Grilled salmon filets are probably my second favorite way to eat fish (first being fried catfish). Salmon has a very tender texture with a deliciously rich, buttery flavor and is full of health benefits. Additionally, salmon cooks up faster than other meats (steak or burgers). Which is great if you are short on time. So if quick and delicious appeal to you, then you are going to love this easy grilled salmon with bbq sauce recipe!
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This easy grilled salmon with bbq sauce recipe is a snap to fix and is really delicious. It’s a little different twist on how to prepare salmon. Most people don’t think of trying barbeque sauce with their salmon, but I think you are going to really like it!
The bbq sauce I use for this recipe is Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce with Brown Sugar. I love the flavor Sweet Baby Ray’s gives the salmon.
Ingredients
4 (4-ounces each) wild-caught salmon filets (leave the skin on)
2/3 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s with Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce (or whatever BBQ Sauce you like)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/3 teaspoon garlic powder
1/3 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
Directions
Mix all the ingredients listed above (except salmon) in a medium-sized bowl.
Cut sauce in half. Use one half of the sauce to marinate the raw salmon and the other half to bast the grilling salmon.
Preheat your grill to medium heat.
Use a brush to apply a thick coating of the bbq sauce to each salmon filet. Note: Be sure to check your salmon if you use a brush with bristles. Sometimes the bristles come out and you end up with bristles in your meal. I hate it when I find bristles in my food! Use a silicone basting brush as opposed to one with bristles to avoid this problem.
Place a sheet of aluminum foil over the grill grate then add the filets to the grill.
Cook on your grill at medium heat for approximately 12 – 15 minutes. For food safety purposes, make sure you grill the salmon to an internal temperature of 145 F.
Alternative Cooking Method
In case it’s cold and rainy outside or you just don’t have a grill, here is a grilling alternative.
Place your salmon on a greased baking dish and broil at hi heat for 4 – 5 minutes.
The method works really well and you may find that you prefer broiling to grilling.
Remove the filets when they flake easily with a fork.
Grilled Salmon with BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 8 oz Salmon Filets with skin on
- 2/3 cup Sweet Baby Ray's with Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce
- 1 tbsp Lime Juice
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1/3 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/3 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
Instructions
- Step 1: Mix all the ingredients listed above (except salmon) in a medium-sized bowl.
- Step 2. Cut sauce in half. Use one half of the sauce to marinate the raw salmon and the other half to bast the grilling salmon.
- Step 3: Preheat your grill to medium heat.
- Step 4: Use a brush to apply a thick coating of the bbq sauce to each salmon filet. Note: Be sure to check your salmon if you use a brush with bristles. Sometimes the bristles come out and you end up with bristles in your meal. I hate it when I find bristles in my food! Use a silicone basting brush as opposed to one with bristles to avoid this problem.
- Step 5: Place a sheet of aluminum foil over the grill grate then add the filets to the grill.
- Step 6: Cook on your grill at medium heat for approximately 12 - 15 minutes. For food safety purposes, make sure you grill the salmon to an internal temperature of 145 F. Alternative Cooking Method: In case it's cold and rainy outside or you just don't have a grill, here is a grilling alternative. Place your salmon on a greased baking dish and broil at hi heat for 4 - 5 minutes. The method works really well and you may find that you prefer broiling to grilling.
- Step 7: Remove the filets when they flake easily with a fork.
Notes
Low Carb / Keto
Yes! Simply substitute the Sweet Baby Ray’s for any sugar-free bbq sauce.
No lemon version
So many salmon and other fish recipes call for lemon flavoring. That’s fine unless you’re not into lemon flavor or just want to try something different.
Are there any good salmon recipes without lemon? Well, there are a bunch (including our Grilled Salmon with BBQ Sauce) that are great recipes, but Honey Salmon in Foil is one that is superb.
Side Dishes
You know it really depends on what you are in the mood to eat. I really like grilled squash and zucchini with grill salmon, but some mashed potatoes go great too.
Delish.com put together a list of 30+ side dishes that taste amazing with salmon. If you are struggling with what to cook with your salmon, check out their post and get some great ideas.
Leaving the skin off or on
According to FoodNetwork.com, grilling salmon with the skin on helps hold the salmon together and prevents the salmon from sticking to the grill. The skin also helps keep the salmon moist during the grilling process.
The salmon skin has some real health benefits including high concentrations of omega 3-fatty acids. Besides, crispy salmon skin is pretty tasty and has a texture similar to bacon. Keep in mind that the skin will add a few more calories to your meal. If you are counting calories (approximately 100 calories), considering passing on eating the skin.
Salmon doneness
Cooking salmon (either on the grill or in a pan) can be a little tricky. It cooks quickly and can easily be overcooked.
However, don’t let that intimidate you. If you pay attention to what you are doing and keep an eye on your salmon, it’s going to come out great.
The Wild Salmon Company has a great post on how to know when salmon is done. I learned some really great tips reading their post.
Marinating Salmon
Yes, you certainly can! According to mamalovesfood.com, you should marinate for no longer than 30 minutes if your marinade is acid-based.
For me personally, I tend to stick with marinating for no longer than an hour. Much longer than that and you run the risk of the salmon becoming mushy.
Common mistakes when cooking salmon
Grilled salmon is easy, delicious, and healthy; but you do need to be careful to avoid these common mistakes.
- Overcooking
- Undercooking – make sure your salmon has an internal temperature of 145 F.
- Not removing any pin bones
- Over marinading – marinading for longer than an hour can cause your salmon to be soggy
- Removing the skin – as mentioned above, it is a best practice to leaving the skin on when grilling your salmon.
Reheating
Like most fish species, salmon doesn’t reheat very well. If you have leftover salmon, my suggestion is to add it to a salad or by itself at room temperature. A great leftover salmon salad recipe can be found here.
Looking for some easy and delicious ideas for dinner tomorrow night?
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Thanks for reading!
Hi. I’m Anne and I’m happy to share with you my easy, family friendly recipes. I’ve been cooking for my family for 30 years, and what I’ve learned is that most busy families appreciate easy, homemade meals. Now that the kids are grown, my passion is creating and sharing flavorful food for you and your family to enjoy as well. If you ever have any questions, feel free to send me an email at