This Easy Teriyaki Salmon is ready in just 20 minutes! Tender, pan-seared salmon is coated in a sweet and savory homemade teriyaki sauce for an easy weeknight dinner that’s packed with 34 grams of protein per serving.

Love Easy Salmon Recipes? Then try my Honey Garlic Salmon or my Sriracha Honey Salmon!

overheat shot of cooked salmon in skillet with teriyaki sauce on top

Easy Teriyaki Salmon

This teriyaki glazed salmon is the perfect dinner when you are short on time but want something amazing. The sauce can even be made a day or two ahead or time and kept in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook.The salmon get’s marinated in a simple homemade teriyaki sauce then pan fried. The sauce compliments the salmon perfectly and is sweet, tangy and thick. Half of the sauce get’s reserved for marinating and the other half for glazing the salmon during cooking.

I love making my own teriyaki sauce at home. I used the same homemade teriyaki sauce as my Easy Teriyaki Beef Meatballs and my Teriyaki Baked Salmon. This sauce is really easy to prepare and is amazing on chicken as well.

Kelley Simmons Kelley’s Tips

My Tips For The Best Teriyaki Salmon

  • Pat the salmon dry. This helps it sear rather than steam.
  • Don’t skip the marinade: Even though the salmon gets coated in teriyaki sauce after cooking, that 30-minute marinade helps season the fish throughout.
  • Don’t move it too soon. Once salmon develops a good sear, it will release from the pan much more easily.
  • Let the sauce thicken. Give the cornstarch mixture enough time to simmer so you get a glossy sauce that actually coats the salmon. The sauce is done when it coats the back of a spoon.
  • Use similarly sized fillets. They’ll finish cooking at roughly the same time.
Kelley

Ingredients for Teriyaki Salmon

ingredients for easy teriyaki salmon on white counter top

Homemade Teriyaki Sauce for Salmon

Making your own Homemade Teriyaki Sauce for salmon is super easy! It’s also a great way to control the sweetness and saltiness of the sauce. To make your own teriyaki salmon marinade at home you’ll need:

whisking homemade teriyaki sauce for salmon in bowl
  • Soy sauce: I always use low sodium soy sauce. You can use regular soy sauce with a splash of water to combat some of the saltiness.
  • Ginger: I prefer to use fresh grated ginger however ground ginger can be substituted in a pinch.
  • Garlic: I love adding garlic to my homemade teriyaki sauce. You can substitute garlic powder if you do not have fresh.
  • Light brown sugar: Adds a nice sweetness to the teriyaki sauce. If you like your teriyaki on the sweeter side adjust the brown sugar to taste.
  • Rice wine vinegar: This vinegar can be found in the International or Asian isle in the grocery store. It adds the perfect acidity to the sauce.
  • Sesame oil: Adds a wonderfully nutty flavor to this sauce!
  • Cornstarch slurry: 1 teaspoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon cold water. This thickens up the sauce!
Easy Teriyaki Salmon over white rice in bowl

How to make Teriyaki Salmon

  1. Marinate Salmon: Add garlic, ginger, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, vinegar and sesame oil to a medium bowl. Add half of the marinade to a ziplock bag and the other half to a small saucepan and set aside. Place salmon filets in the ziplock bag and marinate for 30 minutes.
pouring teriyaki sauce in ziplock bag with salmon filets
  1. Sear Salmon: When you are ready to cook heat oil in a large skillet. Add salmon filets making sure not to overcrowd pan (I had to cook two at a time). Cook 3-4 minutes on each side until desired doneness.
searing salmon in large skillet
  1. Heat the reserved marinade in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add cornstarch and water to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Slowly whisk in the cornstarch mixture to the marinade and simmer until thickened. The sauce should be able to coat the back of the spoon.
simmering homemade teriyaki sauce in pot
  1. Coat and Serve: Drizzle more teriyaki sauce on top and sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds for garnish.
overhead shot of teriyaki salmon cooking in large skillet

To make this in the air fryer simply cook the salmon at 400 degrees for 8 minutes then brush with homemade teriyaki sauce!

