Perfect 5 Ingredient BBQ Salmon
BBQ Salmon made with 5 Ingredients- This recipe is simple, healthy and most importantly delicious! Perfectly grilled or baked salmon topped with your favorite barbecue sauce and caramelized to perfection.
We eat salmon in our house at least 2 or 3 times a week. I know that eating the same protein every week can get boring; so having a variety of ways to cook protein keeps it interesting. With summer just around the corner, barbecue salmon on the grill is perfect for weeknight meals.
This recipe is quick and simple. I know cooking fish can be intimidating but I’m going to walk you through it all. I promise once you try this recipe you’ll feel like a pro!
So, let’s get into!
How to make BBQ Salmon
Gather the ingredients
Like I said, this is a very simple recipe with simple ingredients you probably already have. I chose to use fresh sockeye salmon but frozen salmon will work, too. Salmon defrosts quickly in a bowl of cool water so just take it out an hour before you are ready to cook.
Boneless wild caught salmon filets- I always use boneless wild caught sockeye salmon. It can be hard to find skinless salmon sometimes so we just remove the skin after cooking. It comes off easy!
TIP: If you are wondering what type of salmon to buy, check out my tips below. I’ve tried to answer all of the questions most people have on the fish,
Barbecue sauce- Use whatever flavor you like. We prefer a sweet and spicy flavor but any brand will work.
Garlic powder- This just intensifies the barbecue flavor.
Smoked paprika- The addition of smoked paprika really adds to the grilled flavor.
Salt
Olive oil (if grilling)*
Step 1: Season the salmon
*For grilling, pat the salmon dry with a paper towel and add olive oil to the skin or bottom side of the salmon. This is important to keep the salmon from sticking.
Start by adding the seasonings to the salmon. Sprinkle on the garlic powder, smoked paprika and salt. Then evenly smear the barbecue sauce on the filets.
Step 2: Time to cook!
To Grill the Salmon: Heat the grill to medium-high heat (around 450 degrees). Add the OILED salmon filets skin side down to the grill grates over direct heat. Close the grill and cook for 8-10 minutes. This will depend on the thickness of your salmon. If you prefer a more well done salmon, cook for 2 minutes longer.
For Oven Baked Salmon: This cooking method is equally delicious! Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and add the seasoned filets to a sheet pan. Bake the salmon for 8 minutes and check for doneness. Add 2 minutes at a time depending on the thickness of the filets.
TIP: Salmon fat will turn white on the edges of the filet when it has cooked. This is a great way to check the doneness of the fish without breaking into the filet.
What type of salmon is best?
There are several varieties of salmon in the market. Those who know me well know I am passionate about what we put in our bodies and “knowing your source” when it comes to proteins and produce.
Wild Caught Sockeye Salmon and Coho Salmon: These are your best varieties of salmon. Sockeye salmon is lean and firm and deep red in color. It is also the highest in protein variety. Coho salmon is also a great healthy choice. This fish is higher in fat and can be more oily. If you aren’t a huge fan of fish, this variety may be too strong in flavor for you.
Atlantic Salmon: This variety is widely available in grocery stores. It is a farm raised fish vs wild caught. There are much less nutrients and health benefits in this variety. When possible, always opt for sockeye or coho to reap all the benefits of eating salmon.
How to serve BBQ Salmon
I love serving this salmon with sweet potato fries when grilling. If you want a more well rounded dinner option, serve the salmon with roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli. This would also be delicious on top of a bed of rice with mango salsa, or even a summer spinach salad.
Looking for more summer recipes?
Hummus Fettuccine with Asparagus and Pesto
Before you go, if you make this BBQ Salmon recipe, comment and/or rate it down below. I’d love to hear what you think!
5 Ingredient BBQ Salmon
Ingredients
- 2 8 ounce Wild caught salmon filets boneless
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 TBSP barbecue sauce your favorite brand
- 1 TBSP olive oil if you are grilling
Instructions
For Grilled Salmon
- Preheat the grill to medium high heat ( around 450 degrees )
- Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel and coat the bottom or skin side of the salmon filets in the olive oil. Then evenly sprinkle the garlic powder, smoked paprika and salt over the 2 filets.
- Add 1 TBSP of barbecue sauce to each salmon filet and spread it over evenly.
- Place the salmon oil side down onto the grill and close the lid. Cook the salmon for 8-10 minutes. This will depend on how thick each filet is and how well done you like to eat your salmon. TIP: salmon fat will turn white when the fish is cooked. Look for this around the edges of the fish to know when it’s done!
For Oven Baked Salmon
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Add the salmon filets to a sheet pan. Cover the filets evenly with smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Then add 1 TBSP of barbecue sauce to each filet and cover the top.
- Bake the salmon for 8-10 minutes until the center is flaky.
- If your salmon has the skin on and you prefer to remove it like I do, gently run a fork or butter knife under the flesh of the fish to remove the skin. Do this while the fish is still warm and it will remove easily!
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