With Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon, you can enjoy all the flavours of the barbecue anytime of year. Rubbed with a tasty combination of sweet and savoury spices, this salmon is always a hit!
When life gets busy, you need a meal that is tasty, filling, and easy to make. Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon is all that and more. Our family loves it so much, it’s one of the most popular fish recipes in our house.
Meals don’t get much easier than Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon. You don’t need to make a sauce or marinade. You don’t even need to make a special trip to the grocery store. Just toss some simple ingredients together – a few spices with brown sugar – and rub it on your fish. Let your oven work its magic and within 20 minutes, it’s done!
Best of all, Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon is one of those guaranteed crowd-pleasing meals. Any time it’s made, people always ask for the recipe. Now you can enjoy it and share it too!
How to Make Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon
Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon is made without oil or butter. Instead, it uses the fish’s natural oils to create a sauce. When the fish is baked right – at a high temperature for a short time – it has enough of its own natural oils to stay rich and delicious.
To make this tasty salmon, combine brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl. When it’s evenly mixed, it’s time for the salmon.
Now, the fun begins! Sprinkle the BBQ spices over the salmon. Once the fillet is evenly covered, gently rub the spice mixture into the salmon. This helps the spices penetrate more deeply into the fillet, creating an evenly flavoured piece of salmon. As you massage the spices into the fish, you’ll notice that some of the salmon’s natural oils are released.
After 10 to 12 minutes in the oven, your salmon should begin to flake easily with a fork. If you prefer a fillet that is a little more well done, pop it back in the oven for another minute or two. When it’s finished, the sugar and spices melt to become a truly tasty crust.
Indulge in a Healthy Baked Fish
At first bite, Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon has a perfect mix of savoury and sweet. The combination of spices creates a savoury salmon that also has a hint of sweet brown sugar. Each bite is almost tastier than the last. You just have to try it!
You can enjoy it with a side of rice, on a bed of salad, or with your favourite side dish. If you are a salad lover, Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon is really tasty with an arugula salad. My favourite is an arugula salad with a light white balsamic vinegarette. The peppery lettuce complements the sweet and savoury salmon, making it a perfect dinner.
However you serve it, Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon is always a hit!
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PrintSweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon

With a mix of sweet and savoury, every bite of Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon is true perfection. As the salmon bakes, the natural oils are released, creating a perfectly flavoured crust for the fish.
- Prep Time: 8 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound salmon, fillets
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chilli powder, salt and pepper.
- Place salmon on a baking pan covered with parchment paper. Cover with BBQ spices. Gently rub the spices into the salmon, covering the top and the sides.
- Bake salmon for 10 to 12 minutes or until it flakes easily with a fork.
- Plate and enjoy!
If you love salmon, you may also enjoy Honey Mustard Salmon
Panko Pistachio Crusted Salmon
Digging the spicy rub?
Thanks! Hope you enjoy it! ?
I already did??
That’s so great!! ?
Totally pinning this for later it looks amazing!!!
Thanks Joy!! Hope you enjoy it! ?
Everything looks great! I have not tried BBQ on salmon before but it looks really good! I will have to give that one a try!
Thanks Kristy!! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! 🙂
Salmon is a favorite and I know I would enjoy your spicy/sweet rub.
Thanks Juju!! Salmon’s my favourite too!! Hope you enjoy it. 🙂