5 Best Salmon Marinades

Make this simple baked salmon recipe extra delicious with these easy marinade ideas like honey garlic, teriyaki and maple dijon!  

Why You'll Love These Recipes

• Options for everyone: Whether you prefer a sweeter marinade or something spicy, there's an option for all taste buds.
• Perfect for meal prep: You can marinade the salmon ahead of time during your weekly ingredient prep, then cook it the day-of.

The Best Salmon Marinades

Looking for the best salmon marinade? I rounded up some of my favourite recipes below! Each salmon marinade is super simple and has five ingredients or less – most of which you should already have at home. The best part is that the salmon only needs to marinade for about 15 minutes to soak in all the flavours.

Try these different salmon marinade recipes:

• Teriyaki
• Lemon garlic
• Chili lime
• Maple dijon
• Mango salsa

Teriyaki marinade

This teriyaki marinade is so delicious and tastes just like the teriyaki salmon from your favourite Asian restaurant! Serve it with cauliflower fried rice and your favourite vegetable like steamed broccoli.

Ingredients & substitutions:

• Sesame oil – or another neutral cooking oil like grapeseed or olive oil.
• Low-sodium soy sauce – coconut aminos or tamari are the best substitutes here.
• Brown sugar – a combination of white sugar and molasses would also work.
• Garlic – fresh minced garlic will provide the best flavor but jarred minced garlic can also be used.
• Ginger – fresh minced ginger is best but ground ginger will work in a pinch.

Lemon garlic marinade

This marinade is simple but tasty, with lemon juice, minced garlic and fresh chopped parsley. I love serving this dish with some creamy mashed potatoes or brussels sprouts salad.

Ingredients & substitutions:

• Olive oil – or another neutral cooking oil like grapeseed or avocado oil.
• Lemon juice – freshly squeezed lemon juice is best but you can also use the bottled variety.
• Garlic – fresh minced garlic will provide the best flavor but jarred minced garlic can also be used.
• Parsley – try swapping out for fresh chervil or tarragon instead.
• Salt & pepper – to taste.

Chili lime marinade

Spice up your dinner routine with this sweet chili marinade! This dish pairs perfectly with flavourful coconut rice, green beans and some extra red pepper flakes for added heat. It's also delicious in a salad.

Ingredients & substitutions:

• Olive oil – or another neutral cooking oil like grapeseed or avocado oil.
• Sweet chili sauce – a mix of hot sauce and honey will provide a similar flavour.
• Lime juice – freshly squeezed lime juice is best but you can also used the bottled variety.
• Salt & pepper – to taste.

Maple dijon marinade

This maple dijon marinade offers the perfect blend of sweet and savoury, with maple syrup and Dijon mustard. Serve it with some steamed baby potatoes and asparagus for a well-rounded meal!

Ingredients & substitutions:

• Olive oil – or another neutral cooking oil like grapeseed or avocado oil.
• Dijon mustard – stone-ground mustard or spicy brown mustard would be the best substitutes here.
• Maple syrup – honey or agave would also provide some sweetness to this marinade.
• Salt & pepper – to taste.

Mango salsa marinade

This mango salsa marinade brings a taste of the tropics to your dinner table, with diced mango, red pepper, red onion, lime juice and cilantro. Serve it with coconut rice for a tropical-inspired feast!

Ingredients & substitutions:

• Mango – try using another fruit like pineapple or peach.
• Red pepper – any colour bell pepper would work here like yellow or orange.
• Red onion – you can use white or yellow onion but it will have a milder flavour.
• Lime juice – freshly squeezed lime juice is best but the bottled variety will work in a pinch.
• Cilantro – leave this out altogether if you don’t like cilantro.
• Salt & pepper – to taste.

How to cook salmon

Step 1: Preheat the oven.

Step 2: Make your marinade.

Mix together the marinade ingredients of your choice in a small bowl or Ziploc bag.

Step 3: Marinate the salmon.

Add the salmon to a large Ziploc bag with the marinade ingredients. Marinate for at least 20 mins.

Step 4: Cook and then serve.

Bake in the oven, pan fry or grill salmon, then serve and enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you marinate salmon overnight?

It depends on if you're using a salmon marinade with or without acid. A marinade with acid shouldn't be left for longer than 30 minutes. If you're using a marinade without acid, you can marinate the fish overnight, but I wouldn't marinate it for longer than a day or the salmon will get mushy.

Should you leave the skin on or off?

I suggest leaving the skin on while baking to retain the moisture, then peeling it off after baking. If you really want to remove the skin before baking, keep in mind that it'll bake faster, so it will only need to cook for 10 minutes instead of 12 minutes.

Can you make it on the grill or in the air fryer?

This recipe is for baked salmon, but you can definitely use one of these salmon marinades to make it in the air fryer or on the grill! Use my air fryer salmon recipe or easy BBQ salmon recipe for the best results.

Storing and reheating

If you have any leftovers, gently reheat them the next day. Make sure you go low and slow – fish will dry out from aggressive re-heating. Sprinkle some water over top of the salmon, then place a wet paper towel on top and microwave on low for 1 minute or so. This is the best way to reheat!

You can also take your baked salmon and turn it into something else. Instead of eating the baked salmon the next day as is, why not take a fork, flake it apart and use it in a completely new dish? Try substituting it in place of meat or other fish in recipes:

• Make a salmon salad sandwich
• Add it to pasta
• Toss the salmon flakes into a salad and eat it cold (this way you avoid any fishy taste from overheating)

Freezing this recipe

You can store frozen, raw salmon without losing much quality for 2 to 3 months in a freezer.   

Avoid thawing your salmon using heat. Instead, cover it and leave it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. You can leave it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before using it.

If you’re pressed for time, place the frozen salmon in a sealed bag and under cold running water until it thaws. (If you do this, you need to cook it the same day). Before cooking, let it sit for about 15-20 minutes so that it comes closer to room temperature.

Meal prep tools

• Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on meal prepping this baked salmon.
• Use these Ziploc bag holders for easy marinating.
• Use a meat thermometer to make sure your salmon is fully cooked.