Teriyaki Salmon FAQ

Can this Teriyaki Salmon be made in the oven?

Yes! For baked teriyaki salmon simply preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make the sauce as directed and marinade the salmon for 30 minutes. When you are ready to bake brush the salmon with the reserved sauce and cook for 12-14 minutes depending on the thickness of the salmon.

Can you grill this Teriyaki Salmon

Yes! To make grilled teriyaki salmon preheat grill to 400 degrees. Make the sauce as directed and marinade the salmon for 30 minutes. When you are ready to grill the salmon brush with the reserved sauce and cook for 8-12 minutes or until the salmon is fully cooked.

How Long Should You Marinate Salmon?

For the best flavor, marinate salmon for about 30 minutes. This gives the teriyaki marinade enough time to flavor the fish without affecting its delicate texture. Avoid marinating salmon for several hours or overnight, especially in marinades containing acidic ingredients, as the fish can start to become soft or mushy.

Kelley’s Tip: Even if you’re short on time, a quick 15-minute marinade will still add plenty of flavor.

What to serve with Easy Teriyaki Salmon

    If you love this Salmon recipes then you will love my Salmon with Firecracker Sauce or my Salmon made in the Air Fryer!

    salmon teriyaki in black skillet topped with sesame seeds and green onions

    Recipes with Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

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      Two pieces of Easy Teriyaki Salmon in a skillet, glazed to perfection and garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, with a metal spatula beside them.
      Recipe

      Easy Teriyaki Salmon

      4.81 from 71 votes
      Easy Teriyaki Salmon pan-fried to perfection and served with a homemade teriyaki sauce! Serve with rice and veggies to make it a meal!
      Prep Time: 10 minutes
      Cook Time: 10 minutes
      Total Time: 20 minutes
      Serves 4
      Rate Print

      Ingredients 

      • *NOTE: Prep time does not include marinating time*
      • 1 tablespoon oil
      • 4 salmon filets, skinless
      • 1 clove garlic, minced
      • ½ teaspoon ginger, minced
      • ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce, It is important to use low sodium. I find regular makes the sauce too salty
      • ⅛ cup water
      • 2-3 tablespoons brown sugar, depending on how sweet you like it
      • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
      • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
      • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
      • 1 tablespoon water
      • green onions for garnish, if desired
      • sesame seeds for garnish, if desired

      Instructions

      • Add garlic, ginger, soy sauce, 1/8 cup water, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar and sesame oil to a medium bowl.
      • Add half of the marinade to a ziplock bag and the other half to a small saucepan and set aside. Place salmon filets in the ziplock bag and marinate for 30 minutes.
      • Heat oil in a large skillet. Add salmon filets making sure not to overcrowd pan (I had to cook two at a time). Cook 3-4 minutes on each side until desired doneness.
      • Meanwhile heat the reserved marinade in the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add cornstarch and water to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Slowly whisk in the cornstarch mixture to the marinade and simmer until thickened.
      • Serve immediately with the teriyaki sauce drizzled on top as well as green onions and sesame seeds for garnish, if desired.

      Notes

      Use low sodium soy sauce in the homemade teriyaki sauce. This helps to control the saltiness of the sauce.
      If the salmon is sticking to the pan give it another minute before trying to flip. You could even turn up the heat a bit more. This will give it a good sear and help release it from the pan.
      Have leftovers? Turn them in to my Teriyaki Salmon Bowls! This is great for meal prep!

      Nutrition Information

      Serving: 1piece of salmonCalories: 316kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 34gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 608mgPotassium: 861mgSugar: 6gVitamin A: 70IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1.7mg
      Two pieces of Easy Teriyaki Salmon in a skillet, glazed to perfection and garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, with a metal spatula beside them.

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