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.
Shela says
This is delicious my husband said best salmon he ever had and he orders it a lot when we go out for dinner.
Shanon says
I made this yesterday, it was fabulous. This is my go to for salmon. Trying the shrimp today.
Veronica says
Delicious, I am so tired of salmon I try to avoid it but this one was absolutely delicious. The sauce is amazing.
Kim says
Could I cook it all in the oven and not use stove top?
The Chunky Chef says
I haven’t tested making this entirely in the oven, since the sauce needs that little bit of simmering.
Yina says
This recipe is so delicious!
Angeilea says
This way actually really good and super simple, I did however omit the water because she stated some said the sauce was watery, I even thought that without adding it so I boiled the sauce a bit to thicken it up, I don’t know if there is a difference if you use fresh honey or store bought but I used fresh. I will make this recipe again
Glenda says
LOVED,,,,,,,,, My husband and I are not Salmon fans but always looking for ways to try it,,, we both absolutely Loved it! Will make again for sure ,, I have given this recipe to my sister’s already the day later! A must try.
Naomi says
Whew trust the process. I saw the note stating some people had runny sauce, I opted for 2 tbsp of water in mine. I did the pan method since I don’t have a oven safe skillet. It took a bit to reduce, maybe close to 15 minutes but it finally got there. I was worried I messed up somewhere but it finally reduced and I served the salmon with 1 cup rice with sesame oil fluffed in. It was absolutely delicious and I had to pep talk myself about how I’m an adult and adults don’t lick their plates clean ๐ i would give 6 stars if I could.
Farrah says
We had this last night!
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
And putting some of the sauce on the rice ๐คค
So very scrumptious.
Will make again.
Shaun says
This was amazing!โโฆ. I will certainly be eating more salmon! Yuuummmmm!!
I suggest Atlantic Salmon ( very mild) Thatโs what I used.
Barb says
This was a very good recipe!
Glinda says
Oh my goodness!! This was such a hit with my guests when I made this! My sister, who care for fish, loved it! I am making it again tonight I love the honey so much I made it for shrimp too! Absolutely fantastic! And so easy! Thank you for sharing! I feel like a gourmet chef everytime I make this!
SSchizz says
Made this tonight for dinner. This recipe is a keeper…it was so good and super easy.
LMB says
My family loved this recipe. We prefer salmon well done and this allowed me to get it golden brown. I remove the skin prior to plating.
The sauce is amazing.
LadyPatriot63 says
Holy moly, I tried youโre recipe and it turned out magnificent! I put a bit of maple syrup and OMG! Amazing!! Thank you for how easy you made it for me to make..
Meemom says
Tried it. Absolutely loved it. Didnโt have blackened seasoning on hand, but will add it next time. Expect to make this many more times.
Portia Johnson says
The best salmon ever oh
My goodness.
This will be my fourth time making this mouth watering delicious salmon
Thanks so much for sharing
Charles says
OMG was this recipe delicious!! I’m just getting into cooking, so it was a perfect, easy recipe for me. I didn’t have any sriracha, so I used red pepper (about a teaspoon?) and it seemed to work very well. Definitely a “guest meal”! Thanks for a great recipe!!
Mireya says
What temp do i broil at?
The Chunky Chef says
The high on my oven is 550ยฐF, but make sure you’ve lowered the oven rack as directed, or else the salmon may burn.
Julie says
Excellent recipe! One of the best salmon recipes I’ve ever cooked. Thanks so much, will definitely be making again. Served it with roasted brussels sprouts and Lime Cilantro rice.
Connie says
I did not add any water and I did simmer the sauce just a tiny bit, two or three minutes before adding the salmon. Absolutely delicious!
Thank you