25-Minute Baked Chili Salmon

All you need to make this chili salmon recipe are 5 simple ingredients:

1. Salmon: I like to use fresh rather than previously frozen salmon whenever possible. I find the texture is SO much more soft and tender! You can ask the people behind the fish counter to cut you 4 nice pieces of salmon for this recipe – I usually aim for somewhere between 4-6 ounce per piece.
2. Olive oil: This will be used to coat the salmon prior to baking.
3. Honey: You can use any type of honey here, but you’ll want to make sure it’s on the more liquid-side. If the honey you have has hardened too much, simply give it a quick zap in the microwave! This will help make it more spreadable over the salmon.
4. Garlic: I like to use freshly minced garlic here as it adds a nice bit of texture to the top of the salmon. In a pinch, you are welcome to use garlic powder instead. I’d aim for at least 1 teaspoon, spread evenly across the salmon.
5. Chili powder: I use store-bought (pre-mixed) chili powder. If you can’t find any and are in a pinch, you can try making your own version using paprika, cumin, and a pinch of cayenne. There are a handful of recipes online to guide you.

Full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions are located in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Making this salmon recipe is incredibly easy – it only takes a few simple steps and about 25-minutes of your time!

After pre-heating your oven to 400F, you’ll want to start by mixing olive oil, honey, and minced fresh garlic together in a small bowl.

Then, place your salmon fillets on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a bit of space between each piece. Alternatively, you could make this with one large piece of salmon! In that case, you may want to increase the cooking time a bit, making sure the salmon is cooked through in the thickest part of the fish.

Once on the baking sheet, brush the honey-garlic mixture on top of the salmon, dividing evenly between each piece.

Once the honey mixture is on, carefully sprinkle the top of the salmon with chili powder. Finish with salt and pepper, then transfer the baking sheet into the oven.

After about 12-15 minutes (depending on thickness of the salmon + desired doneness), remove the fish from the oven and serve as desired (see serving ideas below).

This chili salmon recipe pairs so well with many different foods! As salmon is a source of protein and heart-healthy fats, I recommend pairing this recipe with a complex carbohydrate or starch and some non-starchy veggies to make a nutritionally-balanced meal.

Some ideas for starches:

• cooked whole grains like farro, quinoa, or brown rice
• pasta, couscous, or orzo – keep it simple by tossing with some olive oil, garlic, chopped herbs, and freshly-grated parmesan
• mashed, steamed, or roasted potatoes OR sweet potatoes

Non-starchy veggies:

• a simple side salad, like mixed baby greens with your favourite dressing OR this massaged avocado kale salad
• roasted vegetables, like roasted broccolini, bell peppers, or roasted zucchini – you can roast them in the oven at the same time as the fish!
• simple sautéed veggies, like swiss chard, kale, broccoli or zucchini

Got leftovers? If you have leftovers that you don’t want to reheat (I know that can compromise the texture of salmon), I’d recommend keeping them cold and adding them as the protein component of a grain bowl or salad the next day. It would make the perfect, healthy lunch!

Salmon is an excellent source of quality, complete protein, which helps to protect bone health and prevent muscle loss, among many other functions.

• a 3-ounce serving provides 17 grams
• a 6-ounce piece will give you 34 grams

In addition to protein, salmon is rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3s. Omega-3s are known to support heart health, brain health, and to reduce inflammation overall.

On the micronutrient side, salmon is a great source of B vitamins like:

• vitamin B12
• vitamin B6
• thiamin
• riboflavin
• niacin

B vitamins act as coenzymes in many important metabolic processes throughout your body, such as turning the food we eat into energy!

Salmon is also a good source of minerals like potassium and selenium.

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Did you give this Baked Chili Salmon Recipe a try? Let me know by leaving a comment and recipe rating below!

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