Crisp on the outside and tender and buttery on the inside, this bourbon glazed salmon is an easy dinner that’s ready in less than 30 minutes!
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Love recipes with bourbon? Don’t miss my grandmother’s bourbon balls, this classic Southern bread pudding with bourbon sauce, a holiday-worthy brown sugar bourbon glazed ham, and these weeknight bourbon-marinated baked boneless chicken thighs.
Super easy to make and VERY delicious! My 13 yr old son made this for me for dinner over jasmine rice. Yum!
– Christi
Video: How to Make Bourbon Glazed Salmon
This Bourbon Salmon Recipe Tastes Like a Restaurant-Quality Meal — in about 20 Minutes!
There’s a cozy restaurant at Graves Mountain Lodge here in Madison, where they serve bourbon glazed salmon on the special Valentine’s Day dinner buffet. After enjoying the sweet and savory fish earlier this year, I came home determined to recreate the dish in my own kitchen. Best of all, it’s a quick and easy meal that’s perfect for any night of the week — no reservations required!
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- Use as many 6-ounce salmon fillets as you need. For instance, cut the recipe in half and prepare just two. 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 — it all has great health benefits and is 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.
- This simple bourbon glaze is made with just a few basic ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. You’ll need butter and oil, brown sugar to sweeten the glaze and give it that thick consistency, garlic and green onions for savory flavor, and soy sauce for that rich, salty, umami taste. Plus, don’t forget the bourbon! I recommend Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, or Jim Beam, for example.
Directions
This easy bourbon salmon starts on the stovetop and finishes in the oven under the broiler. The glaze simmers in the skillet right alongside the fish, seasoning the salmon and thickening as it cooks. I’ve included detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
- Pat the fish dry with paper towels, and then season with salt and pepper.
- Whisk together the bourbon glaze.
- Simmer the glaze with butter and oil in a hot skillet for about 1-2 minutes. I recommend a cast iron skillet that’s at least 12-inches in diameter. This allows for plenty of space in between salmon fillets, which helps the fish cook evenly and crisp on the edges (rather than steam). Don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Add the salmon and cook for 3 minutes, basting with the glaze.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven so that the fish can finish under the broiler, becoming crispy and caramelized on the top. Broil the fish on the middle rack in the oven. If the salmon is on the top rack (closest to the broiler flame), the glaze will burn before the fish cooks through. The total cooking time will vary depending on your fish. If using a meat thermometer, you’re looking for an internal temperature of 145°F in the thickest part of the fish.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the bourbon glazed salmon with sides like white rice, Charleston red rice, stick of butter rice, a house salad with candied pecans, peach salad, flaky biscuits, 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits, 7UP biscuits, 3-Ingredient sour cream muffins, cast iron cornbread, Jiffy cornbread with creamed corn, corn sticks, easy potato salad, Arkansas green beans, Southern-style green beans, Southern collard greens, fried apples, okra and tomatoes, and Southern squash casserole.
If you’d like to pair your bourbon salmon with a glass of wine, rich fish like salmon generally pairs nicely with full-bodied white wines. Try oak-aged Chardonnay, Viognier, White Rioja, White Burgundy, or White Pinot Noir. If you’d like a red wine with your fish, try a light red like a Barbera or Pinot Noir.
Storage Tips
Leftover salmon will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Leftovers can also be frozen for 4-6 months, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Thaw cooked salmon in the refrigerator or immersed in cold water. Use cooked, thawed salmon in salads or as a substitute for canned salmon in casseroles, pasta dishes, sandwiches, or wraps.
My husband is not a big fan of salmon but he loved this!! Great recipe and super simple!
– Andrea
Did you make this recipe?
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Watch How to Make It
Bourbon Glazed Salmon
Equipment
- 12-inch cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each)
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons total)
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons bourbon
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Pat the salmon dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
- Adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the broiler. In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, brown sugar, bourbon, soy sauce, and green onions.
- Add the butter and oil to a large, oven-safe skillet (at least 12 inches in diameter) over medium-high heat. Once the butter melts, whisk in the bourbon mixture. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, whisking constantly, for about 1-2 minutes. Add the salmon, skin side down (if using salmon with skin); cook for 3 minutes. Baste the salmon with the sauce by spooning the sauce over the salmon periodically as it cooks.
- Transfer the skillet to the middle rack under the broiler. Broil the salmon for 5-6 minutes, basting with the bourbon glaze about halfway through, until the salmon is caramelized on top and the fish flakes easily with a fork.
Notes
Nutrition
Bourbon Salmon Recipe Variations
- Season the salmon with even more herbs and spices. For instance, add a dash of garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika; try our favorite all purpose seasoning; or use parsley, rosemary, thyme, or basil.
- For even more flavorful “kick,” add fresh ginger to the bourbon glaze.
- Cooking just for two? Cut the recipe in half and bake according to the recipe instructions. Similarly, for a larger group, bake even more salmon fillets.
- Garnish with sliced green onion, fresh herbs, lemon juice, or lime juice for a bright, fresh touch. Crushed red pepper flakes add a delicious spicy flavor, while toasted sesame seeds give the fish extra crunchy texture and subtle nutty flavor.
More Easy Salmon Recipes to Try
Grilled Salmon
15 minutes mins
Honey Maple Glazed Salmon
33 minutes mins
Blackened Salmon
15 minutes mins
Originally published in May 2023, this post was updated in February 2025.
Love all your recipes Thank-you HAPPY MOTHERS DAY !!
Thank you, Sonja! 🙂
whoever’s wedding ring is in the picture- it’s a really nice design!
Hah! Thank you! That’s my ring, but it’s not my engagement ring. It’s a ring that I wear on my right hand, which my parents gave me. They worked with a jeweler to design a ring that would use the sapphires and diamonds from one of my grandmother’s rings. So it’s sentimental, too!
Great recipe. One my favorites
Thank you, Terry!
My husband is not a big fan of salmon but he loved this!! Great recipe and super simple!
I’m so glad to hear that, Andrea. Thank you!
Nice recipe. WAY WAY to many ads. Be nice.
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Pretty easy to make and a Wonderful flavor!!!
Thank you, Jeff!
Super easy to make and VERY delicious! My 13 yr old son made this for me for dinner over jasmine rice. Yum!
How sweet! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Christi.
You have a knack for making the reader feel heard and understood. That’s a powerful gift, especially in written form.
Thank you so much, Kenna! We truly appreciate the kind words.