This Orange Ginger Baked Salmon is an easy and impressive one-pan dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes. Salmon fillets and asparagus bake together on a single sheet pan and get basted with a rich orange ginger glaze that reduces into a thick, sticky sauce while the salmon cooks.
The flavors are sweet, savory, and a little tangy all at once. Serve it over white rice for a complete and satisfying weeknight meal! Looking for another simple salmon recipe? Try this honey glazed salmon recipe.
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Quick Look: Orange Ginger Baked Salmon
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 👩🍳 Cook Time: 20 minutes
- 🕖 Total Time: 30 minutes
- 🍊 Servings: 4 servings
- ⚡️ Calories: 366 calories per serving (based on nutrition panel)
- 🔥 Cooking Method: Bake in oven at 375F
- 🛒 Main Ingredients: Salmon, oranges, soy sauce
- ⭐️ Difficulty: Only using one pan and simple ingredients, this recipe is very easy!
Allie left this 5 star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“So amazing!! The only way I’m cooking salmon now.”
Why You’ll love this recipe
- Hands-off cooking – This orange ginger baked salmon is a perfect meal for your busiest days! It requires very little prep, and then the oven does the rest of the work.
- Healthy and balanced meal – With a protein, veggie, and carbs, this meal will leave you feeling satisfied all evening.
- Leftover glaze? No problem – Bonus! The orange glaze is so delicious and can be used to perk up other meals as well.
For another sheet pan meal, try this BBQ glazed salmon.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s a quick look at the ingredients you need to make this orange ginger baked salmon. For a full list of ingredients and amounts please head to the full recipe.
- Naval oranges – fresh orange juice is important for the best flavor in this recipe. Bottled orange juice is more processed and lacks the bright, fresh citrus flavor that makes this glaze so good. You will need about 2 navel oranges to get the half cup of juice required.
- Soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil – these three come together to make the delicious sauce
- Brown sugar – adds sweetness to the sauce
- Garlic and ginger – adds a depth of flavor to the sauce
- Fillets of salmon – I use 4 fillets or about 1 1/2 pounds
- Asparagus – Feel free to sub for another veggie if you prefer. Broccolini, green beans, or thinly sliced zucchini all work great on the sheet pan alongside the salmon.
Love the idea of this recipe? Try another salmon recipe next, such as this blackened salmon.
How to make Orange Ginger Baked Salmon
Step 1: Zest 1 naval orange and juice both oranges.
Step 2: Whisk orange juice, orange zest, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, minced ginger, minced garlic and sesame oil.
Step 3: Place salmon filets on the baking sheet and brush with some of the sauce. Add asparagus and bake.
Step 4: Place the sauce on the stove, simmer, and let it reduce*.
*The sauce starts thin and needs to simmer for the full 15-20 minutes to reduce by at least half and thicken into a glaze. Watch it closely in the last few minutes so it does not burn on the bottom. A thicker sauce will cling to the salmon and give a much better final result.
After 15 minutes, take the pan out of the oven and brush the thickened sauce over the salmon and asparagus. Place the sheet pan back in the oven and bake for 5 more minutes. Keep the sauce warm and baste any remaining sauce over the salmon once its finished baking. Serve immediately with rice.
Mad’s Expert Tips for the Best Orange ginger baked salmon 🍊
- Use fresh orange juice, not bottled. Fresh squeezed orange juice gives the glaze a much brighter and more vibrant flavor. Two navel oranges will give you about half a cup of juice.
- Do not skip reducing the sauce. Simmering the sauce while the salmon bakes is what turns it from a thin marinade into a thick, sticky glaze. Give it the full cooking time and watch it carefully so it does not burn.
- Pat the salmon dry before brushing with sauce. Patting the fillets dry helps the glaze stick to the surface and gives a better result in the oven.
- Do not overcook the salmon. Salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 125-130F for medium or 145F for fully cooked. Overcooked salmon turns dry and chalky. Start checking at the 15 minute mark.
I also use a ginger sauce in my ginger scallion meatball stir fry.
Recipe FAQs
How do I know when baked salmon is done?
Salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork. For medium doneness, aim for an internal temperature of 125-130F. For fully cooked, aim for 145F. The salmon in this recipe bakes at 375F for about 20 minutes total but check it at 15 minutes since oven temperatures vary.
Can I use other vegetables instead of asparagus?
Yes! Broccolini, green beans, or thinly sliced zucchini all work great on the sheet pan alongside the salmon. Just make sure the vegetables are cut to a similar size so they cook evenly.
Can I use frozen salmon?
Yes, but make sure it is fully thawed before cooking. Pat it very dry with paper towels since thawed salmon releases more moisture and you want the glaze to stick.
Storage and reheating
This baked orange salmon and asparagus is best if enjoyed immediately, but you can reheat for later. Store the salmon in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Other Healthy Salmon Recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
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Recipe
Orange Ginger Baked Salmon
Ingredients
- 2 naval oranges
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 3 tsp fresh minced ginger
- 3 cloves garlic – minced
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 4 fillets of salmon ~ 1 ½ lbs
- 1 bunch of asparagus ~ 1 lb
- ½ tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Zest 1 naval orange and juice both oranges so you have about ½ cup of fresh orange juice and 1 tbsp orange zest.
- Whisk orange juice, orange zest, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce minced ginger, minced garlic and sesame oil in a small bowl until the sugar is dissolved.
- Place salmon filets on the baking sheet and brush with some of the sauce – reserve most of the sauce and pour into a small sauce pan and set aside.
- Break off or trim the woody end off of the asparagus, toss in olive oil and season with salt. Place asparagus stalks on the baking sheet surrounding the salmon fillets and place in the oven to bake at 375F for 15 minutes.
- As soon as the salmon and asparagus go into the oven, place the sauce pan on the stove over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer. Simmer while the salmon bakes, stirring occasionally and taking care not to burn the bottom. The sauce should reduce by at least half and thicken slightly.
- After 15 minutes, take the pan out of the oven and brush the thickened sauce over the salmon and asparagus. Place the sheet pan back in the oven and bake for 5 more minutes.
- Keep the sauce warm and baste any remaining sauce over the salmon once its finished baking. Serve immediately with rice.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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