Easy Blood Orange BBQ Oven Baked Salmon #FreakyFruitsFriday

I received a free box of produce from Melissa’s Produce in conjunction with #FreakyFruitsFriday. All opinions are my own.

There is nothing easier than a simple main dish that you can throw in the oven and stop worrying about it. This 3 ingredient Orange BBQ Oven Baked Salmon is ready in under 30 minutes and you can easily add vegetables to the tray for an even more hands off dinner.

I’ve been making this salmon for a while now and everyone in my house gets so excited when they find out it’s on the menu. Seriously, even my kids cheer!

I love how simple it is, how few ingredients it uses, and the fact that no one complains about it (rare feat sometimes). Salmon is a great mild tasting fish if your family is wary of seafood and it can pair well with whatever starch is a favorite in your house.

You can pair this oven baked salmon with Orange Quinoa and a citrus salad like I did here. Other good sides would be Parmesan Rosemary Rolls, Apple Bacon and Goat Cheese Salad, and Oven Roasted Garlic and Herb Potatoes.

Ingredients you need:

• Fresh squeezed orange juice
• Barbecue sauce
• Salmon fillet

I use a blood orange for this. They have a distinctive dark red color on the inside even if the skin on the outside doesn’t seem that much different from a regular orange. Blood oranges have a strong sweet flavor and are a great option in the colder months as they are a winter fruit.

For the barbecue sauce, you can choose any brand and variety that is your favorite. I usually stick with a simple mesquite and avoid any of the sauces that have a strong sweet flavor so that the blood orange juice can lend the sweetness.

How To Make Oven Baked Salmon:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. In a small bowl, combine the freshly squeezed orange juice with the barbecue sauce.
3. Line a cookie sheet with either foil or parchment paper. Lay salmon fillet skin side down onto the prepared cookie sheet. Using a pastry brush, cover the salmon with the orange barbecue sauce.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the salmon reaches 135°F when measured at the thickest part of the fillet. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and lightly cover the salmon with foil. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Tips and Tricks

What temperature should salmon be cooked to?

According to the USDA salmon should be cooked to a minimum of 145 degrees F when measured at the thickest part of the salmon fillet.

A good meat thermometer will always be your friend when cooking meats to the perfect temperature. I use my Thermoworks thermopen all the time to make sure I don’t overcook or under cook my meat.

I’ve found the perfect time to pull the salmon from the oven is when the fish has reached 135 degrees F when measured at the thickest part. Cover with foil and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes. The fish will continue to cook as it rests.

How do you know when salmon is finished?

You will know when salmon is finished baking when you can easily flake the meat with a fork. If you follow my advice above and use a meat thermometer you will be fine!

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