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If you’re looking for the best salmon marinade, you’re in the right place. This easy salmon marinade is made with simple pantry ingredients and turns ordinary salmon filets into something incredibly flavorful, tender, and juicy especially on the grill!
Whether you’re cooking salmon for a weeknight dinner or a summer cookout, this marinade is the secret to grilled salmon that everyone loves.
What Makes This the Best Salmon Marinade
This salmon marinade works because it contains the perfect balance of flavor (citrus, honey, and savory) while keeping the salmon tender and juicy. It adds subtle flavor while still allowing the flavor of the salmon to shine:
- Balanced flavor: Sweet honey, bright orange juice, and savory soy sauce create a marinade that’s flavorful but not heavy.
- Tender, juicy salmon: The citrus helps lightly tenderize the salmon while the oil locks in moisture during grilling.
- Quick marinating time: You only need 20 minutes to infuse big flavor so there’s no long wait required.
- Perfect for grilling: This marinade caramelizes beautifully on the grill without burning or drying out the fish.
- Versatile and foolproof: Use this salmon marinade for grilling, baking, or pan-searing with equally great results.
If you’ve ever struggled with bland or dry salmon, this easy salmon marinade is the simple fix you’ll want to keep using!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This salmon marinade comes together with a handful of simple ingredients that balance sweet, savory, and citrusy flavors perfectly. Each one plays a role in making the salmon tender, juicy, and full of flavor.
- Garlic: Add bold, savory flavor to the salmon marinade
- Orange Juice: Brings bright citrus flavor and natural sweetness to the marinade.
- Honey: Adds a touch of sweetness and helps balance the savory ingredients in the salmon marinade.
- Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds gentle heat and depth of flavor to the marinade.
- Sesame Oil: Adds rich, nutty flavor and enhances the marinade.
- Soy Sauce: Provides saltiness and umami, forming the flavorful base of the salmon marinade.
- Salmon Filets: Look for vibrant pink color and the filets soak up the marinade beautifully.
How to Make Grilled Marinated Salmon
Making this salmon marinade and grilling the salmon is quick and straightforward. With just a few easy steps, you’ll have perfectly marinated salmon in no time!
- Make the Marinade: Whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Marinate the Salmon: Pour the marinade over the salmon filets in an airtight container. Marinate for at least 20 minutes or up to 24 hours. Save the marinade!
- Prep the Grill: Rub the grates of the grill with oiled paper towels and heat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Grill the Salmon: Place the salmon filets on the grill flesh side down (unless you want crispy skin, then place it skin side down). Grill for 3-5 minutes, then flip and grill for 3-5 minutes more.
- Cook the Marinade: While the salmon is grilling, pour the marinade into a small saucepan and bring to a boil and let it cook for a couple of minutes. Then pour it over the cooked salmon.
How Long to Marinate Salmon
If you’re tight on time and only have 20 minutes to marinate, then that works great! I prefer to marinate salmon for a few hours for optimal flavor and texture. It could marinate for up to 24 hours if needed.
Can You Use This Marinade for Baked Salmon?
Yes absolutely! Marinate the salmon fillets as written in the instructions. Preheat the oven to 400°F and place the salmon in a baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake the salmon for 10-15 minutes. I would still boil the marinade and drizzle it over the top before serving.
What to Serve with Grilled Salmon
Since salmon is light and healthy, I like to keep my side dishes the same. Some of our favorite sides are rice pilaf, grilled asparagus and roasted broccoli. Then I like to have some sort of salad like our tomato cucumber salad or our strawberry feta spinach salad.
Storing and Reheating
Salmon should be stored in an airtight container and it will keep for 3-4 days. I try to avoid the microwave at all costs when it comes to reheating salmon. It dries salmon out so fast. The best way to reheat salmon is in the oven. Place the leftover filets in a baking dish and cover it with foil and reheat at 275°F for 10 minutes.
Say goodbye to dry salmon! This salmon marinade is the secret to juicy, flavorful grilled salmon. Once you try this marinade for salmon, you’ll never go back to plain salmon again. It’s easy, reliable, and packed with flavor!
More Salmon Recipes to Try:
Watch How This Salmon Marinade is Made…
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