Brown Sugar Baked Salmon
My family loves this easy brown sugar salmon recipe! As the salmon bakes in the oven, the brown sugar rub melts and caramelizes into a delicious, sweet, smoky glaze. To make this a sheet pan dinner, toss your favorite veggies onto the baking sheet with the salmon. The article above has suggestions for which veggies work well in this recipe.
Ingredients
- 4salmon fillets, preferably wild-caught, about 6 ounces each
- 1 teaspoonolive oil
- 1 tablespoonbrown sugar
- 1 teaspoonlemon zest
- ½ teaspoonsmoked paprika or substitute chipotle powder for a spicier version
- ¼ teaspoonfine sea salt
- half of a lemon, quartered
- ¾ poundgreen beans or quick cooking veggie
- 1 tablespoonolive oil
- salt and fresh ground black pepper
Directions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Set aside a large rimmed baking sheet.
- 2
Mix 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a small bowl.
- 3
Pat the salmon fillets dry and rub them with olive oil.
- 4
Scatter the brown sugar rub over the salmon, and gently massage it into the fish. Swipe the skin side of the salmon through any spice rub that’s fallen onto the cutting board. If you have the time, marinate the salmon for 10 to 15 minutes.
- 5
Add the salmon fillets, skin-side down, to the baking sheet.
- 6
Toss the beans with a tablespoon of olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and then scatter them around the salmon on the baking sheet.
- 7
Bake the salmon until it is cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes, depending on its thickness. We cook salmon until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 125°F.
- 8
Serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the salmon.