Brined salmon from the BBQ might sound new, but it’s actually a very old cooking method. By soaking the salmon in a salt and spice mix (called a brine), it loses extra moisture and soaks up all the flavors. The result? A crispy outside and soft, juicy inside full of flavor.
Crispy Brined Salmon from the Grill
I found this recipe years ago during a “Daring Cooks” challenge. The original version came from ehow.com, but of course, I tested it many times and made it easier and tastier for my home BBQ. Yes, the prep takes a bit longer, but it’s totally worth it.
The brine gives the salmon a deep, rich taste that’s hard to find in any other fish dish. When you take your first bite, you’ll know why this has become one of my favorite summer BBQ recipes.
My Tips for Easy BBQ Salmon with Salt and Spice Brine
As a food blogger, I always test recipes many times before I share them. Here are the things that make this brined salmon recipe extra good:
- The Brine: Sweet, Salty and a Little Spicy
- I use brown sugar and sea salt for the base. The sugar helps the salmon caramelize on the grill.
- Water helps the salt and sugar dissolve and keeps the salmon fully covered.
- Use Salmon with Skin On: The skin protects the fish on the hot grill and becomes crispy and tasty.
- Brine Time: 24 Hours: Let the salmon sit in the brine in the fridge for one full day. This gives the best taste and texture.
- Drying Before Grilling: After brining, let the salmon dry a bit on a rack. This helps the outside become crispy when grilled.
- Grilling: Heat the grill until it’s really hot. Brush the salmon with sunflower oil so it doesn’t stick. Grill each side for 3 minutes until the salmon is just cooked and flakes with a fork.
- No BBQ? No Problem!: You can also grill this salmon in a hot grill pan or even in the oven. Just adjust the cooking time as needed.
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📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 cup sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, ground
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper ground
- 4 tablespoons Japanese soy sauce
- 1.1 lb salmon fillet, with skin
- 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
- Boil half of the water in a small pan. Add the sugar and salt and stir to dissolve.½ cup water, 1 cup dark brown sugar, 1 cup sea salt
- Add the rest of the water, soy sauce, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Let it cool down.1 teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper ground, 4 tablespoons Japanese soy sauce
- Place the salmon (skin-side down) in the cooled brine. Make sure it is fully covered. Cover and place in the fridge for 24 hours.1.1 lb salmon fillet
- After 24 hours, take the salmon out and put it on a rack to dry. Leave it for a few hours or overnight in the fridge.
- Heat the grill until very hot. Brush the salmon with sunflower oil.2 tablespoons sunflower oil
- Grill for 3 minutes on each side until cooked and slightly crispy.
Notes
- Refrigerator: Cooked salmon stays fresh in the fridge for 2–3 days.
- Freezer:Freezing is not recommended – the texture changes after thawing.
Nutrition
Nicole NK says
I love the combination of brown sugar and soy sauce with this salmon!! It’s perfect!
Stephanie says
The extra time to brine the salmon was well worth it - this is simply delightful! I am trying to improve my talents on the grill so I appreciate the detailed instructions for this recipe.
Andréa says
Yes it's the perfect brining flavor. Thank you!
Andréa says
Thank you! Great to here you enjoyed it!
Nancy says
Brining the salmon overnight made such a difference in the texture of the fish. It was really tasty. Thanks
Kate says
This looks like such an interesting technique! I love grilled fish, so definitely going to give this one a try. Thank you for sharing this recipe. 🙂
Mina says
Brining sure gave the salmon more flavor! This is perfect for our next weekend gathering! Yum!
Andréa says
It gives so much flavor. Thank you!
Andréa says
I surely can recommend it. You'll love it!
Andréa says
It will be. Enjoy!
Claudia Cristina Ciorteanu says
Grilled salmon's awesome! 💥
Brining = flavor bomb! 🎉
Tender, juicy, and smoky. 🔥
Perfect for a BBQ day! 🍽️
Give it a try, folks! 🐟👌
Alexandra says
Delicious salmon - a wonderful way of preparing it. The brine is such a clever way of ensuring the fish is perfect.
Andréa says
It sure is! Thank you Alexandra!
Andréa says
It really is! Thank you so much!
Nora says
The perfect dish for my hubby! He loves salmon and is a huge BBQ fan! Thanks for another fantastic recipe!
Andréa says
No thanks. I hope he'll enjoys it!
Mina says
This is how I like my salmon! So tender and flavorful! Yum!
Swathi says
Brined salmon looks delicious when it grill. My family love salmon . This is perfect recipe.
Andréa says
Thank you!