With Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon, you can enjoy all the flavours of the barbecue anytime of year. Rubbed with a tasty combination of smoked paprika, brown sugar, herbs and 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. Anytime it’s made, people always ask for the recipe. Now you can enjoy it and share it too!

If you love fish, be sure to try some of my other delicious salmon dinners – Honey Mustard Salmon, Smoky Dill Salmon, Easy Baked Parmesan Crusted Salmon, Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon, Lemon Herb Crusted Salmon, or Healthy Blackened Salmon for more delicious and healthy recipes.

Is Salmon a Healthy Meal to Eat?

Absolutely! Salmon is very healthy food. This fatty fish is a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, including vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids are even good for heart health, brain function, and reducing inflammation in the body. Salmon is one of the best food sources of these healthy fats.

Salmon is lower in calories and saturated fats than most red meats, and it has zero carbs, fiber, or sugar – making it a great Meatless Monday option. And we eat a lot of salmon. Check out some of the many salmon recipes that you can enjoy! And it’s wonderfully delicious, satisfying, and versatile.

Overall, if you’re looking for a healthy protein source, salmon is a great option to consider.

Ingredients for Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon

With only a handful of ingredients, this delicious baked salmon can be ready in less than 20 minutes. Let’s get started!

• Salmon – a nutritious food that offers many health benefits, but the best thing about salmon may be its taste and versatility. Salmon has a rich, buttery flavor that pairs well with a wide range of ingredients and can be prepared in many different ways.
• Brown sugar – has a natural caramel flavor that adds a delicious sweetness to the baked salmon. The molasses in the sugar helps form a crispy crust on the outside of the fish and the moisture in the sugar keeps the salmon moist and tender while baking.
• Onion Powder – adds a savory flavor to the baked salmon, making it even more delicious. Plus, using onion powder is more convenient than using fresh onions, since it doesn’t require chopping or sautéing, which can save you time in the kitchen.
• Garlic Powder – add a delicious flavor that balances the sweetness of brown sugar. Plus, like the garlic powder, it’s easier to use than fresh garlic.
• Smoked Paprika – adds a unique smoky flavor to the taste of baked salmon. Make sure to use smoked paprika and not regular paprika. The smoked paprika has a distinct smoky flavor that makes this salmon so much more delicious.
• Chilli Powder – adds a little kick to the salmon without making it spicy. But, if you enjoy your dish with a little more spice, you can always add a little more. Chilli powder rounds off the flavors of the salmon, making it even more delicious.
• Salt & Pepper – are flavor enhancers that you can always adjust to taste.

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.

STEP 1: PREHEAT OVEN TO 425°F (230°C).

If you don’t usually bake your salmon at 425°F, you are going to love it. When fish cooks at a higher temperature, it keeps it tender and juicy, without drying it out. Plus, at a higher temperature, dinner gets to the table even faster. That’s a definite win-win!

Step 2: Combine Dry Rub.

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl. When it’s evenly mixed, it’s time for the salmon.

STEP 3: BAKE.

Now, the fun begins! Place the salmon fillets on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Sprinkle the BBQ spices over the salmon.

Once the fillet is 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.

STEP 4: SERVE AND ENJOY!

You did it! Dinner is done and your Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon is ready to eat and enjoy. Whether you enjoy it with salad, roasted vegetables, potatoes, or rice, this baked seafood dish is sure to impress.

How do you know when your Salmon is fully cooked?

When it comes to cooking Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon, there are a lot of different ways to know that it’s fully cooked.

First, you’ll want to look at the texture and the color. When salmon is fully cooked, it flakes easily with a fork. It will also have a uniform pink color throughout the flesh. If it still looks translucent or raw in the center, it is not fully cooked.

You can also check that it’s finished cooking without cutting into the fish. Simply use a fork or your finger and gently press down on the top of the fillet. If the salmon begins to flake and separate along the white lines within the fillet (strips of fish fat), it’s finished cooking.

But, the most precise way to check that your seafood is fully cooked, is using a meat thermometer. Simply poke the skinny metal rod into the thickest part of the fish. And your meat thermometer will show its inner temperature.

Now, it gets a little tricky – there isn’t one standard temperature of what it means to be fully cooked. The Government of Canada recommends cooking fish until an internal temperature of 158°F (70°C). The USDA recommends cooking fish until an internal temperature of 145°F (62.8°C).

When it comes to taste, some people find that at the recommended temperature, salmon can taste over cooked or too well done. This happens because even after you remove the fish from the oven, it continues to cook. The internal temperature continues to rise, which can result in overcooked fish. You can avoid this by waiting five minutes after cooking to check the fish’s temperature.

CAN YOU FREEZE Sweet BBQ rubbed SALMON?

In one word – YES! You can make Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon as a freezer meal. Simply prepare your salmon, add it to a gallon-sized freezer bag, and freeze it for up to three months. It’s just that easy!

When you are ready to cook, simply defrost it in the refrigerator overnight. And remove all of the plastic wrap before baking it in the oven. Once it’s done, you will have a delicious meal!

If you’re new to freezer cooking, it’s easier than you think! And I have an incredible secret weapon: Meals in Minutes. This fantastic resource is packed with meal plans, shopping lists, freezer labels, and more.

With Meals in Minutes, you can easily make three months’ worth of delicious, family-friendly dinners. It’s like having a magical tool that turns dinner into a breeze (or perhaps, a scrumptious feast, like Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon). If dinnertime sometimes feels like daily drudgery, Freezer cooking can make dinner easier and more delicious than ever before!

What to Serve with Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon

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 balsamic vinaigrette. The peppery lettuce complements the sweet and savoury salmon, making it a perfect dinner.

If you’re craving comfort food, you can serve Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon with classics like creamy mashed potatoes or pasta dishes like Baked Tomato and Feta Pasta, Super Easy Cheese Ravioli Lasagna, Baked Cheese Ravioli with Creamy Pesto Sauce, or Easy One Pot Macaroni and Cheese.

You can also enjoy it with roasted potatoes or your favorite roasted veggies, like  like tender asparagus, brussels sprouts, bell peppers, or broccoli.

However you serve it, Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon is always a hit!

What can you do with leftover Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon?

Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon is easy to make and absolutely delicious. But if you have leftovers, what can you do with them?

Of course, you can enjoy them warm or cold the next day. And, you can also turn those leftovers into a new tasty dish.

But, before we get started, let’s store the salmon. Once your salmon has cooled, pop it into an airtight container, and tuck it away in the fridge. It’ll stay fresh for three to five days.

Now, if you want to save it for longer, freezing is the ways to go. You can freeze salmon for up to three months. Just remember to plan ahead and let it thaw in the fridge overnight before making it into a new dish.

Here are some tasty ways you can use leftover Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon:

• Sweet BBQ Salmon Tacos: Take the flaked salmon and wrap it in warm tortillas with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado slices, and a squeeze of lime for a refreshing twist.
• Salmon and Quinoa Salad: Mix the flaked salmon with cooked quinoa, diced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, and a zesty Greek dressing for a Mediterranean-inspired delight.
• Salmon and Spinach Fettuccine: Mix the leftover salmon with cooked pasta, sautéed spinach, and a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce or Alfredo sauce for a comforting and satisfying pasta dish.

Sweet BBQ Rubbed Salmon can be enjoyed in so many delicious ways. So go ahead, enjoy those tasty and satisfying leftovers!

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