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Seafood

Cedar-Style Grilled Salmon on Electric Grill

Prep: 10 min|Cook: 12 min|Total: 22 min|Servings: 4|Medium

Salmon is one of the most rewarding proteins to cook on an electric grill, and the results can easily match or exceed what you would get at a restaurant. The steady, controllable heat of an electric grill is ideal for fish because it eliminates the flare-ups that can ruin a delicate fillet in seconds on a gas or charcoal grill. The maple-soy-Dijon glaze in this recipe creates a beautiful caramelized crust that pairs perfectly with the rich, buttery salmon. The combination of sweet maple syrup, salty soy sauce, and tangy mustard hits every flavor note. Smoked paprika adds depth and a subtle smokiness that works especially well on electric grills. If you are using a Ninja Woodfire or similar grill with built-in smoke capability, this recipe really shines. The wood pellet smoke infuses into the salmon as it cooks, creating layers of flavor that are simply outstanding. Even without a smoke function, the glaze does most of the heavy lifting. The single most important technique for grilling salmon is to never flip it. Place it skin-side down and leave it alone. The skin acts as a natural barrier between the hot grates and the delicate flesh, and the residual heat cooks the top of the fillet gently. This produces perfectly flaky, moist salmon every time.

Ingredients

  • 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each, skin-on)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Lemon wedges for serving
  • Fresh dill for garnish

Instructions

  1. 1

    Whisk together olive oil, maple syrup, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic, and smoked paprika in a small bowl to make the glaze.

  2. 2

    Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper, then brush the flesh side generously with the glaze. Reserve remaining glaze.

  3. 3

    Preheat the electric grill to 400F. If your grill has a smoke function, add wood pellets now.

  4. 4

    Place salmon skin-side down on the grill grates. Close the lid and cook for 8 minutes without flipping.

  5. 5

    Brush the top of the salmon with the remaining glaze. Continue cooking with the lid closed for 3-4 more minutes until the internal temperature reaches 145F and the fish flakes easily.

  6. 6

    Remove salmon from the grill using a thin spatula, sliding it between the skin and flesh if the skin sticks. Serve with lemon wedges and fresh dill.

Pro Tips

  • Never flip salmon on an electric grill. Cook it entirely skin-side down. The skin protects the flesh from drying out and makes removal easier.
  • If your salmon fillets have pin bones, remove them with tweezers before cooking.
  • For extra smoke flavor on a standard electric grill without a smoke function, add a small foil packet of wood chips next to the salmon with holes poked in the top.

Best Grill for This Recipe

Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL OG951

Tech-savvy grillers who want app-connected smoking and grilling

★★★★ 4.7/5
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