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.
Alyssa says
Best recipe Iโve ever made with my Alaskan Sockeye Salmon!
Dena Gaston says
Used it with Ivory King Salmon. It was easy, quick and even my picky husband, who is very particular about eating, ate a whole piece. I didnโt use the sriracha but sprinkled it with chili lime seasoning and used lime juice instead of lemon. Very delicious!!
Pat Sell says
Made it today for Sunday dinner. It was so delicious and I certainly will be making it many more times. Thank you for the best salmon recipe ever.
Kate says
Not sticky sweet… in fact it is nothing like the picture. I had it on broil for 8 minutes and it is just a watery sauce. No glaze on the salmon. Not bad but not very appetizing looking.
The Chunky Chef says
Oh no, I’m sorry it wasn’t the best experience for you! Did you make any changes to any of the ingredients or cooking steps? I’ve never had a watery sauce when making this, and this isn’t a response I normally get for this recipe, so I’m just trying to figure out what could have happened.
Kate says
No i didnt do anything differently. Its just not a good recipe. Over cooked salmon in watery sauce just isnt very appetizing. Keep trying though, im sure youll get better at this.
The Chunky Chef says
Wow, well aren’t you just a lovely ray of passive aggressive sunshine? As I mentioned in my courteous reply earlier, I am sorry you didn’t have a great experience with this recipe. Nearly 900 people have made this recipe, with an incredibly high rate of success and satisfaction, as well as testing it myself over 7 times, and my recipe testers doing the same. So I’m fairly confident the recipe is a good one, otherwise why in the world would I share it? Regardless, it sounds like this recipe, and this site for that matter, aren’t for you… so I wish you the best of luck on your cooking journey. I would hope you develop some manners on this journey as well, since that last sentence was incredibly childish and honestly plain rude. Please have a day just as lovely as you are.
Katie says
Sounds like someone is very unhappy with their life and it shines through In their cooking and they way they speak with complete strangers. I’m making this tonight and I’m very excited. Im sure it will be as amazing as everyone says it is.
Yam says
Tasted so good! I seasoned the fish, cooked the sauce and pour it on both sides. Let it sit with the sauce for about 40mins then broiled it. YUM!
I served it with a side of stir fried broccoli, carrots, cauliflower (with the leftover sauce in the pan added in for flavor) and steamed jasmine rice.
Thank you!
Roberta E Barnes says
I used your Salmon recipe it was wonderful!
Megan says
This salmon recipe i the best salmon recipe I have ever made. Iโve made it about 8 times now and everyone I have ever made it for loves it. Itโs also very easy to make. Obsessed!
Nahla says
Best salmon Iโve ever had
Tristessa says
AMAZING
Rhonda says
This was really good. I’ve been looking for a new Salmon recipe and this one is definitely a keeper. I was wishing I had made more when I was done.
Patrica says
Best salmon ever
Rita Geis-Vlachakis says
Even did the sauce with meatballs just for something different. It was EXCELLENT
Nina says
Delicious salmon recipe! I could eat this everyday. It was so good, I was tempted to lick the plate. I fried the fish instead of broiling it. It was very good, we will be making it again very soon! Thank you so much for the recipe!
Terri says
By far the best recipe for cooking fresh Salmon… 5 star recipe
Margie says
Delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Susan says
This was the best and easiest salmon recipe I have ever made.
Fefe says
This was easy and delicious thank you for this recipe I will definitely make this again
Lisa Alligood says
Super easy, quick, and tasty! Will be a regular on the rotation!
Roxanna says
Loved this recipe. Quick. Easy. Really good. The salmon was perfect (not too dry). After I got the salmon in the oven I started pulling veggies out of the fridge to make a salad. I saw that we had mushrooms that needed to be used. So while I made salad, my husband sliced mushrooms. After I plated the salmon he threw the mushrooms in the pan and sauted them for a few minutes while I set the table. It was great. Thanks.
Michele says
This is a fabulous recipe; easy to make and so delicious. Every time I serve it, I’m asked for the recipe.
Cindi says
Amazing!!!