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.
Erin says
Holy cow, this was soooo good. At first I was hesitant about all the ingredients, but boy howdy it was amazing. And easy. My four kids (aged 5-10) and husband gobbled it up (though I did only put half TBSP sriracha). I was pouring the sauce over everything else on my plate. Amanda, you are a culinary genius!
Rebecca says
This is the only way my husband will eat salmon. I’ve done the pan-seared version twice and it’s just wonderful. It melts in your mouth. Hats off to Amanda!
Rachel says
Fabulous recipe! I will try this sauce on wings too!
Stacie Regelman says
This recipe is perfection! Cooked it in a cast iron pan. Definitely a winner in my recipe book.
Jess says
This was so good!
Pamela Garner says
I just want to say this is mine and my fiancรฉs favorite dish! We have cooked it about 30 times in the past year and eat the leftovers with seaweed like sushi
Ashley says
Thank you for your recipe! Can you glaze the salmon while raw and place in the oven at 450 to cook? Not sure if this will burn the sauce?
The Chunky Chef says
Iโve only tested this recipe as written. So without testing and retesting it myself, I can’t say for certain if that would work or if the sauce would burn. If you do some experimenting, I’d love to know how it turns out!
Ashley says
Ok, thank you for your quick response!
Boushra says
Iโm about to make this, but Iโm afraid to add Sriracha to the sauce cause Iโm not a fan of spicy.
Boushra says
I switch the sriracha to Dijon mustard. Sooo good
The Chunky Chef says
You can absolutely reduce the amount until you’re comfortable.
Mare says
Thank you for a very good recipe. I had a whole salmon fillet that would not fit in any pan I had. So I cooked the salmon in the oven on a foil lined baking sheet. Made the sauce, (omitting the water) in skillet on stove, heating until it reduced enough to a syrupy consistency. Poured a portion of the sauce over the seasoned fillet and baked according to package directions for a frozen fillet at 425 degrees. Spooned more sauce over fillet partway through baking. Finished off under broiler to caramelize. This was hubby approved. We loved the heat on the backside from the sriracha, the sweetness from the honey, and the melding of flavors of garlic, soy sauce and lemon. Served with rice medley and Capri vegetable blend. Will make again. ๐โค๏ธ
Tina says
Delicious!!! A keeper recipe!
Sherry says
Iโm making the honey garlic glazed
Salmon. I made from guess work of the ingredients. I hope it turns out edible. It would ve nice and very helpful if the ingredients amounts would be close to the instructions!
The Chunky Chef says
I think you missed the full recipe card… it has a navy blue banner to separate it from the rest of the page (as well as a jump to recipe button that will take you right to it). The recipe card has all the ingredients, quantities, and full instructions.
Veronica says
My family absolutely loved it. I also had roasted potatoes with peppers and onions.
Donna says
Made this for my family. I personally do not like salmon, so I thought! We all loved it! My husband kept raving about a gourmet restaurant!
Nicole says
I made this for dinner tonight. It was fast, simple to throw together and very tasty. Served it with white rice and broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. My boyfriend loved it. I will definitely make this again.
Carolina says
Heat the oven at what temperature…?
The Chunky Chef says
Not all broilers have a specific temperature, which is why I said “high”, but my high is set at 550ยฐF.
Olivia says
I just made this and my family can’t stop eating.
Very good recipe. My sauce turned out a bit runny though.
Heather says
This is our new favorite salmon recipe. Kids love it too! Thanks
Terri says
My husband and I loved it.
Luz huggard says
DELICIOUS!!
Susan says
Very easy to make and a family favorite. Made 3 times and it came out great every time.