Quick & Easy Salmon Marinades
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These healthy salmon marinades are a simple way to pack fresh salmon fillets with so much flavor. Pick your favorite and make just one, or make them all! Then cook on the outdoor grill, in the oven, in a large skillet, or even on the air fryer! These marinades will work with any preferred method of cooking.
Salmon Marinade Recipes
Salmon is a great source of protein, vitamins, and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Not to mention, it is totally delicious and extremely versatile for cooking. And when you marinate salmon, it becomes even better!
The elements of a simple marinade are fat, acid, and flavor enhancers. This handful of ingredients work together to tenderize the salmon filets, while infusing tons of flavor and keeping the fish moist and flakey. It is an easy way to ensure perfectly cooked salmon every time.
Try these 11 salmon marinade recipes and mix up the dinnertime routine! Each one is very simple to make and has minimal, healthy ingredients you can find in any grocery store. Find whichever flavor is a family favorite and stick it will become a staple in your weekly menu.
You can grill, bake, air fry, or pan cook the marinated fish, whatever works for you! Instructions on all those methods are in the recipe below. Whichever way you cook it, with an easy salmon marinade recipe, you will have loads of flavor in every single bite.
Why You’ll Love these Recipes
In my opinion, marinating salmon is the easiest way to prepare it to be cooked. That’s just one of the many reasons why I love a good marinade:
- If you’re not a fan of salmon, that’s ok! These marinades are extremely versatile and adaptable. Use them on any and all of your favorite fish, or even on meat that isn’t seafood!
- There’s something for everyone this list. Don’t like spicy? There’s something sweet! Not a fan of fresh herbs? There’s sticky sweet options for you. Just choose the best salmon marinade for you and your flavor palette.
- Marinating salmon is a great way to meal prep and get a dish ready to go ahead of time. Just leave it marinating until you’re ready to cook and it’s as easy as that! Cook it to perfection, serve with your favorite side, and eat up!
The Marinades
There are three important elements to every marinade: Fat, acid, and seasonings/flavor enhancers. Each of these marinade recipes are made without refined sugar or anything artificial, because the focus is on fresh ingredients and real flavor! Most can easily be customized to be Keto or Whole30, too!
Here’s a list of the each amazing salmon marinade you can learn to make:
- Lemon Garlic
- Teriyaki
- Honey Mustard
- Firecracker (Sweet Sriracha)
- Greek Herb
- Jalapeno Lime
- Honey Balsamic
- Zesty Ranch
- Maple Bourbon
- Herby Italian
- Ginger Sesame
Lemon Garlic Salmon Marinade
This bright and flavorful marinade is as classic as it gets! Fresh lemon juice, lots of lemon zest and plenty of bold garlic liven up the salmon. This is the perfect versatile marinade for adults and kids alike. It goes great with a side of jasmine rice or my cannellini bean salad.
Ingredients
- olive oil or avocado oil
- lemon juice: Fresh squeezed lemon juice provides the best flavor for this marinade. The bottled stuff at the store works in a pinch, but try and squeeze fresh juice if you’ve got the time!
- lemon zest: When zesting a lemon, make sure that you only get the yellow part of the rind. The white part will be really bitter.
- minced garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds so much flavor to this marinade.
- fresh parsley: If you don’t have fresh parsley, dry parsley works too.
Teriyaki Salmon Marinade
This salmon marinade is sweet, savory, and absolutely wonderful. I like to serve it with any Asian-inspired sides, jamine rice, coconut cauliflower rice, or roasted broccoli.
Ingredients
- olive oil or avocado oil
- teriyaki sauce: Use my homemade teriyaki sauce (it’s Whole30 and soy free!), or use or any storebought brand you like!
- minced garlic
- green onions: Finely chop your green onions so that the marinade is not too chunky.
Honey Mustard Salmon Marinade
This one is my kids’ favorite one! The sweet honey and tangy mustard give this so much flavor and make the perfect balance. Serve this delicious salmon with a side salad, sliced veggies, or french fries.
Ingredients
- olive oil or avocado oil
- grainy mustard: You can use whole grain mustard, brown mustard, spicy brown, regular mustard, or any other kind that you like.
