This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy.

Teriyaki sauce pairs perfectly with the rich flavor and silky texture of fresh salmon, which is the most beloved fish in our house (and we’re not alone!). In this dish, the broiler creates a beautiful glaze on the fish while caramelizing the exterior, protecting the moist, flaky, tender interior of the fish. And guess what? You can make your own teriyaki sauce in just 10 minutes with some simple Asian pantry ingredients!

Teriyaki salmon can (and should) be served with rice of all sorts, from white rice to brown…or maybe even Cilantro Lime Rice if you’re feeling funky. (Here’s what you need to know about reheating rice.) You can also try pairing this dish with Japanese Miso Eggplant, Yaki Udon, or Stir-Fried Broccoli to double down on these delicious Japanese flavors for a full meal.

Teriyaki salmon on green plate with greens and rice.

Teriyaki Salmon: A rich, flaky filet of salmon is the perfect base for this much-loved, sweet-and-salty Japanese glaze.

Tweet This

Ingredients

This teriyaki sauce comes together in minutes. The ingredients you need (and, in my opinion, should always have on hand!) are:

Fresh salmon filets, ginger, soy sauce, mirin, and other ingredients for teriyaki dish.
  • Garlic – For a little sharp, spicy bite.
  • Ginger – This gnarly root adds heat and that fresh, gingery zing.
  • Vegetable oil – Fat adds flavor, and the oil helps emulsify the sauce.
  • Soy sauce – Soy sauce is responsible for the salty taste that is at the core of teriyaki sauce. I like to use less-sodium soy sauce in my teriyaki sauce to cut down the salt a bit.
  • Brown sugar – The sugar here adds a caramelly sweetness. You can also try the recipe using white sugar for a cleaner taste.
  • Cornstarch – To thicken the glaze.
  • Mirin – Mirin is a low-alcohol, slightly-sweet rice wine used in Japanese cooking. It can be purchased at supermarkets with a good Asian ingredient inventory, Asian specialty stores, or you can buy mirin online. Sub in sake or half the amount of rice vinegar if you can’t find mirin.

How to Make Teriyaki Salmon

  1. Make the marinade: Stir together the garlic, ginger, vegetable oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, and mirin, if using, in a small bowl.
  2. Marinate the salmon: Pour the marinade over the salmon in a baking dish, making sure it coats the fish evenly. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
Woman pouring teriyaki sauce over salmon filets in red baking pan.
  1. Cook the salmon: Broil the salmon for 8 to 10 minutes until cooked through to your liking.
Broiled salmon filets with teriyaki sauce in red baking pan.
  1. Serve: Sprinkle over the sesame seeds, if using. 
Teriyaki salmon on green plate with a side of sauteed greens and rice.

FAQs

How long should I marinate salmon?

If you even have 20 minutes for the fish to marinate, that will allow it to absorb great flavor for the marinade. Optimally, you would marinate the salmon in the teriyaki sauce for 1 to 2 hours. Don’t marinate the fish for more than 12 hours, or the marinade will start to break down the protein in the fish, which might make the salmon’s texture mushy.

Can I use teriyaki sauce as sauce instead of marinade?

If you’re not using this sauce as a marinade, that means you’re not planning on letting the meat soak before cooking — maybe you just don’t have the time (I know that struggle!). If you use this recipe as a sauce, it won’t permeate as deeply into the meat, but you’ll still have that finger-licking teriyaki flavor on your salmon! Note that marinades are usually thinner than sauces, so you should add more cornstarch to the sauce to thicken it, and then spoon it onto the warm cooked salmon just before serving.

Can I use soy sauce instead of teriyaki sauce?

Soy sauce is at the base of this teriyaki sauce, and it can often stand alone, but I wouldn’t recommend skipping the other ingredients in the teriyaki marinade. Soy sauce is very salty on its own; the other ingredients here act to make the flavor profile of the soy sauce deeper and more complex, adding sweet notes, heat, and making the sauce thicker.

What to Serve With Teriyaki Salmon

Vegan Asian Napa Cabbage Slaw

Chili Crunch Brussels Sprouts

Soy Glazed Sugar Snap Peas

Teriyaki-marinated salmon filet on green plate with sauteed greens and rice.

More Asian Salmon Recipes

Like this recipe? Pin it to your favorite board on Pinterest.

Pin This

Teriyaki Salmon

5 from 4 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Marinating Time: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 4 People
Salmon is a perfect base for this much-loved, sweet-and-salty Japanese teriyaki glaze.
Two green plates on table with teriyaki salmon, greens, and rice.
Save Pin Print

Ingredients 

  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons peeled and minced fresh ginger
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • ⅔ cup less-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons mirin (optional; you can also use 1 ½ teaspoons rice vinegar)
  • 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
  • Toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions 

  • Stir together the garlic, ginger, vegetable oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, and mirin, if using, in a small bowl.
  • Lightly oil or spray a baking dish large enough to hold the salmon filets in a single layer. Place the salmon fillets on the sheet, skin-side down if there is skin, and pour the marinade evenly over the salmon, making sure it coats the fish evenly. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
  • Preheat the broiler. Broil the salmon for 8 to 10 minutes until the middle looks fairly opaque when you gently insert a fork into the middle of one of the thickest pieces. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for one more minute before serving. Sprinkle over the sesame seeds if using.

Notes

If you even have 20 minutes for the fish to marinate, that will allow it to absorb great flavor for the marinade. Optimally you will marinate the salmon in the teriyaki sauce for 1 to 2 hours. Don’t marinate the fish for more than 12 hours, or the marinade will start to break down the protein in the fish, and it might make the salmon’s texture mushy.

Nutrition

Calories: 344kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 38g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 94mg, Sodium: 1707mg, Potassium: 1024mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 68IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 49mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Comments

Rate & Comment

Recipe Rating