Bang Bang Salmon (Printer-Friendly)

Crispy salmon with creamy, spicy-sweet Bang Bang sauce for bold weeknight flavors.

# What You Need:

→ For the Salmon

01 - 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each, skin-on or skinless)
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp garlic powder
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - ½ tsp salt
06 - ½ tsp black pepper

→ For the Bang Bang Sauce

07 - ½ cup mayonnaise
08 - 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
09 - 1 tbsp sriracha (adjust to taste)
10 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional, for extra sweetness)
11 - 1 tsp rice vinegar or lime juice

→ Optional Garnishes

12 - Chopped green onions
13 - Sesame seeds
14 - Fresh lime wedges

# How to Cook:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F for baking, or preheat a grill or skillet to medium-high heat as desired.
02 - Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Brush each fillet with olive oil, then season evenly with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
03 - Choose your cooking method: To Bake, place salmon skin-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 12–15 minutes until internal temperature reaches 145°F. To Grill, cook skin-side down for 4–5 minutes per side. To Pan-Sear, cook skin-side down for 4–5 minutes, then flip and cook another 3–4 minutes until cooked through.
04 - While salmon cooks, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey or maple syrup if using, and rice vinegar or lime juice in a small bowl. Adjust spice and sweetness to taste.
05 - Transfer cooked salmon to serving plates. Drizzle generously with Bang Bang sauce. Garnish with chopped green onions, sesame seeds, and lime wedges if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Comes together in under 30 minutes with ingredients you probably already have
  • The sauce is incredibly versatile once you know how to balance the heat and sweet
  • Impressive enough for guests but casual enough for Tuesday dinner
02 -
  • Room temperature salmon cooks more evenly than cold straight from the fridge
  • The sauce thickens as it sits so thin it with a splash of water if needed
  • You can double the sauce recipe and keep it in the fridge for up to three days
03 -
  • Pat the salmon completely dry before seasoning for the best sear
  • Let the sauce sit for 10 minutes before serving to let flavors meld
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