Easiest Buffalo Salmon Bowl

I love buffalo everything!  I think buffalo sauce is an easy way to add a lot of flavor to a dish and it works well with so many different ingredients. This buffalo salmon bowl is a great way to have a very easy, flavorful, and healthy dinner.  This is always one of our go-to weeknight meals.

Why I love this buffalo salmon bowl recipe

The first reason I love this recipe is that it is covered in buffalo sauce.  The salmon takes to the sauce really well.  It is also a great way to serve salmon to those that are not big seafood fans as the buffalo flavors are front and center. (For another easy buffalo recipe check out our 15-minutes buffalo chicken wraps recipe.)

The second reason is that it is so quick and easy to make.  One night I was in a serious rush to get dinner on the table and was able to do it in just 10 minutes!  I love having some quick easy recipes that I can get on the table in a pinch.

Ingredients in the easiest buffalo salmon bowl

With only six ingredients this buffalo salmon bowl recipe is really easy.  I like the contrast of textures between the crunchy celery and creamy blue cheese.  I also think the ingredients balance each other out as the cucumber cools some of the heat from the buffalo sauce.

• Skinless Salmon Filets: you can buy salmon filets from the seafood counter at your grocery store or what I do is buy pre-portioned flash frozen salmon filets and keep them in my freezer.  I then just take them out the night before and let them thaw overnight in the fridge.  I do this because most grocery store salmon is previously frozen, and that way, I have flexibility as to when I make the dish. To learn more about why you should buy frozen salmon check out this article.
• Rice: you can use white or brown rice or substitute another grain.  If I have time I will cook rice but this is a great dish to use the quick microwave rice pouches and really speed up the recipe time.
• Buffalo Sauce: You can use the buffalo sauce of your choice.  I like Frank’s Buffalo sauce but any is fine.  If you do not have buffalo sauce you can make it by mixing ½ cup of hot sauce with ⅓ cup of melted butter.
• Cucumbers: the sliced cucumbers add a nice cooling element and help balance the heat and get you ready for your next bite of buffalo salmon.  I use one persian cucumber for this recipe but you can also use about ⅓ of an english cucumber.
• Celery: the celery is a classic pairing with buffalo and I think it is an important ingredient as it adds a nice crunch to the dish.
• Blue Cheese: you can use any crumbled blue cheese or buy a wedge of blue cheese and break it up yourself.  This recipe also works great with a drizzle of blue cheese or ranch dressing if you prefer.

How to make buffalo salmon bowls

This recipe is very quick and easy, only five steps.  There is almost no prep and you only have to cook two ingredients, the salmon and rice.

1. Cut the salmon filets into small bite size cubes.  Marinate the salmon with about half the buffalo sauce or just enough to coat it.
2. Cook the rice or if using a microwavable rice you can do this while the salmon is cooking (step 4)
3. Chop the celery and cucumbers.
4. Cook the salmon with the buffalo marinade in a non-stick pan over medium heat for about 2 minutes, tossing or flipping halfway.  The salmon will cook pretty quickly since it is in small pieces and in sauce.
5. Build the bowls by placing rice in the bottom, top with cucumber, celery and blue cheese and then spoon on the salmon with some of the sauce from the pan.  You can drizzle with the reserved buffalo sauce if more is needed.

Make it even tastier with these tricks

• Top the finished buffalo salmon bowls with some chopped scallions or crispy fried onions.
• Drizzle with a little blue cheese or ranch dressing.
• Add some chopped avocado if you want some more vegetables in the dish.

Ingredient substitutions

• Salmon can be substituted with a firm white fish like cod, tilapia, sea bass, catfish or swordfish.  You want a fish that is not too flaky so it does not fall apart when cooking.  You can even use canned salmon or canned tuna.  Just be sure to really mix in the buffalo sauce with the canned salmon or canned tuna so it is not dry.  You can also add a tablespoon of mayo if you like.
• Blue cheese crumbles can be replaced with blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing.
• Rice can be substituted with another grain like farro, quinoa or even mixed greens for the base of your bowl.  If you use mixed greens I recommend lightly dressing the greens with some ranch or blue cheese dressing.

Easiest Buffalo Salmon Bowl

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This buffalo salmon bowl is a great way to have a very easy, flavorful, and healthy dinner.

• Total Time: 7 mins
• Yield: 2 servings 1x

Ingredients

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• 2 salmon filets, skin-off, pinbone removed, about 6 oz each
• 1 cup of buffalo sauce
• 2 ribs of celery, chopped
• 1 persian cucumber, chopped
• ½ cup blue cheese crumbles
• 1 cup rice, or 2 cups of cooked rice

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Instructions

1. Cut the salmon filets into small bite size cubes.  Marinate the salmon with a half cup of buffalo sauce or just enough to coat it.
2. Cook the rice or if using a microwavable rice you can do this while the salmon is cooking (step 4)
3. Chop the celery and cucumbers.
4. Cook the salmon with the buffalo marinade in a non-stick pan over medium heat for about 2 minutes, tossing or flipping halfway.  The salmon will cook pretty quickly since it is in small pieces and in sauce.
5. Build the bowls by placing 1 cup of cooked rice in the bottom, top with half the cucumber, half the celery and ¼ cup of blue cheese crumbles and then spoon on the salmon with some of the sauce from the pan.  You can drizzle with the reserved buffalo sauce if more is needed.

Notes

Total Recipe Cost: $7.66 or $3.83 per serving

• Author: Anthony Vipond
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 2 mins
• Category: Rice Bowls
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American