This maple glazed salmon features buttery, melt-in-your-mouth fish coated with a sweet and savory maple glaze. It’s a quick, easy recipe the whole family will love!
My family loves salmon for dinner and this maple glazed salmon has quickly become a new favorite in our rotation! Like my Honey Glazed Salmon and go-to Baked Salmon recipe, it’s baked with a flavorful glaze, and the sweet-savory combination is absolutely irresistible.
At first glance the ingredients in the sauce may seem like an interesting or unlikely combination, but I promise, they work so well together! Soy sauce adds umami to balance out the sweetness of the maple syrup. Butter adds richness, and lemon juice brightens up the sauce. Simmering the sauce briefly on the stove thickens it up and develops the flavors.
Ingredient Notes
You’ll need just a few ingredients for this recipe:
- Salmon: You’ll need 4 salmon fillets. If fresh isn’t available, frozen is a great option since it’s usually frozen at peak freshness, right after the fish is caught. Thaw frozen salmon in the refrigerator overnight (remove it from its plastic packaging first), or place it in a bowl of cold water until thawed.
- Pure Maple Syrup: Be sure to use pure maple syrup, not maple-flavored or imitation syrup.
- Butter: Butter adds richness and gives the glaze its glossy, sticky finish.
- Soy Sauce: I like to use low sodium soy sauce so there’s less salt in the finished dish.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds depth and helps to bind the other ingredients together.
- Garlic: Provides a savory counterpart to the sweet maple syrup.
- Red Pepper Flakes: These are optional. I love the contrast that a little bit of heat brings to the sauce.
- Lemon Juice: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end brightens up all of the flavors!
Find the printable recipe with ingredient amounts below.
How to Make Maple Glazed Salmon
Let the salmon come to room temperature for about 20 minutes. This helps it to cook evenly.
Make the glaze: In a small saucepan, combine the pure maple syrup, butter, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic and red pepper flakes. Whisk it over medium heat until it bubbles and thickens slightly. Off the heat, whisk in the lemon juice. Reserve about 3 tablespoons of the glaze in a small bowl for drizzling when the salmon comes out of the oven.
Prep salmon: Place the salmon, skin side down, in a parchment paper-lined baking dish. Pat the fish dry with paper towels, then brush a thin layer of the glaze over the salmon fillets.
Bake salmon for 12-18 minutes, until it’s cooked to your liking, brushing it with more of the glaze as it nears the end of the cook time. Serve salmon with the reserved glaze.
What to Serve with Maple Salmon
I recently served this maple glazed salmon with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Roasted Sweet Potatoes and it was a perfect easy dinner! Here are a few other side dishes that go well with this meal:
- Roasted Green Beans are another green veggie that pairs well with salmon.
- My Strawberry Spinach Salad is a fresh side dish that also looks beautiful alongside the fish.
- These easy Oven Roasted Potatoes are always a hit on our dinner table!
More Salmon Recipes To Love
Try one of these salmon recipes next:
- Teriyaki Salmon: With a sticky, sweet and tangy teriyaki glaze.
- Salmon Bowls: One of my personal favorite salmon dinners!
- Air Fryer Salmon: You just can’t beat that caramelized crust you get in the air fryer.
- Salmon Burgers: Seasoned with lemon and fresh dill, these are so delicious! I love to serve them with coleslaw on soft burger buns.
Did you make this recipe? I’d truly appreciate if you leave a comment and star rating below! Your review will help others who want to try this recipe. Thank you! 💛
Maple Glazed Salmon
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets, 6 ounces each, skin on
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional, ¼ teaspoon adds mild heat
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with a sheet of parchment paper (or foil) for easy clean up.
- Remove the salmon from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for 20 minutes.4 salmon fillets
- Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the maple syrup, butter, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic and red pepper flakes. Heat over medium heat, whisking often, until bubbly, then continue cooking, whisking constantly, for 1-2 minutes, until slightly thickened. (The sauce will thicken up a bit more as it rests.)¼ cup pure maple syrup, 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 3 cloves garlic, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Remove pan from the heat and whisk in the lemon juice. Reserve about 3 tablespoons of the glaze in a small bowl for drizzling when the salmon comes out of the oven.2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- Place salmon, skin side down, in the prepared baking dish. Pat dry with paper towels. Brush a thin layer of the glaze over the tops of the salmon fillets.
- Bake salmon for 10 minutes. Then brush with more of the glaze from the saucepan. Continue baking for 2-8 more minutes, or until salmon is cooked through to 145°F, brushing with more glaze every few minutes. The cook time will depend on the thickness of the salmon fillets. Discard any extra glaze left in the saucepan.
- Serve salmon with the glaze that you reserved in the small bowl. Enjoy!
Notes
- Maple Syrup: Be sure to use pure maple syrup, not maple-flavored or imitation syrup.
- Frozen Salmon: If fresh salmon isn’t available, frozen is a great option since it’s usually frozen at peak freshness, right after the fish is caught. Thaw frozen salmon in the refrigerator overnight (remove it from its plastic packaging first), or place it in a bowl of cold water for about 20 minutes, or until thawed.
