This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Maple Soy Salmon has been on our weekly dinner rotation for years and for good reason — four simple ingredients, 15 minutes, and a sweet-savory glaze that caramelizes in the oven and tastes like you tried a lot harder than you did. My kids request this constantly and I never say no.
I’ve been going to my local Farmers’ Market for upwards of 22 years. I always say that being there every Sunday is like my church, and the people there are like my family. That holds completely true to my favorite fish vendor, Marilyn. I met Marilyn before I was even pregnant with Kenya, so when I say she’s like an aunt to us, I mean it.
Every week Marilyn greets each of us with a huge smile and gigantic hug. She sends us home with little scraps of fish for our dog, Cosmo, and not to mention, the most delicious salmon you’ve had in your entire life. I’m drooling even thinking of it right now!
I took one of Marilyn’s marinade suggestions and added my own twist — soy sauce, orange juice, and a touch of maple syrup creates a light, sweet glaze my kids adore. I make salmon at least once a week because it’s packed with Omega-3 fatty acids and has a firm, flavorful texture that even picky eaters love. This marinade is the perfect balance of simple and absolutely delicious!
Why This Maple Soy Salmon Marinade Works
What I love most about this maple soy marinade is how versatile it is. It works on any cut of salmon — fillet, sockeye, whatever Marilyn has that week. You can marinate it for as little as 10 minutes or up to a few hours if you’re prepping ahead. Either way the result is incredibly flavorful fish that even the pickiest eaters in your family will love.
Pair it with Grilled Lemon Asparagus and Asian Style Cauliflower Rice and you are sure to have a meal that will make each and every family member very happy.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
More Kid-Approved Salmon Recipes
Once you try this salmon marinade I think you’ll find yourself coming back to it again and again. It’s the kind of recipe that feels special enough for a Sunday dinner but easy enough for a Tuesday night. If you make it, I’d love to hear what you think — leave a rating and a comment below!
Want more Weelicious? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for all the newest recipes!
Maple Soy Salmon
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 pound salmon fillets (cut into 4 even pieces)
Instructions
- In a large bowl or 8×8 inch baking dish, whisk together the soy sauce, maple syrup, and orange juice until combined.
- Add the salmon fillets flesh side down into the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
- When ready to cook, position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the broiler to high.
- Remove the salmon from the marinade and place skin side down on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Broil for 7 to 9 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and the glaze is caramelized. Watch closely to prevent burning.
- Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Notes
- Don’t skip the foil: The maple syrup in the marinade will caramelize and stick to the pan without it.
- How to tell when it’s done: The salmon should flake easily with a fork and be opaque throughout.
- Marinating time: 30 minutes is the minimum but 1-2 hours gives a deeper flavor if you have the time.
- Leftovers: great served cold over a salad or rice bowl the next day.
What a simple, yummy glaze! Can’t wait to try it.
What a super idea adding O.J. to your sauce! We often eat salmon and I am definately gonna try your recipe next time. 🙂
This is similar to my go-to salmon recipe, too. My little one is a big fan of salmon as well. 🙂
We make this all the time, I add a bit of ginger and it is delicious! Our son gobbles it up and thinks it’s funny to steal more off my plate.
I’d also be interested to hear about your meal plans!
ooo, I would love to hear more about your meal rotation too! I’m trying to come up with some weekly meal-plans and finding it a bit challenging to figure out where to start…
Thanks for all the great recipes!
Hi Catherine,
First of all, I love, Love, LOVE your website! It’s such a great resource for first time mommas like me. 🙂
You mentioned above that you have salmon in your regular meal rotation. What other meals do you regularly have? I am assuming you use the same protein and just vary up the preparation.
Love to hear your thoughts!
Jen
We have soybeans as a staple in our house. I buy them in the frozen section at the store…They are preshelled which makes it easier on mom and kiddo. For Me I add a little salt but for Collin I just serve them plain and he loves them.
This sounds so tasty! What did you serve as a side dish? Soy beans and rice balls? If you indeed used soy beans, how did you prepare them?
I buy my salmon at farmer’s market or at costco. They will seasonally have wild caught filets. But I also keep a bag of frozen wild caught salmon in the freezer.
I’d also be curious to know where you buy your salmon. Thanks in advance!
Another way to cook salmon that I just recently tried is to steam it just like you would vegetables. I have a moroccan steamed salmon recipe I’ve been making that I really like. There is a sauce you make to put on the salmon after it is steamed. It turns out really good and it’s simple. My toddler doesn’t like the sauce that goes with it but he does eat it plain.
I would use the high setting and set the fish on the lower or middle rack of the oven and watch it so it does not burn the top.
My oven has a high and low setting for the broiler. Which one would you recommend? I would love to start incorporating fish into our diets, but I have no idea how to cook it. This is a good start…thanks!
I use wild alaskan salmon 🙂
What kind of salmon do you use?