The TikTok Salmon Rice Bowl became 2024's most searched recipe, and after one bite you'll understand why. This deconstructed sushi-inspired bowl combines flaky salmon with creamy, spicy sauce over rice with fresh vegetables. It's healthy, customizable, takes 15 minutes, and tastes like you ordered from your favorite poke place.
Why the Salmon Rice Bowl Went Viral
TikTok user Emily Mariko's original video showing her lunch prep racked up millions of views and inspired countless variations. The recipe hit the perfect sweet spot of being:
What made it viral:
- Incredibly simple: Minimal cooking, maximum flavor
- Visually satisfying: The mixing process, the colors, the final bowl
- Uses leftovers: Perfect for leftover salmon and rice
- Healthy: Protein, vegetables, good fats
- Customizable: Endless variations based on what you have
- Quick: 15 minutes from start to finish
- ASMR-worthy: The ice cube trick, the mixing, the chopstick breaking
The "ice cube trick" - adding an ice cube to rice before microwaving - became its own micro-trend within the trend.
Classic TikTok Salmon Rice Bowl Recipe
Ingredients (Serves 1, easily multiplied)
Main components:
- 4-6 oz cooked salmon (fresh or leftover)
- 1 cup cooked rice (white, brown, or sushi rice)
- 1/2 avocado, sliced
- 1/4 cucumber, diced
- Seaweed snacks or nori, torn into pieces
For the sauce:
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise (Kewpie mayo if you have it)
- 1 tsp sriracha (adjust to heat preference)
- Optional: 1/2 tsp sesame oil
Toppings:
- Sesame seeds
- Green onions, sliced
- Kimchi (optional but amazing)
- Sriracha for extra heat
Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Rice (The Ice Cube Trick)
- Place leftover rice in a microwave-safe bowl
- Add ice cube on top of rice
- Cover with damp paper towel
- Microwave 1-2 minutes until steaming hot
- Remove ice cube (or let it melt in)
- Fluff rice with fork
Why this works: The ice cube creates steam that rehydrates the rice without making it mushy.
Step 2: Prepare the Salmon
- If using fresh salmon, cook quickly (pan-sear, air fry, or bake)
- If using leftover, simply flake it with a fork
- Remove any bones or skin
- Break into bite-sized pieces
Pro tip: Room temperature salmon mixes better than cold.
Step 3: Make the Sauce
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, mayo, and sriracha
- Adjust sriracha to your heat tolerance
- Add sesame oil if using
- Mix until smooth and creamy
Step 4: Assemble
- Place hot rice in your serving bowl
- Add flaked salmon on top
- Pour sauce over salmon and rice
- Use fork or chopsticks to mix everything together
- The salmon should break down and coat the rice
Step 5: Add Fresh Elements
- Arrange avocado slices on top
- Add diced cucumber
- Tear or crumble seaweed over everything
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds
- Add green onions
- Top with kimchi if using
Step 6: Enjoy
Eat immediately while rice is warm and salmon is flavorful!
Pro Tips for the Perfect Bowl
Salmon Selection
Fresh salmon:
- Skin-on or skinless both work
- Season simply with salt and pepper
- Cook to medium (slightly pink in center for most flavor)
- Pan-sear for 3-4 minutes per side
Canned salmon:
- Works surprisingly well
- Drain thoroughly
- Removes bones and skin
- Much more budget-friendly
Frozen salmon:
- Thaw completely before cooking
- Pat very dry before cooking
- Season well
Smoked salmon:
- No cooking required
- Different flavor profile but delicious
- More expensive but ultra-convenient
Rice Matters
Best rice types:
- Sushi rice: Traditional, slightly sticky
- White rice: Classic choice
- Brown rice: Healthier option
- Cauliflower rice: Low-carb alternative
Fresh vs. leftover:
- Day-old rice actually works better (less mushy)
- Fresh rice works but let it cool slightly first
No rice?:
- Use quinoa
- Try farro
- Use greens for low-carb version
The Sauce
Kewpie mayo: Japanese mayo is creamier, slightly sweeter. Worth seeking out but regular mayo works.
Soy sauce: Low-sodium if watching salt intake.
Heat level: Start with less sriracha. You can always add more.
Creaminess: Add more mayo for creamier sauce.
Extra umami: Add drop of fish sauce or splash of ponzu.
Viral Variations
Spicy Tuna Bowl
Swap salmon for:
- Sushi-grade tuna, diced
- Mix with same sauce
- Top with tobiko or masago
Korean-Inspired Bowl
Korean flavors:
- Add gochujang to sauce
- Increase kimchi
- Top with crispy seaweed
- Add soft-boiled egg
California Roll Bowl
Deconstructed California roll:
- Use imitation crab
- Extra avocado
- Add cucumber
- Sprinkle with tobiko
Teriyaki Salmon Bowl
Sweeter version:
- Use teriyaki sauce instead of soy
- Add edamame
- Top with pickled ginger
- Sprinkle with furikake
Poke-Style Bowl
Upgrade to poke vibes:
- Use sushi-grade salmon, cubed
- Add pickled vegetables
- Include seaweed salad
- Top with wasabi
These variations work great for meal prep lunch ideas.
