ingredients to Make Creamy Dill Sauce for Salmon

Sour Cream

Full-fat sour cream will give you the best flavor and texture. If you use low-fat or fat-free you’re really going to lose a lot of delicious flavor and creamy texture. Whole milk plain Greek yogurt would work as a substitute.

Mayonnaise

Again, full-fat mayo will give you the best flavor and texture. There isn’t a ton of mayo in this recipe so it won’t be greasy or taste like mayo – promise!

Fresh Dill

Fresh dill is what makes this sauce sing! Dried dill will work in a pinch but start with half the amount called for in the recipe and add more to taste. Feel free to add other fresh or dried herbs to taste. Some of our favorites include rosemary, sage, oregano, and basil.

Lemon Zest & Juice

Lemon juice adds a delicious tang while the lemon zest brings a bright citrus flavor. Together they cut the richness of the creamy sauce and really balance the flavors of the other ingredients.  

Garlic

I am obsessed with grating fresh garlic into almost everything I make, and in this recipe, a microplane is the very best way to get this creamy dill sauce infused with garlic flavor throughout. You can also finely mince the garlic with a sharp knife if you don’t have a microplane. If you don’t have fresh garlic on hand add a couple pinches of garlic powder to taste.

How to Make Creamy Dill Sauce for Salmon

• Add ingredients to a medium bowl.
• Mix until well combined and a smooth, creamy sauce forms.
• Serve with air fryer salmon and air fryer asparagus and enjoy!

Tips for Making the Best Creamy Dill Sauce

• Season moderately. Don’t be afraid to add a few large pinches of Kosher salt and a couple large pinches of black pepper. The ingredient list for this recipe is short and sweet so salt and pepper are going to go a long way in boosting the overall flavor of the sauce. If you think it seems a bit flat, add a couple pinches of salt until it has more depth.
• Serve this sauce with air-fried salmon! While the salmon cooks in the air fryer – in just 10 minutes! – you can throw this easy dill sauce together. The two pair perfectly and after you try them together, you’ll never want salmon any other way! Both recipes only take a few minutes to prep and come together for a delicious and fast family dinner.

Fresh vs. Dried Dill

• I prefer to use fresh dill for this recipe. I find that the flavor is more bright and robust than when I tested it with dried dill.
• However, if all you’ve got is dried dill, use about half the amount called for in the recipe and add more to taste.

FAQ

What is dill sauce made of?

Dill sauce is a creamy sauce made with fresh dill, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, mayo, and sour cream. It complements the flavor and flaky texture of baked, smoked, grilled, or air-fried salmon.

What is the best way to season salmon?

My favorite way to season salmon is with the spice blend I use in my air fryer salmon recipe – combine olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper together. Coat the flesh side of the salmon in the seasoning mixture and air fry at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until cooked through. Then top with this creamy dill salmon sauce!

What should I put on top of my salmon?

Creamy dill sauce! This creamy, garlicky, lemony dill sauce is the perfect accompaniment for your favorite salmon dish. Whether it’s air fryed, broiled, baked, fried, or grilled – this dill sauce is the perfecty cool, creamy compliment.

Making Dill Sauce Ahead of Time

This is the perfect sauce to make ahead of time. Simply mix everything together and keep it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to a week. As it sits, the sauce may separate so plan to give it a quick stir to combine everything well and then season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

Storing Leftover Dill Sauce for Salmon

Store leftover dill sauce in an airtight container or in a dish covered with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge until ready to serve. It may separate as it sits so plan to stir it together until well combined and season to taste before serving.

Try these easy salmon recipes next!

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