Easy Teriyaki Baked Salmon

Quick, easy and habit forming, Baked Teriyaki Salmon is the dinner in a flash recipe I make on the regular. Sweet, tangy teriyaki drenched salmon is baked until tender and moist….absolutely perfect every single time.

Teriyaki Baked Salmon

The holidays are over and every day seems like a bad case of the Mondays. We survived another day and there was even a rainbow to top it all off. Today was a sign that life goes on no matter what is going on in the world and we can get through just about anything. Even crazy weeknight dinners. Sometimes they seem like the end of the world, too. Am I right?

This easy Teriyaki Salmon recipe is my go-to when I don’t have much time to get dinner on the table and I don’t want to fuss with a ton of ingredients. If I prep ahead, I can even make it with my homemade teriyaki sauce recipe but don’t feel bad if you don’t have time to whip it up. Your favorite bottled teriyaki sauce works just as well, especially on a busy weeknight, just check the label because sometimes sodium levels can be higher than necessary.

Simple Pantry Ingredients

• Salmon – A wild-caught salmon filet is my favorite, especially if you buy a family size and cut it into portions yourself. You can also use any type of salmon but coho salmon or wild sockeye salmon but it will have a stronger flavor than Atlantic salmon.
• Teriyaki Sauce – I make my own teriyaki sauce made with soy sauce, sweet rice wine, brown sugar, fresh garlic cloves, fresh ginger and cornstarch. It’s simple to make in minutes but you can use your favorite bottled teriyaki sauce, as well.
• Garnishes – Chopped green onions, fresh parsley or cilantro and sesame seeds add color, flavor and texture.

For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card below.

What is Baked Salmon?

If you’ve never baked salmon before then I don’t know what you’ve been doing and frankly, I don’t want to know. Baked Salmon is really the best way to make salmon fillets other than pan seared salmon or roasted salmon because it cooks the fish more slowly keeping it moist. 

If you line your baking sheet with foil or parchment paper, it’s pretty mess free, too! Teriyaki Baked Salmon is, essentially, just a salmon filet baked with teriyaki sauce. It’s the best combinations of flavors too because the salty, sweet flavor of the sauce is the perfect compliment to the rich, buttery flavor of the salmon. It’s like a match made in flavor heaven.

How To Bake Salmon in the Oven

It’s super easy to bake salmon in the oven and depending on what you want the end result to be, I recommend two different oven temperatures and cooking times.

You can use the sauce as a teriyaki salmon marinade by coating the salmon filets with the sauce and letting them sit for 30 minutes. Don’t marinade them longer because fish absorbs marinade much faster than poultry or beef.

1. Line a baking sheet or baking dish with aluminum foil and arrange the salmon filets on the baking sheet skin side down. If your salmon is skinless, then place them flat side down.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the teriyaki sauce ingredients until well combined. Bring to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat until thickened and set aside.
3. If you didn’t marinade your salmon, brush the filets with teriyaki glaze to coat generously.
4. Now, here’s where the difference is: if you like a lightly broiled salmon with a caramelized top, bake your salmon at 425˚F for 10 minutes. If you don’t want a caramelized top, bake your salmon at 375˚F for 12-15 minutes.
5. Both cooking times and temperatures will result in a moist, tender salmon just with a different texture on the surface.
6. Do keep an eye on your salmon while baking because temperature times can vary depending on the thickness of the fillets. My filets were about 2 inches thick at the widest part of the filet.
7. You’ll know your teriyaki salmon is done when it changes from translucent (red or raw) to opaque (pink) as it cooks. After 8 minutes of cooking, check for doneness, by using a fork or the tip of a sharp knife to cut into the thickest part of the filet. If the meat is beginning to flake easily, but still has a little translucency in the center, it is done. Using an instant read thermometer, check the internal temperature at the thickest part of the salmon. The salmon is ready when it registers 125˚F for medium-rare.
8. Before serving, drizzle the cooked salmon filets with some of the remaining teriyaki sauce and serve.

Health Benefits of Salmon

Salmon is a very healthy fish to add to your diet. There are so many great things it can do for your mind, body and overall health.

• Salmon is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which have shown to decrease inflammation, lower blood pressure and decrease risk factors for disease. A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) portion of farmed salmon has 2.3 grams of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, while the same portion of wild salmon contains 2.6 grams. 
• Salmon is a great source of protein, an essential nutrient you can only get from a healthy diet. It provides 22–25 grams of protein per 3.5-ounce serving.
• It’s also an excellent source of B vitamins, which are needed for energy production, controlling inflammation and protecting heart and brain health.
• Salmon is loaded with selenium, a mineral involved in protecting bone health, improving thyroid function and reducing the risk of cancer.

So, not only is this easy Baked Salmon Teriyaki recipe super tasty; it’s good for you, too!

Best Sides for Baked Salmon

Because this recipe is really quick and simple to make, I like to keep my sides simple to. This teriyaki salmon is served with sauteed bok choy and jasmine rice but if you’re keeping your carbs in check you can use brown rice or cauliflower rice instead.

It’s also amazing with this Asian Slaw or this Rice Noodle Salad that’s ready in minutes. You could also make it part of a larger salad with this simple Ramen Noodle Salad.

More Easy Salmon Recipes

• Salmon Patties
• Oven Roasted Salmon with Orange Spinach Salad
• Miso Glazed Salmon
• Pan Seared Salmon
• Salmon Nicoise Salad Recipe
• Hot Honey Glazed Salmon

Not in the mood for salmon? Try this easy sheet pan baked cod!

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