Apple Butter Salmon Steaks
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Today I’m combining two of my favorite kitchen staples: salmon steaks and apple butter. Apple Butter Salmon Steaks are a decadent weeknight choice for cozy fall nights when you want something that is both comforting and healthy. A 30-minute fall dinner that tastes gourmet, whether cooked on the stovetop, baked or grilled: apple butter salmon with a golden, caramelized glaze and buttery finish.
Apple Butter Salmon Recipe
Apple butter salmon strikes a balance between rustic comfort and elegant simplicity. The glaze, made from sweet, spiced apple butter melted with a touch of real butter, forms a glossy, caramelized coating that clings to the salmon as it bakes.
Each bite brings the richness of the fish together with the cozy, autumnal depth of apple butter, mellowed by salt and cracked pepper.
It’s a quietly impressive main dish that takes little effort but feels polished enough for company. Ready in less than 30 minutes, this salmon dish bakes up buttery and flakey, tender enough for even the most picky eaters.
Below, we share how to make the recipe on the stove, in the oven or on the grill. The oven is convenient for a weeknight meal, while grilling the salmon adds a smoky flavor that highlights the apple butter’s natural sweetness. Both options are great and you won’t be disappointed in the final result.
To make this apple salmon recipe uniquely your own, you can:
- add 1 Tablespoon maple syrup to the glaze for a more pronounced sweetness;
- season the salmon with cayenne pepper to offset the sweetness with some spice;
- stir a teaspoon of finely chopped thyme or rosemary into the melted butter before mixing
- add a teaspoon of your favorite BBQ sauce to the glaze and grill over charcoal for a campfire-style flavor.
While apple butter has roots in 18th-century Appalachia and Pennsylvania Dutch communities, where it was simmered in large copper kettles at harvest time, pairing it with fish is a modern twist that honors that heritage of slow cooking and preservation while showcasing the adaptability of traditional ingredients in contemporary kitchens.
What to Serve with Apple Butter Salmon Steaks:
Apple Butter Salmon FAQs
Can I use frozen salmon? Yes, just thaw it completely and pat dry before glazing to ensure the sauce adheres properly.
How do I know when the salmon is done? It should flake easily with a fork and reach an internal temperature of 125-130°F for medium doneness.
Can I make this apple butter salmon ahead of time? You can mix the glaze up to two days in advance, but brush it on just before cooking.
Can I use another fish? Yes, you can use trout, cod or halibut to pair with our apple butter glaze.
More Recipes Using Apple Butter
- Apple Butter Cake
- Apple Butter Snickerdoodles
- Apple Butter Scones
- Apple Butter Pie
- or, make your own with our Instant Pot Apple Butter
Apple Butter Salmon Ingredients
- Salmon steaks or fillets (about 6 oz each)
- Apple butter
- Unsalted butter, melted
- Dijon mustard (optional, for balance)
- Smoked paprika or chili powder (optional, for depth)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Olive oil (for brushing pan or grill)
- Fresh thyme or parsley, for serving (optional)
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: Pat the salmon completely dry before brushing with glaze; this helps it caramelize instead of steaming.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Cast Iron Skillet
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Meat Thermometer <– This is the meat thermometer I have been using for the past 6 years – I’ve never had to change a battery and it’s super sturdy and reliable. It was a bit pricey, but unlike the $15 models that you can buy, this one isn’t going to need replacement. It is waterproof and comes with a two-year warranty.
How to Make Apple Butter Salmon
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment or lightly oil it.
Prepare the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together apple butter, melted butter, Dijon mustard, and smoked paprika if using.
Season the salmon: Pat the salmon dry. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
Glaze and bake: Place salmon on the prepared pan. Brush generously with the apple butter mixture. Bake for 12–15 minutes, depending on thickness, until the salmon flakes easily and the glaze is slightly caramelized.
Finish and serve: Spoon a little extra glaze from the pan over the salmon and garnish with thyme or parsley if desired.
Grilled Version and Stovetop version in the recipe card below.
Pin this Easy Apple Butter Glazed Salmon Steaks: Baked or Grilled:
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Apple Butter Salmon Steaks
Ingredients
- 4 salmon steaks or fillets (about 6 oz each)
- 3 tablespoons apple butter
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional, for balance)
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or chili powder (optional, for depth)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (for brushing pan or grill)
- Fresh thyme or parsley, for serving (optional)
Instructions
For the stove-top version:
- Prepare the salmon: Pat the salmon dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Make the glaze: In a small bowl, mix together the apple butter, melted butter, Dijon mustard (if using), and smoked paprika.
- Preheat the pan: Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil or a small pat of butter.
- Sear the salmon: Place the salmon skin-side down (if it has skin). Cook for 3–4 minutes without moving it, until the skin is crisp and the edges begin to turn opaque.
- Glaze and flip: Spoon or brush the apple butter mixture over the top of each piece. Flip the salmon carefully and cook another 2–3 minutes, until the glaze begins to caramelize.
- Finish gently: Reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and cook 1–2 more minutes until the salmon is just cooked through and flakes easily.
- Serve: Spoon any remaining glaze from the pan over the fish and garnish with thyme or parsley.
For the oven baked version:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment or lightly oil it.
- Prepare the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together apple butter, melted butter, Dijon mustard, and smoked paprika if using.
- Season the salmon: Pat the salmon dry. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
- Glaze and bake: Place salmon on the prepared pan. Brush generously with the apple butter mixture. Bake for 12–15 minutes, depending on thickness, until the salmon flakes easily and the glaze is slightly caramelized.
- Finish and serve: Spoon a little extra glaze from the pan over the salmon and garnish with thyme or parsley if desired.
For the grilled version:
- Preheat grill to medium-high and oil the grates.
- Brush salmon lightly with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and grill skin-side down for 4–5 minutes.
- Brush on the apple butter glaze, then flip and cook another 3–4 minutes, basting again before serving.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 530Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 7gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 151mgSodium: 269mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 50g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your family loves our easy apple butter salmon steak recipe as much as mine did!
For more scrumptious seafood ideas, check out our full seafood recipe collection here:
