Salmon is easy, healthy, and delicious prepared in a simple marinade.

In this grilled salmon recipe, filets are marinated in a simple sesame-soy mixture and then grilled until tender and flaky.

Round out this meal with asparagus and rice pilaf, or serve it as a hearty salmon bowl.

plated Easy Grilled Salmon with rice and vegetables

Fast, Fresh, and Flavorful

Grilled salmon is so easy to prepare, and it makes for a flavorful and healthy meal that’s ready in just minutes – perfect for those busy weeknights. This lean protein is not only easy to make, it’s elegant and versatile too.

Ingredients for Grilled Salmon

Salmon – This recipe is great with either fresh or frozen salmon filets. Frozen fillets can be thawed while they are marinating. When picking out salmon fillets for grilling, sockeye (or coho) are great choices, if possible, skin on salmon is easier to grill.

Marinade – Soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, sesame oil, and fresh lemon juice make add lots of flavor and for a perfectly tenderized filet.

Marinade/Seasoning Variations

  • Change up the salmon marinade by adding lime juice in place of lemon juice, or add a little freshly grated ginger and red pepper flakes.
  • If preferred, skip the marinade and add a bit of olive oil, and rub it with salmon seasoning or salt and pepper before it hits the grill! Serve with fresh herbs like parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Ingredients for grilled salmon on a marble board

How to Grill Salmon

  1. Marinate salmon filets for at least 1 hour.
  2. Grill salmon flesh side down according to the recipe below. Flip over & cook until the fillets reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
  3. Let salmon rest before serving. Serve with lemon slices or wedges.
Salmon fillets in a casserole dish with sauce being poured on
Grilled salmon on the BBQ

Grill Tips

Preheat a charcoal grill or gas grill and place a bit of oil on a piece of paper towel. Rub the paper towel on the grill grates until they are black and shiny. This will help keep the salmon from sticking.

If the salmon sticks when you try to flip it, it isn’t ready to flip yet. The salmon filets should release easily from the grill.

Be sure not to overcook the filets, they should reach an internal temperature of 145°F. Remove the salmon from the grill a few degrees early as it will continue to cook as it rests.

Grilled salmon on a plate garnish with parsley with vegetables on the side

Sides for Grilled Salmon

  • Grilled salmon is great a great dish to serve with fresh grilled vegetables like asparagus. zucchini, or even grilled corn.
  • It pairs nicely with a pilaf, cauliflower rice, boiled baby potatoes, or light vinaigrette style pasta salads.
  • Add a fruit salsa like pineapple or mango salsa.

Keep leftover salmon covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

More Salmon Favorites

From salmon foil packets to lemon and dill, salmon is as easy to prepare as it is delicious.

Did your family love this Grilled Salmon Recipe? Leave us a rating and a comment below!

plated Easy Grilled Salmon with rice and vegetables
4.97 from 27 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Easy Grilled Salmon

Salmon filets are marinated in a flavorful sesame-soy marinade and grilled until tender and flaky.
Pin Review Print
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Marinate Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Author Holly Nilsson

Equipment

a gas grill on a white background
Grill

Ingredients  

  • 1 ½ pounds salmon fillets

Marinade

  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup water
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil toasted
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, water, oil, brown sugar, lemon juice, sesame oil, and garlic powder.
  • Pour over salmon and allow to marinate for at least 1 hour (or up to 8 hours).
  • Preheat the grill to medium high heat (400°F).
  • Place salmon, skin side down, onto the grill and cook for 6-8 minutes. Turn over and cook and an additional 5-7 minutes or until salmon reaches 145°F. Do not overcook.
  • Rest for a few minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

Marinating: Keep salmon refrigerated while it’s marinating and always discard leftover marinade.
Oven: This can be baked at 450°F for 10 minutes and then broiled for 5 minutes.
Keep it from sticking: Preheat the grill and place a bit of oil on a piece of paper towel. Rub the paper towel on the grill grates until they are black and shiny. This will help keep the salmon from sticking.
If the salmon sticks when you try to flip it, it isn’t ready to flip yet. The salmon filets should release easily from the grill.
Temperature: Be sure not to overcook the salmon. It should be cooked to 145°F, I usually remove it from the grill a few degrees early as it will continue to cook as it rests.
Nutrition information includes 10% absorption of the marinade.
4.97 from 27 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 257 | Carbohydrates: 0.3g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 838mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 68IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dinner, Fish, Main Course, Seafood
Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

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Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Comments

  1. Salmon is one of our favorite go to foods. This recipe is simple, easy to follow for anyone and is always delicious..5 stars

    Reply

  2. Am trying this tonight. So when you grill do you grill skin side up first? Thank you love your recipes

    Reply

    1. Hi Despina, yes! We place the salmon flesh side down then flip and cook skin side down.

      Reply

  3. I cook skin side down first to get crisp
    I never marinade anything with lemon or lime (acidic) in metal.
    I made this and it was good4 stars

    Reply

  5. How do you think this marinade will work with chicken.I love salmon, my wife hates fish espcially salmon. So I could cook chicken as well with the marinade. Thoughts?

    Reply

    1. I think it would work James. I’d suggest adding it during the last 15 minutes of grilling. That’s a great idea to both enjoy what you love! Enjoy!

      Reply

  7. Grilled Salmon is one of my all time favourite recipes and this looks delicious! It is so healthy and good to have during the week as well I think. Thanks for a great, healthy recipe.5 stars

    Reply