This homemade Glazed Salmon with brown sugar, dijon mustard, and lemon juice is the easiest roasted salmon. The glaze is sweet and sticky after caramelizing in the oven. Did I mention it’s a quick dinner idea? There is no marinating required and it’s done in less than 20 minutes. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is.
We love salmon recipes from our famous Baked Salmon Recipe to Grilled Salmon and even Salmon Patties. If you are a fan of salmon, this Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon will probably be on your regular rotation.
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Roasted Glazed Salmon Video
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Ingredients for Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon
This glaze is so simple and compliments salmon perfectly. It’s sweet and savory with a hint of spice from the mustard. The splash of fresh lemon juice balances the flavors. Don’t worry, it’s more sweet than spicy and the kids never once complained about it being too spicy.
- Brown sugar – we used packed light brown sugar which adds sweetness and caramelizes in the glaze
- Dijon mustard – adds depth of flavor and we love Grey Poupon brand.
- Lemon juice – use freshly squeezed lemon juice to add some acid and balance the glaze.
- Salt and black pepper – we add this right to the sauce to save a step seasoning the salmon.
- Salmon – use 2 lbs of skinless or skin-on salmon, cut into 6 filets
Pro Tip: Sourcing salmon (wild-caught versus farmed salmon) can be tricky depending on your location. Wild-caught is best, but get the best salmon you can afford and or access. I have found that thicker, fattier fillets are juicier and more forgiving if you accidentally overcook the fish.
The Best Mustard for Salmon
I love the balanced flavors of Dijon mustard for salmon and we have loved the Grey Poupon brand for years. Dijon is mustard is a wonderful complement to cooking because it adds that acidic component that we love in savory dishes like Lobster Tails, Baked Chicken Legs, and our favorite Cobb Salad Dressing. It’s so versatile and we always keep a bottle in the refrigerator. If you’re looking to substitute, you could also use grainy mustard which would look lovely on the salmon.
How to Make Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon
- Prep – preheat the oven, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment
- Make Glaze – combine the glaze ingredients in a small mixing bowl, stir to combine.
- Arrange Salmon filets on the baking sheet 1-inch apart and remove any bones with tweezers.
- Spread glaze generously over the salmon fillets, brushing it over the tops and sides.
- Bake at 400˚F for 12 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145˚F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from the oven and serve garnished with lemon slices.
Pro Tip: Lining your baking sheet is important for easy clean-up. No one wants to be scrubbing caramelized sugar from a baking sheet. You can use parchment paper or lightly greased foil.
Common Questions
Honey will work but we prefer using brown sugar because it makes the glaze slightly thicker so it’s less likely to run off the sides of your salmon filets.
It is not necessary to broil this salmon. Broiling can quickly over-cook your fish and also cause the oven to become smoky from the sugar in your glaze.
When finished cooking, the salmon will change from red to pink and will be flaky. The best test for salmon doneness is to check the internal temperature with a thermometer, which should reach 145˚F at the thickest part of the salmon.
Absolutely! Make sure to roast skin-on salmon with the skin side touching the baking sheet, i.e. skin-side-down.
To Serve
Since the glaze in this salmon has a ton of flavor, you can keep the sides pretty simple. We love to serve this as a main course paired with these simple sides.
- Roasted Asparagus
- Mashed Potatoes
- Vegetable Stir Fry
- Perfect White Rice
- Roasted Baby Red Potatoes
- Boiled New Potatoes
Make-Ahead
This glazed salmon recipe is so easy that there really is no need to make ahead anything. However, if you wanted to you, you could cut up the salmon and arrange it on a baking sheet and stir together the topping in a separate bowl then cover both, and keep refrigerated until ready to bake. Spread sauce over salmon before baking.
More Salmon Recipes to try
Our readers (that’s you) adore salmon recipes. It’s the second most searched term on our blog, second only to chicken. If you enjoyed this Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon then you won’t want to miss these popular salmon recipes.
