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Sheet-Pan "Firecracker" Sweet Chili Salmon & Blistered Veggies

Sheet-Pan "Firecracker" Sweet Chili Salmon & Blistered Veggies

Sweet chili sauce is the ultimate fridge door MVP, but when you mix it with a tiny bit of mayonnaise and soy sauce, it transforms into a lacquered, bubbly, restaurant-quality glaze. This entire meal roasts on a single pan, delivering perfectly flaky salmon and sweet, blistered snap peas in about 20 minutes. It's the ultimate seafood cheat code for a Tuesday night.

Elena Reyes
Elena Reyes
Prep: 7 minutes
Cook: 14 minutes
4
easy
dinner
sheet-pancheat-code30-minute-mealseafood+1

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Timeline

21 minutes
0m10m20m
Prep Veggies
3m
Mix Glaze
2m
Prep Salmon
2m
Roast Meal
12m
Prep Sides
2m
Broil & Garnish
2m

Ingredients

  • 12 oz sugar snap peas(Pre-washed and stringless to save time)
  • 1 red bell pepper(Sliced into strips)
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil(Toasted sesame oil is best here)
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce(Store-bought is perfect)
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise(The secret to a bubbling, moist crust)
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce(Low-sodium preferred)
  • 4 salmon fillets(About 5-6 oz each, skin on or off)
  • 2 pouches pre-cooked jasmine rice(The ultimate carb cheat code)
  • 2 scallions(Thinly sliced for garnish)
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds(Optional, for crunch)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat your oven to 425°F. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss 12 oz sugar snap peas and 1 sliced red bell pepper with 1 tbsp sesame oil and 1/2 tsp garlic powder. Spread the vegetables out to the edges of the pan so there is a large, empty space in the center for the fish.

    3 min

    Tip: Don't use parchment paper here; direct contact with the hot metal pan gives the veggies those gorgeous charred, blistered spots.

  2. 2

    In a small bowl, vigorously whisk together 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, and 1 tbsp soy sauce. This is your magic cheat-code glaze.

    2 min

    Tip: Yes, I am asking you to put mayo on fish. The oil and egg in the mayonnaise insulate the salmon so it doesn't dry out, and it encourages the sugar in the sweet chili sauce to caramelize instead of burn.

  3. 3

    Pat the 4 salmon fillets very dry with a paper towel. Place them in the center of the sheet pan. Spoon the sweet chili glaze evenly over the top of each fillet, spreading it all the way to the edges.

    2 min

    Tip: Patting the fish dry ensures the glaze actually sticks instead of sliding right off into the pan.

  4. 4

    Transfer the sheet pan to the hot oven. Roast for 10-12 minutes. You want the salmon to flake easily with a fork and the vegetables to be tender-crisp.

    12 min

    Tip: If your fillets are particularly thick (over 1 inch), you might need to add 2-3 extra minutes of roasting time.

  5. 5

    While the salmon is roasting, pop your 2 pouches pre-cooked jasmine rice into the microwave according to the package instructions. Thinly slice the 2 scallions so they're ready to go.

    2 min

    Tip: Microwave rice is one of my favorite shortcuts to keep in the pantry for nights when waiting 20 minutes for a rice cooker is simply not going to happen.

  6. 6

    Once the roasting time is up, turn your oven to broil. Broil the sheet pan for 1 to 2 minutes until the sweet chili glaze gets bubbly and slightly charred at the edges. Pull it out, divide everything over the warm rice, and garnish with the sliced scallions and 1 tbsp sesame seeds.

    2 min

    Tip: Do not walk away while the broiler is on! The sugar in the sweet chili sauce goes from beautifully caramelized to charcoal in about 30 seconds.

Chef's Notes

Listen, I know some of you are gasping at the mayonnaise. Put the pitchfork down. Mayonnaise is just oil and egg. When you mix it with the sweet chili sauce, it essentially acts as a protective, flavorful barrier that roasts into an incredibly rich, sticky crust. You won't taste 'mayo,' you will just taste the most perfectly cooked sweet-and-savory salmon of your life. Trust the cheat code!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Sheet-Pan "Firecracker" Sweet Chili Salmon & Blistered Veggies take to make?

Sheet-Pan "Firecracker" Sweet Chili Salmon & Blistered Veggies takes about 21 minutes total. That includes 7 minutes of prep and 14 minutes of cooking.

How many servings does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 4 servings.

What skill level is needed for Sheet-Pan "Firecracker" Sweet Chili Salmon & Blistered Veggies?

This recipe is rated easy — it's beginner-friendly and straightforward.

What ingredients do I need for Sheet-Pan "Firecracker" Sweet Chili Salmon & Blistered Veggies?

The main ingredients are: sugar snap peas, red bell pepper, sesame oil, garlic powder, sweet chili sauce, mayonnaise, soy sauce, salmon fillets, pre-cooked jasmine rice, scallions, sesame seeds.

What type of meal is Sheet-Pan "Firecracker" Sweet Chili Salmon & Blistered Veggies?

Sheet-Pan "Firecracker" Sweet Chili Salmon & Blistered Veggies is categorized as: dinner.