- honey: For extra health benefits, get local raw honey!
- lemon juice: Fresh squeezed lemon juice will give the most fresh and bold flavor to your salmon.
Firecracker Salmon Marinade (Sweet Sriracha)
If you like sweet and spicy, this one is for you! Bright, spicy sriracha is paired with lime juice, ginger, garlic, and honey to make the brightest, deepest flavor profile yet. I like to serve this with crispy green beans.
Ingredients
- olive oil: I prefer to specifically use olive oil in this salmon marinade. However, you can use avocado oil if you prefer!
- honey: Raw local honey has amazing health benefits and would taste the best in this marinade.
- ginger: I recommend using fresh or frozen ginger.
- minced garlic
- sriracha: Use classic sriracha, or keep it low sugar with a sugar-free Whole30 Sriracha.
- lime juice: Freshly squeeze lime juice is better than the store-bought stuff that comes in a bottle.
- cilantro: If you are not a fan of cilantro, you can omit this ingredient.
Greek Herb Salmon Marinade
The Greek-inspired flavors in this dish are out of this world! It’s bright, herby, and goes perfectly with just about any side dish. Serve it a the protein on your Greek Salad instead of chicken or with my Greek Chickpea Salad.
Ingredients
- olive oil or avocado oil
- lemon juice
- Greek seasoning: Use my homemade Greek Seasoning blend or your favorite store-bought brand.
- fresh dill: This is a game changer in terms of flavor! I really recommend you leave this ingredient in, even if you’re a bit unsure.
Jalapeno Lime Salmon Marinade
Oh, how I love this marinade! Spicy jalapenos go perfectly with a punch of lime juice and fresh cilantro. The cooked salmon is fabulous on lettuce wraps or tacos, and also topped with pickled cabbage or pineapple slaw.
Ingredients
- olive or avocado oil
- lime juice
- jalapeno
- cilantro: You can omit this ingredient if you do not like the flavor of cilantro.
- optional: For extra tangy flavor, add 1-2 Tablespoons of 100% pineapple juice.
Honey Balsamic Salmon Marinade
Sweet, floral honey pairs beautifully with tart, rich balsamic vinegar. Cooking fish with this marinade gives it the most wonderful flavor! And the best part — it’s only three ingredients. Serve with my tomato, avocado and cucumber salad.
Ingredients
- olive or avocado oil
- balsamic vinegar
- honey: I prefer to use raw local honey for the added health benefits and more fresh flavor.
Zesty Ranch
Love ranch dressing? Then you’ll love this salmon marinade! Rich salmon and zesty ranch spices are a marriage made in flavor heaven! Serve this up with broccoli ranch slaw or simple roasted spaghetti squash.
Ingredients
- olive or avocado oil
- lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor!
- ranch seasoning: My homemade ranch seasoning recipe works great in this marinade. However, you can also use your favorite store bought blend.
Maple Bourbon Salmon Marinade
If you like smokey and rich flavors, then you’ll love this marinade. Bourbon and sweet maple syrup pair wonderfully to make this marinade an instant favorite. Serve it with parsnip fries, sweet potato fries, or a side salad.
Ingredients
- avocado or olive oil
- 100% pure maple syrup: Seriously, stick with the pure maple syrup. The fake stuff just has the worst aftre-taste!
- bourbon: Don’t worry, the alcohol will cook out as you cook the raw salmon. It’s still a family-friendly recipe!
- Optional: For a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Herby Italian Salmon Marinade
I think this may be one of my favorite marinades too! The Italian herbs and spices in this marinade are bold, earthy, and savory. I like to serve the salmon with garlicky mushrooms, cherry tomato bruschetta, or cannellini bean salad.
Ingredients
- olive oil: Since this is an Italian marinade, I really prefer to use olive oil. However, avocado oil will work as well.
- Italian Seasoning: Use my homemade Italian Seasoning or any favorite store-bought blend.
- lemon juice
- minced garlic
- fresh parsley: You can also use dried parsley if you do not have fresh.
