Marinated Salmon comes out tender and so incredibly flavorful making it perfect for baking, pan-frying or even putting on the grill!

This easy marinade adds lots of flavor with just a few simple ingredients for healthy, flavorful fillets.

Salmon Marinade on a cutting board top view

Marinade Ingredients

  • Sugar: Brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness but also helps with the caramelization process. To make a honey soy salmon marinade, swap out the brown sugar for honey.
  • Soy Sauce: Adds salt and richness to the marinade as well as great color.
  • Flavor: This marinade has great flavor from garlic, ginger, and jalapeno. Substitute a sprinkle of chili flakes if you don’t have fresh jalapeno on hand.

Salmon Marinade ingredients

How to Marinate Salmon

This really is the best marinade for salmon. It’s sweet, savory, and simple; made from ingredients that are probably already in the pantry!

  • Salmon should always be placed in the fridge for marinating.
  • Use a zippered bag or an airtight container for marinating to be sure the entire filet is covered by the marinade.
  • Additional flavors (like pineapple juice or orange juice) can be added if desired.

How Long to Marinate Salmon: Because fish is so tender, 45 minutes is long enough for this marinade to flavor and tenderize the flesh. If left too long in an acidic marinade, it can almost “cook” the fish (like a ceviche) or cause it to become mushy.

The leftover marinade should be discarded or cooked. It can be brushed over the fish as it’s cooking (as long as the fish hasn’t finished cooking)!

Salmon Marinade ingredients in a bowl

How to Cook Marinated Salmon

Asian inspired, this marinade is fresh and bright; perfect for baked, broiled, or grilled!

As with all salmon recipes, the cooking time will vary based on the thickness and the shape of the filet. Some are flatter and thinner (and will cook quicker) while others are up to 1″ thick in the middle (and may need extra time). The following are guidelines but will vary.

  • To Grill: Place marinated salmon on a grill set at medium-high. Cook about 7-8 minutes per side.
  • To Bake: Place salmon on a baking sheet covered and bake at 400°F for  12-15 minutes, broil 1-2 minutes until the top is opaque and the fish is cooked through.
  • To Broil: Place fish directly under the broiler for 5 minutes. Turn over and broil another 4-6 minutes or until the filet is browned on the outside and just opaque inside.

Salmon Marinade with a bite from it close up

Easy Salmon Recipes

Did you try this Salmon Marinade? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!

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Salmon Marinade with a bite from it close up
5 from 14 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Ginger Garlic Salmon Marinade (grilled, baked or broiled)

Made with pantry staples this marinade is quick and easy to prepare!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 servings
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Ingredients  

  • 2 pounds salmon filets
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 small jalapeño seeded and finely diced, optional

Instructions 

  • Add salmon to a large ziptop bag.
  • In a small mixing bowl add soy sauce, water, sesame oil, dark brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and jalapeno pepper. Whisk to combine and pour over salmon.
  • Close the bag and gently move the salmon in the bag so the marinade is covering all the salmon.
  • Let the salmon marinate in the refrigerator for up to 45 minutes.

Notes

Salmon should always be placed in the fridge for marinating. Use a zippered bag or an airtight container and ensure entire filet is covered by the marinade.
Additional flavors (like pineapple juice or orange juice) can be added if desired.
The leftover marinade should be discarded or cooked. It can be brushed over the fish as it’s cooking (as long as the fish hasn't finished cooking).
Cooking time will vary based on the thickness and the shape of the filet. Flatter/thinner filets will cook quicker, while others (up to 1" thick) may need extra time. The following are guidelines, do not overcook the fish.
To Grill: Place marinated salmon on a grill set at medium-high. Cook about 7-8 minutes per side.
To Bake: Place salmon on a baking sheet covered and bake at 400°F for  12-15 minutes, broil 1-2 minutes until the top is opaque and the fish is cooked through.
To Broil: Place fish directly under the broiler for 5 minutes. Turn over and broil another 4-6 minutes or until the filet is browned on the outside and just opaque inside.
5 from 14 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 347 | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 352mg | Potassium: 1121mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 91IU | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Sauce
Cuisine American
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Salmon Marinade in a bowl with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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5 from 14 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Amazing! The crust that’s formed when pan searing was a delight! I thought the salmon would get over cooked (pan and oven at such high temps), but it was perfect!5 stars

  2. Absolutely delicious! Strained & cooked the marinade reducing it till thickened then topped cooked salmon with it. Remarkable flavor! Thanks!

  3. Amazing recipe! Would recommend adding some salt to the salmon before cooking . The salt from the soy sauce didn’t seem sufficient.5 stars