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.
Justin Harvard says
This was seriously delicious, and very quick! This is a go-to meal for my family. Even my picky children liked it.
S. Weaver says
Followed recipe exactly and it turned out perfectly. Very good. Will definitely use this recipe again and again. Thanks for sharing.
Cathy Wallace says
Looks so delicious. I’m going to cook Easy garlic honey glazed Salmon for dinner this evening for dinner. Thank you so much for sharing!
Carol says
YUMMY ๐ SENDING THIS TO MY DAUGHTER!!
Keith says
This has become a great go to recipe. It is easy, quick, and most importantly delicious! I love this recipe.
Linda says
What Jerri said below. I never leave reviews views on recipes but omg this was such a hit with my family! Everyone said it was the best salmon they ever tasted!
Ashlyn taylor says
SO GOOD! Iโve made it twice now and itโs dummy-proof. Super easy and tastes amazing
Jerri says
I never leave reviews on recipes that I try but this salmon was hands down the best salmon I’ve ever tasted. I pan fried for the 3 minutes on closer to high heat than medium-high, so the sauce was at a heavy boil as I constantly basted it.
One thing that I did differently was I made the glaze 4-5 hours before I actually cooked this. So I mixed all the sauce ingredients together, put it into a jar and let the flavors mellow together in the fridge. As soon as the butter melted, I poured the jar of sauce in and it created a beautiful fragrance and flavor in the Salmon.
My roommate does not even like salmon and told me it was the best she had ever tasted. Chef’s kiss, fantastic recipe.
Raegan Broderick says
Fabulous!! Best salmon recipe hands down!!! I’ve shared it a dozen times and everyone loves it!!
Helen says
Quick and easy.
Lourdes says
My husband loved it โriquรญsimo!!โ and so did I!
Served it with rice and a cucumber tomato salad. Beautiful, colorful and super tasty!
Lisa I says
Easy and amazing! Kids have memorized the sauce recipe to speed up week night meals for me.
Ana Torrez says
I never had salmon before! This recipe is so easy and delicious, I served it with asparagus and stir fry carrots! Yummy ๐๐
Rhondda Phillips says
Super Easy…..absolutely delicious!
LaTonya says
My family loved this dish. They said the sauce was similar to the jack danielโs sauce (from Fridayโs) that they love. The salmon was moist and flavorful! I will make this again. And it was really easy to make. Thank you!!!
P.S. my one daughter said she doesnโt like salmon but she said she liked this salmon the way it was prepared. Now thatโs saying something.
Tara says
I, like you, NEVER liked Salmon. I cooked this recipe, and I must say…i REALLY liked it! It was very moist and full of flavor. Already planning on cooking this again!
Stephen Boyle says
Great recipe Amanda! Couldn’t have been easier to make and the leftovers served cold may have been even better when served hot the night before.
Susie says
Delicious and easy! Followed recipe exactly as printed. Thank you!
Celeste says
Absolutely delicious! Easy to prepare.
Kim Zuters says
First time I tried this and it turned out amazing even my fussy daughter finished every last morsel – thank you!
Judy Nadler says
Really Tasty! Even better 2nd day.
Skylar says
Should my broiler be on high or low? the recipe doesnt say
Amanda says
I usually do high, but it would depend on how hot your broiler is.