Easy Broiled Salmon! Individual salmon fillets are quick soaked in a flavorful honey-lime marinade, then aligned on a baking sheet, sprinkled with spices, and finished under a hot broiler until just cooked and gently charred. It’s flawlessly delicious!
Winning Broiled Salmon
My favorite way to make broiled salmon! I’ve long been partial to that honey-lime combo with salmon and here it was the clear winner vs. other marinades.
It perfectly highlights the flavors of salmon and the honey assists in encouraging browning. Then the final touch of spices and one extra layer of flavor.
This recipe is a breeze to prepare yet the end result is perfectly impressive and even restaurant worthy.
You get a tender, flaky, buttery interior and a gorgeously browned exterior with crisp edges, similar to a grill-kissed flavor. So much to love in every bite!
Serve it with coconut rice (or plain jasmine rice) and sauteed vegetables (such as bell peppers, corn, red onion and squash), or a black bean and corn salad to complete it.
Broiled Salmon Recipe Ingredients
- 4 (7 oz) skinless salmon fillets
- 3 Tbsp light olive oil
- 3 Tbsp lime juice, plus 2 tsp lime zest
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic (3 cloves)
- 1 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
How to Broil Salmon
- Marinate: Soak salmon in the honey-lime marinade at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Position oven rack, preheat broiler: Set oven rack in center of oven. Preheat broiler for about 5 minutes.
- Align salmon on baking sheet: Remove salmon from marinade and align on a rimmed baking sheet that has been lined with foil and greased with cooking spray (refer to photo above).
- Broil: Roast under broiler until just barely cooked through, if needed tent with foil at any time to prevent excess browning (usually after 4 minutes or so).
How Long to Broil Salmon
- Cook time can vary by about 5 minutes depending on the thickness of the salmon portions, their initial temperature before placing in oven, and how hot your broiler gets.
- When testing various thickness I found it usually took about 7 to 10 minutes to barely cook through.
- You want to take it out just a little earlier than you’d think because of the residual heat and their temperature will continue to rise a bit upon removal from the oven.
Recommended Target Temperature for Broiled Salmon
- I recommend aiming for an internal target temperature of 125 to 130 degrees in the center for broiled salmon.
- But as a word of caution the USDA recommends a safe temp of 145 (which is too well done for me).
Helpful Tips
- I think it’s easier to skin individual salmon fillets rather than the side of salmon so I like to cut into portions first.
- Preferably use salmon that’s about 1 1/4-inch to 1 1/2-inches thick here (in the center).
- Don’t marinate salmon longer than 30 minutes or the acidity of the marinade will start to “cook” the salmon and alter it’s texture.
- If you want other areas of the salmon to achieve further browning, you can just leave those areas uncovered with foil. For instance, upon testing I found sometimes just the end portion was browning early so I’d just cover those ends with foil so the tops could brown further.
- Use a high-smoke point fat when broiling salmon. I’ve tested with butter and fats with a lower smoke point and they smoke like crazy under a super hot broiler.
- For this recipe broil the salmon in the center of the oven. If you go much higher the salmon is likely to burn up on top because of the honey used here.
- If you want to keep thinner ends from overcooking you can curl the short end under itself by about 1-inch. The presentation may not be as nice but it beats dry over-cooked ends.
- Monitor salmon closely during cooking, we are using a broiler after all.
Variations
- Substitutes: Use maple syrup in place of honey. Lemon in place of lime. Parsley or green onion in place of cilantro.
- Try other spices: Ginger or sweet/smoked paprika would be tasty options.
- Make it spicy: Also sprinkle with 1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or chipotle pepper when seasoning with other spices.
- Skip a marinade: Instead brush the raw fillets (skin-on or skinless) with light olive oil and season with salt and pepper, broil about 6-inches below broiler until cooked through (about 6 to 10 minutes) then finish the salmon with your favorite sauce (tzatziki, pesto, creamy dill etc).
- Try a different marinade: I recommend one with a little sugar, honey or maple syrup to encourage browning and also with a decent amount of oil in it to protect the salmon from drying out.
More Easy Salmon Recipes You’ll Love
Broiled Salmon
Individual salmon fillets are immersed in a flavorful honey-lime marinade and briefly soaked. Then aligned on a baking sheet, sprinkled with spices, and finished under a hot broiler until just cooked and gently charred. It’s flawlessly delicious!
Servings: 4
- 4 (7 oz) skinless salmon fillets
- 3 Tbsp light olive oil
- 3 Tbsp lime juice, plus 2 tsp lime zest (from 2 limes)
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic (3 cloves)
- 1 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
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In a small mixing bowl whisk well together light olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper.
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Place salmon fillets in a gallon size resealable bag* then pour marinade over salmon (be sure marinade is coating all sides of the salmon pieces), press out excess air from the bag and seal.
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Let rest at room temperature 20 minutes to 30 minutes (no longer).
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Align oven rack in center of oven. Preheat broiler to high heat for about 5 minutes.
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Meanwhie line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil cooking spray.
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Remove salmon from marinade and align on baking sheet, leaving some space between each piece. Sprinkle tops evenly with cumin and coriander.
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Place salmon in oven (check on it frequently throughout broiling). Broil in preheated oven about 4 minutes then if needed tent with foil to prevent excess browning. Continue to broil about 3 – 6 minutes longer until cooked to desired doneness in center.**
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Remove from oven and sprinkle with cilantro and serve. If you want the salmon a little more tart you can serve with lime wedges for spritzing.
- *This can also be marinated in a shallow dish such as a 9 by 9 or 7 by 11. If going this route marinate salmon on one side in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from the fridge, flip salmon to opposite side and let marinate at room temperature 20 to 30 minutes longer.
- **Cook times are approximate because they will vary based on how hot your broiler gets, how thick salmon fillets are, and desired degree of doneness. I aim for 125 to 130 degrees in center, but keep in mind USDA safe temp is 145.
Nutrition Facts
Broiled Salmon
Amount Per Serving
Calories 341
Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 109mg36%
Sodium 381mg17%
Potassium 1010mg29%
Carbohydrates 5g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 40g80%
Vitamin A 336IU7%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 32mg3%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
