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Crisp on the outside and tender and buttery on the inside, this 4-ingredient baked honey maple glazed salmon is the easiest and most delicious way to prepare fish at home! With just a few pantry staples like soy sauce, maple syrup, and honey, you can create a healthy and family-friendly dinner in just 30 minutes. Serve the sweet and savory fish with a side of garlic roasted broccoli, fluffy white rice, or a Ramen noodle salad.
Table of Contents
Looking for the best salmon recipes? Try this easy weeknight salmon sandwich, 4-ingredient brown sugar dijon roasted salmon, orange salmon, and these salmon patties, too (a great way to use up leftovers)!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
This maple glazed baked salmon is easy, healthy, and perfect for busy nights! The fish marinates in soy sauce for savory umami flavor, bakes in the oven for 10 minutes, and then gets a coating of maple and honey glaze before finishing under the broiler. The sugars in the glaze caramelize, giving the salmon that great crispy exterior without overcooking or drying out the fish. It’s seafood dinner perfection — and your kids will love it, too!
Hi Blair, I made the salmon tonight. My husband and I both loved it! We had it with baked sweet potatoes and steamed zucchini. Thanks for all your great recipes and ideas!
– Mary
Ingredients
This is a quick overview of the 4 ingredients that you’ll need for this easy oven-baked salmon recipe. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Salmon: use as many fillets as you need. For instance, cut the recipe in half and prepare just two salmon filets if you’re feeding a smaller family. This is coho salmon (since that’s what is readily available near me), but you can use wild-caught Alaskan salmon, Atlantic salmon, or farm-raised salmon. Whatever you prefer — all types of salmon have great health benefits and are full of omega-3 fatty acids. If you’re starting with frozen salmon, let the salmon thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using in this recipe.
- Soy sauce: let the salmon sit and marinate in the soy sauce for about 15 minutes while you preheat the oven. This adds a delicious, salty umami taste to the fish. I prefer less-sodium soy sauce, but any variety will work.
- Maple syrup and honey: sweet components for the glaze, which pair so nicely with the salty soy sauce. The sugars in the honey and maple syrup caramelize under the broiler, giving the fish that delicious crispy, charred exterior.
Instructions
Cooking salmon has never been easier. This simple 4-ingredient honey maple glazed salmon saves the day when you need a healthy, easy meal on the table quickly! You’ll find detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the quick version:
- Place the salmon skin side down on a foil or parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet.
- Pat dry with paper towel.
- Brush the salmon fillets with soy sauce, and then let the fish sit and “marinate” while you preheat the oven.
- Bake in a 425°F oven for 10 minutes.
- While the fish is in the oven, whisk together the maple glaze.
- Brush the salmon with the honey mixture.
- Place the fish under the broiler for 2-3 more minutes, or until the outside is crispy and the inside flakes easily with a fork. If you’re using an instant-read thermometer, the USDA recommends a minimum internal temperature of 145°F, which should be measured at the thickest part of the salmon fillet.
- Garnish with sliced green onion, fresh herbs, or lemon juice or lemon slices for a bright, fresh touch. Crushed red pepper flakes add a delicious spicy flavor, while toasted sesame seeds give the fish an extra crunchy texture and subtle nutty flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this maple salmon recipe with almost any of your favorite veggies and sides! For instance, try it with rice, a house salad with candied pecans, garlic oven roasted broccoli, Southern style green beans, oven roasted asparagus, sauteed zucchini, ramen noodle coleslaw, or a loaf of no-knead Dutch oven bread.
Storage Tips
Leftover salmon will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Leftovers can also be frozen for 4-6 months, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Remove the frozen salmon from the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator or immersed in cold water. Use cooked, thawed salmon in salads or as a substitution for canned salmon in casseroles, pasta dishes, sandwiches, or wraps.
Tried this tonight, loved it! I don’t even like salmon!! I added the green onions during the cooking.
– Bobbie
Recipe Variations
- Season the salmon with even more herbs and spices. For instance, add a dash of garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, or paprika; try our favorite all-purpose seasoning blend, or use parsley, rosemary, thyme, or basil.
- Add a dollop of Dijon mustard to the maple glaze for a tangy, sharp bit of spice.
- For an even more flavorful “kick,” add fresh ginger or a dash of ground ginger to the honey glaze.
- Cooking Just for Two? Cut the recipe in half and bake according to the recipe instructions.
- For a larger group, bake even more salmon fillets.
We cooked this tonight. It was very good! A nice touch of sweetness. We had it with baked small golden potatoes and steamed on the the grill peppers and onions, and some stuffing on the side. We also had Grands Buttermilk biscuits. Nice feast!
– Mike
Expert Tips
- Pat the fish dry with paper towels before brushing with soy sauce.
- Line the baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. This makes cleanup easy!
