• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Email Series!

5 Time and Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

Free email series of my best tips!

Visit my other Site: Pancake Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Free Email Series!

    5 Time and Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

    Free email series of my best tips!

  • Visit my other Site: Pancake Recipes

Rachel Cooks®

Easy Healthy-ish Recipes

  • Recipe Index
  • Popular
    • Instant Pot Pinto Beans
    • Green Beans with Bacon
    • Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
    • Roasted Sugar Snap Peas
    • Beef Stew Seasoning
    • Chili Seasoning Recipe
    • Thousand Island Dressing
    • Poppy Seed Dressing
    • Copycat Panera Squash Soup
    • Chocolate Chip Blondies
    • Instant Pot Pork Loin Roast
    • Frosé
    • Best Chocolate Cake
    • Dill Vegetable Dip
    • Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
    • Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
  • Learn to Cook
    • All The Basics
    • Crostini
    • Delicata Squash
    • Butternut Squash
    • Kabocha Squash
    • Spaghetti Squash
    • Guacamole
    • Croutons
    • Snap Peas
    • Baked Potatoes
    • Baked Bacon
    • Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
    • Simple Syrup
    • Pickled Red Onions Recipe
    • Toasted Pine Nuts
    • Roasted bone-in Chicken Breasts
    • Poached Chicken
    • Roasted Whole Chicken
    • Easy Cheese Sauce

Dinner Made Easy:

Slow Cooker

5 Ingredients

Grilling

Make Ahead

Sheet Pan

Tacos

Pizza

Home Recipes by Type Main Dish Seafood
GF Gluten-Free 5I 5 ingredients or less

Best Grilled Salmon Recipe and Marinade

4.43
/5
40 mins
52 Comments
Jump to Recipe Video
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 08/20/2018Updated: 06/14/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This is the best grilled salmon recipe! The marinade makes the fish so flavorful and it’s ridiculously easy to make! The perfect healthy dinner - it's going to become your go-to salmon recipe! #grilling #salmon #marinade #easy
This is the best grilled salmon recipe! The marinade makes the fish so flavorful and it's ridiculously easy to make! It's going to become your go-to salmon recipe!

This is the best grilled salmon recipe! The marinade makes the fish so flavorful and it’s ridiculously easy to make! It’s going to become your go-to salmon recipe!

Two fillets of grilled salmon topped with green onion.

I’m a creature of habit…I get stuck in ruts. Many people, after they find out about Rachel Cooks, have made comments about how well we must eat…gourmet food every night!

It’s not exactly the case. I have my go-to recipes and more often than not, I’m whipping up something we’ve had before and something that takes 30 minutes or less to make. Sure, I love to develop new recipes to share with you guys, but our life is just as busy as anyone else’s, so sometimes it’s just a matter of speed and making something everyone likes. Well, everyone except N because that kid still likes NOTHING.

We have salmon about every other week and my lemon salmon with dill recipe is my go-to. Ben loves it, I like it, it’s healthy and it’s so easy. We both LOVE the walnut crusted salmon and Parmesan and almond crusted salmon but since the kids are allergic to tree nuts, that’s obviously not a recipe that’s in regular rotation.

I’ve been wanting to try out a new salmon recipe on the grill, so when Traeger sent me one of their beautiful grills (which I instantly fell in love with…seriously…I think Ben is a little jealous), salmon had to happen.

Traeger Grill Close Up with smoke coming out of it

I’m antsy and can’t wait until the end of the post to share the verdict…we love this salmon! We’re deeming it the best grilled salmon recipe – the marinade is irresistible, the salmon stays so moist (sorry for using that word, but it does!), and the Traeger grill gives it the most amazing flavor.

So you might be wondering what the heck a Traeger is and what is so special about it. Besides a dream come true, it’s also a wood pellet grill. I’m sure you’re familiar with grills that run on gas or charcoal. This one is powered by wood pellets.

What’s so great about that? F-L-A-V-O-R. Not only does the wood impart a mouthwatering smoked flavor, but it also gives you versatility. You can choose Apple wood (great for pork!), Hickory, Mesquite, Pecan, Cherry, Maple, or an all-purpose and less flavorful (but still wonderful!) wood like Alder – you can even bake in the grill using a wood like Alder. 

Two fillets of grilled salmon topped with green onion.

So far on my Traeger I’ve made ribs, pulled pork (twice!), this salmon (three times!), chicken using this honey mustard chicken marinade, and pizza. Honestly, you guys, Ben and I are both blown away by how good everything tastes on this grill. It’s an investment compared to your typical gas or charcoal grill, but after trying it, I’d totally spend the money on it myself.

