Maple Glazed Salmon

Have you ever had salmon so flaky, buttery, and tender that it practically melts in your mouth? That’s exactly what this maple glazed salmon delivers, along with a generous kick from the tangy, sweet, spicy maple mustard glaze. I use a similar homemade salmon glaze in my maple Dijon air fryer salmon recipe. It’s extra delicious while being super pantry-friendly.

Roasting caramelizes the outside of the salmon fillet to a perfectly crispy crust while the inside bakes up juicy and full of flavor. You end up with flaky, beautifully glazed salmon in about 15 minutes from start to finish. This easy salmon recipe makes a wonderful entree served with rice, a fresh salad, or roasted asparagus on a weeknight, and it’s “fancy” enough that I’ll serve it to guests, too.

What Makes This Glazed Salmon Recipe So Good

• Lots of flavor, minimal ingredients. Maple syrup and tangy Dijon mustard create a bold, sweet-savory glaze that complements the richness of the salmon. You can make it with ingredients that are already in most fridges and pantries, especially during maple syrup season!
• Ready in minutes. When I need a quick and filling weeknight dinner, maple glazed salmon makes it easy. This is a VERY nice fish dish with hardly any effort.
• Buttery, flaky texture. This maple salmon is flaky and tender inside, while the exterior gets nice and crispy thanks to the broiler. This is a failproof method you can use for just about any baked salmon recipe, from miso salmon to honey mustard salmon. You’ll come back to it again and again!

What You’ll Need

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this mouthwatering maple glazed salmon recipe. Here they are! If you’re looking for exact ingredient amounts, you can find them in the recipe card below.

• Fresh Salmon Fillet – Try to pick out a brightly-colored, moist-looking fillet. Also, I always recommend purchasing Pacific wild-caught salmon rather than farm-raised salmon. The meat not only has a better flavor, but it’s also leaner.
• Coarse Ground Mustard – This chunky condiment has a deep flavor that supplements the tanginess of the Dijon mustard.
• Dijon Mustard – You can also use yellow mustard in a pinch. The flavor is milder but still tangy and delicious!
• Maple Syrup – Be sure to use pure maple syrup and not artificial pancake syrup. If you don’t have real maple syrup, I suggest swapping it with honey (see my honey glazed salmon).
• Garlic – Freshly minced garlic produces the strongest, boldest flavor. If you’re using garlic powder, substitute ¼ teaspoon per clove.
• Thyme & Rosemary – Fresh or dried, these herbs add earthy and citrusy flavors to the glaze.
• Smoked Paprika – If you’re not a fan of spice, feel free to leave this out or reduce the quantity used. For a spicier glaze, add crushed red chili flakes.

How to Make Baked Maple Glazed Salmon

Baking salmon ensures that the entire fillet cooks at an even pace for flakiness all around. Afterward, you can get crispy skin with the help of the broil function. Follow this overview to make this oven-baked maple glazed salmon, step-by-step:

• Pat the fillet dry. Use a paper towel to pat the salmon fillet dry. Afterward, place the dried fillet onto a lined baking sheet.
• Prepare the glaze. Meanwhile, whisk together the remaining ingredients in a small bowl until the glaze is smooth.

• Glaze the salmon. Now, brush the prepared glaze onto the salmon fillet, reserving a small amount for a second round of glaze post-baking.
• Bake, then broil. Bake the salmon at 400ºF for 8 minutes. Then, remove your salmon fillet from the oven and turn on the broiler. Place the salmon back under the broiler for 2 minutes, until it’s no longer pink and flakes easily with a fork. Brush the reserved glaze onto the finished fillet before serving.

How to Tell When Salmon Is Done

Once your salmon fillet turns from dark pink to a light pinkish-orange, remove it from the oven. You can test it for doneness by gently pressing down on it with a fork. If the salmon flakes off with the fork, it’s ready to eat.

Tips for Perfect Glazed Salmon

• Use skin-on salmon. Cooking salmon with the skin on allows it to stay nice and moist. You can use skinless salmon if you like, but it is more likely to dry out while cooking.
• Season to taste. Feel free to add more of any seasoning to your glaze depending on your palate. If desired, you can always sprinkle on some extra salt, pepper, herbs, paprika, or garlic at the end.
• Check the internal temperature. If you really want to make sure your salmon is cooked to perfection, use a meat thermometer to check its internal temperature. It should register at 125°F.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Serve With Maple Glazed Salmon

Need a stellar side to pair with your roasted salmon? Try one of the following dishes.

• Veggie sides: I love flaky salmon with a side of crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts, roasted broccoli, or these asparagus fries (they conveniently bake at the same temperature as the salmon!).
• Rice: Serve this salmon beside a steaming bowl of Instant Pot jasmine rice, cilantro lime rice or the viral TikTok sheet pan crispy rice.
• Pasta: This flavorful garlic lemon pasta or pesto pasta with roasted vegetables goes well with this sweet-tangy glazed salmon.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• Refrigerate. Once it has cooled completely, place any leftover Dijon maple glazed salmon into an airtight container and store it in the fridge. Enjoy it within 2-3 days of making it.
• To reheat your salmon, simply wrap it in aluminum foil to lock in the moisture and place it in a 325°F oven for about 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can cut up your salmon and enjoy it cold on top of a salad.
• Freeze. You can freeze the cooled salmon in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Make sure to let it thaw out in the fridge before reheating and/or enjoying it.

More Easy Salmon Recipes

• Salmon Cakes With Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce
• Salmon Tacos With Creamy Slaw
• Grilled Lemon Pepper Salmon
• Honey Garlic Air Fryer Salmon
• Air Fryer Pesto Salmon