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Six Easy Salmon Marinades

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Made with fresh ingredients, these six marinade recipes will give salmon fillets an amazing taste without overpowering the fish. They’re easy to make, healthy, and simple.

six pieces of salmon in bags with various marinades.

Salmon Marinades Overview

I’m always looking for ways to make home cooking fast and flavorful!

There are six different marinade flavors below. Each one uses a bit of olive oil, an acidic ingredient (lemon, lime or orange juice), some garlic, and spices. Add the salmon fillet to the marinade and store it in the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour before cooking.

I love these marinade recipes because I know exactly what ingredients are in them. They’re also budget-friendly!

**Get My FREE Salmon Marinade Guide: All six healthy salmon marinades in one easy-to-print format – Sign Up Here To Get It

Three images grouped. First is cooked salmon, second is salmon in a bag, third is a bowl of liquid dressing.

1. Lemon Garlic Marinade

Instructions

  1. Mix the salmon marinade ingredients together in a small bowl.
  2. Add the salmon fillet to a glass container or plastic bag and pour the marinade sauce overtop. The container should be small enough so that the salmon can soak up the marinade. Seal the bag/container and let sit in fridge for 1-2 hours before cooking. Salmon can also marinate overnight in the fridge.
Three images grouped. First is cooked salmon, second is salmon in a bag, third is a bowl of liquid dressing.

2. Sweet and Spicy Marinade

Follow the same instructions as the lemon garlic marinade above.

Three images grouped. First is cooked salmon, second is salmon in a bag, third is a bowl of liquid dressing.

3. Honey Mustard Marinade

Follow the same instructions as the lemon garlic marinade above.

** Grab my FREE salmon marinade guide that you can print from your home computer. Sign up here to grab it.

Three images grouped. First is cooked salmon, second is salmon in a bag, third is a bowl of liquid dressing.

4. Chili Lime Marinade

Follow the same instructions as the lemon garlic marinade above.

Three images grouped. First is cooked salmon, second is salmon in a bag, third is a bowl of liquid dressing.

5. Italian Herb Marinade

Follow the same instructions as the lemon garlic marinade above.

** Grab my FREE salmon marinade guide that you can print from your home computer. Sign up here to grab it.

Three images grouped. First is cooked salmon, second is salmon in a bag, third is a bowl of liquid dressing.

6. Orange Ginger Marinade

Marinating Tips

  • MEAL PREP TIP: If you’re buying a large salmon fillet, you can slice it into smaller portions first, as soon as you get home from the grocery store. This is also when you can add the marinade to the salmon. Get out multiple freezer bags to divide up the salmon, then place the marinade ingredients inside and seal. These can be placed in the fridge or freezer depending on when you’ll be using them.
  • MARINATING TIME: I like to marinate my salmon overnight to get the most flavor. But if I’m short on time, I’ll marinate for one-hour minimum and then cook.
  • If the marinade has been in contact with raw salmon, it’s not safe to reuse it, so don’t save it for next time. You can still add the marinade with the salmon while it’s cooking. But discard any leftover marinade that has come in contact with the raw fish.
  • STORAGE TIPS: You can use Ziploc freezer bags to freeze your salmon. When adding ingredients to your freezer bags, I like to use these handy clips that will help your bag stand up and avoid spilling. Or you can place the salmon in a glass container with a lid in the fridge for up to 2 days.
  • DEFROSTING TIPS: I always take out my salmon from the freezer the night before I’m ready to cook and place it in a bowl of shallow cold water in the fridge. This will help to speed up the defrost process. Just make sure it’s completely sealed and that the top of the bag is not inside the water (you don’t want any water to get inside of the bag).
  • COOKING TIPS: You can cook your marinating salmon in a variety of ways. I’ve cooked mine in the frying pan, baked it and even used the air fryer. Cooking instructions are below.
Six cooked salmon fillets coated in different seasonings on a baking sheet.

How To Cook Marinated Salmon

You can eat the cooked salmon with a side of roasted vegetables and rice, add it to a pasta dish, bake it, pan fry, grill it on the barbecue or even air fry it.

Pro Tip: Let the salmon sit at room temperature for 10-20 minutes before cooking. This will ensure the salmon cooks quicker and more evenly.

Baking Salmon Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Place the salmon fillet skin side down on the baking sheet. Cover loosely with foil.
  3. Bake for 12-20 minutes or until salmon is easily flaked with a fork and no longer dark pink inside.