Ginger Sesame Salmon Marinade
Sesame oil has an unmistakeable nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with citrus and lime. Just add a kick of zesty ginger, and then you’ve got the perfect combo! Serve the salmon with sauteed spinach, green beans or broccoli.
Ingredients
- lime juice: I recommend using fresh lime juice so that the flavors are bold and fresh as can be!
- fresh orange juice: Using fresh orange juice really makes a world of difference.
- sesame oil:
- ginger: Use fresh or frozen ginger for the best results.
- coconut aminos: If you are not avoiding soy, then you can substitute soy sauce instead.
How to Marinate Salmon
Marinating salmon really isn’t too difficult. So just follow these steps and you’ll be ready to cook your fish in no time. This method will work for other types of fish too:
- Pat the salmon fillets dry with a few paper towels. Then, place salmon into a rimmed baking dish or heavy duty bag plastic bag.
- Pour the marinade over the raw salmon, turning to coat it fully on all sides.
- Let the salmon soak in marinade at room temperature for up to 30 minutes. Or, you can transfer it to the fridge in a sealed or covered container and marinate for up to 12 hours.
How to Cook Salmon
Ready to cook the best grilled salmon? Or maybe you want to oven bake it…air fryer salmon is incredible too! You can even simply cook it in a skillet! Whichever method you choose, I’ve got the instructions to cook your marinated fish to perfection:
Oven-Baked Salmon
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Set the salmon skin side down in foil lined rimmed baking dish or baking sheet. Pour a little of the marinade over the fish so that it stays moist as it cooks.
- Set the baking dish in the oven and cook for 13-15 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and the salmon flakes. If you have a really large fillet, you may need to adjust the bake time.
Air Fryer Salmon
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) and then spray the basket lightly with oil.
- Remove the salmon fillets from the marinade and place them fillets skin side down inside the basket, with a little room between each fillet.
- Cook for 7-9 minutes, or until the fish is flakey and cooked through.
Grilled Salmon
- Preheat your grill to medium high heat (about 400°F/204°C). Brush each grill grate with a little oil that has a high smoke point, like avocado oil.
- Remove the salmon from the marinade and allow any remaining liquid to drip off. This will help prevent flare ups.
- Set the salmon fillets skin side up and close your hood. Cook for about 3 minutes or until the salmon releases easily from the grill grates.
- Carefully flip the salmon, then close the hood again and grill for another 3-4 minutes, or until cooked through and flakey.
Skillet Salmon
- Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Set the salmon fillets in the pan, skin side down, then cook for 3-4 minutes without moving the fillets.
- Carefully flip the salmon fillets, and cook for another 4 minutes without pressing the fillets down as they cook.
- When the salmon is flakey and cooked through, remove the fillets.
Tips for Success
Here’s a few simple tips to make sure you have the best success with any marinade and cooking method that you choose:
- Once a marinade has been used, it should be discarded. Do not re-use leftover marinade.
- Cook salmon until the flesh easily flakes with a fork. The safest internal temperature for salmon is145°F (63°C) at the thickest part of the fillet. However, the cook time will vary slightly based on the thickness of the fish fillets. Use an instant read thermometer to quickly and accurately check the temperature.
- For best results, I recommend using 1/3 cup – 1/2 cup of marinade per pound of salmon. You can use the slider on the recipe card below to automatically adjust the amount for each ingredient based on your preferred serving size.
FAQ
Marinating salmon infuses it with flavor and helps it to become more tender and retain moisture. That means you get a better tasting piece of fish, once cooked! So no, you don’t need to, but I strongly recommend it.
Marinate salmon for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours, covered in the refrigerator. When you marinate salmon for longer than 12 hours, the marinade will actually start to work in reverse and can actually make it drier and tougher.
Yes! Place the fresh salmon fillets and marinade in an airtight container or bag, seal, and freeze immediately. For best quality, use it within 3-8 months. When you’re ready to cook the salmon, defrost it by placing the container on a plate in the refrigerator overnight, then cook using your preferred method. Re-freezing leftover salmon is not recommended, so once your fish has been defrosted, you should plan to cook it within 1-2 days.
I’d love to hear about your experience making these recipes!
