This Baked BBQ Salmon recipe is sweet, smoky, and full of rich, bold flavor. Marinated in a simple bourbon marinade, brushed with BBQ sauce, and baked to tender flaky perfection, it's an easy weeknight dinner or effortless weekend meal.
Serve with microwave steamed green beans and Parmesan roasted potatoes for a delicious, quick dinner.
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We're on a bit of a salmon kick right now. And I'm loving how fast and easy it is to bake salmon in the oven. This barbecue salmon recipe is my new favorite way to get a quick, healthy, super flavorful dinner ready with just a couple minutes of prep.
The bourbon marinade for salmon mixes together right in the bag, but sometimes we skip it. And if I'm out of BBQ sauce, I stir together a quick small batch of this no-cook homemade barbecue sauce with pantry ingredients I always have on hand.
In the mood for something a little spicier? Try Blackened Baked Salmon or Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad with Ciabatta Croutons and Caesar dressing.
❤️You're Going to Love This
- Quick and easy recipe. Just marinate, glaze, and bake.
- Easy bourbon marinade recipe adds rich, bold flavor.
- Optional no-cook BBQ sauce is sweet, smoky, and tangy
- Oven-baked for easy cleanup (no messy stovetop spatter!)
- Great for meal prep! Make extra to enjoy for quick, healthy lunches.
🐟Ingredients
See recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and exact amounts.
- Bourbon. Bourbon infuses the salmon with its distinctive flavor.
- Soy sauce. For salty, savory, umami flavor.
- Salmon filets. You can use fresh or frozen (thawed) salmon fillets. Pat the salmon dry with paper towels to allow the marinade to better soak in.
- Minced garlic. If you're all out, use ¼ teaspoon garlic powder.
🥃Variations or Substitutions
- Instead of bourbon, use another type of whiskey, rum, brandy, or cognac. For a non-alcoholic alternative, try apple juice, white grape juice, or chicken broth. The flavor won't be the same, but it will still be delicious! I've never tried bourbon extract, so if you do, let me know!
- Swap out store-bought BBQ sauce with this easy, homemade, no-cook BBQ sauce. See the recipe card for measurements to make just enough for this recipe.
🥣How to Make How to Make Bourbon BBQ Baked Salmon
Step 1: Place all marinade ingredients in a large ziptop bag and use your hands to mix it together. Add the salmon. Marinate in the refrigerator for 15-60 minutes.
Step 2: Arrange salmon filets on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Brush the tops of the salmon with BBQ sauce. Bake at 425 for 8 minutes, then broil for 2-3 minutes until the fish is flaky and cooked through.
👉Helpful Hint: Cook salmon until the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 135 degrees, then allow carryover heat to take it to 145.
🌽Side Dishes to Serve with Baked BBQ Salmon
- Slow Cooker Brown Rice. Meal prep a big batch and heat up for a quick side or to build your own salmon bowl.
- Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob with garlic butter and Creole seasoning.
- Garlic Red Skin Mashed Potatoes with cream cheese and Parmesan cheese.
- Southwestern Pasta Salad with avocado Greek yogurt dressing.
- Roasted Pea and Asparagus Salad in a tangy lemon vinaigrette.
✅Top Tips
- Use apple juice, white grape juice, or chicken broth instead of bourbon for a non-alcoholic marinade.
- In a hurry? Skip the marinade, season the salmon with salt and pepper, brush on the BBQ sauce, and bake.
- Watch the salmon closely while it's broiling so it doesn't burn.
- Do not use parchment paper under the broiler.
- Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the salmon.
🎁Storage
Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can gently reheat salmon at a low temperature in the oven, but it's really good cold flaked into salads, wraps, and grain bowls, or just as-is.
❓FAQ
I recommend marinating the salmon in the bourbon marinade for no longer than one hour. Any longer than that, and the fish can get mushy.
Definitely. Just place the fillets skin side down while baking and remove the skin after if desired.
Yes, the marinade can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
A sweet and tangy BBQ sauce works well to balance the oaky flavors of the bourbon.
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📖 Recipe
Baked Bourbon BBQ Salmon
Ingredients
Bourbon Marinade for Salmon
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
Baked BBQ Salmon
- 2 6-8 oz. salmon filets, skin removed
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Place all marinade ingredients into a large ziptop bag. Squish the bag around with your hands until combined. Pat salmon dry and add them to the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 15-60 minutes (no longer).
- Preheat the oven to 425. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Remove salmon filets from the marinade and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Discard the marinade. Brush the tops of the filets with BBQ sauce.
- Bake for 8 minutes, then broil for 2-3 minutes until cooked through and flaky. It should reach an internal temperature of 135 on a digital meat thermometer. Let it rest 5-10 minutes to allow carryover heat to fully cook it to 145.
Notes
- Use apple juice, white grape juice, or chicken broth instead of bourbon for a non-alcoholic marinade.
- In a hurry? Skip the marinade, season the salmon with salt and pepper, brush on the BBQ sauce, and bake.
- Watch the salmon closely while it's broiling so it doesn't burn.
- Do not use parchment paper under the broiler.
- Instead of store-bought, make a small batch of sweet and tangy no-cook homemade BBQ sauce (adjust to taste):
- 2 T ketchup
- 1 T brown sugar
- ½ T each molasses and apple cider vinegar
- ¾ teaspoon each Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce
- ⅛ t paprika
- 1 dash each garlic powder and black pepper
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