Sweet, savory, heart healthy & ready in just 20 minutes!. This easy Maple Dijon Baked Salmon is a fantastic weeknight dinner option. 237 calories and 2 Weight Watchers SmartPoints
We are suckers for a really good baked salmon recipe in this house, that is when we’re not grilling it in foil, making it into meatballs (seriously, so good) or air frying it.
The beauty of salmon, besides that fact that it’s heart healthy and tasty, is that it cooks in almost no time.
Actually, the trick to salmon is not to overcook it, or you’ll end up with dry, dense fish. Don’t worry – I’ll share with you my favorite tip for cooking salmon perfectly.
Tips for making this maple Dijon baked salmon recipe:
Start by lining baking sheet with foil. Easy clean-up always gets my vote!
In a small bowl, stir together the glaze. Since there are just a few ingredients, try to use the best quality. Specifically, this pertains to the maple syrup. This Canadian begs you to use the real stuff, not the corn syrup cheap stuff that they dare to label as maple syrup.😊
Along with the maple syrup, stir in chopped shallots, Dijon mustard, salt and a dash of cayenne pepper.
If using salmon fillets with skin, place the fillets skin side down on the foil-lined baking sheet. Once the salmon is cooked, the fillets should easily loosen from the skin. If you prefer to serve with the skin, be sure to coat the foil with cooking spray so that the skin doesn’t stick.
Brush the glaze over the salmon and cook under the broiler.
How do you tell when salmon is done?
So, how do you avoid overcooking salmon?
I’ve shared this trick with you before, but I think it’s worth repeating because I find it so handy.
Stick a small sharp knife into the thickest part of the salmon and hold it there for 10 seconds. Remove the knife from the fish and cautiously touch the side of the knife to either your upper lip or the inside of your wrist (they’re both very sensitive to temperature). If the knife is hot, the fish is done. It works every time!
What to serve with baked salmon:
So many options! Honestly, there are very few side dishes {LINK} that wouldn’t match up well with this salmon.
We often serve it with one of my favorite with boiled potatoes, brown rice side dish recipes or a quinoa stir fry. Load up on the veggies with stir fried cabbage or sauteed sugar snap peas. In the fall, a savory butternut squash salad is a tasty option.
OTHER EASY, HEALTHY SALMON RECIPES:
Salmon Tostadas with Guacamole {Cookin’ Canuck}
Light Salmon & Potato Chowder {Cookin’ Canuck}
Firecracker Salmon {Jo Cooks}
Grilled Salmon Skewers {What's Gaby Cooking}
Maple Dijon Baked Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 4 ounce each salmon fillets
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ½ shallot minced
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler. Place the rack 8 to 9 inches from the heat source. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
- Place the salmon fillets on the prepared baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, stir together the maple syrup, shallot, Dijon mustard, thyme, salt and cayenne.
- Brush the maple syrup mixture over the salmon fillets.
- Place the baking sheet under the broiler and cook until the salmon is just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Take care not to overcook it, or the fish will become dry and very dense.
- Place the salmon on plates and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was first published on February 18, 2015 and updated on August 21, 2020.
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Karen
I usually cook my salmon on the grill so I’m not familiar with broiling it. Do you put the broiler on the high or low temp option?
Dara
Hi Karen, many broilers just have an on/off function (no high/low option), which is the type I used to test this recipe. I would imagine that you would want to use the high option on your broiler. Be sure that the rack is set 8 to 9 inches from the heat source, as specified in the recipe. And peek at the salmon every couple of minutes to be sure it doesn't overcook.
gerry speirs
That's some serious yums!!
Carolyn
I could eat salmon all day every day! This looks like a fabulous recipe.
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
That glaze is perfect! Maple and dijon go so well together!
Jennifer Farley
I love salmon for dinner, and I am so excited for this recipe!
Jennifer Blake
Always love different options for salmon. These are all ingredients that my family enjoys so looking forward to surprising them with this!
Lindsay
This recipe is DELICIOUS. Didn't have any parsley and it was still great. Definitely making again.
Fran
Salmon looks amazing! Will need to add to my menu. Love love the plates, what is the brand, name or where can I get them?
Sophia @Veggies Don't Bite
Thank you for linking to my butternut squash roll ups, I love that adorable whisk!
Kari
I love that salmon trick! It's so helpful!!
Kari