Teriyaki Salmon (with Best Sauce)

By Amy Dong
Published Jul. 22, 2024

This Teriyaki Salmon is out-of-this-world delicious. The teriyaki sauce was handed down by Grandpa, and still is our favorite for chicken, shrimp, beef, or salmon.

teriyaki salmon served with rice. — This Teriyaki Salmon with the Best Sauce is always a crowd pleaser – kids and adults alike devour it!

Why This Recipe Stands Out

After years of hosting dinner parties and cookouts, friends and family have come to expect Teriyaki Grilled Salmon on our menu. Here’s why we love this recipe:

It’s Super Fast: Teriyaki Salmon is one of our favorite 30-minute meals – perfect for a speedy, delicious weeknight meal.
It’s Healthy: It’s no secret that salmon is packed with health benefits. We love when a recipe is both bursting with flavor and nutritious.
The BEST Teriyaki Sauce: Anything you throw onto the grill will turn out fabulous when drizzled with our tried-and-true Teriyaki sauce.
Versatile: As with most of our fish and seafood recipes, Teriyaki Salmon can be paired with so many other dishes.

Key Recipe Ingredients

Salmon Filets – For the best results with this recipe, look for salmon filets that are about 1″ thick throughout and 6-8 oz. each.
Teriyaki Sauce – Grab your favorite brand of Teriyaki sauce (we like Kikkoman). This acts as the base for our sauce.
Sugar – We use both white and brown sugar in the sauce to sweeten the flavors and help create that slightly crispy, golden exterior on the salmon filets.
Orange Wedges – Fresh orange juice adds just the right pop of sweetness, acidity, and citrus to the Teriyaki sauce.
Ground Ginger – This recipe uses ground ginger for ease, but feel free to use freshly grated ginger for more intense flavors.
Cornstarch – Cornstarch helps thicken the sauce so it sticks on the salmon.

Substitutions And Variations

Teriyaki Salmon can be made in so many different ways. Here are our top picks:

Bake Instead of Grill: To bake salmon, simply prep it as you would and place it in the oven at 375F. Bake for roughly 10 minutes, and finish under the broiler until browned. Check out this recipe for Easy Baked Salmon for more detailed instructions.
Use the Air Fryer: Take a look at our recipe for Air Fryer Salmon for tips with this cooking method. Just throw rinsed and dried filets in the air fryer at 400F for 6-8 minutes. Garnish with sauce after.
Swap the Seafood: Like we said, this Teriyaki sauce elevates any protein to the next level. Try serving it over Grilled Shrimp or this Easy Perfect Mahi Mahi.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

In a medium pan, whisk all sauce ingredients together. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, whisking until thickened.
Rinse salmon fillets and pat dry as thoroughly as possible. Season with salt and pepper.
Grease and heat grill to medium-high heat.
Place salmon fillets on preheated grill and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side.
Remove filets from heat and let sit a few minutes. Top with teriyaki sauce. Enjoy!

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

How To Prep Ahead

Here are our best prep ahead tips to make this dish even easier:

Thaw the Fish in Advance: If using flash frozen salmon, take the fillets out the night before and place them in the fridge to thaw overnight.
Thaw the Fish Last Minute: If you forgot to take out the fish the night before, no worries! You can thaw frozen filets in just about an hour by placing them in a Ziploc bag and submerging the bag in cold water, replacing the cold water every 20 minutes.
Make the Teriyaki Sauce: This teriyaki sauce will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for at least a week. Make the sauce, let it cool, and chill until ready to reheat!

Pro Tips for Sucess

Get Quality Fish: Fresh salmon fillets are best, but individually sealed flash-frozen fillets are also very good. As with all protein, the better quality your salmon, the better your results will be.
Prepare Salmon: Always gently rinse fillets with cool water and dab off all excess moisture before seasoning and cooking.
Get the Grill HOT: Always be sure your cooking surface, whether outdoor or indoor stovetop grill, is smoking hot (literally) before laying down the fish.
Don’t Overcook: Be sure not to overcook the salmon. You don’t want a chalky finish. Cook just until center is almost cooked through. The edges should be browned and flaky, with a tender just-done center.
Let Salmon Rest: Let cooked fish rest at room temperature for a few minutes before serving, as this helps fish retain juiciness and tenderness.

What To Serve With Teriyaki Salmon

Starches

Serve Teriyaki Salmon with Fluffy Jasmine Rice or this Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice for a healthy, hearty choice.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is a tasty, simple side that pairs well here. If you love stir-fry noodles, try this Lo Mein Noodles recipe.

Veggies

This Chinese Chicken Salad can be made with or without the chicken; the dressing is unbelievable.
If you’re grilling your salmon, serve this Grilled Zucchini for a healthy, green side.

Drinks and Desserts

For a cookout, nothing beats a pitcher of ice cold Hawaiian Mai Tai (make-ahead!) For a smaller group, shake up a couple of these Mango Cocktails | 5-Ingredient Recipe
After the meal, enjoy a nice big scoop of Green Tea Ice Cream in the hotter months or Red Bean Mochi Bars in the cooler months.

Commonly Asked Questions

How long does teriyaki salmon keep?

Teriyaki salmon will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. We suggest storing the sauce separately from the salmon to keep salmon from getting mushy.

How do I tell my salmon is done?

You’ll know your salmon is cooked just right when it flakes when pressed with a fork. If using a food thermometer, your salmon should reach 145F. Remember, the fillets will continue to cook while they rest. So, be sure not to overcook on the grill.

Should I cook my salmon with the skin on or off?

It’s totally up to you. We find that the salmon filets hold together better and stay more tender when the skin is on – you can always peel it off after they’re cooked – but you can still have great results with it off.

Is teriyaki salmon gluten free?

If you get a gluten-free teriyaki sauce then, yes, this dish is totally gluten free! Be sure your brand of teriyaki sauce is also labeled gluten-free.

Why do you need to let the fish rest after cooking?

Letting the salmon rest allows it to finish cooking on the inside and keeps it from losing the tenderness and juices when you cut into it.

Did you make this?

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