4-Ingredient Maple Honey Baked Salmon

Crisp on the outside and tender and buttery on the inside, this 4-ingredient baked salmon recipe 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 roasted broccoli, fluffy white rice, or a Ramen noodle salad.

Maple Glazed Baked Salmon

This maple honey 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!

What temp should salmon be cooked to?

You know the salmon is done when it 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.

What temperature is best to cook salmon in the oven?

In this recipe, I bake the salmon at 425 degrees, which is about the median temperature for baked salmon recipes. A lower oven — around 350 to 375 degrees F — will require a longer cooking time and is best for larger fillets of salmon. A higher temperature — between 400 and 450 degrees — will require less cooking time and is better for individual fillets because they cook faster. 400-425 degrees is the ideal temperature for the salmon to gain color and for the salmon skin to become perfectly crispy.

Can you cook maple-glazed salmon in a foil packet? 

Yes, you could make this easy baked salmon recipe in foil packets, but it may adjust the baking time to about 12-15 minutes. When salmon bakes in foil, it really locks in moisture, resulting in tender and flakey salmon every time. Just make sure you’re checking the final temperature of the salmon throughout cooking. Use caution when opening the foil packets after cooking — steam trapped in the packets could burn you if not opened carefully.

How to Stop Salmon from Sticking to the Pan

If the salmon fillets are sticking to the foil-lined sheet pan, drizzle the foil with just a little bit of olive oil. This will not affect the crispy skin on the underside of the salmon — in fact, it’ll help make it crispier! 

What to Serve with Baked Salmon

Baked salmon is one of the most versatile fish recipes. You can pair this maple and honey glazed salmon with almost any of your favorite veggies and sides! Here are some easy ideas to get you started:

• Mashed Potatoes, Baked Potatoes, or Grilled Potatoes
• Rice Salad with Corn, Bacon and Pimentos or Rice Pilaf
• Garlic Oven Roasted Broccoli
• Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
• Southern Succotash or Fried Corn
• Amish Green Beans with Brown Butter, Southern Style Green Beans, or Green Beans with Brown Butter
• Couscous Salad
• Oven Roasted Asparagus
• Sauteed Spinach or Sauteed Zucchini
• Homemade Crescent Rolls or Soft Dinner Rolls
• Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits, Aunt Bee’s 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Southern Buttermilk Biscuits, Cheese Biscuits, or Drop Biscuits
• Ramen Noodle Salad, Wedge Salad, Classic Caesar Salad, House Salad with Candied Pecans, or a Green Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette
• Easy French Baguette, Jalapeño Cheddar Bread, or No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread

Baked Salmon 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.
• For an even more flavorful “kick,” add fresh 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.
• 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.

Tips for the Best Baked Salmon Recipe

• 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!
• 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.

More Easy Salmon Recipes to Try

• Salmon Patties {a great way to use up leftovers!}
• Orange Salmon
• The Perfect 15-Minute Grilled Salmon
• Easy Weeknight Salmon Sandwich
• 4-Ingredient Brown Sugar Dijon Roasted Salmon
• Salmon Marinade with Lemon, Garlic, and Herbs
• 5-Ingredient Blackened Salmon
• Salmon with Dill Sauce
• Easy Baked Salmon Fillet
• How to Bake Salmon in Foil
• Sheet Pan Dinner: Maple Glazed Salmon with Sweet Potatoes
• Parmesan Herb Baked Salmon Fillet
• Honey Soy Glazed Salmon
• Teriyaki Salmon
• Garlic and Herb Poached Salmon
• Maple Pecan Crusted Salmon

4-Ingredient Baked Salmon

5 from 1 vote

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 13 minutes minutes

Resting Time 15 minutes minutes

Total: 33 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 235 kcal

Crisp on the outside and tender and buttery on the inside, this 4-ingredient maple honey baked salmon recipe is the easiest and most delicious way to prepare fish at home!

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 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.
  4 salmon fillets
• Brush some of the soy sauce onto each salmon fillet. Let the salmon sit and marinate at room temperature for about 15 minutes.
  2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
• 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.
  1 tablespoon honey
• Remove the salmon from the oven and baste with the honey mixture.
  1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 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

• Season the salmon with even more herbs and spices. For instance, add a dash of garlic powder or onion powder, try our favorite all-purpose seasoning blend, or use parsley, rosemary, thyme, or basil.
• For even more flavorful “kick,” add fresh 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.
• 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!
• Wait to season the fish with salt and 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

Serving: 1/4 of the recipeCalories: 235kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 29gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 330mgPotassium: 723mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 57IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg

Keyword: baked salmon, Baked Salmon Fillet, baked salmon recipe, maple glazed salmon, Quick Salmon Recipe

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American, Asian

Author: Blair Lonergan

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This recipe was originally published in January, 2018. It was updated in March, 2022.