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.
Linda Mace says
This recipe is perfect for salmon, just the right amount of goodness! I followed the recipe exactly except I didn’t have the Sriracha sauce so I put some other spices together. While the salmon was broiling I put some mixed greens together on a plate with a little balsamic and olive oil, then added the salmon on top and spooned the sauce over the two. Delicious!
Tracee says
Oh My Yummmmm!!!! SOOOOO good! Thank you for sharing this gem, def a newfound favorite!
Carol Kossler says
So easy and delicious!
Johanna says
Absolutely loved it!!
Eric Tarby says
I smoke my salmon and just pour this glaze over top when itโs ready and itโs amazing
Ash says
My family praised this dish up and down. Even my babies loved it! Thank you for the awesome recipe
Ruth says
This was really tasty and definitely felt like restaurant quality! Will be making again, thank you! I didn’t have lemon juice but it still tasted good.
Lauren says
The broiling always burns my sauce. Any suggestion? Low broil? And the salmon in the center is not done
The Chunky Chef says
That’s unfortunate! It sounds like your salmon is just a little thicker than mine. I would suggest cooking the salmon on the stovetop for a little longer, then broiling on low (and make sure your oven rack is in the center, not up high).
Helene says
SO SO DELICIOUS!! I keep making this salmon receipe over and over again!! Thank you!!!
Lisa O says
My new favorite salmon recipe. I felt like our cooking was better than a restaurant when my husband and I made it. And it was easy to prepare and cook. Delicious. I already shared the recipe with a few friends and canโt wait to make it again.
Kat says
Finger, ladle, spoon licking good. Very easy – came out looking restaurant quality!
Janelle says
Cooked this for dinner tonight and it was an absolute HIT!!! Iโm a snob when it comes to how I like my salmon and this did not disappoint, also the fact it was easy to cook made it that much more of a bonus! Thank you!!
Amina Reeder says
My daughter said โthis is bussinโ bussinโโ which is a very big complement. Delicious sauce, simple to make. Will be adding to my rotation. Thank you!
Renae says
The best salmon Iโve ever had! Even from a restaurant. and so easy to put together! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Cathy says
Easy to make and absolutely delicious, we thought it was as good as anything in a restaurant! Thanks for sharing the recipe โค๏ธ
T. Aiken Harris says
AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS! ๐ Fast and easy to make. Best salmon recipe, although I used steelhead trout. ๐
Corrie B. says
I used Gochugang (Korean hot pepper paste) instead of spiracha. It’s thicker and doesn’t have a vinegar taste. I also used 1/3 cup of brown sugar instead of honey. I served with sushi rice and poured some of the sauce on the rice. I also served it with Korean blanched spinach. It is one of our favorite meals!
Rebecca says
I just made this honey garlic glazed salmon and it was so good and very easy to make. I can’t believe the great flavor in such a short amount of time. Thank you for the recipe!
Michelle says
Delicious.. my two sons loved it and went back for seconds. I will definitely be making this again.
Zeny says
Thank you
Chantal Wilson says
Great flavor, will definitely make this again