Sticky sweet and garlicky, this glazed salmon recipe comes together in just 20 minutes, and in one pan. Hands down, the most addicting salmon ever!
This ultra easy salmon recipe is a winner when it comes to weeknight dinners!ย We love easy main dishes, like my Honey Lime Shrimp, and Blackened Tilapia Bowls.ย This is one of myย Dinnerย recipes youโll definitely want in your recipe rotation!
HONEY GARLIC SALMON RECIPE
Have you ever made a recipe that truly surprised you?ย Normally I’m not a huge salmon lover, but after one bite of this ultra tender salmon, I was absolutely in love.ย I literally did a little dance in the kitchen because I finally found a way that I can enjoy salmon!
We all know how nutritious salmon is… loaded with omega 3’s, high in protein and tons of vitamins, so I’m glad I can enjoy those benefits.ย And now, so can you!
You won’t believe how such a simple recipe can pack SO much flavor.ย Each bite is full of sweet and savory flavors and delicate textures.
HOW TO MAKE GLAZED SALMON
I know some people, myself included, worry about pan-searing a salmon filet, going to flip it over, and…. well now your beautiful filet is mangled and in several pieces.
For that reason, I kept this recipe simple… so simple in fact, that there is NO pan-searing.ย No flipping required.
- Pat salmon filets dry and season with spices on all sides.
- Heat butter and oil, then add garlic, water, soy sauce, sriracha, honey and lemon juice.
- When hot, add salmon filets (skin side down if your filets have skin), and cook 3 minutes.
- While salmon cooks, use a spoon to baste the filets.
- Broil for 5-6 minutes, until salmon is sticky sweet, slightly charred, and cooked to desired doneness.
COOKING TIPS FOR SALMON RECIPES
- Buy good salmon – I prefer to buy fresh salmon from the grocery store, instead of frozen filets in bags, since those tend to be very thin.ย Cooking Light has a great article on how to pick the best salmon at the grocery store.
- Use it quickly – Salmon can go “off” or bad pretty quickly, so I prefer to buy my salmon no more than 1 day ahead of time.
- To skin or not to skin – if you decide to pan-sear your salmon, leave the skin on (and sear skin side first).ย The skin provides a layer of protection against the hot pan, and it’s a LOT easier to slide a spatula underneath crispy skin than underneath tender flesh.ย Plus, you’ll get crispy skin!ย To cook this recipe as written, it really doesn’t matter if your filets have skin or not.
- Don’t overcook – Salmon is prone to overcooking, and the line between not done enough and dry and overdone is pretty fine.ย The USDA recommends salmon be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 F degrees.ย ย However, different peopleย prefer their salmon to be more rare or more well-done, like a steak.ย To be on the safe-side, I stick to the USDA’s recommendation.
VARIATIONS OF THIS RECIPE
- Pan-Sear – if you’d prefer, season salmon as directed, then pan sear in the pan.ย Flip over and sear on the other side, then remove to a plate.ย Add sauce ingredients to pan and cook until warmed through.ย Add salmon back to pan and spoon sauce over the salmon.
- Bold Lemonย – feel free to add lemon zest to the sauce, or even add a few slices of lemon to the pan while you cook and broil the salmon for a more bold lemon flavor.
- Try Lime – switch the lemon juice for lime juice for a slightly different flavor.
- Green Onions – I love to top these salmon filets with some sliced green onions for a different flavor twist.
MAKING HONEY GARLIC SALMON AHEAD OF TIME
I think this recipe tastes best when made right before eating, but you can whisk together the sauce ahead of time if you’d like.
However, this salmon recipe also tastes amazing cold, on top of a salad.ย So if that’s your intention, then yes, make it a few hours to a day ahead of time ๐
STORAGE
Any leftover salmon should be refrigerated in an airtight container and consumed within 3 days.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THIS RECIPE
- 12โณ wide skilletย โ I love this pan, and love that it’s oven and broiler safe (a must for one pan recipes).
BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT OTHER READERSโ COMMENTS FOR TIPS AND REVIEWS.
AND DONโT FORGET, IF YOUโVE MADE THIS RECIPE, LEAVE A COMMENT AND PLEASE GIVE IT A STAR RATING LETTING ME KNOW HOW YOU ENJOYED IT!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
SALMON
- 4 (6 oz each) salmon filets
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
- 1/4 tsp blackening seasoning (optional)
SAUCE
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 Tbsp water
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sriracha sauce
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Pat salmon dry, then season with salt, pepper, paprika and blackening seasoning (if using). Set aside.
