Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 61 Comments

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Seriously, these baked salmon meatballs may be some of the best things you've eaten in awhile. They're made even better with a dollop of creamy avocado sauce on top. Thanks to California Avocado for helping me to share this recipe with you.
Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe (1)

It felt like we covered all of the seasons on spring break last week. A little spring skiing just 30 minutes from home, a few bouts of soccer at the park (in shorts!), at least one great flank steak meal and a few runs to burn off the Easter candy that always seems to linger. Curse those Cadbury mini eggs!



All of that fresh air and activity made us hungry. And not just for chocolate and jellybeans, but for filling protein, whole grains and lots of fruits and veggies. Which means that these baked salmon meatballs with avocado sauce disappeared from the plate in a matter of minutes. A couple of my kids' friends were at the house when I first made these and they all gathered around the kitchen island, popping one after another into their mouths.

Kid-friendly? Yeah, I'd say so.

Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe (3)

There are so many food reasons to get excited for springtime. Asparagus, cauliflower, strawberries and one of my all time favorites...avocados. California avocados, to be exact. For the past couple of years, I've been an ambassador for California Avocados. I continue to work with them because I am convinced that there is no avocado like a California avocado.

I can't count the number of times that I've spooned an avocado straight out of the skin and into my mouth. With a little sprinkle of salt, thank you very much. As good as they are straight or sliced up for sandwiches and salads, their natural creaminess lends itself really well to sauces that taste and feel rich and luxurious, but don't have a drop of actual cream in them. Healthy fats, fiber and vitamins? Win, win and win.

Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe (4)

These baked salmon meatballs take very little time and effort to put together. Just throw some salmon into a food processor and give it some pulses until it's finely chopped. If you don't have a food processor, no worries. You can chop up that salmon the old fashioned way, with a sharp knife and a cutting board.

After that, incorporate the salmon with some onion, garlic, spices and cilantro, and form them into meatballs. I always use my cookie scoop to portion out even meatballs. It's a time saver, for certain!

Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe (5)

While the meatballs are baking, whip up the avocado sauce ingredients in a food processor or blender. Be sure to taste the sauce and adjust the salt and chipotle chile powder according to your preference.

Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe (6)

If you can't find chipotle chile powder at your local grocer store, you can use some adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers. It will lend the same great smokiness and touch of heat to the sauce.

Other avocado recipes:

Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe (7)
Cookin' Canuck's
Cookin' Canuck's Kicked-Up Avocado Margaritas
A Southern Fairytale's Avocado Fries with Home Ranch Dipping Sauce
Average Betty's California Avocado & Hemp Seed Arancini
Souffle Bombay's California Garlic Bread with Sautéed Spinach & Avocados

Printable Recipe

Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe (8)

Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce

Seriously, these baked salmon meatballs may be some of the best things you’ve eaten in awhile. They’re made even better with a dollop of creamy avocado sauce on top. 295 calories and 3 Weight Watchers SP

4.48 from 36 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Entrees

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Clean Eating, Healthy Dinner Recipes, Seafood Recipes

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes minutes

Total Time: 38 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 295.3kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

The Meatballs:

The Sauce:

  • ¾ California avocado skin & seed removed
  • 3 tablespoons fat-free plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • ½ lime juiced
  • 5 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons minced cilantro
  • ¼ - ½ teaspoon chipotle chili powder see note
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

Instructions

The Meatballs:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

  • Place the salmon in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped, scraping down the sides as necessary. Transfer to a large bowl.

  • To the salmon, add the onion, breadcrumbs, cilantro, egg white, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika and oregano. Stir to combine.

  • Using a 2 tablespoon portion of the salmon mixture, form meatballs by rolling between the palms of your hands. Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly.

  • Bake until the meatballs are firm to the touch and cooked through, 15 to 18 minutes.

  • Serve the meatballs with the avocado sauce.

The Sauce:

  • In the bowl of a food processor or blender, combine the avocado, yogurt, garlic, lime juice, water, cilantro, chipotle chile powder, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.

Notes

Weight Watchers Points: 3 (Freestyle SmartPoints)

Nutrition

Serving: 5Meatballs + 2 Tablespoons Sauce | Calories: 295.3kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 34.8g | Fat: 12.7g | Saturated Fat: 2.4g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 669.6mg | Fiber: 2.8g | Sugar: 1.3g

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

Disclosure: This post contains links to my Amazon affiliate page. Any revenue made from sales through these links helps to support this blog. Thank you!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Sabrina

    Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe (14)
    My family loves salmon so I’m always looking for new unique delicious ways to make it. This recipe was amazing & did not disappoint. It was packed with SO much flavour & was a huge hit. Thanks for this, it’s a keeper!

