Maple Dijon Salmon

Best Maple Dijon Salmon recipe ever -- pan-seared salmon with an easy, flavorful sauce! You'll have it on the table in just a few minutes and it's SO good! This easy maple dijon salmon (air fryer option) is sure to be one of your new favorite winter dinner recipes!

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If you like this recipe, try my Ricotta Lemon Pasta, my Shrimp Macaroni Salad With Cajun Spices, or my Paleo Chicken Thigh Recipe with Roasted Vegetables!

Maple Salmon Recipe

I do a lot of baking, but even I have to take a break from sweets and eat a real meal every once in a while. And this maple dijon salmon pan-seared in a delicious sauce is just that -- a REAL meal! It's so easy to make and the flavors in the maple mustard sauce are SO perfect. Trust me, it is the perfect way to upgrade your dinnertime any night of the week!

I love to make easy salmon recipes -- oven-baked, grilled, broiled, or poached. And it's all delicious! But this cast iron skillet salmon recipe is one of my favorite ways to cook salmon. It's quick and easy, it's gluten free, and that maple mustard sauce is OUT OF THIS WORLD. And best of all, the salmon is pan-seared to get that crisp outer crust!

Pan-searing your salmon

When you have salmon in the fridge and are wondering what to do with it, allow me to recommend that you grab your cast iron pan and sear that salmon!

This maple mustard salmon recipe is the perfect example -- you just need to sear your salmon in a hot skillet, then make the easy sauce, and then bring the two together! I love searing salmon at a high temperature because it's a cooking method that gives you that great seared texture and you can keep your eye on the salmon to make sure that it doesn't overcook.

I recommend using a cast-iron skillet to be sure that you get the sear nice and golden brown, but any pan that you like will work. I've also made this salmon using a nonstick sauté pan.

Ingredients

This simple cast iron maple mustard salmon recipe comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients! I love how easy it is to make, and you will too! Here's what you'll need:

• olive oil - or avocado oil, or the vegetable oil of your choice. This is what you'll use to sear your salmon. Just heat it up in your skillet while you season your salmon!
• salt and pepper - add to taste before you sear your salmon.
• salmon filets - I used 4-ounce skin on center-cut filets. If you use a different size or shape of salmon filet you may have to watch a little more closely and adjust the cook time accordingly.
• dijon mustard - the base for the sauce for our maple mustard salmon! Mustard adds so much flavor without adding any calories! It's so great to cook with to add a little zest to your recipes. You can use whole grain Dijon mustard or plain Dijon mustard.
• fresh garlic - definitely use fresh garlic (as opposed to jarred minced garlic or garlic powder). To make it easier, I like to use a garlic press to avoid having to mince it myself, and to minimize touching the garlic with my hands. If you like fresh garlic, you'll love my Cottage Cheese Alfredo!
• red pepper flakes - I add red pepper flakes to almost all my meals -- I love spicy food, and to me a dish doesn't taste right if it doesn't have at least a little spice. You can omit the chili flakes entirely, or add them to your preference!
• pure maple syrup - we'll use a touch of maple syrup in our maple glaze. The sweet maple flavor works with the tangy dijon mustard to make our maple mustard salmon what it is meant to be! The flavors are perfect together, and I love that real maple syrup is an unrefined sugar!
• water - we'll use a little water to thin our our sauce -- it'll reduce a bit in the pan, so adding extra water now keeps it from getting too thick.
• butter - I like adding a little butter when I'm making this maple dijon sauce. It's the easiest way to give it a little richness and create a silky texture. It brings the sauce for this maple mustard salmon together so well!

Equipment

As I've mentioned, the most important tool to get the most out of this salmon is a cast-iron skillet. Cast-iron is the best pan to help you get your salmon pan seared with that brown, crispy crust that looks great and tastes amazing. But if you only have nonstick or stainless steel, those work too!

Other than that, you'll only need a small whisk to whip up your sauce and my favorite garlic press to make prep super quick! I also like to use a fish spatula because it's the best way to flip and serve my tender salmon.

You'll also want an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature of the salmon to make sure that it's at least 125°F.

How long to cook salmon on cast iron

This cast iron salmon recipe is ready in just a few minutes! Because it's completely cooked in the pan, the start to finish cooking time is only about 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillet! And that includes whipping up your sauce! Scroll down to see the recipe card for the full instructions, but here are the basic steps for this flavorful fish:

1. Start by heating your large cast iron skillet until hot. Let it get nice and hot, then add oil.
2. Add your salmon skin side up into your hot cast iron skillet and cook a few minutes. While the salmon cooks, whisk together the ingredients for your sauce in a small bowl.
3. Flip the salmon and add the sauce to the pan along with the butter. Baste salmon with a spoon until cooked through and internal temperature measures 145 degrees F.
4. Store your leftover salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.

Maple Dijon Salmon (Air Fryer)

You can definitely use the air fryer for this maple dijon salmon recipe! You'll want to combine the sauce ingredients and use it to marinate your salmon for at least 30 minutes to overnight. Then air fry your salmon at 400 for about 8 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer reads 145 degrees F.

Tips and Serving Ideas

Alternative pan options: If you don't have a cast-iron skillet, you can use a stainless steel pan or a nonstick skillet. If you use stainless steel, just be sure you have a fully hot pan before adding oil.  The browning results with cast-iron will be better, but the salmon will still be delicious in whatever pan you use!

Pat your salmon dry: This is an important step to get that crispy skin and seared crust -- the best part of your maple dijon salmon! Pat your salmon dry with a paper towel before seasoning it so that the oil in the pan can brown it up nicely.

Atlantic (farm-raised salmon) vs. Alaskan wild salmon: I made this maple dijon salmon recipe using Atlantic salmon, which has a higher fat content than wild-caught salmon. Cooking salmon can be tricky -- if you make it with Alaskan or sockeye salmon, or another type of salmon with a lower fat content, you'll need to adjust the cook time and watch carefully so that you don't end up with dry salmon.

Serving ideas: To let the flavors in this maple-dijon salmon shine, my favorite side dish is a hearty rice pilaf and sautéed veggies, or try this rice cooker coconut rice. I also love to make it a delicious dinner with cooked lentils, quinoa, or sweet potatoes! Let me know how you served this delicious cast-iron skillet salmon in the comments below!

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Last Updated on October 25, 2024 by Chenée Lewis