Cedar Plank Salmon with Citrus Rub

Our family loves this cedar plank salmon recipe made with the easiest citrus brown sugar rub! The salmon stays soft in the middle and takes on the most delicious smoky flavor from the cedar plank.

We love cooking salmon fillets on cedar planks. They add an incredible smoky flavor and make clean-up completely stress-free! The rub for this salmon recipe is similar to the one we use for our brown sugar baked salmon. It is fast to put together and complements the fish so well.

We use our outdoor grill for this cedar plank recipe, but you can easily adapt it for your oven. (See our tips below for exactly how to do it!) If you are looking for more ways to master cooking fish at home, be sure to check out our lemon dill baked salmon or our grilled salmon with nectarines recipe, too.

Key Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients and a cedar plank to make the best cedar plank salmon:

• Cedar Plank: When choosing a cedar plank for cooking salmon, make sure it’s untreated, large enough for your fillet, and sold specifically for cooking. Make sure that you soak the plank in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling. This allows the wood to absorb moisture and create the fragrant steam that flavors the salmon. If you are hoping to find one at a local hardware store, skip the lumber section and head to where grills are sold. You might find a food-safe option there.
• Salmon: Any salmon fillet will work for this cedar plank salmon recipe. We especially love wild salmon, like sockeye, king, or coho. We also prefer using skin-on salmon. The skin acts as an extra barrier to the heat below and easily slides right off the fish once cooked.
• Homemade Citrus Rub: We love this easy rub made with brown sugar, lemon zest, salt, and smoked paprika. It’s amazing with the salmon! We like rubbing it all over the fillet and letting it sit for 15 minutes before cooking.
• Thyme: This is optional, but we love sneaking a few sprigs of thyme underneath the salmon. It adds a bit more flavor to the fish and pairs well with the woody notes of the cedar plank and the citrusy notes in the rub.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Cedar Plank Salmon on the Grill

Grilling salmon can be tricky, so we are excited to share this practically fail-proof way to cook salmon on the grill. The cedar plank protects the fish from the direct heat and prevents it from sticking to the grill grates, which, if you’ve experienced it, is a real pain!

Tip 1: Don’t forget to soak the cedar plank. You really want to soak the plank before using it. Thirty minutes is the minimum, though longer is never a bad idea. You really need the plank to be completely saturated so it steams and releases all those smoky cedar flavors.

To soak a cedar plank, place it into a rimmed baking sheet filled with water, then use something heavy, like a large tomato can, to weigh it down so it stays submerged.

Tip 2: Add the rub. We use our fingers to massage the citrus herb rub into the salmon, then set it aside for 15 minutes to let things marinate a bit.

Tip 3: Prepare the grill. While the salmon sits with the rub, get your grill ready. You are looking for a well-preheated grill set to medium-high heat. If you are using your oven, we’ve offered tips below.

Tip 4: Grill the plank without the salmon. Since the salmon only takes 15 to 20 minutes to cook, we like putting the soaked cedar plank on the grill for 3 to 5 minutes before adding the fish. This way, the plank gets a little color and begins to smoke.

Tip 5: Add your salmon. Once the grill smells like smoky cedar (which is amazing, by the way), we flip the plank, add a few sprigs of fresh thyme, and then lay the salmon right on top. The salmon should take between 15 and 20 minutes, depending on the type of salmon you choose and its thickness.

In our photos, you’ll notice lemon halves beside the plank. If you’ve never roasted or grilled lemon, you are missing out. In the time it takes for the salmon to cook, the lemon halves become lightly charred and sweet. They are perfect for squeezing over the cooked salmon.

How to Bake Cedar Plank Salmon in the Oven

While grilling is our favorite way to get that smoky flavor, you can absolutely make this recipe indoors. Here is how we adapt it for the oven:

1. Just like grilling, you still want to soak the cedar plank in water for at least 30 minutes.
2. Once the plank is well saturated with water, heat your oven to 400°F and prepare the citrus brown sugar rub as directed. Massage the spice mixture into the salmon and let it sit while the oven heats up.
3. Place the soaked plank directly on the middle oven rack (and place a foil-lined baking sheet on the rack below it to catch drips). Then place the salmon on top. If you have space, you can even roast the lemon halves alongside it. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 125°F.

Serving Suggestions

This salmon makes us think of summer, so we love serving it next to some of our favorite summery sides. It is incredible with fresh dishes like our corn salad, avocado salad, peach burrata salad, or tomato feta salad. For something a bit heartier, try it alongside our Greek pasta salad or no mayo herb potato salad.

I particularly love adding a sauce to complement the smoky, woodsy flavor of the fish. Try adding a spoonful of our easy tzatziki sauce, a drizzle of tahini sauce, or even a generous spoonful of guacamole right on top.

Finally, it is lovely paired with a simple starch like cilantro lime rice, fried rice, or Adam’s personal favorite, saffron rice. You can even flake the cooked salmon to use with your favorite taco toppings and serve it tucked into homemade corn tortillas!

Frequently Asked Questions

• What should I do if the cedar plank catches fire? Even if you soak the plank, it might still catch fire when grilling outside. That’s why we always keep some water close by to extinguish any fire around the edges of the plank. You can see from our photo that ours really went for it, but the salmon was safe and still tasted great. Making sure you soak the plank for at least 30 minutes and keeping the grill lid closed as much as possible will also help prevent flare-ups.

• Can I reuse a cedar plank? We don’t recommend it. After grilling, the plank will be heavily charred on the bottom and will have absorbed salmon oils on the top. For the best flavor and for food safety, we recommend tossing the used wood and starting with a fresh, clean cedar plank next time.
• Do I need to flip the salmon while it grills? Not at all! That is one of the best parts about this recipe. The cedar plank protects the bottom of the fish from sticking or burning. As long as you keep the grill lid closed, the heat will circulate around the salmon, cooking it perfectly all the way through without any flipping required.

More Summer Grilling Recipes

• Grilled Chicken Breasts
• Grilled Steak
• Grilled Swordfish
• Lemon Garlic Grilled Chicken Wings