Citrus Glazed Salmon

Name: Citrus Glazed Salmon
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1 lb salmon fillets (about 4); ¾ cup brown sugar; 1 orange; 2 lemons; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper; 2 tbsp butter (sliced into 5-6 tabs)

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Tender, flakey salmon with a sweet and bright citrus glaze. Using seasonal lemon, orange, and grapefruit - this citrus glazed salmon is delicious year round. Cook this meal up in minutes for a gourmet meal without breaking a sweat.

Citrus salmon in a metal sheet pan, it is surrounded by greens and garnished with citrus slices.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

An easy dish that works for weeknight dinners but nice enough to serve guests.
Made with simple, wholesome ingredients.
Citrus glazed salmon is always a crowd pleaser!

What Is Glazed Salmon?

It's a preparation for fish that uses a glaze to flavor the fish. The glaze is usually made from some type of sweetener along with a flavoring ingredient.

It's applied to the top of the fish and adds flavor but also creates a delicious coating on the top of the fish as it cooks.

Our glazed salmon recipe combine the bright, sunshine flavors of orange and lemon to make the best salmon with orange glaze. Salmon fillets with a sweet and tangy glaze on top is fast, easy, and produces delicious results.

We will show you how to make lemon and orange glazed salmon in the air fryer, on the grill, or in your oven.

Glazed salmon on white plates, garnished with lemon slices and thyme.

Ingredients You Need

The ingredient list is simple for this meal. All you need are five simple ingredients. Here's what you need:

Salmon: I suggest buying fillets that have already been cut. If possible choose fresh fish over frozen.
Brown sugar: We prefer the flavor of brown sugar over other sweeteners.
Citrus: You will need orange and lemon to make citrus salmon.
Butter: The best tasting fat to use when cooking fish.

Ingredients needed to make lemon and orange salmon on the counter.

How to Make Citrus Salmon with an Orange Glaze

Let me give you the rundown on making this delicious salmon!

Prep your citrus. Zest two lemons and one orange.
Transfer the zest to a bowl along with brown sugar, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

Zesting the citrus and making the orange glaze for salmon.

Slice your zested citrus with your favorite Chef's Knife.
Place the salmon on a sheet of foil that has been prepped with non stick spray. Fold up the sides of the salmon to create a mini tray.

An image slicing the image and making a foil boat for the salmon.

Top each piece of salmon with a quarter of your brown sugar mixture. Add a few pats of butter to the tops of each piece of salmon.
Layer the citrus slices on top of the salmon.

Spreading the orange glaze for salmon over a piece of fish and topping with citrus slices.

Cook on the grill for about 15 minutes until flesh is opaque and flakey.

PRO TIP: You can also cook lemon orange glazed salmon in your air fryer at 400 degrees F for 18 minutes or broil in your oven for about 10-15 minutes.

A closeup of orange glazed salmon on a baking tray, The salmon has citrus slices on top of it.

What to Serve with Salmon

Serve up Lemon Pesto Cauliflower Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice as an easy side for fish.
In the summer salads go great with citrus glazed! Try this Grilled Potato Salad or Apple Gorgonzola Salad.
Potatoes work too! We love these easy Accordion Potatoes or Mashed Potatoes.
Simple vegetable sides are easy to add on. Try our Green Beans and Bacon or Roasted Asparagus.

Expert Tips

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You can use the leftovers to make this Citrus and Salmon Salad.
Change the citrus to make different combinations. Use more orange and less lemon to make this a stronger flavored orange glazed salmon.
Choose salmon fillets that are similar in size so they will cook in the same amount of time.

FAQs

How do I know when my fish is done cooking?

Cooked salmon will flake easily with a fork at the thickest part when fully cooked. The inside of the meat will turn from a translucent orange/pink/red to a paler opaque orange/pink/red when fully cooked. You can also test with a thermometer. The thickest part should be 145 degrees when fully cooked.

How do I select the right salmon?

Avoid Salmon with brown spots. This is an indicator that it is not fresh. Also, look for fish that is moist rather than dried out. Last, when in doubt - frozen is always great! It is usually frozen right away and the result is a nice, fresh, fish once it is thawed.

What is the white stuff that comes out of salmon when cooked?

Before you go trashing that salmon, read this. That white slimy stuff is called albumin, and it’s protein that solidifies as salmon cooks. It is completely safe to eat that albumin. Albumin tastes completely fine, it’s good for you, it’s just another protein that comes from the salmon.

Is salmon healthy?

Eating wild caught salmon is beneficial to your diet. Salmon is packed with Omega 3s. Eating fish twice per week is a healthy habit to make.

A closeup of citrus salmon on a baking tray, The salmon has citrus slices on top of it, and lemon slices to the side.

More Salmon Recipes

We love fish too! Check our favorites!

Make This Recipe? Have Questions?

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