Teriyaki salmon sounds like it should be simple, but with a homemade sauce things can turn sticky in all the wrong ways. So I've switched things up and made a version that keeps things super easy! As a busy mom of 3, I don't have time to babysit a sauce while I'm helping with homework. This two-ingredient salmon recipe lets a good bottled teriyaki sauce do the heavy lifting and the oven handles the rest.
Grab your favorite teriyaki sauce, pour, bake, and you end up with tender salmon coated in a glossy, sweet-savory sauce that actually sticks instead of sliding right off. And like my 2-ingredient bbq salmon, this is another recipes my kids ask me for time and time again.
TL:DR - Baked Teriyaki Salmon
- ✨The takeaway: The same approach I use in recipes like my 2-ingredient pesto salmon and this baked lemon butter salmon, where a few ingredients is all you really need, is what makes this recipe a real winner!
- 🐟 What it is: Baked salmon teriyaki is made with just salmon and bottled teriyaki sauce. No extra ingredients, no cooking a separate sauce.
- 🥣 Why it works: Teriyaki has sweetness, salt, and umami built in. Baking keeps it lets the sauce glaze the salmon instead of burning under the broiler.
- ⏱️ How long it takes: 15 minutes start to finish, including prep and bake time
- 🔥 The method: Place salmon in a lined baking dish → pour over teriyaki sauce → bake until just cooked through.
Jump to:
Ingredients You'll Need
- Salmon: Fresh or frozen. Pat dry before brushing the sauce on.
- Teriyaki sauce: Use your favorite. We are loving the Banchans Japanese BBQ style and the Trader Joe's Soyaki. You can also use the same sauce I use in my Baked Sesame Ginger Salmon recipe.
💡My Tips for Perfect Teriyaki Salmon Every time
- Lightly score the salmon before adding the sauce. Shallow cuts across the top of the salmon help the teriyaki sauce seep into the fish instead of just sitting on the surface. You're not cutting deep, just enough to give the sauce a way to really get into the salmon.
- Cook the salmon in one whole piece when you can. Baking the salmon as a single fillet makes things easy. You can always portion it after baking. This is great for families, so that everyone can take just what they want.
- Line the pan to save yourself a headache. Teriyaki sauce has some sugar in it, which means it will caramelize. Parchment paper or foil keeps the sauce from burning onto the pan and makes for a super quick cleanup.
How to make teriyaki salmon
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Step 2: Prep the salmon. Place the salmon on the prepared baking sheet. Using a sharp knife, lightly score the top of the salmon with shallow cuts. Brush a generous layer of teriyaki sauce over the salmon, making sure it gets into the scored areas
Step 3: Bake for 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon, until it's opaque and flakes easily with a fork. When the salmon comes out of the oven, brush it with a little more teriyaki sauce for extra gloss and flavor before serving.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, thats the best part of this recipe! A good bottled teriyaki sauce already has the balance of sweet, salty, and umami you need. Let the sauce do the work instead of building one from scratch.
You don't need to, but you can brush the sauce on, let the salmon sit for 10-15 minutes and then do another coating of sauce if you have time. Lightly scoring the salmon on a diagonal and baking it with the sauce gives you plenty of flavor without the extra step.
The salmon should flake easily with a fork and look opaque in the thickest part. If you're using a thermometer, you're looking for about 125-130°F internal temperature.
More Super Easy Salmon Recipes You'll Love
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📖 Recipe
Simple Baked Teriyaki Salmon (2 Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds Salmon, patted dry (if using frozen salmon, defrost completely first)
- ½ cup Teriyaki sauce (use your favorite)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place salmon on the baking sheet and lightly score the top with diagonal shallow cuts.
- Brush the salmon generously with teriyaki sauce. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the salmon is just cooked through to 125-130°F. Remove from the oven and brush with additional teriyaki sauce before serving.
Notes
- Serve over rice with teriyaki green beans for a simple dinner.
- Pair with roasted sweet potatoes for an easy sheet-pan-style meal.
- Turn it into a rice bowl with your favorite toppings like cucumbers, avocado, or sesame seeds.
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