Bourbon Glazed Salmon Recipe
Published November 14, 2022. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This delicious, easy-to-make Bourbon Glazed Salmon Recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and is jam-packed with flavor. It’s perfect for a weeknight meal and elegant enough to serve up to some guests, and the glaze is to die for.
I love salmon, but sometimes it’s just hard to remember to put it into my weekly recipes. If you love it and want to try out some new dishes, then definitely make my Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches or Honey-Garlic Salmon.
Bourbon Glazed Salmon
Bourbon glazed salmon is a simple dish consisting of a bourbon-infused soy glaze served over salmon. Any breed of salmon will work in this recipe; the glaze can be used as a marinade if combined and uncooked. I prefer to use it as a glaze because it’s a thick sauce that coats the salmon perfectly.
When selecting a bourbon, I like to stick with brands I know, such as Jim Bean or Wild turkey. For one, I would gladly drink either of those, and two, you know you are getting a quality spirit. I also want to say that you can use whiskey for this Bourbon Glazed Salmon. All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Whiskey is distilled from a grain mash and aged in wooden barrels.
There are Irish Whiskey’s, Scotch Whiskey, etc., but if you want it to be bourbon, it must be made in America. Essentially Bourbon is our version of whiskey.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Bourbon – Any good bourbon will work for this. Of course, if you only have whiskey, then that will work, also.
- Soy – Use a good soy sauce for this. I usually get whatever is organic and on sale.
- Sugar – You will need light brown sugar and honey for the sauce.
- Garlic – A minced clove will add a lot of flavor to this.
- Ginger – Freshly grated ginger will bring a lot of flavor to the sauce.
- Onion – Sliced green onions are used in the sauce and as garnish.
- Salmon – I always prefer to use fresh wild-caught salmon. However, thawed frozen salmon will work as well.
- Oil – Use sesame oil or any neutral-flavored oil for searing the fish.
How to Make Bourbon Glazed Salmon
- Add the scallions, ginger, garlic, bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, and honey to a medium-size pot and simmer over medium-low heat until about 10 to 15 minutes thick. Set it aside and keep warm.
- Season the salmon on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Add 2 tablespoons of sesame oil to a pan or flat top over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke lightly.
- Sear the salmon until golden brown and medium in the center, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Serve with the bourbon glaze and a side of roasted asparagus.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: This recipe is meant to be eaten right away. However, you can make it up to 30 minutes ahead of time. Keep it warm before serving.
How to Reheat: Add the desired number of salmon to a pan and cook in the oven at 350° for 4-5 minutes or until warmed. You can also heat it in the microwave until warm. Heat the sauce separate from the salmon in a small-sized sauté pan over low heat until hot.
How to Store: Cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This will freeze covered for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.
Chef Notes + Tips
- You can grill the salmon instead of cooking it in a pan over medium to high heat for 3-4 minutes per side.
- Oils I prefer to use are olive, safflower, canola, or grapeseed.
- Note there will be plenty of glaze left over to use as a marinade or sauce for something else.
More Salmon Recipes
Bourbon Glazed Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chopped scallions + more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon peeled and finely grated ginger
- 2 teaspoons finely grated garlic
- 2 tablespoons Jim Beam or other good bourbon
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 8 4- ounce fresh salmon fillets
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil
- sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the scallions, ginger, garlic, bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, and honey to a medium-size pot and simmer over medium-low heat until thick while occasionally stirring, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Set it aside and keep warm.
- Season the salmon on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Add 3 tablespoons of sesame oil to a large sauté pan or flat top over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke lightly. You may need to cook the salmon in batches if there is not enough room in the pan.
- Turn the heat down to medium and sear the salmon until golden brown and medium in the center, which takes about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Serve with the bourbon glaze and a side of roasted asparagus.
Excellent, restaurant quality results.
Loved it.
I made your recipe. Absolutely mouth watering and made for one of my favorite food pictures.
Excellent!
Turned out really great. Did on the grill. Did not have sesame oil so just used olive oil.
Very excellent, elegant recipe!!!! Thank you Chef Billy
This is my favorite salmon recipe. Making it again this week.
My wife and I both thought this was the best salmon glaze recipe ever!!!
love it!
Best salmon I have ever made!!
The glaze was perfect with the salmon. Also had some left over and it was great on chicken too!!
Thanks Chef Billy!!
love it!
I made this tonight for my husband and myself. What an epicurean delight! It was a bit difficult cutting it down for two servings, but I managed somehow. My husband was in his glory! We had the asparagus as well and a very small serving of Parmesan polenta for our Carbohydrates. Thanks, Chef Billy for this fantastic recipe!
thanks for giving it a shot!!
This recipe is DELICIOUS!!!!!! I HIGHLY recommend you give this one a shot. Chef Billy is THE man!!! Thanks Chef for another great dish!
My pleasure!
My favorite salmon recipe ever.
appreciate you trying it
Absolutely delicious and simple to make. Followed all the directions as provided and used all of the ingredients suggested. Until now I haven’t been able to make a salmon dish that I loved. This is it! We will be making this again!
fantastic!
I’m not a good cook, but this recipe is so easy and so delicious to make. I’m inspired to try more recipes watching Chef Billy cook.
thanks for giving it a shot!!
Just made this recipe for dinner this evening. Amazing! That Bourbon glaze is phenomenal! This will be my go to recipe for salmon from now on. Thanks Chef!
I’ve perused several sites for a Glazed Salmon recipe. Most looked like a complicated method or some ingredient that is a special purchase. I recently started following Chef Billy Parisi on Facebook, so I thought he must have a delicious yet simple recipe. BINGO! My family loved it and want to try the glaze on other types of fish, chicken, and Pork chops.
This recipe is just outstanding, as are all your recipes. I was thinking about trying it with Chicken Thighs, Rice and Mixed Veggies.
Chef, you have become my new hero! I eat salmon 3 times a week and your recipes keep me from getting bored! I thank you greatly!
Hello, this is a great recipe! My family loves it, the bourbon sauce is extraordinary. But we recently made it with orange juice (due to not getting buying bourbon before the store closed) and it was still awesome.
Great job on making it work for you and still tasting great!
What if I want to do my salmon in the oven in foil paper. Can I drizzle the honey bourbon glaze within the foil so it can cook alongside the salmon for best flavor? I have done this technique before with regular honey garlic glaze, wondering if the bourbon addition causes any issues.
I think you would be fine doing that!
I have made this on several occasions and it is always a great success. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe.
This recipe is delicious. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Great! So glad it worked out for you 🙂
Actually, to be considered Bourbon, the whisky must be made with at least 51% corn. Here in Kentucky we have many distilleries who provide tours and tastings. That is always part of the education presentation during the tours.
OK I’m trying this tonight we will see…..
Have to make sure you marinate it overnight for the best flavor!
Where does it say to marinade?
you don’t marinate it, it’s simply a glaze.
I’m new at cooking and came across your recipe. It’s simply but appealing. Can’t wait to surprise my husband tonight. Thank you so much.
I love that you use simple presentations to create extremely appealing plates. More chef’s should! However, the sesame seeds are too much. Sometimes you really don’t need to garnish a plate.
I agree and I feel like I am there. Only thing I could say is that this image and recipe is 4 years old. I’ve grown 🙂