Vegetable Add-Ins
Customize with vegetables you love:
Crunchy:
- Shredded carrots
- Edamame
- Snap peas
- Radish slices
- Cabbage
Soft:
- Steamed broccoli
- Roasted sweet potato
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Wilted spinach
Pickled:
- Pickled ginger
- Pickled radish
- Quick-pickled cucumber
- Pickled jalapeños
Fresh:
- Microgreens
- Cilantro
- Mint leaves
- Sprouts
Meal Prep Strategy
Perfect for weekly meal prep ideas:
Sunday Prep
Cook components:
- Bake 4-6 salmon fillets
- Make 4-6 cups rice
- Prep all vegetables
- Make large batch of sauce
Storage:
- Salmon: Separate containers, 4-5 days
- Rice: Airtight container, 5-6 days
- Vegetables: Separate containers, 3-4 days
- Sauce: Jar in fridge, 1 week
Daily Assembly
In the morning (if packing for lunch):
- Portion rice into container
- Add salmon
- Pack vegetables separately
- Pack sauce in small container
At lunch:
- Microwave rice and salmon (1-2 minutes)
- Add sauce and mix
- Top with fresh vegetables
- Enjoy
Freezer Option
Freeze salmon portions:
- Cook and freeze individual portions
- Thaw in fridge overnight
- Use within 2 months
Don't freeze:
- Rice (texture suffers)
- Vegetables (except edamame)
- Avocado
Budget Breakdown
Surprisingly economical:
Per bowl:
- Salmon (4 oz): $3-4 (or $1 if using canned)
- Rice: $0.30
- Avocado: $1
- Cucumber: $0.50
- Sauce ingredients: $0.50
- Toppings: $0.50
- Total: $5.80-6.80 (or $3.80 with canned salmon)
Much cheaper than a $12-15 poke bowl from a restaurant.
Perfect for cheap healthy meals strategies.
Healthier Than You Think
Nutritional benefits:
- High protein: 30-40g from salmon
- Healthy fats: Omega-3s from salmon, avocado
- Vitamins: B vitamins from salmon, C from vegetables
- Fiber: From rice and vegetables
- Probiotics: If using kimchi
Approximate nutrition (per bowl):
- Calories: 550-650
- Protein: 35g
- Carbs: 50g
- Fat: 22g
- Fiber: 6g
Making It Different Each Time
The beauty of this bowl is customization:
Monday: Classic recipe as written
Tuesday: Add soft-boiled egg and spicy mayo
Wednesday: Use teriyaki sauce, add edamame
Thursday: Add kimchi and gochujang
Friday: Top with crispy onions and extra sriracha
You can eat this every day and never get bored.
Common Questions
Can I make this without raw fish?
Yes! Use fully cooked salmon (fresh, canned, or smoked). This is not a poke bowl with raw fish.
What if I don't like salmon?
Try:
- Tuna
- Shrimp
- Chicken
- Tofu
Is it okay to meal prep rice?
Yes, but store properly and reheat thoroughly. Rice can harbor bacteria if left at room temperature.
Can I make it vegan?
Use marinated tofu instead of salmon. Everything else can remain the same (use vegan mayo).
How do I make it less messy for lunch?
Pack components separately and assemble right before eating.
The Ice Cube Debate
The ice cube trick divided the internet:
Pro-ice cube:
- Creates perfect steam
- Prevents dried-out rice
- Adds moisture without making it mushy
Anti-ice cube:
- A damp paper towel works just as well
- Adding water achieves same result
- "It's just water with extra steps"
Verdict: It works, but so do other methods. Use what's convenient.
Why This Recipe Endures
Unlike many TikTok food trends, the salmon rice bowl has staying power:
Practical: Actually fits into real people's lunch routines
Flexible: Works with whatever you have on hand
Balanced: Protein, carbs, vegetables, healthy fats
Quick: Genuinely fast from start to finish
Delicious: Most importantly, it actually tastes great
The recipe solved a real problem: what to make for a healthy, satisfying, quick lunch that doesn't get boring.
Taking It Further
Once you master the basic bowl:
Breakfast version: Add fried egg on top, use brown rice
Dinner version: Double the salmon, add more vegetables
Party version: Set up a DIY bowl bar with all the toppings
Restaurant-level: Torch salmon with kitchen torch, garnish elaborately
For more quick meal inspiration, check 15-minute meals.
The Verdict
The TikTok Salmon Rice Bowl earned its viral status. It's genuinely good, genuinely fast, and genuinely useful for everyday eating. Whether you're meal prepping for the week or throwing together a quick lunch, this bowl delivers.
The recipe represents the best of food trends: taking restaurant-quality food and making it achievable at home with minimal time and effort.
Make a batch of components on Sunday, and you've got lunches sorted for the week. Each bowl takes 5 minutes to assemble and tastes better than most things you'd order.
Now go grab that salmon and rice. Your new favorite lunch is waiting.
Happy bowl-building!
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