10-Minute Sweet and Smoky Oven Baked Salmon

Name: 10-Minute Sweet and Smoky Oven Baked Salmon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 ½ teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 ½ teaspoons sweet paprika; 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder; 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; 2 lb salmon filet (skin on, bones removed); 1 cup cilantro (leaves and soft stems, roughly chopped); ¼ cup chives (roughly chopped); ¼ cup fresh mint (leaves only, roughly chopped); 1 medium lemon (zested); ½ medium lemon (juiced); 1/4 tsp kosher salt; 1 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

This 10-Minute Sweet and Smoky Oven Baked Salmon has everything you love in a quick and easy meal! Each bite is perfectly balanced between sweet and savory and the easy herb salad on top adds layers of fresh flavors. It’s delicious, family-friendly, and perfect for lunches!

Jump to Recipe

large baked salmon filet topped with green herbs on a large white serving platter.

Easy spicy baked salmon recipe

There’s never a bad time for an Oven Baked Salmon Recipe! It takes almost no time to prep and cook salmon in the oven. Dressed in a miso glaze, simple herbs, and seasonings, or a parmesan herb crust, there are a million ways to flavor and serve oven-baked salmon for dinner.

When you’re craving big flavors, turn to this 10-Minute Sweet and Smoky Oven Baked Salmon. The salmon filet is seasoned and dressed with simple ingredients to create sweet, smoky, and herbaceous bites. All you need is:

Brown sugar
Pantry-staple spices
And a fresh herb salad

This sweet and savory baked salmon is delightfully tender, moist, and flaky. The herb salad on top helps tone down the spice and freshens up every bite. It’s all done in 10 minutes, making for a delicious and easy weeknight dinner!

Tools you will need for this Oven Baked Salmon Recipe

Sweet and smoky salmon ingredients

Salmon filet – Because salmon is the star of the show, try to go with a high-quality, wild-caught filet. I used a 2 pound boneless, skin-on filet. When shopping, look for a coho, king, or sockeye filet that’s bright pink and without any blemishes.

Brown sugar – This is the “sweet” in this sweet and savory salmon recipe! The rich, molasses-like sweetness from brown sugar complements the flaky, buttery salmon perfectly.

Smoky seasonings – Chili powder, sweet paprika, and garlic powder are mixed together to create a smoky rub for the salmon. The end result is perfectly balanced between smoky, savory, and sweet.

Herb salad – Fresh cilantro, chives, and mint dressed in lemon juice and olive oil is a simple, fresh, and bright finishing touch. It really helps every bite pop.

raw salmon filet on parchment paper next to small bowls of spices.

green herbs and small white bowls with oil and lemon zest sitting on a wood board.

How to make a sweet and smoky oven baked salmon

This simple salmon recipe tenderizes in the oven and is nowhere near as oily as pan-fried salmon. It’s a really easy 10-minute recipe you can make for family dinners, meal prep, or healthy lunches:

Prep the salmon filet.
Place the filet skin side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet and dry both sides really well with paper towels. Brush the flesh with olive oil and sprinkle salt on top.
Mix the sugar and spices together.
Add the brown sugar and spices to a small bowl and mix to combine. Rub it all over the salmon.
Bake the salmon.
Bake the sweet and smoky salmon for 10 minutes or until it begins to turn opaque on the outside.
Make the herb salad.
Chop the herbs and place them in a bowl. Toss the herbs in olive oil, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Season with a little salt to taste.
Serve and enjoy!
Serve each slice of salmon filet with herb salad on top and rice on the side. Enjoy!

using a small brush to brush olive oil and salt onto a raw salmon filet.

raw salmon filet covered in spices on a parchment lined baking sheet.

baked salmon filet covered in spices on a parchment lined baking sheet.

a knife chopping green herbs on a wood board.

a metal spoon stirring a green salad in a large white bowl.

Tips and variations

You can make this recipe with frozen salmon. Just thaw it in the fridge before baking.
The recipe calls for sweet paprika, which is brighter and sweeter than regular paprika. If you can’t find sweet paprika, use regular paprika instead.
For a stronger smoky flavor, replace the sweet paprika with smoked paprika.
Can you handle some spice? Then add a small pinch of cayenne pepper to the dry rub.
Squeeze some fresh lime juice over the cooked salmon for a pop of citrus.

a spice-covered baked salmon filet topped with green herbs on a white serving plate next to a carving knife.

How to serve sweet and spicy baked salmon

The options are practically endless here. Serve your salmon filet any way you like:

As a main: There’s nothing quite like a simple 10-minute salmon recipe for dinner. Serve this quick meal next to more healthy sides, like cauliflower mash, baked asparagus, and street corn salad.
In grain bowls: Cook up some brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice and add it to a bowl. Add a few cubes of the spicy baked salmon on top along with a ton of fresh toppings like pickled red onions, avocado, greens, and radishes.
In tacos: Chop up the salmon and layer it into corn tortillas with avocado, cabbage slaw, and spicy mayonnaise.
For meal prep: A slice of baked salmon with roasted vegetables and salad makes for a healthy and filling weekday lunch.
For dinner parties: It’s sure to wow a crowd!

close up on a fork scooping flakes of cooked salmon from a large spice-covered baked filet.

Frequently asked questions

Is salmon healthy?

High-quality wild-caught salmon is very nutritious and full of vitamins and minerals. It’s a great source of omega 3’s, B vitamins, protein, potassium, and so much more!

How long do you bake salmon?

A 2-pound salmon filet should only need to bake for 10 minutes in a 400ºF oven. If your filet is a little bigger, leave it in for an extra 3 to 5 minutes.

How can you tell salmon is done cooking?

The finished salmon filet will go from a pink color to opaque on the outside and slightly pink on the inside. If you aren’t sure if it’s done, use an instant read thermometer to check the doneness. A rare to medium filet will have an internal temperature of 115°F – 125°F, and a well-done filet will be between 125°F – 140ºF. If your salmon is over 140ºF, then it’s overcooked.

How long do you leave dry rub on salmon?

The salmon is ready to bake as soon as you add the dry rub! There’s no need to let it marinate.

Can you bake salmon ahead of time?

Sure! Bake the salmon 1 day ahead of serving and keep it covered in your fridge. The leftovers are delicious the next day as is or with a salad or a rice bowl!

Looking for more easy salmon recipes?

flakey cooked salmon on top of white rice in a white bowl.

If you give this 10-Minute Sweet and Smoky Oven Baked Salmon a try, let me know in the comments below. I love seeing your pictures too, so please tag me on Instagram @lenaskitchenblog and use #lenaskitchenblog so I can share them on my page!