How Long To Cook Salmon

The cooking time for salmon will vary depending on the thickness of the fillet. Measure the thickest part of your salmon. It will take approximately 10 minutes for every 1″ of thickness. For example, 2″ thick took me about 23 minutes to cook. This time will vary slightly so it’s best to check on it early to avoid overcooking.

Pro Tip: The fish will continue to cook once you remove it from the oven, so it’s better to undercook just slightly than to overcook.

Salmon Baking Times:

TemperatureThicknessTime (covered with foil)
375°F1″approx 10-12 minutes
375°F1 1/2 “approx 15-17 minutes
375°F2″approx 20-22 minutes
375°F2 1/2″approx 25 minutes

Pan Frying Salmon Instructions:

  1. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat.
  2. Once the pan is hot, add some cooking oil and the salmon skin side facing up. Cook 2-3 minutes
  3. Pour leftover marinade into the pan and then flip over the salmon so the skin side is down. Cook another 3-5 minutes, or until salmon is cooked through and easily flaked with a fork.

Grilling Salmon Instructions:

  1. Heat barbecue to medium heat, place salmon on the grill, skin side up. Cover and let cook for about 5 minutes, then flip. Salmon will be done when easily flaked with a fork.

Air Frying Instructions:

  1. Lightly coat the inside of the air fryer tray or basket with olive oil or cooking spray. Preheat at 400°F for 2 minutes
  2. Now add the salmon skin side down and cook for 10-20 minutes or until fully cooked and easily flaked with a fork.
Close up of flaked salmon and a fork.

How Do You Know When Fish Is Cooked?

According to the USDA recommended cooking temperatures, the safest internal temperature for cooking all types of fish and shellfish is 145°F. This is the interior temperature that the fish will read at once removed from the heat source. You can use a food thermometer, which will be poked into the thickest part of the fish to read the temperature.

Is It Safe To Marinade Salmon Overnight?

Yes! It is safe to marinate salmon in the fridge overnight. The USDA food safety information suggests that you can keep raw fish in the fridge for 1 to 2 days. Any longer and it should be frozen instead.

A plated with salmon fillet, rice and slices of lemon.

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Bags of salmon fillets with marinades

Six Healthy Salmon Marinade Recipes

Made with fresh healthy ingredients, these six marinade recipes will give your salmon amazing taste without overpowering the fish.
4.17 from 194 votes
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Marinating Time: 1 hour
Servings: 4 servings per marinade

Ingredients

Lemon Garlic Marinade:

Sweet and Spicy Marinade:

Honey Mustard Marinade:

Chili Lime Marinade:

Italian Herb Marinade:

Orange Ginger Marinade:

Instructions

Salmon Marinade Instructions:

  • Mix the salmon marinade ingredients together in a small bowl.
  • Add the salmon fillet to a glass container or plastic bag and pour the marinade sauce overtop. The container should be small enough so that the salmon can soak up the marinade. Seal the bag/container and let sit in fridge for 1-2 hours before cooking. Salmon can also marinade overnight in the fridge.

Baking Salmon Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the salmon fillet skin side down on the baking sheet. Cover loosely with foil. Bake for 12-20 minutes or until salmon is easily flaked with a fork and no longer dark pink inside.

Pan Frying Salmon Instructions:

  • Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add some cooking oil and the salmon skin side facing up. Cook 2-3 minutes. Pour leftover marinade into the pan and then flip over the salmon so the skin side is down. Cook another 3-5 minutes, or until salmon is cooked through and easily flaked with a fork.

Grilling Salmon Instructions:

  • Heat barbecue to medium heat, place salmon on the grill, skin side up. Cover and let cook for about 5 minutes, then flip. Salmon will be done when easily flaked with a fork.

Air Frying Instructions:

  • Lightly coat the inside of the air fryer tray or basket with olive oil or cooking spray. Preheat at 400°F for 2 minutes. Now add the salmon skin side down and cook for 10-20 minutes or until fully cooked and easily flaked with a fork.

Recipe Notes:

  • These marinade servings will work for 1 salmon fillet. If you’re using a very large piece of salmon I recommend doubling the marinade recipe to maximize flavor.
  • Loving these recipes? Then you’ll have to try my six healthy chicken marinades.

The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.

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