11 Easy Salmon Marinades

Grilled salmon fillet with sesame seeds and salmon teriyaki marinade served with broccoli on a ceramic plate, accompanied by chopsticks.

These 11 easy and absolutely delicious salmon marinades are simple to make and packed with tons of flavor! Pick your favorite and make just one, or make them all!

Prep Time10

Marinating Time30

Total Time40

Servings:

Calories: 440kcal

Author: Laura Miner

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.

Video

Notes

Do not re-use marinades. Once a marinade has been used, it should be discarded.

Cooking temperature: 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.

Nutrition Information: The nutrition information provided is an average per serving, to give you a point of reference. It will vary based on which marinade you decide to use, the fish you use, and the ingredients you use.

Nutrition