Easy, healthy, gluten free and chock full of flavor, this baked teriyaki salmon is the perfect dinner recipe. It’s glazed in an easy teriyaki sauce and ready in just 20 minutes!
Raise your hand if 30 minute dinners are your best friend!! Same. Especially 30 minute dinners that involve any sort of Asian sauce (hi crispy orange salmon!). So when I received a request for a simple baked teriyaki salmon recipe, I jumped on board.
Salmon is my favorite protein source since it’s so easy to prep and pairs with just about anything. Rice? Yup. Veggies? Yup. Quinoa? Yup. Absolutely nothing at all? Honestly… yeah.
This recipe is saucey (big sauce gal over here), sticky, perfectly sweet, subtly spicy and did I mention it’s easy to make? Probably, but I’ll mention it again for good measure.
It’s gluten free, doesn’t need to be marinated (unless you want to) and every bite is bursting with flavor. I also love salmon broiled, which gives it a crispy top. You can bake it as usual in the oven, then broil it for the last two or so minutes to crisp it up.
How to make this recipe
First, prep the teriyaki sauce, this takes about 10 minutes, and lightly oil the bottom of a baking dish to prevent any sticking.
Add the salmon, skin side down, with half of the teriyaki sauce. I like to use these silicone brushes to glaze the sauce right on top of the salmon and ensure everything is evenly spread.
If you’re hungry and can’t bother to let it marinate (I’ve been there!) then go ahead and pop it in the oven once it has reached 400 degrees. Otherwise, allow the salmon to marinate for about 15 minutes to let it absorb some of the sauce.
The longer you can let it marinate for, the better, but if you’re going to marinate for more than 30 minutes, be sure to keep it in the fridge. Otherwise, the counter will be fine.
It is possible to marinate salmon for too long, I wouldn’t suggest any more than a few hours for this recipe.
Bake for 12-18 minutes, depending on your preference and how thick the salmon fillets are. Check them at 12 minutes, they should easily flake with a fork and slide right off the skin. The color should be even throughout.
Drizzle with some of the remaining teriyaki sauce, reserving some for rice or steamed veggies if desired.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds, red pepper flakes and chopped scallions and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
There are a million and one ways you can serve this teriyaki salmon, but my personal favorite is with my cilantro lime rice, steamed broccoli, edamame and a sprinkling of scallions and red pepper flakes.
You can also have it on top of a salad, with quinoa, or use some of the extra sauce to make a stir fry with a bunch of different veggies. Anything goes!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it keep? Once prepared, this baked teriyaki salmon will store in the fridge for about 2 days. Let cool completely before transferring to an air tight container. Reheat on the stove or in the oven for best results.
Can I use frozen salmon? If you have frozen salmon and don’t have time to defrost it, you can totally just cook it frozen, follow the same instructions but add about 5-10 minutes of cook time.
If you do this, the sauce will unfortunately not seep into the salmon as well as it would if it were defrosted, so save a bit extra for adding on top after it cooks.
Should I keep the skin on or remove it? When baking salmon, you want to keep the skin on since this will keep it nice and moist and prevent it from drying out.
When it’s done, it should slide off very easily, if it doesn’t then it was either over or under baked. If you carefully lift it up and take a knife, the skin should just slide right off.
Try these next
Follow along on on instagram and subscribe to my email list for more recipes and updates. Leave a comment and rating below if you try this recipe and let us know how it turns out!
Perfect Baked Teriyaki Salmon
by: claire cary
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets about 4 ounces each
- 1 batch teriyaki sauce
- To serve: Cilantro lime rice, steamed veggies and scallions
Instructions
- If using previously frozen salmon, let defrost in the fridge overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prep the teriyaki sauce.
- Lightly oil the bottom of a baking dish to prevent any sticking.
- Add the salmon, skin side down, with half of the teriyaki sauce. I like to use silicone brushes to spread it evenly on top. If you're hungry and can't bother to let it marinate (I've been there!) then go ahead and pop it in the oven. Otherwise, allow the salmon to marinate for about 20 minutes to let it absorb some of the sauce.
- Bake for 12-18 minutes (uncovered), depending on your preference and how thick the salmon fillets are. Check them at 12 minutes, they should easily flake with a fork and slide right off the skin. The color should be even throughout.
- Drizzle with the remaining teriyaki sauce, reserving some for rice or steamed veggies as desired. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, red pepper flakes and chopped scallions and enjoy!
Wendi says
Can you use regular flour?
Claire Cary says
Yes!
Amanda says
OMG this sounds so delish, I will 100% be making this for dinner this week! Can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
~ XOXO, Amanda