This post may contain affiliated links. If you click a link and make a purchase, assume we make a commission.
This Quick Salmon Marinade for baking, grilling, smoking, or searing is super tasty and quick! This will be your new go-to marinade for an easy salmon dinner.
Jump to:
When you need a quick and easy salmon marinade, you need this recipe! It’s super easy to throw together – no chopping garlic, nothing complicated.
Salmon is such an easy weeknight dinner, usually it takes less time to make than chicken or steak. And you can prepare it a variety of ways, such as baked on a sheet pan or even in a dutch oven!
Why you'll love this recipe
You’re going to love this recipe because:
- It’s quick and easy - seriously, it is! Just throw it together and let your salmon marinate for about 15-20 minutes, then grill, smoke, bake, or sear it!
- It’s very tasty - it tastes like teriyaki, but with a citrus kick (from the lime juice).
- It’s customizable - you are basically using pantry staples, if you don’t have a few of the fresh ingredients, they can easily be swapped out for what you do have.
Ingredients + substitutions
The ingredients are simple and you probably have everything you need on hand to make this quick marinade!
Don't be alarmed if you don't have all of the ingredients, we'll talk about some substitutions below.
- Soy sauce - this is the base of the marinade, and also the ingredient that makes it “quick”. Soy sauce is deeply salty (which is why I recommend to opt for low sodium if you’re sensitive to salt), and infuses the salmon with so much flavor.
- Brown sugar - brown sugar is for sweetness to balance out the saltiness of the soy sauce. You can swap the brown sugar for white sugar or just use honey.
- Honey - for flavor, also texture. Honey will give your salmon a great caramelized crust when you’re baking, grilling, smoking or searing it.
- Lime juice - for some acidity. You can swap the lime juice for orange juice, lemon juice, or whatever citrus juice you have.
- Rice vinegar - for some acidity and flavor. You can swap it for white or apple cider vinegar in a pinch!
- Ginger - freshly grated is best, but you can opt to use dry ginger, just use ¼ tsp.
- Oregano - just a pinch for some flavor, you can swap the oregano for Italian seasoning if you’d like.
- Red pepper flakes - for just a touch of heat. Add more for more heat, and leave them out if you’re sensitive to heat. Although this amount doesn’t make the marinade “spicy”.
- Salmon - this is enough marinade for 1.5-2 pounds of salmon.
Step-by-step (with photos)
The process is simple. There are just a few basic steps.
- STEP 1: In a small bowl for pyrex, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, lime juice, rice vinegar, ginger, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
- STEP 2: Cut your salmon filet into 2-inch filets. Add them to a ziplock bag.
- STEP 3: Then pour the marinade over the salmon. Sip the bag. Place it on the counter for 15-20 minutes.
- STEP 4: Proceed to bake, sear, smoke or grill your salmon filets!
Tips + variations
- Use the extra marinade as a glaze - If you’d like, you can add the salmon marinade to a pan, bring it to a simmer, and thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. Then use the thickened marinade to baste/glaze the salmon while cooking.
*Just be sure to use it while you’re cooking the salmon, not after it’s cooked, as the raw salmon marinated in this mixture.
- Don’t over-marinate your salmon - this is a quick marinade. 30 minutes max. If you leave salmon in a marinade too long it won’t cook up nicely as it will already have cured/cooked itself to a degree in the marinade.
Storage + leftovers
- To store: you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- To reheat: reheat the leftovers in a pan over low heat with a splash of water or broth until warmed through. Or microwave on high for 2-3 minutes.
- To freeze: if you’d like to freeze your leftovers, wrap them tightly in foil then place in a freezer safe bag or container and freeze for up to three months. When you’re ready to reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight the night before.
What sides to serve with marinated salmon?
To make things super simple, I'd recommend grabbing a bag of pre-made salad and a veggie you can steam in the microwave.
Or you can level things up slightly by making one of these incredible sides:
Quick Salmon Marinade
Ingredients
- ¼ cup soy sauce *low sodium is the best choice
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- ½ tsp ginger freshly grated *see notes
- 1 tsp oregano
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1.5 lb salmon
Instructions
- In a small bowl for pyrex, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, lime juice, rice vinegar, ginger, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
- Cut your salmon filet into 2-inch filets. Add them to a ziplock bag.
- Then pour the marinade over the salmon. Sip the bag. Place it on the counter for 15-20 minutes.
- Proceed to bake, sear, or grill your salmon filets!
Notes
- To store: you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- To reheat: reheat leftovers in a pan over low heat with a splash of water or broth until warmed through. Or microwave on high for 2-3 minutes.
- To freeze: if you’d like to freeze your leftovers, wrap them tightly in foil then place in a freezer safe bag or container and freeze for up to three months. When you’re ready to reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight the night before.
Nutrition
Pin it for later + let's connect?
Pin this recipe for later and be sure to follow me on Pinterest!
Leave a Reply