Please leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @cookathomemom.
11 Easy Salmon Marinades
Equipment
- Freezer Safe Bags or airtight containers
Ingredients
Salmon
- 2-3 salmon fillets per marinade, about 3/4 lb. salmon.
Lemon Garlic Marinade
- 3 Tablespoons lemon juice about 1 large lemon
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 Tablespoons olive or avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 Tablespoon parsley minced
- pinch salt and pepper
Teriyaki Marinade
- 3 Tablespoons teriyaki sauce
- 2 Tablespoons olive or avocado oil
- 2 Tablespoons green onions minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- pinch salt and pepper
Honey Mustard Marinade
- 3 Tablespoons olive or avocado oil
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 Tablespoon grainy mustard or any mustard you prefer
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- pinch salt and pepper
Firecracker Marinade
- 3 Tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 Tablespooon honey
- 1 teaspoon ginger minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1.5 Tablespoons sriracha
- 1.5 Tablespoon lime juice
- 1 Tablespoon cilantro minced
- pinch salt and pepper
Greek Herb Marinade
- 3 Tablespooons avocado oil or olive oil
- 1.5 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon fresh dill minced
- 1.5 Tablespoons Greek Seasoning
- pinch salt and pepper
Jalapeno Lime Marinade
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice
- 1.5 Tablespoons jalapeno minced
- 1 Tablespoon cilantro
- pinch salt and pepper
Honey Balsamic Marinade
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 1.5 Tablespoons honey
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- pinch salt and pepper
Zesty Ranch Marinade
- 3 Tablespoons olive or avocado oil
- 2 Tablespoons ranch seasoning
- 1.5 Tablespoons lemon juice
- pinch salt and pepper
Maple Bourbon Marinade
- 2 Tablespoons olive or avocado oil
- 2 Tablespoons bourbon
- 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
- pinch salt and pepper
Herby Italian
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 1.5 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1.5 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley minced
- pinch salt and pepper
Ginger Sesame Marinade
- 3 Tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice
- 1.5 Tablespoon orange juice
- 1.5 Tablespoon ginger minced
- 1 Tablespoon coconut aminos or substitute soy sauce
- pinch salt and pepper
Video
Instructions
Prepare the Marinade
- Prepare each marinade separately by adding all the recipe ingredients together in a small dish. Mix to combine. You can do this up to a day in advance and store the marinade covered in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it.
Marinate the Salmon
- Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Set the salmon in a rimmed baking dish or heavy-duty bag. Pour the marinade over the salmon, turning to make sure it's coated fully on all sides.
- Marinate in the container at room temperature for 30 minutes, or set the covered or sealed container in the refrigerator to marinate for anywhere from 1 to 12 hours. Alternately, you can seal the bag or container and freeze the salmon in the marinade for 3-8 months, per USDA.
Cook the Salmon
- Oven Instructions: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Set the salmon skin side down in foil lined rimmed baking dish. Pour a little of the marinade over the fish (this will help to keep it moist as it cooks). Set the baking dish in the oven and cook for 13-15 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and flakey.
- Air Fryer Instructions: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Spray the basket lightly with oil. Remove the salmon fillets from the marinade. Place the fillets skin side down inside the basket with a little room between each fillet. Cook for 7-9 minutes, or until the fish is flakey and cooked through.
- Grill Instructions: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F/204°C). Brush the grill grates with a little oil with a high smoke point like avocado oil. Remove the salmon from the marinades and allow any remaining marinade to drip off (this will help prevent flare ups). Set the salmon fillets skin side up and close your hood. Cook for about 3 minutes or until the salmon releases easily from the grill grates. Carefully flip the salmon, then close the hood again and grill for another 3-4 minutes, or until cooked through and flakey.
- Skillet Instructions: Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Set the salmon fillets in the pan, skin side down. Pour a little of the marinade over the fish (this will help to keep it moist as it cooks). Cook for 3-4 minutes without moving the fillets. Carefully flip the salmon fillets, and cook for another 4 minutes without pressing the fillets down as they cook. When the salmon is flakey and cooked through, remove the fillets.