    Reply

  2. Danny

    What in the name of God are whole wheat panko bread crumbs? What is a California Aovcado? And you say you live in America? Wont find it in New England.

    Reply

    • Dara

      Hi there, Danny, I've never known someone to get so upset about bread crumbs and avocados. If you can't find whole wheat panko bread crumbs or California avocados in a store near you, or you don't want to order the bread crumbs off of Amazon, simply substitute with regular panko bread crumbs and a different varietal of avocados.

      Reply

      • Meri Schroeder

        I just have to say, I love your reply to Danny LOL. I feel for you food bloggers and some of the nasty comments. Unbelievable.

        Reply

    • Brigida Sullivan

      Haas avocados.

      Reply

    • DK

      California = Hass which are sold on the east coast. Wheat panko is also sold on the east coast. Do you live in America? Trying this recipe today.

      Reply

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Baked Salmon Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to bake or fry meatballs before putting in sauce? ›

Baking will result in meatballs with a crunchy exterior, though the caramelisation achieved from frying will be superior. Baked meatballs take the least amount of effort, as you'll only need to turn them once or twice throughout the cook and you can make a larger batch at once.

How to eat canned salmon? ›

How to Eat Canned Salmon; Straight Out of the Can! Just open the can, maybe squeeze on some lemon, and fork on! There is simply not an easier, better protein source than canned Alaska salmon.

Is it better to bake meatballs at 350 or 400? ›

For 1-2 inches of beef, pork, or turkey meatballs without any pre-cooking, use these guidelines for your wall oven:
  • 350°F wall oven:
  • 8–14 minutes for 1-inch meatballs.
  • 14–18 minutes for 2-inch meatballs.
  • 400°F wall oven:
  • 6–10 minutes for 1-inch meatballs.
  • 10–14 minutes for 2-inch meatballs.
  • 425°F wall oven:
Aug 16, 2023

Do you cover meatballs when baking? ›

Covering them with foil can help when reheating, but you will still want to remove it during the last few minutes of cook time in the oven. How do you keep meatballs moist when baking? The key is in the preparation! Make sure to handle the meat mixture as little as possible and mix the ingredients just until combined.

Should I drain canned salmon? ›

Canned salmon also contains high concentrations of sodium, particularly when the fish is packed in salt water. That's why it's recommended that you drain the salmon before eating it. A can of salmon can contain over 400 milligrams of sodium, which is about 17% of a person's recommended daily sodium intake, per the FDA.

How to make canned salmon taste better? ›

Mix it with breadcrumbs (or crushed up saltiness, lol), lemon juice, onion powder (or diced onion,) an egg, and some salt. Shape it into a patty like a hamburger and fry it like a burger. I just add breadcrumbs until it forms up easily into a ball.

Is it OK to eat salmon straight from the can? ›

Life can get busy and we can all benefit from having convenient foods on hand. It's even better if these convenient foods are also healthier foods! The beauty of canned salmon is that you can eat it on its own, throw it on top of salad or eggs, or work it into a recipe.

Which tastes better fried or baked meatballs? ›

Baking them gives the meatballs a little more flavor without additional oil since you are searing the outside under the broiler in your oven. Just make sure you bake them on a really heavy-duty baking sheet like this one.

How long to heat meatballs with sauce in the oven? ›

If you are reheating meatballs that have been stored in tomato sauce, arrange them in a baking dish. Make sure they are in a single layer. Cover the meatballs in tomato sauce and cover tightly with some heavy-duty aluminum foil. Now you want to put the baking dish in the oven and bake meatballs for about 40 minutes.

How do you keep meatballs from falling apart when frying? ›

How to make meatballs that won't fall apart
  1. Massage your meat. True story. ...
  2. Add breadcrumbs. Add breadcrumbs to the mixture, but not too many breadcrumbs. ...
  3. Add egg. ...
  4. Don't add much apart from meat. ...
  5. Roll your meatballs in flour. ...
  6. Give your meatballs space. ...
  7. Shake your meatballs. ...
  8. Brown your meatballs first.
Mar 3, 2022

Do you cook meat before adding simmer sauce? ›

It is often preferable to cook the meat and vegetables separate from the simmer sauce at high heat first. Then add the sauce, cover, and simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes and using the time you saved in preparation to make a salad or even catch up on social media.

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