Salmon Marinade

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This is my go-to healthy and easy salmon marinade recipe, and once you try it, I bet it will be yours, too. It’s slightly sweet, slightly savory, majorly flavorful, and super simple. It’s my best salmon marinade for grilled salmon, but I also love it for baked or seared salmon as well. Lately, my favorite way to use it is actually for air fryer salmon.

While I love this marinade for salmon the most, you can use it for other proteins, too. It pairs well with almost all kinds of flaky fish, or you can even use it for baked pork chops instead of the pork chop marinade I usually use.

Salmon Marinade Ingredients

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for marinating salmon, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

• Olive Oil – I chose extra virgin olive oil for flavor, but avocado oil is suitable here too.
• Lemon Juice – The acid helps to tenderize the salmon, plus the tang of citrus pairs very well with fish. If you don’t have lemon juice, you can try lime juice instead, or even orange juice if you like extra sweetness.
• Maple Syrup – I use Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Maple Syrup, which is naturally sweetened, sugar-free, and tastes just like real maple syrup. You can use regular maple syrup too if that works for you, or substitute 2 tablespoons honey instead.
• Fresh Herbs – I used dill and parsley, as these summer herbs work well on fish. Look for bright, leafy herbs that aren’t turning yellow. Dark green will have the most flavor. You could use dried herbs in a pinch (1/3 the amount of fresh), but for salmon fresh herbs work best.
• Garlic – Use fresh minced garlic, or jarred to save a few minutes.
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper – Salt helps the salmon marinade penetrate and tenderize into the fish. Black pepper adds a little kick, but this recipe is not spicy. Add 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the marinade if you like more heat.

VARIATION: Make lemon garlic or Asian salmon marinade!

I think this version with maple syrup makes one of the best salmon marinades, but you can also try these variations:

• Asian – Omit the fresh herbs and maple syrup. Add 3 tablespoons of coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon each of ground ginger and paprika.
• Lemon Garlic – Omit the maple syrup, increase the lemon juice to 1/3 cup, and add 2-3 extra cloves of garlic. You can also grate and add a teaspoon or two of fresh lemon zest.

How To Make Salmon Marinade

This grilled salmon marinade recipe is beyond simple: simply mix all the ingredients together in a medium bowl!

How To Use Salmon Marinade

Transfer the marinade to a large zip lock bag or baking dish, add the salmon, and move it around to coat in marinade. Marinate the raw fish for 30 minutes.

Then it’s time to cook. I love this marinade for grilled salmon, but you can also use it for pan seared or baked salmon.

Whatever method you use, check the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer — 135 to 140 degrees F is ideal for salmon that is flaky and moist, not dry.

Storage Instructions

You can mix together the marinade a day or two in advance, but wait to marinate the fish until right before cooking.

How Long To Marinate Salmon?

30 minutes is the ideal time to marinate salmon, but you can go up to 60 minutes. The marinade will start to break down the fish, and if you marinate it for longer than an hour, it will turn into ceviche and then start to get mushy.

Can You Freeze Salmon In Marinade?

No, don’t freeze salmon in the marinade, as it will surpass the 60 minute time limit. The acid will break down the salmon even if it’s frozen.

What To Serve With Salmon

Serve marinated salmon with a light side:

• Vegetables – Vegetable recipes like roasted asparagus, roasted cauliflower, and sauteed broccoli all pair well with salmon.
• Salads – Try refreshing salad recipes like spring mix salad, kale salad (the dressing uses ingredients very similar to this salmon marinade!), or Israeli salad.
• Potatoes – If you want a heartier side, try roasted potatoes or an air fryer baked potato.
• Rice – White rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice all make easy sides.
• Sauces – Drizzle your salmon with hollandaise sauce, pesto, or lemon butter sauce.

4.92 from 45 votes

Salmon Marinade (Grill Or Oven)

The easiest, BEST salmon marinade recipe, made with 6 simple ingredients! Use it for baked, pan seared, or grilled salmon.

Prep: 5 minutes

Total: 5 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 4 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

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Salmon Marinade

• 1/3 cup Olive oil ▢
• 3 tbsp Lemon juice ▢
• 2 tbsp Maple syrup (I recommend Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Maple Syrup, but regular will work if that fits your lifestyle!) ▢
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley ▢
• 1 tbsp Fresh dill ▢
• 1 clove Garlic (minced) ▢
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢

Salmon To Use With Salmon Marinade

• 4 6-oz Salmon fillets (skin on or off, about 1 inch thick) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

1. Whisk together all marinade ingredients in a small bowl.

2. Pour the marinade into a gallon zip lock freezer bag. Add the salmon fillets, seal the bag, and massage to coat well.

3. Marinate for 30 minutes, no longer than 1 hour.

4. Cook salmon on the grill like this, or you can also bake or pan sear it.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 6 oz salmon, marinated and cooked

Nutrition info makes the following assumptions:

• Using Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Maple Syrup. Sugar and carbs will be higher if you use regular.
• Only 1/4 of the marinade is included in the nutrition calculation, as a lot is discarded after marinating the salmon.

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 395

Fat 26.5g

Protein 34g

Total Carbs 0.3g

Net Carbs 0.2g

Fiber 0.1g

Sugar 0.1g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course: Condiment, Marinade

Cuisine: American

Keywords: best salmon marinade, easy salmon marinade, grilled salmon marinade, salmon marinade, salmon marinade recipe

Calories: 395 kcal

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