The Best Easy Sweet Chili Salmon

Name: The Best Easy Sweet Chili Salmon Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: PT-489987H47M46S
Total time: PT-489987H47M46S
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1 ¼ lb salmon (four 5oz salmon fillets); ½ teaspoon each ground ginger, kosher salt and black pepper; 2 ½ tablespoons sweet chili sauce; 2 tablespoons mayo

by Erica on August 6, 2024 11 comments

Jump to Recipe·5 from 7 reviews

Moist and flavorful, with rich sweetness and subtle heat, this wicked easy sweet chili salmon is sure to become a weeknight dinner fave!

Piece of salmon with sweet chili sauce and lime wedge

Jump to:

1 Erica’s thoughts:
2 Why you’ll love this nutritious meal:
3 What you’ll need to make sweet chili salmon:
4 How to make this sweet chili salmon recipe:
5 Expert tips and variation ideas:
6 FAQs:
7 If you love this Thai sweet chili salmon, you’ll love these other easy salmon recipes!
8 The Best Easy Sweet Chili Salmon Recipe

Erica’s thoughts:

I grew up hating salmon. All fish, really. And now dare I say… I think it’s my favorite protein. Salmon is so versatile, nutritious and makes a beautifully balanced easy weeknight dinner. It is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, high-quality protein, vitamins D and B12 and minerals like iron and selenium, all of which support heart health, brain function and overall well-being.

But beyond the stellar nutrition profile, salmon is simply a convenient, accessible source of protein that I use OFTEN for dinner. For a long time, I thought the only way to make salmon is baked with some lemon wedges. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. A good filet of salmon is a blank canvas begging for more flavor. You can make it into countless flavorful meals: a taco bowl, slathered with teriyaki sauce for a rice bowl, cubed into flavorful bites or smothered in sauce. But today, I’m showing you my current favorite way to eat salmon.

I was introduced to the idea of sweet chili sauce on salmon by my mother-in-law. My MIL is a tremendous cook and going over to her house for dinner is a real treat. I’ve seen her make sweet chili sauce for a dinner party many a time. Most of the time she makes two large pieces of salmon, one slathered with pesto and the other slathered with sweet chili sauce. Both turn out fabulously, but I’m especially fond of the sweet chili salmon. I’ve added ginger, lime and mayo to make this an irresistible sweet chili lime salmon recipe!

two white plates with sweet chili salmon and spinach salad, pink napkin, black fork, mason jar of ice water

Why you’ll love this nutritious meal:

Minimal ingredients required.
You can find everything you need at any regular grocery store.
It takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish.
Salmon so good you can serve for a dinner party!

What you’ll need to make sweet chili salmon:

picture of the ingredients needed for the recipe: wild salmon, sweet chili sauce, mayo, salt, pepper, lime and ginger

Salmon: I recommend wild-caught Alaskan salmon (or as local to you as possible). Farm-raised salmon can be fattier and more moist, but wild-caught fish is more nutrient dense with lower levels of contaminants and artificial additives. I buy the wild Alaskan salmon from Costco. If I don’t use the whole piece, I’ll freeze individual salmon filets for later!

Mayo: mayo helps lock in the moisture and keeps the salmon from drying out. I like avocado oil mayo but any type will work. Find it in the condiments aisle of the grocery store.

Sweet chili sauce: Thai sweet chili sauce is a tangy, mildly spicy condiment made from red chili peppers, sugar, vinegar and garlic commonly used in Asian cuisine as a dipping sauce. You can find it in the international foods aisle of any grocery store, I like the brands Mae Ploy or Thai Kitchen.

Ground ginger: ginger reinforces and compliments the sweet chili flavor. You can use fresh ginger if you like but ground ginger blends nicely into the salmon with minimal changes in texture. Find it in the spices aisle.

Salt and pepper: I like to use kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper to enhance the other flavors in this dish.

Lime: a big squeeze of fresh lime juice is the perfect finishing touch. You could also use lemon juice.

How to make this sweet chili salmon recipe:

Prep the salmon: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. You can use one large salmon fillet or cut into individual fillets. Arrange salmon on a broiling pan lined with a piece of aluminum foil or a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Pat the salmon pieces dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and ginger, gently rubbing the spices to adhere to the salmon.

four salmon filets seasoned with salt, pepper and ginger

pastry brush brushing sweet chili glaze on salmon

Make the sweet chili glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo and sweet chili sauce. Add a spoonful of sauce on top of the salmon, using the back of the spoon or a pastry brush to brush sauce evenly over each piece. Reserve a tablespoon or so of sauce to add after roasting.

four salmon filets on a black broiling pan

hand squeezing a lime wedge on salmon filets

Roast the salmon: Place salmon in the oven for 8-12 minutes, until just cooked through and salmon flakes easily with a fork. An intstant-read thermometer should reach 145 degrees. Take care to not overcook my friends! It does not take long and the salmon will continue to cook as it rests.

Finish it up: Spoon the leftover sauce over the salmon and finish with a big squeeze of lime juice!

Expert tips and variation ideas:

Be sure to pat the salmon dry before adding seasonings and sauce. Protein will cook better and more evenly when excess moisture has been removed.
The kind of salmon shouldn’t matter too much for this recipe but as stated earlier I prefer wild salmon varieties. Get it as fresh as possible to avoid the fishy smell.
Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your salmon. A good rule of thumb is that salmon needs about 4-6 minutes of cook time per ½-inch thickness. So a 1-inch thick piece will take 10-ish minutes, a 1 ½-inch piece will take closer to 15 minutes, etc.
You can make this recipe with different cooking methods. Grill the salmon for 8-10 minutes, brushing with sauce as needed or pan fry it, skin side down, for 6-8 minutes in a swish of olive oil over medium-high heat.
Make it spicy- add a teaspoon or so of sriracha sauce to the marinade/sauce for a kick of heat.
Serve with rice, potatoes, pasta, corn on the cob and any veggies or side salad you enjoy! I recommend the spinach and arugula summer salad pictured here.
Garnish with sesame seeds, green onions or chopped cilantro if desired!

white plate with sweet chili salmon and a spinach side salad and lime wedge

FAQs:

What should I serve with sweet chili salmon?

I recommend brown rice, basmati rice, orzo or another simple pasta dish along with one or more vegetable side dishes like this spinach salad (pictured), cucumber avocado salad, grilled broccoli, brussels sprouts, asparagus or Persian cucumbers.

What if I can’t find sweet chili sauce?

The flavor profile will be different but If you can’t find sweet chili sauce use 2 tablespoons honey and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes for a similar vibe.

Can I use frozen fish?

Yep! Just thaw in the fridge or in a bowl of cold water until thawed, pat dry and prepare recipe as written.

Can I use a different protein instead of salmon?

Definitely try this sweet chili shrimp! And although I haven’t officially tested this recipe with other types of seafood I think it could work well with Mahi Mahi or cod or even chicken breast.

How should I store the leftovers?

Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

If you love this Thai sweet chili salmon, you’ll love these other easy salmon recipes!

Marry me salmon

Air fryer salmon bites

Honey ginger salmon lettuce wraps

Miso butter salmon and snap peas

Epic salmon taco bowl

Sweet chili salmon filet flaked with a bite on a fork

If you try and like this recipe please don’t forget to leave a comment and star rating down below! If you love more lifestyle, behind the scenes and ‘eating in real life’ type of content come find me over on Instagram, @itsaflavorfullife, I love connecting with you all there!