August 26, 2020

Roasted Sheet-Pan Salmon with Grapefruit and Asparagus

Sheet pan meals are a favorite for their minimal prep and ease of getting dinner on the table and this Whole30 Roasted Salmon Sheet Pan meal is no exception! Simple ingredients keep this fast and not only gluten-free and dairy-free, but nut-free as well. A restaurant-level Whole30 meal without a lot of time in the kitchen!

No fancy seasonings needed here, just a delicious marinade to bring the subtle sweet yet tangy flavor. The salmon is marinated in our Whole30 Elderberry Vinaigrette, which you can purchase here, or your favorite berry dressing of choice. No need to marinate overnight, after just 30 minutes it’s ready to put on a sheet pan. Pair the salmon with asparagus, drizzled with oil, and seasoned with salt and pepper. Both the salmon and the veggies have fast roasting time, making the cook time around 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of your salmon filets.

This roasted salmon sheet pan meal is not only easy and delicious, but it’s also beautiful thanks to the bright and tangy grapefruit slices. The natural sugars in the grapefruit caramelize and the grapefruit flavor intensifies as it roasts, adding a brightness and freshness to both the salmon and asparagus. Don’t skip the broiling step at the end of the recipe to really bring out the colors in the asparagus.

We love how salmon cooks quickly and yields a tasty flaky texture. That pairs perfectly with how quickly asparagus roasts to fork-tender yet crispy spears. We rounded out the dish with some potatoes, sliced and tossed with olive oil and salt, and air fried while the sheet pan roasted.

Love sheet pan meals? Check out this Balsamic Chicken Sheet Pan Meal!

Substitutions:

  • Use 1/4 cup of your favorite berry dressing instead of the Elderberry Vinaigrette.
  • Use Brussels sprouts instead of asparagus, ends trimmed, and cut in half.
Whole30 Salmon Sheet Pan Meal
Photos by Autumn Michaelis
Made By Whole30Made By Whole30

Roasted Sheet-Pan Salmon with Grapefruit and Asparagus

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Marinade 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 4 salmon fillets (1½ pounds total)
  • 1/4 cups WHOLE30 Elderberry Vinaigrette
  • 3/4 tsp coarse salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb asparagus, woody ends trimmed
  • 1 pink or ruby red grapefruit, ends trimmed and thinly sliced

Instructions

  • IN a large resealable plastic bag, combine the salmon and WHOLE30 Elderberry Vinaigrette. Seal bag and turn to coat salmon. Marinate in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour.
  • PREHEAT oven to 425°F. Remove salmon from the marinade; discard the marinade. Place salmon on one half of a large parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Season with ¼ teaspoon each of the coarse salt and black pepper. 
  • PLACE asparagus on the other half of the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Toss to coat; arrange in a single layer. Place grapefruit slices on salmon and asparagus.
  • ROAST salmon until it flakes easily when tested with a fork (4 to 6 minutes per half-inch thickness), and asparagus and grapefruit are tender.* Cut around grapefruit rind and serve on top of salmon and asparagus. 
  • *For a pretty presentation, after baking turn your oven to broil. Place the baking sheet under the heat and broil until the grapefruit is lightly charred, about 1 minute. 
Autumn Michaelis wearing an apron and holding a bowl of fresh salad smiling at the camera.

Autumn Michaelis

Autumn Michaelis is an ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist, with a B.S. in Exercise Science from BYU. Though exercise was her first love in the health world, nutrition has become her passion. She created the blog Wholefoodfor7, sharing easy and budget-friendly Whole30, Paleo, and gluten-free + dairy-free recipes for families. In August 2022, Autumn released the newest Whole30 Endorsed cookbook, Whole Food for Your Family. She is mom to 5 boys (yes 5!) and when not in the kitchen can be found adventuring, hiking, and tearing up the dance floor.