Another great thing about a Traeger grill is that it has a thermostat so you don’t have to babysit it. The pork shoulder for the pulled pork needs to cook slowly for over 16 hours, so it’s great to know that it is being kept at the correct temperature while I sleep!

Now, I will say, you don’t need a Traeger grill to make this salmon recipe, but it will take the flavor to the next level.

Two fillets of grilled salmon topped with green onion.

Ingredients needed

This salmon marinade is a flavor powerhouse and you don’t have to let the salmon soak in it for very long at all! In fact, I usually just marinate it while I’m preheating my grill and that gives this salmon all the flavor it needs. Here’s what’s in the marinade!

  • Soy Sauce (I like to use the reduced sodium variety)
  • Olive Oil
  • Fresh Ginger
  • Garlic
  • Dark Brown Sugar

This marinade is so flavorful and so simple to make. It’s the perfect sweet and savory combination and goes great with the grilled salmon.

Salmon flaked with a fork to show texture.

My best tip for Grilling Salmon

Grilling salmon can be a little tricky. The flaky fish has the tendency to fall apart on the grill if you’re not careful.

My best tip is to start cooking it skin side up.

Sear for 3-4 minutes to get those beautiful grill marks on your fish before carefully flipping and cooking the remainder of the time skin side down. This allows you to have the amazing flavor the grill imparts without your fish falling through the grates. No one wins in that situation! Use this method and you’ll have 100% success with this best grilled salmon recipe.

An alternative method for grilling salmon is to wrap it in foil. I love garlicky grilled salmon which is wrapped securely in a foil packet. 

If you’re looking for more salmon recipes, this baked salmon is one of my absolute faves! Only 5 ingredients! We also love soy glazed salmon. And if you have an air fryer, be sure to try air fryer salmon. You won’t believe how great it turns out!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Two fillets of grilled salmon topped with green onion.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Best Grilled Salmon Recipe and Marinade

4.43 from 194 votes
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
6 servings
Print Rate Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
This is the best grilled salmon recipe! The marinade makes the fish so flavorful and it's ridiculously easy to make! It's going to become your go-to salmon recipe!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 1- inch section of fresh ginger root, grated
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated
  • 2 pounds salmon, cut into fillets

Instructions

  • Mix together marinade ingredients in a baking dish: soy sauce, olive oil, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic. Add salmon fillets skin side up into the marinade and place in the fridge for 15-45 minutes.
  • When ready to grill, start your Traeger grill on Smoke with the lid open until you see smoke appear (takes 3-5 minutes). Set the temperature to 350°F and preheat with the lid closed for 10-15 minutes.
  • Remove salmon from marinade and place skin side up on grill. Cover (close the lid of the grill) and cook for 4 minutes. Flip carefully using a spatula. Cook for 20-25 minutes longer until fish is flaky. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • You can halve this recipe to serve 2-3 people.
  • If you don’t have a Traeger grill, this can be prepared on a gas or charcoal grill over medium heat (350°F) as directed in recipe.
  • This salmon is great leftover – I love to flake the cold salmon on a leafy green salad.
  • Nutrition information calculated for only half of the marinade since much of it is discarded.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 262kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 29g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 60mg, Sodium: 701mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
Did You Make This?Be sure to upload a photo & tag me at @RachelCooksBlog. I love seeing what you made!
Share A Photo! Tag on Insta Rate It

Disclosure: Traeger sent me a grill to try out but I was not monetarily compensated for developing this recipe or writing this post. All opinions are ALWAYS my own! 

Free email series

5 Time & Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

Free email series of my best tips!

FREE BONUS!

You May Also Like...

  • This easy five ingredient baked salmon is going to be your weeknight go-to salmon recipe. The glaze is the perfect balance of spicy and sweet. Try it tonight!
    Baked Salmon with Maple Mustard Glaze (5 ingredient recipe)
  • Foil-wrapped salmon that has been topped with chives and garlic, being flaked with a fork.
    Grilled Salmon in Foil with Garlic Butter
  • Overhead view of almond and parmesan crusted salmon on a plate with lemon slices and asparaugs.
    Parmesan and Almond Crusted Salmon
  • Soy glazed salmon on a plate with broccoli and rice.
    Soy Glazed Salmon Recipe
Previous Post
What’s Poppin’
Zucchini noodle salad in white bowl with tomatoes, feta, and beans.
Next Post
Zucchini Noodle Salad with Beans, Feta, and Lemon

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




The maximum upload file size: 1 MB. You can upload: image. Drop files here

  1. Susan D. says

    June 16, 2022 at 8:07 pm

    5 stars
    Used this marinade on a copper river salmon on a Big Green Egg and WOW was it fabulous! This recipe is a keeper.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      June 20, 2022 at 12:02 pm

      So happy you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!

