Can You Put BBQ Sauce on Salmon? The Delicious Possibilities

This is a no-recipe recipe, a recipe without an ingredients list or steps. It invites you to improvise in the kitchen.

There are generally a few kinds of barbecue sauce in my refrigerator, leftovers from various experiments. That might be true for you too? I bet there’s a store-bought half-bottle or an unopened, dusty one in the pantry. Check: There probably is. Let’s make dinner with it, and some salmon fillets. Set the oven to 400 degrees and put the barbecue sauce in a small pot on the stove over medium heat. Add some roughly chopped pickled hot peppers from a jar to the sauce, and then add a few pats of butter to make it smooth. Warm that up while the oven heats up. Then, season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Place them skin-side down on a lightly oiled sheet pan and roast for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are almost done. Spoon the pepper-studded barbecue sauce over the top, and go to!.

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It might not seem like barbecue sauce and salmon would go well together, but the sweet, sour, and smokey flavors of barbecue sauce go well with the rich, fatty texture of salmon. Many people cook salmon on the grill, but you can also bake, broil, or pan sear it and then top it with a tasty barbecue glaze. BBQ salmon is a quick and easy weeknight dinner that only needs a few ingredients and not much time to prepare.

Why BBQ Sauce Works Well with Salmon

There are a few reasons why steaks and salmon fillets go well with this sauce:

Sweet and savory balance: The sweetness of most bbq sauces balances nicely with salmon’s natural oils and fattiness. The touch of sweetness enhances the rich flavor of the salmon.
Caramelized exterior Brushing bbq sauce over salmon and broiling or baking creates a sticky, caramelized exterior coating on the fish. This adds texture and another layer of flavor.
Smoky, charred flavors: Many bbq sauces feature smoked paprika, chipotle peppers, or other ingredients that impart a smoky essence. This smokiness pairs perfectly with salmon’s meaty texture. Charring the bbq glaze under the broiler or on the grill boosts these savory flavors.
Easy to make Bbq sauce shortcuts the seasoning process You can brush it over plain salmon fillets without much prep work required. The sauce does the work of adding lots of flavor
Kid-friendly: If you need a fast, fuss-free fish dinner that appeals to young palates, bbq salmon fits the bill. The sauce adds a punch of sweetness and familiar bbq taste that kids love.

BBQ Sauce Options for Salmon

You have lots of flexibility when choosing a barbecue sauce for salmon Here are some options

Store-bought bbq sauce: Look for classic, smokey, or spicy blends from your grocery store shelves. Sweet tomato-based sauces pair especially well with salmon.
Homemade bbq sauce: Craft your own signature sauce to complement the salmon. Homemade can allow you to better control sweetness, smokiness, and consistency.
Specialty bbq sauces: Gourmet bbq sauce options like bourbon bbq, coffee bbq, or chipotle bbq can add unique flavor dimensions.
Fruit-based bbq sauce: For more fruity flavors, opt for peach, pineapple, cherry, or orange marmalade bbq sauce variations.
Asian bbq sauce: Korean bbq-style sauces with ginger, sesame, and garlic offer an umami-rich glaze for salmon.

The most important factor is choosing a sauce with a consistency thick enough to nicely coat the salmon. Thinner vinegar-based sauces may not stick as well.

How to Cook BBQ Salmon: Easy Methods

Salmon fillets pair well with quick cooking methods that will cook the fish through without drying it out. Basting the fish with sauce protects it from the high heat. Here are some easy bbq salmon cooking methods:

Baked BBQ Salmon

Preheat oven to 400°F. Place salmon skin-side down on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
Brush salmon generously with bbq sauce. Bake for 10-12 minutes until opaque and flaky.
Remove salmon from oven and brush with another layer of sauce. Broil 30 seconds to caramelize sauce.

Broiled BBQ Salmon

Move oven rack 6 inches from broiler. Line sheet pan with foil and coat with oil.
Place salmon skin-side down and broil 3-4 minutes. Remove and brush with bbq sauce.
Broil 2 more minutes, add another layer of sauce, broil 1 minute more until caramelized.

Grilled BBQ Salmon

Prepare bbq sauce and salmon. Oil grill grates and preheat grill to medium-high.
Grill salmon skin-side up for 2-3 minutes. Flip and grill 2 minutes.
Brush bbq sauce on top of grilled salmon and grill 1 more minute to caramelize sauce.

Pan Seared BBQ Salmon

Pat salmon dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
When oil shimmers, add salmon skin-side up. Cook 4 minutes until browned.
Flip salmon, add bbq sauce, and cook 2 more minutes, spooning sauce over fish.