- How to stop salmon from sticking to the pan: Drizzle the foil with just a little bit of olive oil or spritz with nonstick cooking spray. This will not affect the crispy skin on the underside of the salmon — in fact, it’ll help make it crispier!
- Wait to season the fish with salt and black pepper until it’s done and you can taste it. Even low sodium soy sauce adds a good amount of salt to the salmon, so you might not need any extra.
- The total cooking time will vary depending on the size, temperature, and thickness of your fish when it goes into the oven. As a result, keep a close eye on the salmon and remove it as soon as the outside is crisp and the inside flakes easily with a fork.
More Easy Salmon Recipes to Try
Grilled Salmon
15 minutes mins
Blackened Salmon
15 minutes mins
Salmon Marinade with Garlic, Lemon, and Herbs
45 minutes mins
Honey Maple Glazed Salmon
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets (about 5-6 ounces each)
- 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional garnish: sliced green onion, toasted sesame seeds, crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet or large baking dish with aluminum foil (for easy cleanup) and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Place salmon skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Pat dry with paper towels. Brush some of the soy sauce onto each salmon fillet. Let the salmon sit and marinate at room temperature for about 15 minutes.
- Cook the salmon on the top rack of the oven for 10 minutes. While the salmon is in the oven, whisk together the honey and maple syrup in a small bowl. Remove the salmon from the oven and baste with the honey mixture.
- Turn the oven setting to "BROIL" on high. Place the salmon about 4-6 inches from the broiler. Broil for 2-3 more minutes, or until the outside is crispy and the fish flakes easily with a fork. Garnish with green onion, sesame seeds, or crushed red pepper flakes. Serve immediately.
Notes
- If you’re starting with frozen salmon, let the salmon thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using in this recipe.
- Pat the fish dry with paper towels before brushing with soy sauce.
- Line the baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. This makes cleanup easy!
- How to stop salmon from sticking to the pan: Drizzle the foil with just a little bit of olive oil or spritz with nonstick cooking spray. This will not affect the crispy skin on the underside of the salmon — in fact, it’ll help make it crispier!
- Wait to season the fish with salt and black pepper until it’s done and you can taste it. The soy sauce adds a good amount of sodium to the salmon, so you might not need any extra salt.
- The total cooking time will vary depending on the size, temperature, and thickness of your fish when it goes into the oven. As a result, keep a close eye on the salmon and remove it as soon as the outside is crisp and the inside flakes easily with a fork. If using a meat thermometer, you’re looking for an internal temperature of 145°F in the thickest part of the fish.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in January, 2018. It was updated in May, 2024.
Being a huge fan of salmon, this looks so delicious! love the touch of honey and maple syrup, never tried salmon like this before, giving this a try for sure 🙂
Oh, you’ll love this, Albert! It’s one of my very favorite ways to prepare salmon!
This looks like a good recipe. Depending on whether or not you use low-sodium soy sauce, I suggest watching amount of salt sprinkled on before basting. Also, at that high temp, 425, I question cooking for so long. My experience with most fish is it stays more moist cooked at low temp-even 275.
I love how simple this! It’s so nice to find recipes you can make right away – with the ingredients already on hand!
Exactly! Such a great option in a pinch!
I can always use more salmon recipes! Looks delicious!
Thanks, Gayle!
Gonna give it a try…salmon is one of the family faves!!!
Awesome! I hope you love it too, Teresa!
Hi Blair, I made the salmon tonight. My husband and I both loved it! We had it with baked sweet potatoes and steamed zucchini. Thanks for all your great recipes and ideas! Mary
That’s wonderful, Mary! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Tried this tonight, loved it! I don’t even like salmon!! I added the green onions during the cooking. ????????
Awesome! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it, Bobbie! We love this version, too. 🙂
We cooked this tonight. It was very good! A nice touch of sweetness. We had it with baked small golden potatoes and steamed on the the grill peppers and onions, and some stuffing on the side. We also had Grands Buttermilk biscuits. Nice feast!
Thanks, Mike! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it. Sounds like the perfect meal!
Searched Pinterest for 4 ingredient salmon recipes and this came up! Tried this last night and my husband and I loved it! Served it over brown rice. Thank you for sharing 🙂
That’s awesome! I’m so glad that you found the recipe and that it was a hit! 🙂
Hi Blaire!
I’ve made this 3 times, and we love it! It’s so easy, and flavorful. The only question I have for you is…..
When you mix the maple syrup and honey together, is fine…but when you put it on the hot salmon, it thins out and most just runs off. It carmelized on the foil instead of the salmon! I was wondering, is there any way that you can mix the two, and heat it a bit to thicken it, then put it on the salmon. This way it’ll stick better. Some will thin out, but it’ll glaze better. Just a thought!
It is a great combination!
Hi Cammie! We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe. We haven’t tried heating the maple syrup mixture but probably wouldn’t recommend it. Instead, we would recommend basting the salmon an extra time or two as it cooks!