Easy and quick salmon bites baked in teriyaki sauce for a delicious dinner idea. Serve them over steamed rice, with a side of veggies, or add them to salads.
Jump to:
A few notes about the teriyaki salmon recipe
This recipe is simple and great for any day of the week when you need a homemade meal in under 30 minutes. My family is usually not a big fan of a simple baked salmon (but I am), but these bites in a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce are always a hit on a dinner table.
It makes my busy afternoons easier when I know I have a dinner idea that does not require too much time or work.
You can also make your rice and even cube the salmon beforehand. Just do not let sit in a sauce for longer than 1 hour, because the acid will make the fish mushy if left longer. I only recommend marinating salmon for 30-60 minutes in the fridge.
If you have time, I recommend marinating the salmon in teriyaki sauce for 30 minutes, but you can also cook it right away.
While the salmon bites are baking, you have time to prepare some rice and find any veggies you have in a fridge for serving.
Budget-friendly recipe version
With the prices of food going up, I have decided to focus on providing more affordable recipe ideas without compromising the taste and quality of ingredients.
To make this recipe more budget-friendly, I often buy frozen salmon fillets in bulk. When you buy it in bulk, frozen wild-caught salmon salmon is much better and cheaper than fresh farm-raised.
The dish defrosts very fast in the fridge or in a bowl of cold water. We often do not notice but grocery stores often sell previously frozen salmon.
To me, frozen salmon can taste as good as fresh when cooked right. When I do not have time, I even cook frozen fish in my air fryer and have great results.
I have also tried this recipe with canned salmon, which does not even require cooking only heating up.
Canned salmon is not quite the same as fresh, but it is very budget-friendly. I used it to make a bowl with rice, avocado, and cucumbers. And it was very tasty and filling.
You can also make your own teriyaki sauce using generic ingredients, such as soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch.
Last but not least tip is to serve the salmon with cheaper side dishes such as white rice, frozen veggies, and fresh carrots.
Ingredients
You can find the ingredients quantities including the easy homemade teriyaki sauce in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Salmon filet: you can use fresh or previously frozen salmon.
- Teriyaki sauce: you can use store-bought teriyaki sauce or make your own by mixing soy sauce, water, brown sugar, rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, ground ginger, and sesame oil.
- Olive oil: if you do not have sesame oil in your sauce, add about a teaspoon or two of olive oil there.
- Sesame seeds: add some crunch and nutty flavor to the dish.
How to make baked salmon bites in teriyaki sauce
Get the cutting board that you use for raw meats and a sharp knife. You will also need a medium or large bowl.
Remove the fish skin and any bones. Place the salmon fillet on a cutting board with the skin side up. With a sharp knife make a small cut at the end of the fillet, the side of the tail. Now, I usually use a paper towel to grab the cut skin end and simply peel off the skin. If it does not work, slide the knife between the skin and the fish. Keep the knife almost flat against the skin.
Keep sliding the knife and gently pulling the skin until you’ve removed it completely. Gently run your fingers along the surface of the fillet. If you feel any bones, use kitchen tweezers or fish-bone pliers to pull them out.
A quick tip: if you buy salmon at a seafood counter, you can ask them to remove the skin and any bones right there.
Cut salmon into cubes. Not cut salmon fillet into 1-inch cubes. They will not be the same size, because the fish fillet will have thicker and thinner sides. No need to worry about uneven cooking, as the salmon cooks very fast, and the thinner side of the fish has more fat so it will not be overcooked.
Coat salmon in teriyaki sauce. Add your salmon cubes to the medium bowl. Pour your teriyaki sauce over the fish, and add some sesame seeds. Gently stir it with the spoon so the fish pieces are evenly coated. Cover and place it in the fridge to marinate for 15-30 minutes. But not longer than 1 hour.
Bake salmon bites. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees f. Line parchment paper over the baking sheet. Arrange marinated salmon bites in a single layer on a prepared baking pan. Bake salmon bites for about 7-10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Nataliia's recipe tips and variations
- Double-check if there are any bones left in the fish and remove them if present.
- For best results, marinate salmon pieces in a sauce for about 30 minutes, but not longer than 1 hour.
- After baking, the sauce will be absorbed and mostly dried up. If you like the dish to be more saucy, toss already-cooked salmon bites in an extra 1-2 tablespoons of teriyaki sauce.
- Do not over bake the dish, it is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
Serving ideas
I love the versatility of this high-protein dish. See a few of my favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Teriyaki salmon and rice bowls: green onions bed of rice rice bowls.
- Serve these salmon bites over the stir fry noodles.
- Wrap them in fresh lettuce with some avocado and cucumbers for a low-carb meal.
- Add them to the salad made with greens, cucumbers, carrots, and a light sesame vinaigrette.
- Serve them over steamed, fried rice or stir-fried veggies.
Storage instructions
According to Ask USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), you can store cooked salmon in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
I prefer to consume it within 1-2 days for the freshest taste. Make sure it is placed in an airtight container to keep it fresh longer and not absorb any other flavors.
You can reheat it in the microwave, air fryer, or oven.
More easy dinner ideas
Recipe FAQ
Yes, you can use other types of fish to make this recipe. You can use tilapia, tuna, or cod.
I recommend marinating salmon in teriyaki sauce for at least 15-30 minutes so it absorbs the flavors of the sauce. Never let salmon marinate for longer than 60 minutes.
Yes, you can pan-fry or air fryer salmon bites as well. The cooking time will be different, so make sure you use the meat thermometer to cook it properly.
📖 Recipe
Easy Baked Teriyaki Salmon Bites
Equipment
- 1 medium bowl
- 1 Baking pan
Ingredients
- 2 pounds salmon filet
- 4-5 tablespoons teriyaki sauce store-bought or homemade
- 1 teaspoon raw sesame seeds optional
Homemade teriyaki sauce (makes 5-6 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce you can also use low sodium one
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
- ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil optional
Serving
- ½ cup steamed rice
- ¼ sliced avocado
- ¼ cup sliced carrots
- 2 tablespoons shelled edamame beans
- 1 teaspoon chopped green onions
- 1 teaspoon spicy mayo
Instructions
- Using a sharp knife, make small cut between the flesh and the skin at the end of the fillet. Use a paper towel to hold onto he small part of skin you just cut. Peel the skin off carefully. You can also use a knife by sliding it between the flesh and the skin. Discard the skin. Remove the bones from the filet, if present.
- Cut salmon into 1-inch cubes and pace them in a medium bowl. Pour about 4-5 tablespoons teriyaki sauce (store-bought or homemade), add some sesame seeds. Stir until salmon bites are evenly coated. Place the fish in the fridge to marinate for about 30 minutes but not longer than 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line the baking pan with parchment paper. Take out marinated salmon bites and arrange them on a baking pan in a single layer.
- Bake for about 7 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F. If you like salmon bites to be more sauce, toss them in extra 1-2 tablespoons of teriyaki sauce right after baking.
Homemade teriyaki sauce (makes 5-6 tablespoons)
- In a medium bowl, combine 2 tablespoons soy sauce , 2 tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon brown sugar , ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar , ½ tablespoon cornstarch , ½ teaspoon garlic powder , ¼ teaspoon ground ginger , ½ teaspoon sesame oil .
Serving
- Serve salmon bites over a bed of steamed rice. Add sliced avocado, carrots. edamame beans, chopped green onions and some spicy mayo on top.
Comments
No Comments