This Sheet Pan BBQ Salmon and Sweet Potatoes is my go-to for a fresh, easy 20-minute dinner. With just five ingredients and about five minutes of prep, you’ll have a light, flavorful, protein-packed meal roasted in the oven.
Bring the flavor to BBQ salmon!
I love glazing salmon and finishing it in the oven. If you enjoy quick glazed salmon recipes, try my Balsamic Glazed Salmon or Miso Salmon for other easy weeknight options.
To change up my routine, I created this BBQ-glazed salmon baked alongside sweet potatoes. It was too delicious and simple not to share.
Filets are seasoned with a bold, smoky BBQ rub, then brushed with BBQ sauce to create a caramelized glaze. The sweet potatoes get the same rub and roast next to the salmon, giving the dish sweet and smoky balance. It’s an effortless, crowd-pleasing recipe for busy evenings.
Key ingredients
Below are notes on the main ingredients and how they affect the dish. The full ingredient list with measurements is in the recipe card further down.
- BBQ seasoning – You can make a homemade rub ahead of time or use a store-bought BBQ seasoning. A blend with brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder works well.
- BBQ sauce – Use a bottle you enjoy. The BBQ sauce creates the glossy, caramelized finish on the salmon.
- Salmon – Use skin-on or skin-off fillets, aiming for fillets of similar size so they cook evenly. Fillets about 1 inch thick pair well with the cook time for the sweet potatoes.
Instructions
Step-by-step photos are included to make this recipe easy to follow. For the complete recipe, see the recipe card below.
How to serve it
The salmon and sweet potatoes make a complete meal on their own, but a crisp side salad adds freshness and balance.
You can roast other vegetables on the same sheet pan—diced zucchini, broccoli, or cauliflower work well and will cook in about 15 minutes. Toss with olive oil and a little BBQ seasoning, then add them to the pan with the sweet potatoes.
To turn this into a grain bowl, serve the salmon and sweet potatoes over quinoa or rice and top with a fresh fruit salsa, such as pineapple or mango–avocado salsa, for brightness.
Oven Baked BBQ Salmon
Ingredients
- 4 cups sweet potato, small dice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons BBQ seasoning, divided
- 1 pound salmon fillets
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
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Line a large sheet pan with nonstick foil or parchment paper.
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Add the diced sweet potatoes to the pan, drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the BBQ seasoning over the potatoes and toss to coat. Push them to one side of the sheet pan.
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Place the salmon on the other side of the pan, season with the remaining 1 tablespoon of BBQ seasoning, and brush the tops with BBQ sauce.
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Roast in the oven for 12–15 minutes, until the salmon flakes easily and the sweet potatoes are tender.
Notes
- Dice sweet potatoes into small ¼-inch cubes. Small cubes cook in 12–15 minutes alongside the salmon. Larger pieces will take longer.
- If you only want salmon, use 1 tablespoon BBQ seasoning on the fillets and skip the sweet potatoes and olive oil.
- Other vegetables work, too: diced zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, or asparagus can be roasted with the salmon.
- To grill instead: season and brush the salmon with BBQ sauce, then grill skin-side down over medium-high heat for about 12–15 minutes.