These 11 easy and absolutely delicious salmon marinades are simple to make and packed with tons of incredible flavor! Pick your favorite and make just one, or make them all, then cook on the grill, in the oven, skillet, or air fryer!
Why We Love It
Salmon is a great source of protein, vitamins, and healthy omega-3 fatty acids, not to mention totally delicious and really versatile for cooking.
And when you marinate salmon, it becomes even better!
👉 That’s because the elements of a marinade (fat, acid, and flavor enhancers) work together to tenderize the salmon while infusing flavor and imparting moisture.
Try these 11 salmon marinade recipes and mix up the dinnertime routine! They’re all very simple to make with minimal, healthy ingredients you can find in any grocery store.
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.
The Marinades
There are three important elements to every marinade: Fat, acid, and flavor enhancers. They work together to make the salmon more tender once cooked and infuse flavor and moisture.
All of the marinade recipes are made without refined sugar or anything artificial, because the focus is on flavor and real, delicious ingredients! And most can easily be customized to be Keto or Whole30, too!
👉 Now let me know in the comments below, which marinade will you make first?
- 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 is as classic as it gets! Bright lemon juice and lots of zesty, bold garlic liven up the salmon and make it 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 or Avocado Oil
- Lemon Juice
- Lemon Zest
- Garlic
- Parsley
Teriyaki Salmon Marinade
This salmon 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 or Avocado Oil
- Teriyaki Sauce. Use my homemade teriyaki sauce (it’s Whole30 and soy free!), or use or any storebought brand you like!
- Garlic
- Green Onions
Honey Mustard Salmon Marinade
This is my kids’ favorite one! The sweet honey and tangy mustard give this so much flavor! Serve the salmon with a side salad, sliced veggies, or french fries.
Ingredients
- Olive or Avocado Oil
- Grainy Mustard or substitute any mustard you like.
- Honey
- Lemon Juice
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
- Honey
- Ginger. Use fresh or frozen ginger.
- Garlic
- Sriracha. Use classic sriracha or a sugar-free Whole30 Sriracha.
- Lime Juice
- Cilantro
Greek Herb Salmon Marinade
This 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
- Oil
- Lemon Juice
- Greek Seasoning. Use my homemade Greek Seasoning blend or your favorite storebought brand.
- Fresh Dill
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 served with pickled cabbage or pineapple slaw.
Ingredients
- Olive or Avocado Oil
- Lime Juice
- Jalapeno
- Cilantro
- Optional: For extra flavor, add 1-2 Tablespoons of 100% pineapple juice.
Honey Balsamic Salmon Marinade
Sweet, floral honey pairs beautifully with tart, rich balsamic vinegar. They enhance this salmon with some of the most wonderful flavor ever! Serve with my tomato, avocado and cucumber salad.
Ingredients
- Olive or Avocado Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Honey
Zesty Ranch
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
- Ranch Seasoning. Use my homemade ranch seasoning recipe or your favorite store bought blend.
Maple Bourbon Salmon Marinade
Smokey, rich 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% Maple Syrup
- Bourbon
- Optional: For a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Herby Italian Salmon Marinade
Mangia! 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
- Oil
- Italian Seasoning. Use my homemade Italian Seasoning or any favorite storebought blend.
- Lemon Juice
- Garlic
- Parsley
Ginger Sesame Salmon Marinade
Sesame oil has an unmistakeable nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with citrus and lime. Add a kick of zesty ginger, and this is one of the most delicious recipes I’ve ever had! Serve the salmon with sauteed spinach, green beans or broccoli.
Ingredients
- Lime Juice
- Fresh Orange Juice
- Sesame Oil
- Ginger. Use fresh or frozen ginger.
- Coconut Aminos, or substitute soy sauce if you aren’t avoiding soy.
How to Marinate Salmon
- Pat the salmon fillets dry with a few paper towels. Set the salmon in a rimmed baking dish or heavy duty bag.
- Pour the marinade over the salmon, turning to coat it fully on all sides.
- Marinate in the container at room temperature for up to 30 minutes, otherwise set the covered or sealed container in the refrigerator to marinate for up to 12 hours.
❗Important! Once a marinade has been used, it should be discarded. Do not re-use it.
How to Cook Salmon
❗Important: Cook salmon until the flesh easily flakes with a fork. The internal temperature should be 145°F (63°C) at the thickest part, per USDA. The cook time will vary slightly based on the thickness of the fish fillets.
Oven Baked Salmon
- 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 Salmon
- 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.
Grilled Salmon
- 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 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. 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.
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, per USDA.
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 salmon is not recommended, so once your fish has been defrosted, you should plan to cook it within 1-2 days.
I recommend 1/3 cup – 1/2 cup of marinade per pound of salmon.
👉 Use the slider on the recipe card below to automatically adjust the amount for each ingredient based on your preferred serving size.
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
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.
