Salmon with Horseradish Sauce
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Jan 27, 2025 
Smoky Oven Baked Salmon with Horseradish Sauce – An easy, delicious dish that’s loaded with incredibly smoky, zesty, and salty flavors! This baked salmon with homemade horseradish sauce can be served warm for dinner or cold as an appetizer.
Oven Baked Salmon with Horseradish Sauce
One of the most memorable parties I ever hosted was my first grownup dinner party.
It was my first big party as a newlywed, as a working girl with a job that required a degree, and as a homeowner.
I felt very very mature. And I wanted it to be a real grownup party… The kind where we provided everything, for the sake of elegance, hospitality, and quality-control, and no one brought food or drinks. (A Type-A tendency I’ve let go over the years.)
The problem was, I’d never made that many dishes all by myself. When hosting a get-together, I’d always had my mom or several friends to cook with.
The day of the party I felt completely overwhelmed.
Fortunately for me, an older and wiser friend had anticipated this, and brought me a traditional Smoked Salmon Recipe with Creamy Horseradish Sauce to serve at the party.
She brought it over several hours before the party started and told me to cross a couple of recipes off my list. The salmon would be more than enough to fill in the gaps.
At first, I was hesitant… Change my plans at the last minute?
Yet, I gave in to her kind advice and generous gift. And the party was a huge success!
The food was a hit. Our friends were in rare form that night, sharing jokes and stories. Plus, due to my friend’s salmon recipe, I had time to shower and have a glass of wine beforehand. That’s a dinner party hostess win!
If you are a salmon fan, you must learn to make horseradish sauce. It is simple yet packed with flavor and so delicious to pair with salmon!
Get the Full (Printable) Baked Salmon with Horseradish Sauce Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Our Indoor “Smoked” Baked Salmon Recipe
I have made several renditions of this salmon recipe over the years. My party-saving friend smoked the salmon out on her grill, providing a dusky flavor and crusty exterior… Yet many people do not have a grill or smoker.
So, today I’m sharing my indoor rendition, a 10-ingredient Smoky Baked Salmon Recipe with Horseradish Sauce, that can be made in less than 30 minutes.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need for the Smoky Salmon:
- Wild Atlantic Salmon Filets – you definitely want fresh, high-quality fish for this dish
- Brown sugar
- Liquid smoke
What you need to make the homemade horseradish sauce:
- Sour cream – you can substitute Greek yogurt
- Milk
- Shaved shallots
- Dijon mustard
- Prepared horseradish
- Capers
- Chopped parsley
How to Make Oven Baked Salmon
Here are the simple steps to make this marvelous cheater version of smoky not-smoked salmon in your kitchen:
1. Place a whole wild salmon fillet on a baking sheet and massage it with brown sugar and liquid smoke.
2. While it’s baking, whisk together a quick sauce of shaved shallot, horseradish, sour cream, and a touch of dijon mustard.
3. Once the salmon is out of the oven, allow it to rest and cool for several minutes before carefully moving to a platter.
4. Pour the horseradish sauce over the top, and garnish with capers and chopped parsley.
The beauty of this Smoky Baked Salmon Recipe with Creamy Horseradish Sauce is that is tastes fabulous warm or cold.
You could even make it a couple days ahead and keep it in the fridge. Then pour the sauce over the top right before serving.
Give this recipe a try at your next family gathering or dinner party!
Looking for more easy and impressive dinner party recipes?
- Pan Seared Scallops
- Standing Rib Roast
- Saffron Risotto (Risotto Milanese)
- Veal Scallopini with Mushroom Sauce
- Duck Breast Recipe (with Blackberry Sauce)
- Oven Roasted Salmon with Pink Peppercorn Sauce
- 5-Ingredient Bagel Bites with Steak and Blue Cheese
- Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Beef Tenderloin
- Baked Halibut with Basil Butter
- Lobster Tostadas
Baked Salmon Recipe with Horseradish Sauce
Video
Ingredients
- 2 pounds whole wild salmon fillet
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- 1/2 cup sour cream (could be low-fat)
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons shaved shallots
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 4-5 teaspoons prepared horseradish
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the whole salmon fillet on it, skin side down. Sprinkle the top with brown sugar, then drizzle the liquid smoke over the top. Rub to coat the entire fillet. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until just barely cooked through. (You do not want to over cook your salmon fillet.)
- Meanwhile, shave the shallot with a large grater. In a mixing bowl, mix the sour cream, milk, shallot, mustard, and horseradish. Salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
- Once the salmon is out of the oven, allow it to cool for at least 5 minutes. Then carefully move it to a platter using two spatulas. Pour the horseradish sauce over the top and garnish with chopped parsley and capers.
I would like to use your friend’s grill method. How did it differ?
Cook it over a very low heat charcoal grill with soaked hickory wood for flavor. The salmon will take 40-60 if the grill is low enough… But that provides a great smoky taste!
LOL! We are so alike in so many ways! XOGREG
That sauce looks sooooooo tempting!!
I don’t know if I could decide whether to serve this as a main or as a stunning appetizer. Looks amazing either way! But then, anything with horsey sauce is a winner in my book.
fancy party salmon in 30 minutes is a total win, great holiday dish
That salmon! And THAT SAUCE!! We always try to do something different for the holidays, and for being in Seattle, salmon is always our first choice!!
I have never tried to comment before, hope I do this correctly.
I have always wanted to try salmon, however my husband is very reluctant to. I know that he does NOT like horseradish, is there something else you could recommend for a topping, sauce or dip?
Hi Peggy! I have a couple other baked salmon recipes that might be a better fit if your husband doesn’t like horseradish.
Garlic Lime Baked Salmon: http://www.aspicyperspective.com/oven-baked-salmon/
Salmon with Parmesan Herb Crust: http://www.aspicyperspective.com/oven-baked-salmon-recipe-with-parmesan-herb-crust/
beautiful salmon recipe sommer!
this salmon recipe looks ah-mazing!
What a nice way of doing salmon!
Josh would love this one!
This is the kind of dish I’d love to be served this holiday season! And by that I mean just put the whole platter in front me and let me go to town!