Salmon Marinade (Honey Soy)
Developed and tested by Robyn Conley Downs
on Mar 25, 2024 (last updated Apr 9, 2026) 
This honey soy salmon marinade comes together with just 5-ingredients and only needs 15 minutes of marinade time. Honey, soy sauce, garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes create a sweet, savory glaze that caramelizes perfectly on the salmon. It works for grilling, in the oven, or the air fryer and is on the table in about 30 minutes total!
5 star review
“Absolutely love this recipe. I make it once a week with rice for my 2 and 5 year old (we skip the red pepper flakes) and they clean their plates every time. ”
– Genevieve
Honey Soy Salmon Marinade with Garlic
Most weeknights, spending hours in the kitchen making complicated recipes is not possible. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a home-cooked meal during the week! These situations are where I fall back on super-fast, minimal ingredient dinners like this honey soy marinated salmon.
One of the quickest marinade recipes I’ve created, the honey salmon only needs to marinate for 10 to 15 minutes and cook for another 15 minutes. And, yes, salmon is delicious on its own with salt and pepper, but why not take it to the next level with the best 5-ingredient marinade? This sweet and spicy marinade combines honey, soy sauce, garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes for a take on hot honey, which is the perfect pair for salmon.
Once grilled, baked, or broiled, the salmon is bursting with flavor and has a little bit of caramelization thanks to the honey. So yummy! And for a different way to use salmon on a weeknight, my creamy salmon pasta bake is a hearty option that comes together with minimal prep. Or, if you love this marinade method, my fish marinade for white fish uses a similar quick approach and works beautifully with cod, tilapia, or halibut.
Welcome to My Kitchen, Let’s Make Easy Marinated Salmon
Testing Tips for Easy Salmon Marinade
- Soy Sauce: For gluten free, use tamari.
- Honey: If you don’t have honey, you can use brown sugar. With brown sugar, the marinade won’t be as sticky and therefore won’t stick to the salmon as well, but it’s just as delicious.
- Garlic: Since there are so few ingredients in this recipe, fresh garlic is best. Feel free to increase or decrease the amount of garlic based on your preference.
- Red Pepper Flakes: These are key for a “hot honey” profile, however, if you’re not a fan of spice, you can reduce the amount or leave it out.
- Salmon: Any cut of salmon works for this recipe including whole pieces, filets, or defrosted frozen pieces. I call for 1 ½ pounds of salmon in this recipe, but if you use about half the amount of salmon, simply half the marinade recipe.
Salmon Marinade (Honey Soy)
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 ½ pounds salmon
Equipment
Instructions
Make the Salmon Marinade
- Whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl until smooth.
Marinade the Salmon
- Pat the salmon dry and check for and remove and pin bones. Add half of the marinade along with the salmon to a 1-gallon zip-top bag or baking dish. Set the remaining half of the marinade aside. You will drizzle this on at the end.
- Toss the salmon to coat, then press as much air out of the bag (if using) as possible, or cover with plastic wrap (if using a baking dish). Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 60 minutes, flipping every 15 minutes.
Oven Baking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Add the salmon and marinade to a medium baking dish. Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 135F at the thickest part (the salmon will be slightly underdone at 135F, but will continue to cook while it rests).
- Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then drizzle with reserved marinade and serve.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Set the air fryer to 400F. Remove the salmon from the marinade, shake off any excess, and discard any remaining marinade from the bag or dish.
- Place the salmon skin side down and air fry 6-11 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 135F at the thickest part (the salmon will be slightly underdone at 135F, but will continue to cook while it rests).
- Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then drizzle with reserved marinade and serve.
Grilling Instructions
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates well. Remove the salmon from the marinade, shaking off any excess. Place skin-side down and grill without flipping for 6-8 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 135°F at the thickest part.
- The sugar in the marinade can cause sticking, so resist the urge to move the salmon. Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then drizzle with reserved marinade and serve.
Made this one for dinner tonight and cooked the salmon in the air fryer. It was delicious and so easy to put together. Will be making again!
Oh yay, so happy to hear this one was a hit and that it worked well in the air fryer. Thanks so much for leaving a reivew!
Absolutely love this recipe. I make it once a week with rice for my 2 and 5 year old (we skip the red pepper flakes) and they clean their plates every time.
Genevieve, yippee, so happy to hear this easy salmon recipe is a hit with the whole family! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and for leaving a reivew!
Can I cook the salmon on the grill?
Vickie, you can, but just make sure the grill is super hot and well oiled, since the marinade has sugar in it and has a tendency to stick. You can also try grilling it skin-side down the entire time (so no need to flip), which should give you great results.