      Reply
  2. Tony says

    September 14, 2021 at 9:45 am

    5 stars
    Grilled it and it is the best salmon (hint, foolproof) I have ever made! Watch the cook time temps – as you need to do with all fish – I came out with a lot shorter cooking time to get it just past medium. I did 10 minutes a side with my grill running a bit hotter than 350. Also added a shot of rice wine to the marinade to complement. Excellent!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      September 14, 2021 at 3:05 pm

      So glad you liked it! Rice wine is a great add! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!

      Reply
  3. Anna says

    July 26, 2021 at 6:53 pm

    5 stars
    I baked it and it was delish!!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      July 30, 2021 at 2:57 pm

      So glad to hear it! Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  4. Maria dem says

    July 12, 2021 at 10:40 am

    Can this salmon be baked?

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      July 12, 2021 at 1:28 pm

      Definitely!

      Reply
  5. marta says

    July 8, 2021 at 12:07 am

    5 stars
    just amazing.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      July 8, 2021 at 2:03 pm

      So glad to hear it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!

      Reply
  6. Kathy O says

    December 1, 2020 at 1:43 pm

    We love this recipe! I make it on a regular basis Thank you!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      December 1, 2020 at 10:29 pm

      I’m so glad to hear it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

      Reply
  7. Victoria L Reinhardt says

    September 6, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    The best salmon I ever tasted! Wow!

    Reply
    • Victoria L Reinhardt says

      September 6, 2020 at 3:20 pm

      I guess I already reviewed this once, but it was so good we had it again and I’d forgotten I’d reviewed it already. Sorry for the extra review!

      Reply
      • Rachel Gurk says

        September 7, 2020 at 8:46 am

        I love it! Glad you like it so much!

        Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      September 7, 2020 at 8:45 am

      Wow, thank you so much!!!

      Reply
  8. Victoria L Reinhardt says

    August 24, 2020 at 7:56 pm

    OMGosh, this is the best salmon I’ve ever had! I’m not a huge fish fan, but Hubby loves it, so I tried this recipe and will definitely make it again! I loved it! I also don’t grill a lot, but I followed the directions to a T and it turned out perfect!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      August 26, 2020 at 6:30 am

      Wow, thank you so much! I’m so glad you guys liked it!

      Reply
  9. PJ Mosher says

    August 18, 2020 at 9:00 pm

    Hi Rachel,
    I made this last night and it was delicious. Thank you so much for this recipe. I confess that while I’m an experienced baker, I’m not much of a cook. Salmon is my favorite protein and my husband loves to grill in summer. We made this last night and it was so delicious! I’m adding this to my weekly summer meal rotation. Thanks for making fantastic food possible for the lay person!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      August 19, 2020 at 8:24 pm

      I’m so glad you liked it and it made your life a little easier! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

      Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Rachel! Life can be complicated, cooking shouldn't be! I believe that you can put a delicious meal on the table without stressing. It's possible, and I'm here to help. Have a seat at my table...let's chat, eat, and have fun! Read more...

Air Fryer Instant Pot 30 Minutes One Pan Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Slow Cooker Vegetarian 5 Ingredients

Trending

Cooked salmon fillet on a grey-toned plate with cooked asparagus spears. The salmon is being flaked with a fork.

Air Fryer Salmon – easy and delicious!

Pizza pasta being scooped from a pan with a wooden spoon.

Pizza Pasta – 1 pan, 20 minutes

Image of a giant bowl of spaghetti with turkey meatballs.

Baked Turkey Meatballs

Asparagus Panzanella Salad

Seasonal

Beef and vegetable stir fry in a black wok.

Beef Stir Fry With Vegetables

Hot honey chicken sheet pan dinner with honey being drizzled on.

Hot Honey Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Sweet and sour shrimp lettuce wrap garnished with green onion.

Sweet and Sour Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

BBQ Chicken burrito bowl with avocado and sour cream.

BBQ Chicken Bowl

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
Free Bonus!

5 Cooking Secrets to Save Time & Stress

Free email series of my best tips and recipes!

Featured On:

Back to Top
  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Work with Me
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
© 2023 Rachel Cooks®
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled