In this maple-glazed baked salmon, a spicy-sweet rub tops salmon fillets that are broiled and then drizzled with maple syrup to create a caramelized crust for a healthy, easy dinner ready in under 10 minutes.
Featuring a lifestyle that’s a little bit healthy with a whole lot of clean eating, we’ve been smitten with the pint-sized Boston blogger Lexi Kornblum of Lexi’s Clean Kitchen. “I truly believe in the power of food,” Lexi writes in her new cookbook. And that motto shines bright on each and every page with recipes just like this fast-to-the-table 10-minute maple-glazed baked salmon recipe. Having to shift her diet inspired Lexi to write Lexi’s Clean Kitchen: 150 Delicious Paleo-Friendly Recipes to Nourish Your Life, so she could help others experiencing similar issues. This super simple, 5-ingredient maple-glazed salmon recipe is one you’ll be digging into time and time again. It’s simple enough for fast family dinners, but so stunningly tasty you’ll be eager to share it for special occasions too.
What’s in Maple-Glazed Baked Salmon?
This simple salmon recipe is only five ingredients plus salt and pepper. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Skinless salmon filets—You could serve with the skin intact too, it’s all a matter of preference with this dish.
- Maple syrup
- Raw sugar—try coconut sugar or granulated maple sugar
- Paprika—try smoked paprika for a smokier flavor
- Chile powder
- Kosher salt
TIP: I prefer wild-caught salmon for it’s more robust flavor and can usually find it readily available just about year-round at my grocer’s seafood counter. You can also use flash-frozen salmon that will yield just about as tasty of results as fresh.
How to Make Maple Salmon in the Oven
This maple-glazed salmon couldn’t be easier to make.
- Preheat your oven to broil, then spray an aluminum foil-lined baking tray with cooking spray.
- Mix up the sugar, salt, and spices in a small bowl, then sprinkle generously over the salmon fillets.
- Pop the salmon under the broiler for 6 to 9 minutes, depending on how thick your fillets are.
- After the fish gets a short broil in the oven, a drizzle of maple syrup sweetens all of those spicy salty bits.
- Return the maple-glazed salmon to the oven and broil until the maple syrup is bubbling and has formed a crust.
Can I Eat Salmon Skin?
Absolutely! If you buy salmon fillets with the skin intact, leave it on and bake the salmon skin-side down. The skin has lots of flavor and is seriously delicious.
Can I Make This Maple-Glazed Baked Salmon in Advance?
You could definitely make a batch of this maple salmon in the oven and enjoy it cold throughout the week on sandwiches, in wraps, or on salads!
Tips for the Best Maple-Glazed Salmon
- Broiling the salmon for the recommended 7 to 9 minutes will give you a very dark crust, looking almost burnt. But that’s where the flavor comes in. The first time I cooked this I didn’t let it cook as long and pulled it before the crust could develop so the texture was more of a glaze.
- The second time I cooked this dish, I cooked it longer. That’s when I enjoyed a wonderfully crusty, spicy but sweet caramelized crust that yes, was dark, but oh so good!
- I would suggest you check your cooking time at 6 minutes and then check every minute as it cooks to get the preferred crust. The quick cooking time results in a very moist, tender flake of fish. This my friends, is a keeper.
10-Minute Maple-Glazed Baked Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons raw brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ pounds skinless salmon fillets cut into 4 portions
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to broil. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, paprika, sugar, and salt
- Generously sprinkle the chili powder mixture evenly over the tops of the salmon fillets.
- Place the salmon on the prepared baking sheet and broil for 6-9 minutes, depending on how thick your fillets are and how crispy you prefer the crust.*
- Remove the salmon from the oven and brush the maple syrup over the tops to coat the spice rub. Return to the oven and broil for an additional 1-2 minutes until the maple syrup is bubbling and has formed a crust. Serve immediately.
