Do you have someone in your family that doesn’t like salmon? My marinated grilled salmon is guaranteed to make salmon lovers out of them!

overhead view of marinated grilled salmon with lime slices on top sitting on a bed of wilted spinach on a white platter

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This is one of my favorite salmon recipes. The marinade recipe is easy to make and it adds so much flavor the salmon. It’s perfect for grilling or can be made in the oven or air fryer.

What are some of your favorite foods to grill?

Everyone brings out the chicken, burgers and dogs when it’s time to grill, but you rarely find seafood on the grill.

Whether it’s the higher price that seafood commands or the fear of ruining those more expensive items, too many people shy away from cooking all those delicious treats from the sea.

overhead view of marinated grilled salmon un a bed of spinach with slices of lime on top

Is Salmon difficult to grill?

Seafood really isn’t difficult to grill; it just requires more of a watchful eye so it doesn’t overcook and dry out. Salmon is one of my favorite fish to grill because of the higher fat

Wouldn’t you like to sit down to this delicious platter of marinated grilled salmon? I know your friends and family would.

What Ingredients do I use to make Marinated Salmon?

ingredients for marinade in glass bowls with salmon fillets on white paper

Let’s start by gathering our ingredients together to make my marinated grilled salmon. In Chef Speak this is referred to as the Mise en Place, which translates to everything in its place.

It’s really a good idea to get into the habit of getting your ingredients ready. It speeds up the cooking process and ensures you’re not missing an ingredient you need to make the dish.

4 salmon filets on white paper next to a glass bowl of marinade

Remember that recipes are guidelines, feel free to add your own special touches to make your own delicious marinade recipes.

Do you like ginger, or maybe some shallots would be a nice touch? Whether you use my recipe or make adjustments all you have to do is mix the ingredients together in a bowl and get ready to marinate salmon.

If you have lots of salmon and want to try something else, give my pistachio crusted salmon recipe a try as well.

What type of Salmon is best to Marinate?

I used King Salmon (Chinook) for my recipe and always try to find Pacific Salmon for my recipes.

You can, of course, use any salmon you have available in your markets. Sockeye (red) and Coho (silver) are two of my other favorites.

Atlantic Salmon is more plentiful and usually less expensive and can also be used. I prefer wild-caught fish to farmed seafood.

*Farmed salmon is much higher in fat, containing slightly more omega-3s, much more omega-6 and three times the amount of saturated fat. It also has 46% more calories — mostly from fat. Conversely, wild salmon is higher in minerals, including potassium, zinc and iron.

What fish would be a good substitute for salmon in this recipe?

Not all fish are good for marinating. Firm steak-type fish marinate well. My choices are Tuna, Swordfish, Halibut and Mahi.

*Fish and seafood are most easily influenced by marinades because of their light density. These foods typically shouldn’t marinate for more than 30 to 60 minutes.

Salmon is more forgiving as are the fish I mentioned above as substitutes. Marinating them a little longer is OK.

4 salmon filets marinating in a glass baking dish

Place the salmon in a baking dish (or zip-top bag) and pour the marinade over the fish, covering as much as possible.

Refrigerate the salmon and let it marinate for 1-2 hours. You can turn the salmon over halfway through the process.

I like to serve wilted spinach with salmon. Not only does it add color to the plate, but the flavors are a nice compliment to the marinated grilled salmon.

Wilted spinach is pretty easy to prepare, just don’t cook the spinach fully. You can also heat olive oil seasoned with your choice of spices and aromatics. When the oil is hot enough just toss the spinach with the heated oil. This is a great way to add additional flavors to the dish.

For me, it’s all about the flavors. Using fresh herbs, spices and aromatics can turn an ordinary dish into a culinary masterpiece. And there’s nothing worse than cooking all these delicious dishes and not being able to eat them because of heartburn….sigh.

marinated grilled salmon un a bed of spinach with slices of lime on top

I guarantee this will be the best salmon marinade you’ll make. And it couldn’t be easier to make marinate the salmon. Wouldn’t you love to sit down to this deliciousness?

More Salmon Recipes You’ll Love!

Easy Marinated Grilled Salmon

Chef Dennis Littley

When its time to grill up deliciousness, try my easy to make marinade and add layers of flavor to your grilled salmon. This dish will make salmon lovers out of even the pickiest eaters.

4.99 from 58 votes

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Marinate 1

Total Time 35

Course Entree

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 429 kcal

Ingredients

4 6 ounce salmon fillets skinless and boneless
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup lite soy sauce
¼ cup lime juice
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 cloves garlic finely minced
Parsley-finely chopped for garnish
Lime wheels for garnish

Instructions

Combine all marinade ingredients in a small bowl.
Place the salmon fillets in a baking dish or large ziplock bag.
Add the marinade to the baking dish And refrigerate for 1-2 hours. If you use a ziplock bag, seal the bag and gently move the salmon around in the marinade.
Preheat grill to medium-high (350º-400ºF)
Clean the grill thoroughly to make sure the salmon doesn’t stick.
*add a light coat of oil to the grill using tongs holding an oiled paper towel
Place salmon filets filet side down first (skin side up) on the hot grill.
Grill on each side for about 5 minutes or until the desired doneness
Optional:
Serve on a bed of wilted spinach

Nutrition

Calories: 429kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 35gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 1180mgPotassium: 911mgSugar: 13gVitamin A: 315IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 2mg

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Comments

4.99 from 58 votes (36 ratings without comment)