SWEET AND SMOKY SALMON BURRITO BOWLS
on Apr 02, 2026
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Smoky salmon, cilantro-lime rice, black beans, pickled onions, and avocado come together in these easy, flavor-packed salmon burrito bowls.
Salmon is a go-to weeknight-friendly dinner, and these Sweet and Smoky Salmon Burrito Bowls are so easy, fresh, and full of flavor.
The salmon is baked to perfection and served with zesty cilantro lime rice, black beans, pickled onions, and creamy avocado.
Get the Protein-Empowered digital cookbook!
The salmon filets are seasoned with some smoky spices like paprika and chili powder before being glazed with a bit of maple syrup to balance out the spices.
While the salmon bakes in the oven, you can quickly prepare the cilantro lime rice with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime.
Then just build your bowls and dinner’s done. Enjoy!
Key Ingredients for Salmon and Rice Burrito Bowls
This recipe couldn’t be simpler to make. Here’s what you’ll need to make this healthy, protein-rich dinner.
- White Rice: Any type of white rice will work well. I stick to mostly jasmine or basmati.
- Cilantro: Stirring fresh herbs into rice is a great, easy way to accentuate its flavor. If cilantro isn’t your thing, you can leave it out entirely.
- Lime Juice: A squeeze of fresh lime adds a zesty, refreshing note.
Pin this recipe for later!
Pin It- Salmon: Look for wild-caught salmon whenever possible. The filets should be vibrant and firm, and smell clean like the ocean.
- Spices: To get that authentic smoky flavor, I like to make my own spice rub with some smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Maple Syrup: This sweetener pairs well with savory, fatty salmon.
- Serving Suggestions: I like to layer the base with rice, then add a scoop of black beans, a handful of pickled red onions, fresh avocado slices, a salmon filet, and chopped cilantro.
How to Make Mexican Salmon Burrito Bowls
To start, preheat the oven to 375°F.
Cook the Rice:
In a medium-sized saucepan, add the rice and water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes or until nearly all of the moisture has absorbed. Set aside for 5 minutes.
Make the Salmon:
While the rice cools, make the salmon by greasing a 9×9 baking dish with avocado oil and adding the salmon to the baking dish skin-side-down.
Drizzle the salmon with about 1 teaspoon more avocado oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and spices evenly onto the salmon and drizzle with maple syrup, rubbing the spices and syrup into the salmon with a spoon or your hands, ensuring that you coat the sides as well.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Fluff the cooked rice with a fork and add the olive oil, lime juice, and cilantro, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Assemble the Bowls:
Once the salmon has baked, assemble the bowls with a couple scoops of cilantro lime rice, a serving of salmon, black beans, pickled red onions, avocado slices, and more chopped fresh cilantro. Enjoy!
More High-Protein Bowls You’ll Love:
- Southwest Chicken and Quinoa Bowl
- One Pot Teriyaki, Chicken, Veggies, and Rice
- Asian-Inspired Ginger Honey Ground Chicken Bowls
- Loaded BBQ Chicken Bowls
SWEET AND SMOKY SALMON BURRITO BOWLS
Ingredients
For the Cilantro Lime Rice:
- ¾ cup white rice
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Salmon:
- 1 ½ pounds salmon
- Avocado oil for drizzling
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
For Serving:
- Black beans
- Pickled red onions
- Avocado slices
- Chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- To a medium-sized saucepan, add the rice and water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes or until nearly all of the moisture has absorbed. Set aside for 5 minutes.
- While the rice cools, make the salmon by greasing a 9×9 baking dish with avocado oil and adding the salmon to the baking dish skin-side-down.
- Drizzle the salmon with about 1 teaspoon more avocado oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and spices evenly onto the salmon and drizzle with maple syrup, rubbing the spices and syrup into the salmon with a spoon or your hands, ensuring that you coat the sides as well.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Fluff the cooked rice with a fork and add the olive oil, lime juice, and cilantro, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Once the salmon has baked, assemble the bowls with a couple of scoops of cilantro-lime rice, a serving of salmon, black beans, pickled red onions, avocado slices, and more chopped fresh cilantro. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
