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.
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.
Rhonda says
Have made this twice now and we love it! Iโm lazy so do all the cooking on top of the stove and itโs still fab!
Ron says
The easiest and tastiest fish dish. Simple and easy to adjust to your familyโs taste.
Deb says
This is my go to salmon recipe now. Even those who turn their noses up to salmon like this!
Carolyn Lewis says
Excellent! Super easy and very delicious!
Clara says
Great easy to make and quick
glad I had all of the ingredients will definitely make again thanks
Jerri says
Excellent!
Allison says
I have never liked salmon before this recipe. My youngest really likes it, so I decided Iโd give it another try. This sauce is OMG, sticky gooey from the gods, good on everything! The way the sauce caramelizes the top of the salmon made it even better! The sauce was so good, weโre saving it to dip ribs in tmrw.
This would also make an excellent sauce for wings and ribs!
Thanks for giving a recipe that made me like something new!
Michelle says
I put this together on a whim. It was easy and tasted great!! Thank you!!
Shennille says
What temperature do you broil at?
The Chunky Chef says
I do mine on high, which is 550 on my oven.
Samantha says
Delicious and easy to make
Reilly S. says
Made it with my sister for the fam. Best sauce ever! However, i hate wasting food. So with the left over sauce i cooked carrots and broccoli. Yummy
Trish says
Love this recipe
Greg says
Totally love this โฆ. But I feel like a loser or Iโm totally missing something simpleโฆ Iโve done this recipe a couple times – by the book – yet Iโve ended up over cooking the sauce in the broil part of the processโฆ this time I set the timer for 2 minutes and the sauce was still chard on first checkโฆ broiler set at 550โฆ.. so, I am going to try the stovetop method this weekendโฆ. I know itโs me since everyone gives it all thumbs upโฆ and when Iโm cooking this in the pan on the stovetop everything looks great and looks like your video..l itโs just the oven part that Iโm messing up onโฆ. Still love it
Lawrence says
My family really enjoyed this recipe…Thanks!
Allison says
Try moving the oven rack down lower. Maybe itโs too close to the broiler.
Sue says
Hi Greg, I had the same issue with the sauce burning under the broiler. Iโm going to try cooking and basting longer on top of the stove
and broiling for just 3 min instead of 6. My broiler has a lo setting so Iโll try that, too. Good luck.
Sehar says
10/10 I had to double everything because I was making more than the listed serving size, and it was absolutely delicious!
Staci Wilson says
My husband and I enjoyed this recipe so much!! Fabulous dish! Thank you for sharing.
Lala says
Delicious recipe. Iโve made it a few times already with a bed of rice pilaf in the side. One time I did t have honey and substituted with Agave and it was wonderful as well. Thanks for sharing. One of our favorite dishes
Melody says
Easy to make. It was delicious, even though I realized at the last minute my fresh garlic had gone over to the other side, and I had to substitute garlic powder. I plan to make this again next week with the fresh garlic. I’m sure that will send it over the top!
Terry Cowdrey says
This was SIMPLE to make and absolutely delicious. We had all the ingredients on hand. Will definitely make it again.
Deron says
I made your salmon recipe and I can say I an officially out of the dog house ..yay
Ruth says
Delicious!