- IMPORTANT: Adjust oven rack to middle position, then preheat broiler. If you broil this with the rack up high the sauce will burn.
- Add butter and oil to a large, oven-safe skillet over MED-HIGH heat. Once butter is melted, add garlic, water, soy sauce, sriracha, honey and lemon juice and cook 30 seconds or so, until sauce is heated through.
- Add salmon, skin side down (if using salmon with skin), and cook 3 minutes. While salmon cooks, baste frequently with sauce from the pan by spooning it over the top of the salmon.
- Broil salmon for 5-6 minutes, basting with sauce once during the broil, until salmon is caramelized and cooked to desired doneness.
- Garnish with minced parsley if desired.
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Chef Tips
- If you'd prefer, season salmon as directed, then pan sear in the pan.ย Flip over and sear on the other side, then remove to a plate.ย Add sauce ingredients to pan and cook until warmed through.ย Add salmon back to pan and spoon sauce over the salmon.
- A couple of readers have reported having a watery sauce, which I've never personally encountered during all the testing for this recipe. If you feel the sauce is a bit watery, you could reduce the amount of water used, or simmer the sauce a bit before adding the salmon.
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Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Jennifer Pete says
Delicious! I made this for my husband, 15 month old daughter, and myself. We loved it!! I also added a teaspoon of peanut butter and left out the lemon (because I forgot to buy it) and it was the perfect taste!
Patti says
Amazing…. best salmon we ever ate was even better than anything in a restaurant we have had…….thank you
Patti
Arianna Allen says
Tried this and they came out beautifully. How many calories would you say is in each serving though?
Amanda says
Glad you enjoyed it! The calorie count per serving is listed in the navy blue part at the top of the recipe card ๐
Stephanie says
Absolutely delicious! Thank you!
Jack says
I made this last night….And I can’t wait to make it again! Very good dish!
Sam First says
Came out great. Substituted olive oil for the butter and used 3 tbsp honey.
Thicker pieces were somewhat raw after 6 min in the broiler so I cooked on range an additional 2 min in covered pan. The sauce reduced nicely.
Dhianna says
This was really good. It got rave reviews from my family. I plan to make it for guests next week!
R Miller says
Very delicious! It was very easy to make and the flavor was great! My family loved!
Pauline says
My family and I really enjoyed this recipe. This is my second time making it. Thanks for the recipe.
Betsy Mainka says
I also do not love fish in general but will make it on occasion as it’s so healthy. This recipe is awesome! I will be making this on a regular basis. I pan seared each side for about 10 seconds, cooked 3 minuted with the sauce and broiled for about 15 minutes (thicker cut of meat). I can’t say enough about how delicious this was and I do not consider myself the best cook. Thank you!
Brenda says
Most wonderful Salmon recipe. The whole family loved it ! And I eat leftovers the next day because I buy extra! This recipe is a keeper !
debi black says
Pan seared the salmon per the alternative, made the sauce & put salmon back in the pan for a couple of minutes, spooning sauce over. It was great!
Amber says
Not a fan of salmon but try a different recipe every once in a while trying to get those omega 3s. This recipe is great. I FINALLY found a recipe that makes me enjoy salmon! Thanks so much! Comes together so quickly too! ๐๐คค I topped mine with the green onions bc I was using them for a side dish. I will continue to do that.
Jane says
Thank you for sharing your recipe, it is fantastic. Definitely going to make it again, and so easy!
Aeriel says
I have made this recipe several times using my cast iron skillet and it always come out PERFECT! So delicious. Definitely one of my husbandโs favorite meals for me to make. Thanks for sharing!
Tammy says
Loved this!
I changed it tho a bit
I didn’t use olive oil or Sriracha and cut the honey in half. Ii used a splash of franks. I added 2 tsp of brown sugar and homemade worchestire sauce
was super good!
Cindy says
This is my go to Salmon recipe. I absolutely love it! If I don’t happen to have lemons, I use oranges for the juice, and to cut the sweetness I use less raw honey. My husband loves it even more than I do. Must try. So easy
PJ says
Made this for dinner it WAS delicious ๐
Definitely making again!
Cindy Artino says
This recipe is so easy and so delicious. It is a keeper!
Bethy says
TBH I thought 1/2 cup of honey was cuhRAZY lot to use, but the sauce was delicious and yielded a lot.
Hubby loved it and ate cold leftovers. Heโs asked me to make it again.
I only pan seared the salmon and glazed the sauce at the end. Will try broiling next time – it just sounds like a lot of heat on something I dont want to over cook.
Oh, and also, I used a tiny bit of an arrowroot slurry to thicken and gloss the sauce at the end,