This baked Thai sweet chili salmon recipe is quick, ridiculously easy, healthy, and packed with flavor! Perfect for busy weeknights.
I bought some Thai sweet chili sauce intending to make a chicken recipe (it still may happen), but I've been on a bit of a salmon kick lately, and while I was falling asleep the other day, the idea for this recipe popped into my head. Yes, food is always on my brain.
This recipe couldn't be much easier. Step 1: put sweet chili sauce on salmon. Step 2: bake it. I then squeeze some fresh lime juice over top, and that's basically it. You can serve it with whatever floats your boat, but it was really good with jasmine rice, some chopped cucumber, scallions, and some sesame seeds sprinkled over top.
I used wild sockeye salmon for this sweet chili lime salmon recipe.
If you like sweet chili sauce, try my 15 Minute Sweet Chili Chicken Lettuce Wraps or these 15 Minute Sweet Chili Shrimp Zoodles.
What is sweet chili sauce?
According to Wikipedia, it's commonly made with red chili peppers (Fresno Chili, Thai or red jalapeno peppers), rice wine vinegar, sometimes garlic, sometimes fish sauce and a sweetening ingredient such as fruit or a refined sugar or honey.
I think it's a safe bet that you would have encountered it at some point in your life. It's often served with spring rolls and deep fried/popcorn shrimp. I got mine at Safeway in the Asian foods aisle. I am not particularly loyal to any brand, but the one currently in my fridge is Blue Dragon brand.
Sweet chili sauce isn't ridiculously spicy or anything. It's not like sriracha. Those red bits in the sauce are spicy, but overall I find it fine for my I-can't-handle-spice palate. 😛
How long to roast salmon?
At 400F mine took around 14 minutes. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your salmon, so err on the side of cooking it less and checking it. You can always return it to the oven for another minute or two.
Other salmon recipes you'll enjoy:
- Honey Garlic Salmon Recipe
- Spinach Artichoke Salmon
- Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe
- Baked Teriyaki Salmon Recipe
- Creamy Lemon Salmon
What's your favorite way to enjoy salmon?
Questions about this salmon with sweet chili sauce? Ask me in the comments below.
Sweet Chili Salmon
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds fresh salmon
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup Thai sweet chili sauce or to taste
- Serve with (optional): lime juice, rice, cucumber, scallions, sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F and move the rack to the middle position. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy clean-up.
- My salmon was already cut into 4 pieces. You can leave it whole or cut it up - that's up to you. Place the salmon, skin-side down, on the baking sheet. Season it with salt & pepper. Spread about a tablespoon of sweet chili sauce on each quarter, totalling about 1/4 cup (I just use the back of a spoon). You can always add a bit more sauce if you wish.
- Roast salmon for 13-15 minutes or until it flakes easily with a fork. Keep in mind that the salmon will continue to cook for a bit after you take it out of the oven. If your salmon is particularly thick (like more than an inch thick in the thickest part), it may need a little more time.
- I like to squeeze some lime juice over top and serve it with jasmine rice, chopped scallions, cucumber, and sesame seeds sprinkled over top.
Notes
- Anything around 1.5 pounds of fresh salmon will work. I had 1.7 pounds of wild sockeye salmon.
- You can find sweet chili sauce in the Asian foods section of most major grocery stores.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Natalie says
So simple and delicious! The squeeze of lime after cooking took it to the next level!
Natasha says
Awesome!! So glad it was a hit. Thanks for taking the time to review the recipe!
Deborah Rosiello says
Hi Natasha, hope you are hanging in there. Can you please recommend a commercial supermarket shelf good Thai sweet chili sauce or something I may buy on amazon? Thanks!
Deborah
Natasha says
Hi! How about Thai Kitchen? I use their products often. 🙂
Marija says
so simple to make but so good, and nice colors on the plate, reminds me of upcoming spring 🙂
Natasha says
Thank you!! Ahhh spring... I wish. Still snowing here!
Smoky Duck says
I made it for the second time today for dinner, this time serving it with some fresh mango on the side with the Persian cucumbers and scallions. I also added a bit of fresh lime juice, toasted sesame seeds and cilantro to the sweet chili sauce and let it sit for a couple of hours first.. It's definitely in the regular rotation.
Natasha says
So glad you enjoy it!! 🙂
Toni Brayer says
We love your recipes. This one is so easy. Family loved it. Thanks for always being clear and providing great recipes and photos.
Natasha says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Toni!! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know!
Barb says
Great recipe! I made it today for lunch and loved it! Super simple, healthy and delicious! This will definitely be on rotation at my house!
Xx Barb
@whatsbarbcooking
Natasha says
Yay!! So happy you liked it! Thanks so much for leaving me a comment. ♥️