Bang Bang Salmon is seasoned salmon filets brushed with bang bang sauce, baked in the oven, and topped with even more of the sweet and spicy sauce. Try my Bang Bang Shrimp, too!
Bang Bang Salmon
Yes, you are probably familiar with bang bang shrimp. But, with a sauce as tasty as bang bang sauce, it would be a shame to not put it on anything else. So, I decided salmon would be a delicious option, and I wasn’t wrong! (I even have Air Fryer Bang Bang Salmon Bites you will love!) Not only is the sauce brushed over the salmon before being baked, but there is also enough to drizzle a little more on after baking. If you prefer chicken, I also have Bang Bang Chicken Skewers you will want to try!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Salmon: Salmon is a great source of protein and full of nutritious value. It is loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids, which help lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation. You will need 3-4 salmon filets for this recipe.
Mayonnaise: The mayonnaise gives the sauce the creamy texture it is known for. You could make your own or use light mayonnaise if that is what you have on hand.
Thai Sweet Chili Sauce: The sweetness really comes out in each bite, followed by the heat from the Sriracha. Make your own if you don’t have any on hand.
Sriracha: We used a teaspoon of Sriracha in this recipe, but you could definitely increase the amount if you prefer more of a kick.
When is Salmon Done Cooking?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, salmon is cooked through when the thickest part of the filet is 145°F on a meat thermometer. But, you can remove salmon from the oven, skillet, or grill closer to 130°F for a medium-cooked salmon; it will continue to cook after being removed from heat.
If you don’t have a thermometer, salmon is done cooking when it is a bit flaky when using a fork. Be careful to not overcook salmon; that will make it dry. The outside should be an opaque pink when cooked. In addition, the cook times will vary depending on the cooking method and the size of the filets. If possible, I would definitely recommend a meat thermometer.
Do I Cook Salmon with the Skin On or Off?
Unless you are poaching the salmon, I recommend leaving the skin on. The skin acts as a barrier between the flesh and the hot sheet pan or grill. Cook the salmon skin-side down, which helps prevent the most delicate flesh of the filet from overcooking. It is a personal preference if you choose to eat the skin or not.
Can I Make this in an Air Fryer?
Yes! To be honest, we preferred the Air Fryer method over the oven. It was gloriously crispy yet flakey inside, I highly recommend the air fryer for this recipe!
To use your air fryer, follow the instructions up to baking the salmon in the oven. Cook the salmon in the air fryer for 5-6 minutes at 400°F. And don’t forget to drizzle the reserved bang bang sauce on top!
How to Store Bang Bang Salmon
If you have any salmon left over, it will last up to 2 days when stored in the refrigerator. When ready to reheat, use the oven as opposed to a microwave. Or, enjoy the salmon cold, on top of a salad.
You can also store bang bang sauce made in advance. Once made, store the sauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to seven days. Since it is a mayonnaise-based sauce, it should not be left out at room temperature.
Bang Bang Salmon
Ingredients
- 4 salmon filets, about 1½ pounds, skins on
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup (116 g) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (66 g) Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha, or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon honey
- chives, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Drizzle the olive oil over salmon on all sides and gently rub it in. In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Sprinkle seasoning mixture over the salmon filets.
- In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey. Mix well and divide the sauce in half. (It makes one cup of sauce, so use ½ cup for brushing it on the salmon before baking, reserving the other ½ cup for drizzling after baking.)
- Using ½ cup of sauce, evenly brush it over the salmon filets.
- Place the salmon onto the lined baking sheet, skin-side down, leaving space between each filet.
- Bake the salmon for 8-10 minutes, or until cooked through. (Start checking the salmon after 6 minutes.) The internal temperature of fully cooked salmon is 145°F. For a crispier filet, broil for 1-2 minutes.
- Transfer the salmon to a plate and drizzle with the remaining sauce. Garnish with chives.
- Serve warm with rice.
Video
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
Great recipe! So yummy! Will definitely be making regularly.
Absolutely amazing!!!!!! My family loved it!!!! I didn’t have sriracha so I used 1 tsp of gochujang and threw in a little tapitao.
I’m in Alaska and we catch lots of King Salmon. Always looking for new recipes and this one I’ll be making for years to come! Sooo delicious!!!!!
Made this as written except I did not use filets. I bought a 2 pound piece of salmon at COSTCO and cooked it in one piece. I did not put the olive oil on the fish first (Salmon is oily by nature, so extra calories saved). I put the salmon on a heavy sheet pan and cooked it on the grill (indirect heat) because it was so hot out and I did not want to turn my oven on. It was absolutely perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. My family loved it. Will make this again and again.
Great to know this, Stephanie! Glad you enjoyed it!
This was so delicious!!
I tried this recipe in the air fryer. I added some brown sugar and an extra teaspoon of oil to the rub. It took a little longer than I expected to cook it in the air fryer – about 12 minutes – but the outcome was DELICIOUS. So tender and moist and the outside crisp and sweet and tangy!
This was outstanding! My fiancé could not stop raving about it. He gave it a 20 out of 10 🤪 Said we need to have it as often as possible. Even my picky 13 year old enjoyed it. But seriously, my fiancé says it was one of the best meals I’ve ever made. Thank you for a winner!
Can the sauce be stored in the refrigerator for a few days?
Can this be done in an air fryer or a grill? How would instructions differ?
Made this recipe for a quick dinner tonight and it was delicious!!! I used light mayo and it’s just as tasty.
Bangin’ sauce!
I always air fry my salmon so I did the cooking differently but basted fish before & after cooking with sauce and it was wonderful! I added more sriracha for a sweet & spicy kick 👌🏻
This was phenomenal! Chose to make this for my Mother’s Day dinner. Kids, husband and I all loved the salmon. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
This was amazing literally eating as I type this. So easy to make and sooo yummy. One question I do have is, can you substitute the mayo for something else ?
I live in Alaska and have a surplus of salmon so I’m always looking for new salmon recipes. This one did not disappoint! We loved the creamy, spicy, sweet sauce and I think the leftovers will be delicious on a salad. Thank you for sharing!!
Made this tonight. It was delicious. Added a little more Sriracha to spice it up a little bit more. Will definitely make it more often. Had brussel sprouts for the side dish.
Thank you for this recipe! I can’t wait to try this and the bang bang shrimp.
I use sauce, it was delicious 😆
This was super simple and tasty! I love the bang bang sauce. I think the sauce would make a great coleslaw dressing! Next time I may add as little more sriracha just to spice it up a little more, but that is just a personal preference. The recipe is great as written.
Can you make it with a different type of fish like cod
Thank you for this recipe!
Nice to try
Is the sriracha a sauce or seasoning? Want to make the salmon
Sriracha is a type of hot sauce.