Easy Glazed Salmon
These Easy Glazed Salmon fillets are a breeze to prep, then just 15 minutes in the oven or even less time on the grill, and dinner is served!
Best of all, this simple grilled salmon recipe is made with kitchen staples I always have on hand! It’s perfect for a delicious last-minute, healthy entree.
Why You Must Make
- This is one of those recipes that is deceptively simple to prepare. We grilled these marinated salmon fillets for our dinner guests a few months ago and I had to print off copies of the recipe before my guests left.
- With just 6 ingredients, all I needed to purchase was the salmon and double-check the fridge for a lemon to make this glazed brown sugar salmon.
- Grilling gives added flavor and crispy bits from the hot temperature and smoke, but 15 minutes in the oven also makes for a delicious entree! The combination of sweet, salty, and citrus flavors marry well in this simple marinade and salmon glaze recipe.
Grilled Salmon Recipe for Lent
This seafood entree made its debut back in 2011, during Lent. My youngest was in high school and opted for a peanut butter sandwich after taking a courtesy bite of this marinated salmon. Thank goodness, his palate has matured and he’s happy to eat all variations of salmon. And I wish I could say I weaned the picky hubby off of tuna casserole and salmon loaf, but at least he’s expanded his seafood repertoire to now include fresh salmon. It’s nice to have a simple salmon glaze recipe in one’s repertoire. And if you’re empty nesters like us this Marinated Salmon for Two Recipe is also a winner!
Ingredient Notes
- Brown sugar – adds sweetness and helps with caramelization.
- Olive oil – adds richness
- Soy sauce – along with saltiness, soy sauce adds umami, a term for the 5th category of tastes which is said to be a brothy, meaty, savory flavor.
- Fresh lemon juice – adds acid to balance all 3 of the above ingredients. Never substitute bottled lemon juice as the flavor cannot compare to fresh.
- White wine – like salt, alcohol is a flavor enhancer. Almost all the alcohol is cooked by the time the glaze is brought to a boil and then heated again in the oven or on the grill.
How to Make
Cooking Tips
- The rule of thumb is to cook 10 minutes per inch of thickness when it comes to fish. Of course, if the hubby is grilling on the Big Green Egg and the thermometer is registering 500+ degrees, it won’t take as long as in my oven at 400º!
- I like my tuna rare with just the sides seared, but for salmon, I prefer medium rare to medium. I’d say the photo above is cooked to medium as there is no translucency in the fish.
- PRO-Tip: For medium rare salmon, cook wild salmon to 120º and farmed salmon to 125º. Cover with foil after removing it from the grill and allow to rest for 10 minutes to allow the internal temperature to rise another 5-10º.
- Farmed salmon has more fat than wild, so won’t dry out if you cook it to a higher internal temperature.
- The marinade is very simple, but you could increase the marinating time a bit so more flavor can be absorbed, especially if you’re cooking in the oven. Usually, it’s recommended that seafood only has a short time in a marinade, but salmon is a hearty fish and I think you could marinate up to 45 minutes.
- Leave the skin on as this helps keep the delicate seafood intact as you cook.
- I prefer wild salmon as I think the quality and flavor are better. But it is more expensive, so if it’s out of your budget, farmed salmon will also provide the protein and Omega-3 fatty acids that are found in wild salmon. Plus, many feel farmed salmon has a more buttery texture due to the higher fat content.
- PRO-Tip: My cooking preference for this recipe is grilled over oven-cooked as the smoke makes this fish even more incredible. If not grilling, give the salmon a minute or two under the broiler to give the top some color.
- Make sure to use the easy salmon glaze to baste a few times during the roasting or grilling time as that will impart extra flavor, too. This is especially important if you roast vs. grill.
- PRO-Tip: Always cook the marinade after you remove the salmon if you’re using it for basting. I boil or simmer it for a couple of minutes. This ensures you aren’t adding raw juices to the salmon as you baste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, frozen salmon works perfectly. Just defrost it in the refrigerator overnight so you can marinate it for about 6 hours to allow the flavors to penetrate. In fact, all salmon sold in the US is frozen before being distributed to retailers.
The best way to know your salmon is done is to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be 145° according to the USDA. I often order it medium which is 120-125°. Medium-done salmon will have a pinkish center, opaque, and slightly firm to the touch.
A rice casserole is a delicious pairing along with a green salad, asparagus, broccoli, sauteed green beans, or grilled corn.
You May Also Like:
If like us, you eat a meatless meal on Fridays during Lent, you’ll need a little inspiration this time of year. Or if you’d like to incorporate more seafood in your menu, you’ll also appreciate these recipes.
- Dijon Lemon Caper Salmon from Amanda’s Cookin’
- Air Fryer Cedar Plank Salmon from Life Currents Blog
- Potato Shingled Salmon – a unique presentation with pesto that even the picky hubby enjoyed!
- Maple Mustard Glazed Salmon
- Glazed Salmon with Fruit Salsa
- Grilled Shrimp Scampi – we love the nuances provided when shrimp is grilled over charcoal! So good.
- Sea Bass with Tomatoes, Olives and Capers – the topping is fabulous with this mild white fish
- More Delicious Seafood Recipes
Easy Glazed Salmon
An easy, delicious salmon recipe made with kitchen staples.
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets (8 ounces each)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons dry white wine
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400º if you plan to roast instead of grilling.
- Combine brown sugar, olive oil, soy, lemon juice, and white wine. Stir to dissolve sugar.