No matter which cooking method you choose, the key is basting the salmon with sauce a few times. This helps the glaze stick and build layers of finger-licking flavor.

Tips for the Best BBQ Salmon

To end up with tender, flaky salmon encrusted with sweet and smoky bbq flavor, keep these tips in mind:

Pat salmon dry before cooking so the bbq glaze adheres properly. Moisture on the surface can make sauce slide right off.
Use thick fillets at least 1 inch thick. Thinner cuts can dry out quickly. Aim for 4-6 oz portions.
Pick bones clean if using salmon steaks. Bones burn easily when exposed to high heat while broiling or grilling.
Oil the cooking surface so the salmon doesn’t stick, whether baking sheet, grill or pan.
Cook over medium-high heat to quickly sear and caramelize the exterior while keeping the interior moist. Avoid slow cooking salmon and bbq sauce together.
Brush sauce on a few times during cooking to build up sticky, charred layers of flavor.
Let bbq salmon rest 5 minutes after cooking before serving. This allows juices to redistribute through the fish.

Full-Flavor BBQ Salmon Recipes to Try

If you’re sold on pairing succulent salmon with zesty bbq sauce, give one of these popular recipes a try:

Oven Baked BBQ Salmon

Ingredients: Salmon, bbq sauce, oil, salt, pepper
Bake salmon skin-side down, basting with sauce several times
Caramelized bbq glaze with only 2 main ingredients

BBQ Salmon Foil Packets

Ingredients: Salmon, bbq sauce, vegetables like corn and zucchini
Assemble and bake bbq sauce-topped salmon in foil pouches
Easy clean-up and built-in side dishes

BBQ Salmon Burgers

Ingredients: Salmon, panko breadcrumbs, egg, bbq sauce
Form salmon into patties, pan cook, and brush with sauce
Sandwich in buns with toppings for a handheld bbq salmon meal

BBQ Salmon Salad

Ingredients: Salmon, bbq sauce, spinach, avocado, tomato, onion
Top fresh salad greens with bbq salmon, veggies, corn chips
Satisfying main-dish salad with crunchy, creamy, tangy flavors

With minimal time and effort, you can enjoy restaurant-worthy bbq salmon in your home kitchen. Brush on a flavorful sauce, and cook the salmon simply under the broiler or on the grill. The possibilities are delicious when pairing rich, meaty salmon with the sweet and smoky essence of barbecue.

can you put bbq sauce on salmon

Private NotesLeave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

This was great. I’m not usually into recipes because they require a lot of focus, but this one was great. Salmon perfect at 10 min. Brushed with some barbecue sauce for baking. Added some partially pre-baked very small potatoes to the sheet pan. We didn’t have any barbecue sauce, so we threw it all together. Yum.

This idea works especially well with canned chipotles en adobo because the adobo is made of the same ingredients as many barbecue sauces in a jar. Be careful to start with small amounts of both the adobo and the chipotle. A little of each goes along way and it is easy to overwhelm the salmon.

Or, pan sear: skin side up for one minute in a hot pan, then turn and cook for six minutes in a 475° oven.

I didn’t have any BBQ sauce, so I made my own with smoky paprika, ketchup, pickled hot peppers, and butter, just like Sam says to do. Came out great!.

Salmon loves mesquite-flavored BBQ sauce.

Excellent. I started with great salmon and this simple sauce compliments it nicely

This was easy and very delicious. I cooked exactly as written and can’t wait to make again

Added Zuni pickled onions – fabulous.

Or, pan sear: skin side up for one minute in a hot pan, then turn and cook for six minutes in a 475° oven.

Salmon loves mesquite-flavored BBQ sauce.

I didn’t have any BBQ sauce, so I made my own with smoky paprika, ketchup, pickled hot peppers, and butter, just like Sam says to do. Came out great!.

Serve this with Trader Joe’s Harissa Salsa and Sam’s No Recipe Smashed Potatoes with bacon, shredded brussel sprouts, and cheddar. This will use up the last third of that Costco Milano salmon. great dinner for two, especially since one of us is allergic to tomatoes and most barbecue sauces won’t work.

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THIS is How I Get Perfectly Grilled Salmon Every Single Time

FAQ

Can you BBQ salmon?

When it comes to cooking, the salmon skin provides a layer of safety between the BBQ heat and the fish’s flesh, while the oil on the portion, rather than the BBQ plate will stop sticking. With salmon, you don’t want to overcook it. Remember, like steak, it will continue to cook when off the hotplate.

What does BBQ sauce go on?

Slather it on ribs, toss it with pulled pork, spread it on your sandwich or burger, or use it as a dipping sauce for fries or chicken fingers.