Name: Salmon Marinade Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup soy sauce; ¼ cup olive oil; 3 tablespoons brown mustard (I use spicy brown mustard); 2 tablespoons honey (or use brown sugar); 2 tablespoons lemon juice (or juice from ½ lemon); 1 serrano pepper (diced (optional, for extra spicy)); 4 cloves garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste (note that soy sauce is typically salty)); Red pepper flakes (use ¼ to 1 teaspoon, or to taste); 2 6-ounce salmon fillets

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This spicy salmon marinade recipe makes the most flavorful salmon, made with soy sauce, spicy brown mustard, chili flakes and more. Super easy to make.

Salmon Marinade Recipe

Get your salmon fillets ready, my friends. We're whipping up a new batch of Spicy Salmon Marinade today in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen, and it's going to add a ton of bold flavor to your meal.

What You'll Love About This Recipe

Bold, Zesty Flavor. This marinade brings a perfect balance of tangy citrus, savory soy, and a touch of heat for unforgettable flavor in every bite.
Quick & Easy Prep. Just whisk, marinate, and grill or bake. It’s weeknight-friendly and meal-prep approved.
Versatile & Customizable. Great for salmon fillets, skewers, or even other seafood - adjust the heat to your taste.

How Long Should I Marinate Salmon For?

For the best flavor and texture, marinate salmon for 30 minutes to 1 hour. That’s enough time for the bold flavors to soak in without overpowering the fish.

Avoid marinating for too long, especially if your marinade contains acidic ingredients like citrus juice or vinegar. These acids can start to "cure" the fish, much like in ceviche, breaking down the proteins and changing the texture to something mushy or chalky instead of tender and flaky.

Safe Practice: Always marinate salmon in the refrigerator and discard any leftover marinade that’s come into contact with raw fish. If you want to use it as a glaze or sauce, be sure to simmer it first to kill any bacteria.

How To Use This Marinade

This marinade works beautifully with a variety of cooking methods. Once your salmon has marinated (30 minutes to 1 hour in the fridge), here’s how to get the best results:

Grilled Salmon. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grates. Remove the salmon from the marinade and pat it dry with paper towels - this helps with searing and prevents flare-ups. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until the salmon flakes easily with a fork.

Baked Salmon. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment. After marinating, pat the salmon dry and place it skin-side down. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until just cooked through. You want 4-6 minutes per inch of thickness for oven baked salmon, depending on how you like it done.

Broiled Salmon. Place salmon on a foil-lined pan and broil about 6 inches from the heat source for 6-8 minutes. Keep a close eye to avoid burning. Broiling gives you a crisp top while keeping the inside moist, perfect for a quick cook.

Air Fryer Salmon. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Pat the marinated salmon dry and cook for 7-10 minutes, depending on thickness. Air frying delivers crispy edges with tender centers, fast.

General Tips

Always pat the fish dry after marinating for the best texture and caramelization.
Check for pin bones before cooking. Use tweezers to remove any left in the fillet.
If using leftover marinade as a glaze or drizzle, boil it first to ensure it's food-safe.

Recipe Tips & Notes

Other Ingredients. Other flavors are popular for marinating salmon. Try using orange juice instead of lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and cracked black pepper. You can also include your own favorite seasonings and seasoning blends as desired. Don't forget the salt and pepper. Make it your own.
Benefits of a Marinade. Marinating is a big flavor building component. A good marinade helps to add moisture to your proteins, especially fish. It also helps the salmon from drying out while you're cooking it, and it really adds a lot of flavor.
The Heat Factor. Want more heat? Toss in some spicy chili peppers. Prefer it mild? Stick with red pepper flakes for just a touch. Or go big - you know you want to, my chilihead friends!

Best Internal Temperature for Salmon

The USDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of 145°F, but many chefs and home cooks prefer it slightly lower, around 125°F to 130°F, for a more tender, moist, and silky texture.

At this range, the salmon is still safe to eat (especially if sushi-grade or very fresh), but it will be less firm and flaky. Just note: cooking to a lower temp carries a slightly higher food safety risk, so use your best judgment and always start with high-quality fish.

I recommend the the ThermoPop meat thermometer (affiliate link, my friends) by ThermoWorks for measuring the temperatures of meat and fish. I am a proud affiliate.

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy my spicy salmon marinade recipe, and the salmon! However you cook it up.. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you. Keep it spicy!

Storage Information / Make it Ahead

You can make this salmon marinade up to 5 days ahead of time. Just keep it in the refrigerator in a sealed container. When you're ready to use, take it out and marinate your salmon as desired.

You can also freeze it for 3 months.

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy my marinated salmon recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Salmon Marinade Recipe

This spicy salmon marinade recipe makes the most flavorful salmon, made with soy sauce, spicy brown mustard, chili flakes and more. Super easy to make.

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Course: Main Course, sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: marinade, salmon, soy sauce, spicy

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 5

Calories: 368kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings:

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5 from 19 votes

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Ingredients

1/4 cup soy sauce
¼ cup olive oil
3 tablespoons brown mustard I use spicy brown mustard
2 tablespoons honey or use brown sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice or juice from ½ lemon
1 serrano pepper diced (optional, for extra spicy)
4 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste (note that soy sauce is typically salty)
Red pepper flakes use ¼ to 1 teaspoon, or to taste
2 6-ounce salmon fillets

Instructions

Whisk together the soy sauce, olive oil, honey or brown sugar, mustard, lemon juice, serranos, garlic, oregano, salt and red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl until well combined.
Place the salmon in a large zip-top bag and pour the marinade over it. Seal the bag, gently press out excess air, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Alternatively, you can use a shallow dish or bowl - just pour the marinade over the salmon, then cover tightly with plastic wrap.

Video

Notes

This recipe is good to cover 2-3 6-ounce salmon fillets.

Calories are calculated without the salmon, but note that not all of the marinade is consumed.

See the Recipe Post for salmon cooking methods.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 368kcal Carbohydrates: 25g Protein: 8g Fat: 28g Saturated Fat: 4g Sodium: 3243mg Potassium: 169mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 19g Vitamin A: 28IU Vitamin C: 9mg Calcium: 46mg Iron: 2mg

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

Spicy Salmon Marinade Recipe

Salmon Marinade Recipe

What You'll Love About This Recipe

How Long Should I Marinate Salmon For?