This Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccoli is a perfect weeknight dinner when you feel that your body needs a little pick-me-up. It has a little bit of heat, a lot of zingy citrus, and it only takes 25 minutes to make.
Nothing beats a sheet pan dinner to help ease us through the week. This sheet pan salmon and broccoli is extra delightful because it has a good dose of immune-boosting citrus and gochujang paste to warm you up.
What you’ll need to make this delightful one sheet recipe
- Citrus: We’re using the zest and the juice of a lemon and an orange
- Ginger and garlic: The 1-2 punch gives this recipe so much oomph!
- Gochujang: The incredible Korean red pepper paste that is worth seeking out.
- Oil: Just a bit, to help bring the dressing together. I use olive oil or vegetable oil, whatever is handy.
- Soy sauce: It helps deliver saltiness with a little bit more complexity
- Salt: To supplement the soy sauce. (Salmon can handle salt pretty well.)
- Salmon: I like to use wild pacific salmon fillets, but this will depend on where you live. Just make sure it’s been sustainably caught.
- Broccoli: I love roasted broccoli, and this flavour combo makes it even better.
- Red onion: I like a little bit of red onion tossed in with the broccoli. Nice colour, nice flavour.
- Cilantro: Only if you want, it’s just a garnish.
How to make this Spicy Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccoli
I know I say it every time, but this is a really easy one! You’ll have it on the table in just a few steps.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees
- Put the lemon and orange zest and juice into a jar with the ginger, garlic, gochujang, soy sauce, oil, and honey.
- Blend with an immersion blender until smooth
- Cut the broccoli into bite-size florets, slice the red onion and combine in a mixing bowl. Pour half of the dressing into the bowl with the broccoli and onions, and toss to coat.
- Transfer the broccoli and onions onto a parchment-lined baking sheet—leaving the excess dressing in the bottom of the mixing bowl—and roast in the oven for 5-10 minutes, depending on how you like your broccoli. If you’re an al dente person, 5 should do the trick.
- Toss the salmon in the mixing bowl with whatever dressing is in there. You can add a splash more from the jar if needed.
- After 10 minutes in the oven, remove the baking sheet and push the broccoli and onions to one side. Place salmon on the tray, ensuring that nothing is piled on top of each other, and return everything to the oven to bake for another 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and drizzle the remaining dressing over the salmon and broccoli. You will likely have a little bit of dressing leftover.
- Plate everything up, garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and enjoy!
Tips for success
Ok I know I said it was easy, and it is! But here are a few tips to pay attention to.
The thickness of the salmon will greatly affect it’s cooking time. If it’s on the thinner side, it might only take 8 or 9 minutes to cook. If it’s much thicker, it might take 12 minutes. To check doneness, I usually just cut into it and see if it’s mostly opaque all the way through. If using a thermometer, it should read 140-145 for perfectly baked salmon.
Choose a large enough baking sheet. The broccoli florets and salmon fillets should have lots of space around them so they roast properly. If the baking sheet is too small, everything will be squished together and it will steam instead of roast.
Storage, freezing, and reheating suggestions
I wouldn’t recommend storing this sheet pan salmon and broccoli as it is really best eaten fresh.
If you must save some for your lunch the next day, I’d suggest eating it cold, as reheated salmon is never a good idea.
What to serve with this Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccoli?
I usually just enjoy this straight-up. But as you can see by the photos, I have been known to round out my dinner plate with some simple mashed potatoes. Steamed rice would also be absolutely perfect, and a drizzle of that spicy citrus dressing is JUST the thing to jazz up a starchy side.
Still hungry?
I’m with ya. If you love this sheet pan salmon and broccoli recipe, try these other super easy fish recipes:
And a wonderful way to use up that Gochujang:
I hope you love this weeknight one-pan salmon recipe! There will be more (less than) 30-minute meals coming up on the blog this fall so stay tuned.
Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccoli with Spicy Citrus Dressing
Ingredients
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1/2 orange
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp orange juice
- 1 Tbsp fresh ginger
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 teaspoon gochujang
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 400 grams salmon
- 300 grams broccoli
- 1/2 red onion
- Cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees
- Zest and juice the lemon and orange and combine with the ginger, garlic, gochujang, soy sauce, oil, honey, and salt in a jar
- Blend with an immersion blender until smooth
- Cut the broccoli into bite-size florets, slice the red onion and combine in a mixing bowl. Pour half of the dressing into the bowl with the broccoli and onions, and toss to coat.
- Transfer the broccoli and onions onto a parchment-lined baking sheet—leaving the excess dressing in the bottom of the mixing bowl—and roast in the oven for 5-10 minutes depending on how cooked you like your broccoli.
- Toss the salmon in the mixing bowl with whatever dressing is still in the bowl from the broccoli tossing. Add a splash more dressing if needed, reserving a little bit to drizzle over the salmon and broccoli when it comes out of the oven.
- After 5-10 minutes in the oven, remove the baking sheet and push the broccoli and onions to one side. Place the salmon on the tray, ensuring that nothing is piled on top of each other, and return everything to the oven to bake for another 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and drizzle the remaining dressing over the salmon and broccoli.
- Plate everything up, garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and enjoy!
Very good