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.
Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!
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.
Video
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.
Lisl says
Excellent recipe! Salmon not fishy at all! I used just a tiny bit of sriracha & half the amount honey, & a lime as didnโt have a lemon, LOL & it was still fantastic!
Jaydee says
Super easy recipe and tasted great. Will definitely make again
Jeannine Hewitt says
I havenโt made this yet and am clearly a novice here. When you say โbroilโ, I think oven. After I baste to I transfer to the oven to broil? Just want to make it correctly.
Amanda says
Hi Jeannine ๐ You’re correct, after basting on the stovetop, you transfer the skillet to the oven and broil. Just make sure you’re using an oven safe skillet, or if you don’t have one, you could baste in a regular skillet, then transfer it to a baking dish for the broiling part ๐
Faith Schade says
This was amazing. I used lime instead. It was what I had. Loved it and I donโt really like salmon.
Gary Gilmore says
Outstanding marinade and cooking method. As someone who has spent some time in kitchens, I would highly recommend this recipe. 5 stars
Luly says
I had two salmon filets and cut the recipe on half. I am NOT the greatest cook not the most experienced, I admit. This recipe calls for a 1/2 cup of honey and since I was doing half of the recipe, I added 1/4. The salmon was too sweet for my taste but I thought it was just me because I donโt usually eat sweets, but my husband who drenches his pancakes in maple syrup (those things are literally swimming in syrup) also agreed that it was too sweet. Was a half a cup of honey a typo?
Amanda says
Hi Luly ๐ Thanks for trying out the recipe! It’s not a typo, but we never eat all the sauce, plus everyone has different tastes ๐
Mark says
Quick, simple and sooooo good!
I made it for the family and received
rave reviews definitely on the go to menu at home and for parties!!
Jacqui says
Absolutely delicious!!
Noor Alwani says
Fantastic recipe! I have made it several times now, and I like to add a tiny bit of liquid smoke and coconut aminos to give it a slightly richer flavor. One of the few recipes I find I never get sick of. Now sometimes I order salmon at restaurants and find it pales in comparison to this recipe. One little trick I enjoy if you want a less fishy taste is to let the fish sit in a bit of diluted or undiluted white vinegar for a few minutes. I like to do this with chicken too, as it turns out more tender and has a less gamey flavor. Another tip is to substitute arctic char for salmon. I have served this recipe to guests using arctic char who had no idea it wasn’t salmon until I clarified, and I just find it to be a lighter and less “fishy” tasting fish.
gitty says
excellent! I seared the spiced salmon first. Removed and cleaned the pan to remove extra oil and made the sauce and added salmon. very easy and delicious. Sprinkled sesame seeds after.
Beachcomber says
I made this incredible dish for my wife last night. She is WAY picky about what she will eat and is a pain to cook for. I found this recipe and on a whim, went to the grocery store and got what I needed to cook this up. I haven’t cooked anything from a recipe in a long time (like 20 years) and was tired of our old spaghetti and meat sauce and Scout Skillet standby’s. It took me a while to get back in the swing of cooking up a new dish. The recipe was easy to follow and just plain FUN! I served up the salmon with snow peas and quinoa. My wife actually said that it was delicious. I couldn’t believe it. The woman who hates everything new really liked it. It was a home run. . . at least at the dinner table! ๐
Cheryl Johnson says
I made this and had a big filet, after cutting it up into smaller pieces (8), I cooked it in a cast iron skillet. It was so good I could have eaten all right pieces. My family thought I should have made more.
Ann Marie M Smith says
Fabulous recipe. Will make often.
Vickie says
Best salmon I have made in quite some time.
Vivian Burbage says
This recipe was downright delicious,and very easy to prepare.I definitely will pass to others . It is a winner
Beth says
Easy to make and FANTASTIC to eat.
Blanchesky says
Just made this and it was perfect, all of the flavors blend well. It was delicious and this will be my go to recipe for salmon. Thank you for sharing.
Susan says
Excellent!
Lisa R says
This is my new favorite recipe!
Thanks so much for sharing, it couldn’t be easier ๐
Tarah Carr says
OMG!!! I didn’t have clue how to cook salmon. This was do easy and so fast, I’m in love! Yum! Seriously!!!!