Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon is a delicious baked fish recipe ready in 30 minutes. The sweet glaze perfectly contrasts the light salmon flavor.
This simple salmon recipe makes for a quick, easy, and flavorful Weeknight Dinner. The fish comes out perfectly tender and moist, and you will love the light glaze with sweet and savory flavor. For more easy salmon recipes, try my Baked Salmon with Dill Sauce and Classic Oven-Baked Salmon next!
Table of contents
Sabrinaβs Brown Glazed Salmon
My Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon is an easy recipe for perfectly cooked, moist and flavorful baked fish. Along with brown sugar, ingredients like garlic, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard are whisked into the glaze to balance sweet and savory. Once youβve prepared the glaze, spoon it over the fresh salmon and bake. Itβs a super easy dish that the whole family will love!
If you are new to cooking seafood, or just donβt cook it often, this salmon recipe is a great way to introduce fish into your dinner rotation. Unlike many seafood recipes, salmon doesnβt have a very βfishyβ taste. Overall, salmon has a more subtle, sweet flavor that goes great with the rich glaze itβs paired with in this recipe.
Ingredients
- Salmon: Simple salmon fillets make the perfect seafood base for this recipe. Theyβre tender and flakey with a rich and slightly oily taste. While it bakes, the meat easily absorbs the flavors from the sauce.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar is one of the most distinctive flavorsΒ in this recipe. It gives the sauce a dark, rich, sweet taste and caramelizes slightly as the recipe bakes.
- Honey: Honey and brown sugar are whisked into the sauce as a secondary sweetener. Since honey is slightly sweeter than brown sugar, you only need to add 1 tablespoon.
- Savory Ingredients: Mustard, soy sauce, salt, garlic powder, and pepper are mixed into the glaze and sweeteners, giving the sauce a more complex sweet and savory flavor.
How to Make
Time needed:Β 30 minutes.
- Prep Time
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Mix Glaze
Add butter, brown sugar, honey, dijon mustard, soy sauce, salt, garlic powder, and pepper to make the homemade sauce. Whisk until well combined.
- Glaze Salmon
Add the salmon fillets to the prepared baking sheet and spoon the brown sugar glaze over each one.
-
Put the dish in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes until itβs cooked through.
- Garnish and Serve
Garnish salmon with halved lemon slices and parsley. Serve salmon hot and freshly cooked.
- Note: Test for Doneness
To easily test if the recipe is done, press down on the salmon gently with a fork. If the fish flakes, then it should be ready to eat.
Recipe Card
IngredientsΒ
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar , packed
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 4 salmon filets , 6 ounces each
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Spray the foil with vegetable oil spray.
- Add butter, brown sugar, honey, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, salt, garlic powder, and pepper to a medium bowl and stir well to combine.
- Add the salmon fillets to the baking sheet and spoon the topping over the filets.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until salmon is just cooked through and flaky.
Nutrition
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Chefβs Note: Tips for Perfect Baked Salmon
- Choose Quality Salmon: Use fresh or high-quality salmon fillets for the best flavor and texture. Look for fillets that are firm, moist, and have a vibrant color.
- Pat Dry: Before cooking, pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. This helps the glaze adhere better and ensures even cooking.
- Resting Time: Let the cooked salmon rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute within the fillets, resulting in a juicier texture.
- Adjust Glaze Thickness: If the glaze is too thin, simmer it on the stove for a few minutes to thicken it before brushing it onto the salmon.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the brown sugar glaze and marinate the salmon beforehand, then cook it just before serving.
Nutritional Facts
What to Pair With Glazed Baked Salmon
When youβre serving this delicious meal, there are lots of easy side dishes that you can make to round out the dinner. Salmon recipes taste great with Brown Rice and roasted vegetables like Roasted Green Beans or Broccoli. The simple sides will taste amazing with the bold, glazed salmon. To add more flavor to the meal, you can whisk together some extra brown sugar sauce to spoon over the side dishes. Here are some more of my favorite sides to serve with this salmon dish.
- SautΓ©ed Green Beans made with butter, garlic, and fresh green beans is the PERFECT side dish that goes with almost any meal and is ready in under 15 minutes!
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes are sweet and creamy, made with only 4 ingredients and ready in under 45 minutes. Perfect for the holiday season!
- Easy Roasted Vegetables are the perfect healthy side with mixed veggies tossed in butter, garlic, and parsley, and made on a baking sheet.
- Roasted Carrot Fries are the perfect healthy alternative to fries. Theyβre crispy, flavorful, and easy to prep with oil, salt, and pepper.
- Chopped Salad is fresh, versatile, and easy to prepare. It combines crunchy veggies with a tangy, sweet dressing. Make this healthy side today.
- These easy Mashed Potatoes are creamy and buttery. They are the perfect side dish for almost any meal. They only need 5 ingredients and are ready in under 30 minutes!
How to Store
- Store: You can carefully cover the dish in aluminum foil or transfer the baked salmon to an airtight container to store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat:
- Freeze: Put the fillets in an airtight container, wrap them in aluminum foil, and seal them in a freezer bag. Theyβll stay good in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Ideas to Serve Glazed Salmon
- Accompaniments: Serve with lemon wedges on the side, which you can squeeze over the salmon before eating. This adds a bright, citrusy contrast to the sweet glaze.
- Garlic: Roasted or sautΓ©ed garlic can add depth and a savory note to balance the sweetness.
- Soy Sauce or Tamari: A drizzle of soy sauce or tamari can add a salty umami flavor that contrasts nicely with the sweet glaze.
- Wine: A crisp white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc or a light Pinot Noir can complement the flavors of the salmon.
Pan Seared Glazed Salmon
- Prepare the glaze as usual.
- Brush the fillets all over with the glaze and marinate for 20 minutes.
- Heat a non-stick skillet or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add a small amount of oil to coat the pan.
- Place the brown sugar glazed salmon fillets in the skillet, skin-side down if they have skin.
- Sear for about 4-5 minutes on each side, basting with the glaze in the pan until the salmon is cooked through and caramelized.
Frequent Questions
Salmon is done when it turns opaque and easily flakes with a fork. When measured with a food thermometer, its internal temperature should reach 145 degrees.
Itβs up to personal preference. Leaving the skin on during cooking can help keep the salmon moist and adds flavor, but you can remove it after cooking if desired.
Yes, you can use other types of fish, such as trout, tilapia, or cod, with the brown sugar glaze. Adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of the fish fillets.
Yes, you can grill salmon with the brown sugar glaze. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, oil the grates, and grill the salmon skin-side down for about 4-5 minutes per side or until cooked through.
Variations
- Glaze flavors: You can add a lot of different flavors to the brown sugar glaze with ingredients like lemon juice, paprika, lime juice, thyme, dill, or fresh ginger.
- Garnish: To garnish the Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon, you can top it with sliced green onion, lemon wedges, parsley, or capers.
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