Brown sugar glazed salmon is one of the easiest, quickest meals you can make. In just under 20 minutes and with four quick steps, you’ll create sweet and salty salmon fillets that rival any fancy restaurant.
What is Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon?
Brown sugar glazed salmon is a classic American recipe you’ll absolutely love. Made with a simple sauce of brown sugar, soy sauce, and dijon mustard, it’s a little sweet, a little salty, and a whole lot of delicious.
If you love salmon and are looking for a recipe that departs from the usual salt, pepper, and lemon seasoning, you’re in the right place. This Asian-inspired recipe is anything but the boring same-old.
Whipped up in under 20 minutes, brown sugar glazed salmon is your new go-to weeknight dinner. Served alongside some roasted broccoli and rice, it makes for a healthy, well-rounded meal.
How to Make Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon
Making brown sugar glazed salmon is a quick process that only requires a whisk, a baking sheet, and a hot oven. Below, find a quick overview of the recipe before you dive in.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Make the Marinade: Whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, and dijon mustard. Spread the marinade over the salmon fillets.
- Bake: Bake for 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Serve: Squeeze fresh lemon juice atop each fillet and serve warm.
Silicone Baking Mats: While you can always rely on aluminum foil to line your baking sheet and prevent your fillets from sticking, there’s nothing quite like silicone baking mats. Not only do they work better than aluminum or parchment, they save you money and are better for the environment. That’s a win-win.
How to Store Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon
- Refrigerator: Salmon can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep salmon in an airtight container to avoid a “fishy” smell from permeating the fridge.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked salmon by placing individual fillets in small plastic storage bags. If you have a vacuum sealer, that’s even better.
FAQ
How long does it take to bake salmon?
It takes salmon 10-12 minutes to bake at 400°F. However, you may need to adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of the fillets. Salmon is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
How do you tell if salmon is cooked fully?
Salmon is fully cooked when the flesh flakes easily with a fork.
Can you grill brown sugar glazed salmon?
Alternately, you can grill brown sugar glazed salmon. Invest in some cedar planks to grill the fillets on top of. This will give the salmon a nice, smoky, and sweet flavor.
Can I use the glaze as a marinade?
You can use the glaze as a marinade for extra flavorful salmon. Whip up the marinade and leave the salmon in it overnight. When ready to bake, line the salmon on a baking sheet and pour the remaining marinade over the fillets.
Can I substitute salmon for any other fish in this recipe?
You can substitute the salmon for cod or halibut in this recipe. Keep in mind that white fish tends to cook faster, so adjust the baking time as needed. Of note, cod is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 145°F, and halibut is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 118°F.
Why Sockeye Salmon is Superior
Wild sockeye salmon is the most superior type of salmon and the best choice for this recipe. It’s super high in nutrients and naturally low in contaminants. It’s also rich in omega-3s, which are very important fats for healthy body function. Best of all, sockeye salmon is almost never farmed. This is important because farmed fish is much more susceptible to infection and disease than wild fish and typically is raised with antibiotics.
Keep in mind that wild sockeye salmon does have a stronger flavor than other types of salmon.
Serving Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon
Brown sugar glazed salmon can be served in a variety of ways. One of the best options is as a unique salad topper. The Asian-inspired glaze pairs perfectly with a kale quinoa salad. If you’re serving glazed salmon as the main entree for dinner, pair it with mashed potatoes or white rice and a side of air fryer asparagus. There’s nothing quite like a bite of fluffy rice soaked in the sweet glaze. Yum!
Other Salmon Recipes to Try
Looking for more salmon recipes to satiate your cravings? See some of our favorites below:
- Cold Smoked Salmon – Cold hickory-smoked salmon
- Cured Salmon – Traditional lox-style salmon
- Grilled Salmon in Foil – This cooking method yields juicy, flavorful salmon
- Baked Teriyaki Salmon – Crazy easy with a fantastic, fast marinade.
- Fish Soup (aka Ukha) – Comforting European fish soup
Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs salmon
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, and dijon mustard in a small bowl with a whisk.
- Generously apply the brown sugar glaze onto the salmon fillets. It's okay if it drips off the sides. Bake the salmon for 10-12 minutes. Note: Salmon is cooked when its internal temperature reaches 145°F.
- Before serving, squeeze lemon juice on top of the fillets. Enjoy!
Hi! Can I do this in the air fryer?
Hi Anna - You can definitely do this in the air fryer! Prepare it at the same temperature - it should take somewhere between 8-10 mins. Hope it turns out fab for you.
Looks fantastic. I am cooking this tonite for dinner.
Hi Mark - Awww thanks! It's sooooo good over a bed of steamed white rice or alongside some roasted broccoli. Little sweet, little salty, and just right. Let me know how it turns out.
Oh my goodness! This salmon looks so delicious and very tasty! My daughter and I are going to love this for our lunch today! Looks so flavorful and very yummy! Excited to give this a try!
Enjoy the recipe!
Thanks a lot for sharing this glazed salmon recipe! It tasted so delicious and very easy to make! Loved it!
So good to hear, thank you for your feedback!
This glaze is absolutely delightful! LOVE the rich, sassy flavor of the glaze! That dijon mustard gives it such a great kick and the brown sugar is exactly the right sweetness! Yum!!!
I am so glad you enjoyed the glaze, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback!
Thought this was great. I did what another person suggested and added chopped pecans to the top. Next time will add the honey over the pecans. This is the way to cook salmon. Thank you.
Kat, thank you for your feedback, I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
This salmon looks so delicious! I bet the brown sugar glaze gives the salmon such amazing flavors!
Dina thank you, it does add a ton of flavor and it makes salmon very moist.
Yum! Nothing beats roasted salmon. Love love the brown sugar glaze!
Thank you dear!
WOW! Natalya, you've done it again. This baked salmon looks AMAZING. I am loving the soy Dijon glaze, can almost taste the combination!!
Thank you! The glaze rolls off into the rice and tastes so good! Hope you love it!
This glazed salmon looks exceptionally delicious and I completely agree that sockeye is the way to go! So worth the cost.
Thank you so os much! I found that at our Costco Sockeye salmon is reasonably priced. Maybe its due to a season but I am excited about it.
This looks like a very easy and tasty dish! How long should I keep the empty baking sheet in the oven before I place salmon inside? Thanks!
For about 5 minutes.
This salmon was very good! Hubby loved it. Thank you!
That's great to hear!