Broiled Sesame Maple Salmon

5 from 2 votes
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Broiling gets this juicy Maple Glazed Salmon perfectly seared outside while locking in all the flavors of a sweet-savory Asian-inspired marinade. It’s an easy salmon dinner that you can make any night of the week! Swap tamari for soy sauce to make it gluten-free.

Closeup of a filet of maple glazed salmon topped with sesame seeds and scallions on a plate next to a bowl of marinade and steamed broccoli.

Why I Love This Maple Glazed Salmon Recipe

  • Cuisine Inspiration: American
  • Primary Cooking Method: Oven
  • Dietary Info: Gluten-free option, Dairy-free
  • Skill Level: Easy

After soaking in a sweet and savory marinade, this maple glazed salmon is cooked under the broiler to lock in all that delicious flavor! Drizzling the maple glaze over top before serving makes this easy salmon recipe even more mouthwatering. Here’s why you’ll love it:

  • Rich umami flavors. In this easy salmon recipe, the earthy sweetness plays so well with the savory Asian flavors from salty soy sauce and nutty sesame oil and sesame seeds. Then when it is broiled, it caramelizes which makes it even tastier.
  • Weeknight-friendly. I love that salmon is a quick-cooking fish, especially when I can pop it under the broiler! Simply get it soaking in the marinade, and once it’s ready, this maple glazed salmon cooks in about 20 minutes.
  • Leftover-friendly. Maple glazed salmon is perfect for meal prep! The broiled salmon stores well and reheats like a dream, or I sometimes enjoy the leftovers over salads. Just add a fresh drizzle of glaze for serving.
A fork flaking apart broiled maple glazed salmon next to a bowl of maple glaze and broccoli on a plate.

What You’ll Need

This recipe uses mostly pantry staples to make the delicious salmon marinade and soy-maple glaze (and quite a few of them overlap!). These are some quick notes to get you started. Scroll to the recipe card for a printable ingredients list and full recipe details.

  • Salmon – I often use a whole side of salmon. You can also use salmon fillets if you prefer, but reduce the cooking time to about 10 minutes.
  • Olive Oil – Or avocado oil.
  • Maple Syrup – Use real maple syrup, NOT pancake syrup!
  • Sesame Oil – I like to use toasted sesame oil to boost the nutty, toasty flavors in the marinade.
  • Rice Vinegar – Using unseasoned rice vinegar makes it easier to control the saltiness. You can also use white wine vinegar.
  • Soy Sauce – If needed, use gluten free soy sauce or tamari to make this recipe gluten-free.
  • Garlic – I recommend using fresh cloves or store-bought minced garlic. But you can use 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder if that’s all you have.
  • Seasonings – Ground ginger (or 1/2 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger) and crushed red pepper flakes for a hint of heat. Feel free to skip the chili flakes if you prefer.
  • Chives – Freshly minced for the glaze. You can also use finely chopped green onions.
  • Sesame Seeds – If you’d like, lightly toast the seeds in a skillet over low heat to bring out their nutty flavor even more.
  • Optional rice and broccoli – for serving. Keep reading for more meal ideas.

How to Make Maple Glazed Salmon

Here are the easy steps to make this juicy, flavor-packed maple glazed salmon! Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the printable instructions.

  • Marinate the salmon. First, add your salmon to a Ziploc bag along with the marinade ingredients. Place the bag into the fridge and let the salmon marinate for at least 30 minutes.
  • Cook. Season, then broil the marinated salmon on a foil-lined broiler pan for 15-20 minutes. The salmon should flake easily with a fork.
  • Make the maple glaze. Meanwhile, toast the sesame seeds and then whisk them together with the soy-maple glaze ingredients.
  • Glaze and serve. Drizzle the broiled salmon with maple glaze and serve with rice and a side of veggies, like broccoli. See below for more serving ideas!
Sauce dripping off a spoon onto Sesame Maple Glazed Salmon.

Recipe Tips

Keep these simple tips in mind when making this recipe:

  • Substitute the maple syrup. If you don’t have real maple syrup, rather than using artificial syrup, use honey instead.
  • Use fresh or frozen salmon. This recipe turns out great with fresh or frozen salmon, whichever you have on hand. If you’re using frozen, be sure to fully defrost the salmon in the fridge before letting it marinate.
  • Marinate for longer. Your salmon can soak in the marinade for 30 minutes up to a few hours. The longer it rests in the marinade, the more flavor the finished fish will have.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know when salmon is done?

The USDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of 145ºF. Use an instant-read thermometer to check at the thickest part of the filet. Cooked salmon should flake easily and the middle will be pale pink, not raw.

What’s the white stuff coming out of my salmon?

If you notice a slimy white substance seeping from your salmon, don’t panic. It’s a protein called albumin, and it’s released during the cooking process. Albumin is totally fine to eat, and your salmon will still taste great!

Can I eat salmon skin?

It might not look very appetizing, but salmon skin is 100% edible. If you’d prefer not to eat the skin, though, it’s easy enough to pick around it.

A birds eye view of a piece of broiled Salmon and broccoli with a bowl of Sesame Maple Glaze and a fork next to it.

Storing and Reheating Leftover Salmon

  • Refrigerate. The cooked maple glazed salmon stores well in the fridge (great for meal prep!). Keep leftovers airtight and enjoy them within 3 days. I recommend storing the maple glaze separately and adding it before serving. I love leftover salmon flaked cold over a salad.
  • Reheat. Warm the salmon covered in the microwave or in the oven. The sauce only needs to come to room temperature.
Maple glazed salmon plated with steamed broccoli and a bowl of maple sesame sauce.

Make It a Meal

My favorite way to serve maple glazed salmon is over white rice or brown rice with a side of steamed or roasted broccoli. The glaze tastes amazing drizzled over everything! It’s also easy to make the meal more kid-friendly with a side of sesame glazed cauliflower wings and pineapple broccoli salad.

This salmon recipe also makes a quick and easy dinner served over sesame zoodles or my favorite gluten-free ramen noodles from Lotus Foods. Or, for a delicious meal-prep lunch, I’ll add the cold salmon to a quinoa bowl with roasted cauliflower.

Broiled salmon on a plate with maple sesame glaze and broccoli.
5 from 2 votes

Maple Glazed Salmon

Broiling gets this juicy maple glazed salmon perfectly seared outside while locking in all the flavors of a sweet-savory Asian-inspired marinade. Swap tamari for soy sauce to make it gluten-free!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Marinade Time 30 minutes
Total: 1 hour

Ingredients

For the salmon:

  • 1-1 1/2 pounds raw salmon
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce or tamari, gluten free if needed
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1/8 teaspoon dry ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • Maple Sesame Sauce, see below
  • About 1 lb broccoli, if desired, steamed to desired doneness

For the Maple Sesame Sauce

  • 3 Tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce or tamari, gluten free if needed
  • pinch dry ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon minced chives
  • 1 Tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

  • In a large bowl or baking dish, combine olive oil, maple syrup, sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce/tamari, garlic, ginger, and crushed red pepper, and whisk well until combined.
  • Add salmon to the dish or place everything in a ziplock bag, then refrigerate and marinate for at least 30 minutes (I marinated it for a couple of hours).
  • Prepare the glaze, as per the Note below.
  • Preheat the broiler in your oven. Line the bottom of your broiler pan or a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and spray the top of the broiler pan or a wire rack liberally with cooking spray or olive oil.
  • Remove salmon from the marinade and place directly on the broiler pan or wire rack. Pour some of the excess marinade over the salmon, sprinkle with a little bit of salt and pepper, then place directly under the broiler. Cook for 15-20 minutes, depending on the salmon’s thickness, until opaque and flakes easily with a fork and it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
  • Remove and serve immediately with broccoli and Maple Sesame Sauce drizzled over both. Serve the extra glaze on the side.

For the Maple Sesame Sauce:

  • In a small bowl, combine the ingredients and stir until well-mixed.
Nutrition Facts
Maple Glazed Salmon
Amount Per Serving
Calories 306 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Cholesterol 63mg21%
Sodium 808mg34%
Potassium 650mg19%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 64IU1%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 60mg6%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.

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17 Comments
  1. Salmon is one of my faves…but I don’t have it that often because Joe doesn’t care for it. I just gotta buy something different for him—that wouldn’t be hard!

  2. Oooh I bet the glaze with maple and sesame was fabulous on the salmon! I’m a big salmon fan, but haven’t ever made it with the maple glaze. That needs to change asap! I am so glad you were able to participate in this month’s post 🙂

  3. I recently did a maple chipotle glazed salmon, I’m now into the whole maple glaze thing. I’ll have to try it with sesame seed and garam masala.

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