Balsamic Salmon Marinade (3 ingredients!)

This simple balsamic salmon marinade has just 3 ingredients, and gets dinner on your table in no time. The salmon comes out with the best texture- so soft and tender on the inside and never over-cooked.

When it comes to salmon, I'm all about serving it up with a delicious sauce. Maple glazed salmon and teriyaki salmon glaze are two of our favorites! This balsamic salmon marinade is another great option that infuses so much flavor into the salmon, but can also be converted into a sauce to drizzle over top.

With just three simple ingredients, this balsamic salmon marinade is so easy to prepare! Serve it up with a batch of coconut rice and sautéed green beans for the perfect meal.

Recipe video

See exactly how to cook balsamic salmon by watching the video below! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

Ingredient notes

• salmon- this cooking method works best with salmon fillets, and not thin tail sections. If you have a side of salmon, cut it into even 5 oz portions before marinating. For thin sections of salmon, see how I pan fry them in How to Cook Salmon
• balsamic vinegar- I've used regular grocery store balsamic vinegar, but you could get fancy with flavored balsamic vinegars
• maple syrup- balances the acidity/sharpness of the vinegar. Swap for honey or brown sugar.
• garlic powder- brings a touch of savory to the marinade; swap for 3-4 cloves of fresh minced garlic if you have it

---

Step by step directions

1. Shake up marinade- in a ½ pint jar or salad dressing shaker, combine the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and garlic powder. Shake it up until completely combined.

2. Marinate salmon- Make sure your salmon is cut into equal-sized 5 oz fillets. Arrange in a 9 x 9 inch square baking dish. Pour the marinade evenly over the salmon, then turn the salmon so it is skin side up. Marinate for 30 minutes.

• 

• 

3. Preheat oven + sheet pan- Heat the oven to 500°F. Line a sturdy baking sheet with foil and place it in the oven to pre-heat as well. Once oven comes to temperature, remove the sheet pan and carefully arrange the salmon on it (skin side down).

4. Reduce heat + bake salmon- Place the sheet pan into the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 275°F. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the salmon reaches 125°F* when checked with an instant read thermometer.

*this is medium-rare, if you prefer your salmon closer to medium doneness, cook to 145°F.

5. (optional) Reduce marinade- While salmon bakes, add the reserved marinade to a pot. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, until it reduces and thickens. Use this to drizzle over the salmon.

---

FAQ

Recipe tips

Use a sturdy baking dish

Preheating the baking sheet helps sear the salmon, sealing the juices in. Make sure you use a good quality sheet pan, and avoid glass at all costs (as it runs the risk of shattering at high temperatures). I also prefer a baking sheet over dish as it has great air circulation between salmon fillets, helping them cook through evenly.

I love these baking sheets

Check the temperature

All ovens bake slightly differently, and salmon can vary in thickness and shape. To avoid over or undercooking your salmon, I recommend checking the internal temperature using a digital thermometer.

• medium rare (recommended)- 125°F
• medium- 145°F

Foil makes clean up easier

I normally make this recipe without the foil, just giving the pan a soak and scrub. If you want to make clean up easier, line your pan with foil. Due to the high temperature, parchment paper will not be safe to use for this recipe.

---

Serve it with

• 7 Cauliflower Rice Recipes 
• 7 Easy Rice Recipes
• Broccolini
• Autumn Apple Farro Salad 
• Staple Kale Salad
• Maple Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash
• Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower

More salmon recipes