- Oven Baked Salmon with Garlic and Dijon
- Salmon Cobb Salad
- Grilled Salmon with Garlic Lime Butter
- Pan-Seared Salmon with Lemon Butter
- Grilled Salmon Skewers
- Sheet Pan Salmon and Asparagus
Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 lbs salmon, cut into six, 5 ½-ounce filets (boneless, skin-on, or skinless)
- 1/2 lemon, sliced for garnish, optional
- 1 Tbsp parsley, finely chopped to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F with one rack positioned in the top third of your oven. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the sugar, mustard, lemon juice, oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine.
- Lay the fillets on the prepared baking sheet skin-side-down (if your fillets have skin) and spaced about 1 inch apart.
- Generously spread the glaze over the top and sides of the fish. Bake for 10-15 minutes*, or until the internal temperature at the thickest part reaches 145˚F on an instant-read thermometer, and the flesh flakes easily with a fork.
My first time making this and so far it looks amazingly delicious… But I wanted to know if I cover the pan, as it doesn’t state it in the instructions. Thanks so much!
Hi Beverly, no, we did not need to cover the pan when baking. I hope you love this recipe.
Natasha, I LOVE your recipes! They ALWAYS turn out DELICIOUS! THANK YOU!
YOU do such a great job with your demonstrations . You are such a DOLL🥰
Thank you so much, Sally!
This came out amazing. Made it for my BIL for the first time and was PERFECT! followed your instructions exactly. You’re always my go to for reliable recipies! Thank you 😊
Aw, thanks, Heather! I’m so glad it was a hit.
Natasha – your site is such a GREAT resource for me. I would LOVE to see you on “The Kitchen” or “Beat Bobby Flay” or somesuch. Have you ever been a guest on one of those type shows ? 🙂
Aww, thank you so much for that lovely compliment, Brian!
It’s also great with some chopped pecans added to the topping.
Sounds amazing! 🙂
Love this quick easy recipe! The flavor is amazing! It’s -4 here and I just couldn’t bring myself to grill tonight 🥶 yet, SUPRISE!, dinner guests appeared and all I had enough of on hand was salmon. I needed a simple recipe for the oven and I can always count on you! Made it exactly as the video said..DELICIOUS! With bourbon glazed carrots and a couple of boxes of rice a roni pilaf..😆 My husband said I shouldn’t make such fancy dinners or we will have surprise dinner guests every night no matter how cold it is! You are the best!
I’m so glad you loved it! Thank you for the feedback! 🙂
Made this for dinner Wednesday night. Turned out soooo good! Will be making this again real soon!
So glad you enjoyed it!
I tried this today & it was delicious, I substituted the Dijon for French’s, still delicious
Sounds good, Michelle. Good to know that you enjoyed this recipe!
Glad to hear that, Michelle! Thank you.
Bought a wild coho salmon and used this recipe and we loved it. Easy to make and tasted like a restaurant level dish at half the cost.
So glad to hear that, Ron. Thank you for sharing.
Made this tonight, it was very easy, super tasty and looks beautiful. Loved it, can’t wait for your cookbook, my kitchen drawer is filled with your recipes. Your videos are adorable just like you and your family and so nice you share your faith. You are the best…and so is your food!!
Aaaw that is so heartwarming. Thanks for patiently waiting for the cookbook, we’re really working hard to make it great.
This was a quick, easy, and delicious dinner! I made it exactly as is. Thank you Natasha for having so many ideas for salmon that are simple and ready in no time.
That’s great! So happy it was enjoyed. Thank you for the review.
I have to say I have never been a fan of salmon, but thought this looked so pretty and tasty, I had to give it a try! I am alone, so only used 2 filets, and paired it with some jasmine rice that I made with onions, mushrooms and garlic, sautéed and than toasted with some marsala, then cooked in chicken stock. Enjoyed very much, and have enough for another meal! Thanks for some great recipes!
Hi Andrea, thank you for sharing your experience with this recipe. So glad you enjoyed it.
Oh my gosh!!! I made this salmon tonight with your Easy Boiled Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus with Lemon and Parmesan! That sauce on that salmon! We inhaled it! So delicious! I’m going to use that sauce on chicken, pork chops and everything! I have no words! Thank you so much, it’s the best!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Joyce!!
I made this recipe following the exact instructions. It was delicious! Definitely a keeper.
That’s so great! I’m happy you found a keeper on my blog, Patricia!