Maple Glazed Salmon

Name: Maple Glazed Salmon
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 6 oz. salmon filets; 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 1 tablespoon gochujang (or other chili paste like Sambal Olek or Sriracha); 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar; 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce; 1 teaspoon olive oil; ¼ teaspoon Kosher sea salt; Non-stick cooking spray

Kat Ashmore

4.80 from 5 votes

Apr 19, 2023, Updated Sep 05, 2024

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This is the recipe that got my kids to like salmon. I had lovingly prepared them fish sticks as historically they would turn up their noses at fish unless it was breaded, and needless to say that when they asked for bites of my salmon I nearly fell out of my chair. The best bit? They loved it.

Maple glazed salmon served with broccoli on a bed of rice

😍 Why You’ll Love My Maple Glazed Salmon Recipe
🗒️ Ingredients
👩‍🍳 How to Make My Maple Glazed Salmon
Make This Using An Air Fryer:
Make This Using An Oven:
🤲 Substitutions
📓 Best served with
👝 How to Store Leftover Maple Glazed Salmon
🧠 Common Questions
Maple Glazed Salmon Recipe

😍 Why You’ll Love My Maple Glazed Salmon Recipe

This marinade is a flavor bomb of sweet and spicy umami, cutting through the richness of the salmon but melding with its flavor beautifully. Ideally, I marinade my salmon fillets for 4-6 hours but even 2 hours will do if you’re short on time, the flavors just won’t be as pronounced. Either way, with a 10 minute cook time, this recipe will become a favorite to reach for when you’re short on hands-on-cooking time.

I prefer this salmon in the air fryer because of the deep caramelization it gets, but it’s also delicious under the broiler so I’ve included both sets of instructions here for you. And be sure to pat the salmon dry before placing in the marinade, we don’t want to water down all those great flavors!

salmon filets, soy sauce, vinegar, oil, chili paste in small ceramic bowls

🗒️ Ingredients

Salmon Filets – Salmon is nutritious, moist and has a natural richness and slightly sweet flavor, which pairs beautifully with sweet glazes like maple.

Maple Syrup – Maple syrup is a great natural sweetener that has a complex, caramel-like flavor with a hint of nuttiness.

Gochujang – Gochujang is a fermented chili paste gives a mild, balanced heat. It’s not a full-force chili paste, but instead a more subtle, slightly sweet heat.

Rice Wine Vinegar – Rice wine vinegar has a softer, more delicate acidity so it doesn’t overpower other flavors.

Low-Sodium Soy Sauce – It contains about 40-50% less salt than regular soy sauce which is great for marinades where you want to remain in control of the saltiness!

salmon filets marinading in a glass container

👩‍🍳 How to Make My Maple Glazed Salmon

🍣 Pat salmon dry with paper towels and sprinkle salmon with salt.

🥣 In a medium sized bowl or container with lid, whisk together maple syrup, gochujang, vinegar, soy sauce, and olive oil.

❄️ Add the salmon filets and gently toss to coat completely. Cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours.

✋🏻 When it’s time to cook, remove the salmon from the refrigerator.

🔥 Cook! I’ve shared the finer details for cooking using the air-fryer and oven below! Keep scrolling!

🥦 Serve right away with rice and broccoli, on a pile of noodles, or over a salad.

🥳 Enjoy!

marinaded salmon filets in an air fryer tray

Make This Using An Air Fryer:

Spray the basket with nonstick spray, lift the salmon from the marinade and shake off excess. Place the salmon skin side down in the basket. Air-fry at 400 Degrees for 6-8 minutes until just cooked through, depending on how thick the filets are.

Make This Using An Oven:

Place your oven rack 6 inches from the broiler heat source and set your oven broiler to high.

Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick spray. Lift the salmon out of the marinade with tongs and shake off excess. Place salmon on the foil, skin side down, and broil for 5-8 minutes depending on the thickness of the salmon and until done to your liking.

salmon filet on a plate with rice and broccoli

🤲 Substitutions

If you can’t find gochujang, use another chili paste like Sambal Olek or even Sriracha.
If you want, swap honey for the maple syrup.
If you don’t have rice wine vinegar, you can use white or apple cider vinegar.
The spice is mild here, feel free to double the gochujang if you want it more pronounced.
This marinade works great with cod or arctic char, just adjust the cooking time as needed.

a serving of maple glazed salmon with broccoli and rice

📓 Best served with

Keep it simple with Broccoli and Rice
Grilled Asparagus or Sauteed Greens
A couscous salad for something fresh

a hand with a fork piercing a filet of glazed salmon

👝 How to Store Leftover Maple Glazed Salmon

Allow the salmon to cool to room temperature before to prevents condensation – you don’t want soggy salmon! Place it in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. I highly recommend reheating it in the oven to avoid drying out the salmon, but the microwave will work in a pinch.

a salmon filet that has been flaked on one corner, ontop of a bed of rice

🧠 Common Questions

I forgot to marinade the salmon! Can I still make this?

Yes! Sometimes we forget things, it happens to the best of us – just marinade the salmon for as long as you can. The flavors just may not be as pronounced, but it will still taste delicious!

How can I tell when the salmon is cooked?

The salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork. You can also use a meat thermometer to check for 145°F (63°C) at the thickest part, if you have one on hand.

What can I use if I don’t have maple syrup?

I recommend substituting honey but agave syrup or brown sugar would also work, though the flavors may vary slightly.

I don’t eat salmon, what else could I use?

Trout or Cod would work well if you’re not opposed to other kinds of fish, chicken or even tofu would also be wonderful!

4.80 from 5 votes