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.
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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.
Jane says
It was excellent, did not get real sticky. But still awesome. I always overcook or undercook my salmon. With this recipe it was perfect.ย
Merry H says
Amanda! I’m so glad I found your recipe! I made this last night and it was SO DARN DELICIOUS!! I felt it was as good as any restaurant salmon I’ve ever had! I am a frustrated cook and this gave me so much confidence. Thank you for this! Merryย
Laura Olson says
Was delicious and so easy! Didn’t quite get the thickness in the broiler, but it was still so good.
Kee says
Oh my goodness. This is impossibly delicious. Quick and easy!! I read your recommendation to another reviewer and let the sauce simmer a little extra after the salmon was done and I got thick, beautiful sauce. I’m gonna try not to eat this all in one sitting lol. Also added a little brown sugar for extra sweetness. Perfect recipe, thanks for sharing!
Kat says
This was so delicious, quick & easy! Definitely going to be in our regular meal rotation. Served it with quinoa & roasted cauliflower/cherry tomatoes, seasoned only with salt & pepper. The sauce was perfect with those sides. Thanks for the post!
Jha says
Omg! Suuuuppper fast and easy to make! Not to mention very delicious. Whole fam loved the salmon cooked this way. New favorite!!! Thank you for this recipe!ย
Barb says
This recipe is phenomenal. I did opt to add a little Cajun seasoning in addition to the sriracha and the heat level was spot on. The salmon was moist and cooked perfectly. My sauce was a little looser and not sticky so I think I would cook it down a little more next time before adding the salmon. I served it with baby redskin potatoes and asparagus and there were no leftovers.
joe says
mmmmm de-LISH me and my good friend tried th
Nat says
Made this for a quick and easy weeknight dinner and served it over a bed of arugula – delicious and beautiful!ย
Miki says
Just finished cooking it. Mine is a bit runny and not as thick as in the pictures. Any tips as to how to get it thicker? Did i not use enough honey?
The Chunky Chef says
You could remove the cooked salmon to a plate and add the pan back to the stovetop and simmer until it’s thickened to your liking ๐
Katrina says
This was my first time trying Salmon and I was greatly surprised by how delicious this was!!! Will certainly be adding this recipe to my rountine!ย
Jen says
This was fantastic! I love salmon..could literally eat it everyday but my family won’t allow it. ๐ I’ve been looking for ways to switch up my salmon and this was IT! Very easy to follow recipe and it tastes terrific. Nice mix of sweet, salty, with a little heat. My husband told me to save this recipe as it was “honestly the best piece of salmon I’ve ever eaten”. Thank you TheChunkyChef!
Angela says
The sauce/glaze is amazing! I cut the siracha down to just 1 TBSP bc I donโt like spicy but it was lovely with a touch of heat. Paired with mashed potatoes and maple glazed carrots and chopped pecans on top for crunch! Will definitely cook again!
Mari says
I love salmon and often order it when we eat out. Iโve tried cooking it a time or two and it doesnโt turn out right. This recipe looked close to what Iโve had at a restaurant so I gave it a try. And it was amazing! I had to guess at the measurements for the sauce though because I just fixed 2 salmon fillets . It tasted amazing!! Will be saving this recipe!!
Heidi says
Iโm doing this for a dinner party with a big piece of salmon. Can I bake vs pan fry and than end with broil? If so what f do you recommend so I donโt overcook it? Looks Iโm yummyย
The Chunky Chef says
I’ve never made this recipe other than as written, so I truly can’t say for sure, and would hate to tell you something incorrect and ruin an expensive piece of salmon. I would probably google a recipe for baked and broiled big piece of salmon, and then use the ingredients listed here.
Miriam Herzog says
Hi, what wine would you pair with this dish?
The Chunky Chef says
We like a pinot noir or shiraz with this salmon ๐
BABS says
BEING DIABETIC I HALVED THE HONEY, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! MY DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT TWO WEEKS LATER. CAN’T WAIT TO APPLY THIS SAUCE TO OTHER MEATS AS SUGGESTED!!
KK Avery says
Super Yummyย
Mary McGarrity says
Made this delicious recipe and since I have a husband who won’t eat fish and a vegatarian daughter, I split the glaze to use half on chicken and half on salmon! Pefection for both!
For the record, I ate both ๐
Helen says
Thank you for this recipe!! It was absolutely delicious and easy to make! ย Definitely going to be one of the staples in our household!ย