- Place salmon fillets in a baking dish. Pour glaze over salmon and turn to coat. Let marinate 10-20 minutes, turning at least once.
- Place the leftover marinade in a saucepan and heat to a boil. Cook for a minute or two, then set aside. This will make it safe to use as a glaze.
- Bake or grill to your desired doneness (ours took about 15 minutes), basting every few minutes with glaze. You may broil for a minute or two and the end of the cooking time to brown the top of the salmon if it's cooked in the oven.
- Serve with lemon wedges and a drizzle of cooked glaze if desired.
Notes
Adapted from Everyday Food
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 650Total Fat: 42gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 31gCholesterol: 143mgSodium: 800mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 1gSugar: 12gProtein: 51g
39 Comments on “Easy Glazed Salmon”
This Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon from Delish.com is the most addicting salmon recipe ever.
Sounds like a recipe for me. No grill but a minute or two under the broiler will help.
The BGE is awesome, isn’t it? I just adore the smoky flavour it imparts. We usually get a side of Wild Pacific Salmon, which is a lot more pink because of the shrimp it eats, but the flavour is outstanding! I’ll have to give this glaze a go next time.
Liz, this salmon looks and sounds amazing! I love the salty/sweet/tangy marinade. Who would believe it’s that easy!
Amazing dish, dear! Love to dig in! xoxo
Thank you for all of the great salmon cooking tips, Liz! This glazed salmon looks totally mouthwatering! I love that it’s simple enough for a busy weeknight!
Thanks for the recipe Liz, your salmon looks perfect! Great meal…hope you are having a lovely week!
Love how easy this is! Looks amazing too!
That tip for cooking salmon to 120º is a good one — salmon loses some of its sparkle if it’s overcooked. Salmon from the Pacific Northwest is just around the corner — can’t wait! And this is the perfect way to prepare it. Thanks!
This looks so delicious! I have 8 pounds of salmon fillets in the freezer, so this post was perfect timing. Lots of great information. Thanks Liz!
When it comes to cooking salmon, I prefer to keep the process as simple as possible. Normally I just go with a little of oil, salt, pepper, and a lemon wedge for serving. So you’ve made pretty perfect salmon. Needless to say, it looks super delicious!
I agree with you, I think grilling gives salmon a delicious taste. If all your finds asked for the recipe, you know it is good…if picky husband eats it, you know it is terrific!
Salmon is DELICIOUS prepared at any way! Love the simplicity of this recipe, Liz.
Yum! I can always use a new salmon recipe. This sounds simple and delicious!
I just love salmon and this recipe sounds outstanding Liz! Thanks for re-sharing, this can never get old in my home!
Salmon is one of my family’s faves as well. Yours looks simple and delicious.
I love salmon fixed any way and this way looks so delicious.
Delicious salmon, love the glaze!
Yummy! This is going to have to get added to our “Fish Friday” rotation!
You’re making my mouth water!! I love, love, love salmon.
🙂
ButterYum
Mmmm, I’m heading to the coast tomorrow and this just gets me all excited to eat fresh fish. Can’t wait. Thanks for getting my pallet ready:)
Wow. Love it. Simple & refreshing – a nice change up from the heavy dishes of winter.
I love salmon but haven’t had it in forever. Yours look so good! I would love it for dinner! 🙂
I am always looking for another salmon recipe. Can’t wait to try this one, Liz!
so many things I want to cook and yet never do. I’m rarely home much before 7pm, along with a hungry toddler and starving husband not far behind. Their simply isn’t time for fancy things mid week. It’s got to either be a fast fix (this is ideal) or very long slow cook (in the slow cooker when I go out to work in the morning
thanks for sharing
Sarah-Jane
siliconemoulds.blogspot.com
Thank you for this recipe.It comes in time, as I want to cook tomorrow some salmon. Great flavors.
Have a nice week.
Lizzy-Your salmon looks like the exact replica of what Lora made the last time, and will make it again today. We all love salmon, even the little ones. Yours turned out so perfect and yummy with the glaze.
The marinade time and baking time is great, except when the salmon is a little thinner, baking time takes 12 minutes!
I do not eat salmon enough, yours looks like perfection
Salmon is my fave and I wish I bought that instead of Tilapia last night! I could have used this delicious glaze of yours…
Love that you served it over some rice.
We love Salmon its just too expensive here right now. I am a huge fan of wild rice both looks awesome here!
Ha, that’s something my kids would do! I used to tell them that if they didn’t like the food, they’d have to eat cereal. But, I’d have to have sugar-free cereal on hand so it wasn’t so tempting, hehe. Thankfully my kids love salmon and we’re making it tonight! Lovely recipe, Lizzy. Sounds refreshing! Beautiful photo too!
Looks absolutely delicious 🙂
This looks great! And, I love cooking salmon on a cedar plank as well! Such great flavor!
I love salmon and this recipe sounds so easy to put together. Yummy!
Yummmm….looks delicious!
Salmon is my favorite fish. I love the simplicity of your recipe.
Yum Liz… simple, easy to make and delicious. I think I will try this soon… salmon is the only fish that my eldest daughter eats!!! So I am always looking out for new ideas! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Manu (Manu’s Menu)
Often the most simple meals are the best! Thanks for sharing Liz!
Looks great, Lizzy. Salmon is a favourite around here. As a matter of fact, we had stuffed salmon last night for dinner. I’ll put this in the list to try next. It sounds simple and delish.
Becky