Applewood-Smoked Salmon with Maple Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-23 · Updated 2026-05-23

Delicate salmon fillets smoked over applewood with a sweet maple glaze that caramelizes beautifully. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 70 minutes, pairs salmon fillets, applewood chips, maple syrup for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 300 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 (6 oz each) salmon fillets
• 2 cups applewood chips
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your smoker to 225°F and soak 2 cups applewood chips in water for 30 minutes before draining.
2. Step 2: Season 4 salmon fillets with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper evenly on both sides.
3. Step 3: Place the salmon skin-side down on the smoker rack and smoke for 1 hour, maintaining the 225°F temperature and adding applewood chips as needed.
4. Step 4: While salmon smokes, whisk together 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, and 1 tbsp lemon juice until smooth.
5. Step 5: During the last 15 minutes of smoking, brush the maple glaze over the salmon fillets every 5 minutes until the glaze is sticky and caramelized.
6. Step 6: Remove the salmon from the smoker and let rest for 5 minutes before serving with fresh lemon wedges.