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.
Mary says
This is an outstanding recipe. Instead time, we didnโt have sriracha and it was great. Today, I have all ingredients and we canโt wait to eat!
Gloria says
It was very delicious. I used everything except the water. So flavorful. It was a nice change. I will be making this more often.
Melissa says
Love this recipe but my sauce is always watery. I didnโt even add water this last time. It still takes good but Iโd love to have the thick sauce. Any tips or ideas?
Stat says
Try a little cornstarch slurry or let the sauce resuce.
Kathy Jones. says
Deish!
Jenny clifford says
Second time Iโve made this. It will be on repeat in my house!!! Delicious!!!!
Jera says
We are trying to eat more fish and Iโm always looking for recipe ideas. We loved it!
Brandon Johnson says
Worked for me quite well. The second time even better. Both times, I took the skin off. I chose to sear the salmon first, but I still put it under the broiler for a nice crispiness to the surface. I even got a compliment from my wife, which is an achievement in and of itself.
Karli says
This was a huge hit! I didnโt have honey, so I subbed in Maple Syrup instead. So good! Thank you!!
El Rod says
Delicious!! Whole family loves it!
Joe Embry says
This was the best salmon I have ever cooked or even had at a restaurant.
Shaun says
It was!!! Restaurant quality as my husband says! Lol
Nick says
First time trying it and it was delicious!!
Karen Moore says
5.0 rating!!! Super easy and fabulous. I used to travel for work in Seattle and ate at some of the finest restaurants. I just retired as a healthcare Administrator and the FINEST RESTAURANT was my house tonight!
Cindy Grant says
Loved it… I will just use a little less honey but wow make me love salmon again…thank you chunky chef.
Cynthia Davis Van Camp says
Best ever recipe!!!!
Michelle says
I had to large coho filets, wanted to try out this recipe. I follwed exact to the T and it was delicious. I was going to smoke the other filet the following day. Good thing i didnt brine it but this way was so tasty and quick that i prepared the same way when we were done with dinner. Thanks for sharing.
Darice says
Easy to make and so tasty!! This recipe has become a go or itโs in my household.
Onica says
I tried the honey garlic glazed salmon recipe just yesterday and omg I really enjoyed it!
Sherry says
This salmon recipe is easy and FANTASTIC! Everyone loved it! Thanks for sharing. Adjusted Sriracha to our taste but otherwise followed exactly.
Terri says
My family said it was the best tasting Salmon theyโve had!
Manda says
This dish is amazing, tried it with honey,tonight I’ll try it with maple syrup
Bonnie P says
Omg, Iโm not a fan of salmon (and I have never, ever left a review!), but my husband made this tonight (he loves all fish) and it was incredible. Sweet with a little bite and super simple to make. This is definitely making it into the rotation! I look forward to trying more of the chunky chefโs recipes ๐
Linda Eldridge says
My friends say I could sell this! Easy and turns out every time!
Linda E says
EXCELLENT recipe! I made it last night. I thought maybe it would be too spicy with the sriracha, but was just the right amount. It truly tasted better than a restaurant. I will use this sauce recipe again and again!
Betsy says
I just made this EASY and delicious recipe! I pan cooked it 3 min on each side. It was tastier than any restaurant salmon I’ve had! And perfectly tender, flaky and moist.
Cheryl says
This recipe is a keeper ! And it freezes well.
I doubled the recipe and cut the finished salmon for single portion casserole dishes then froze along with prepared rice. It makes for a quick microwave meal on a busy night.