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.
B White says
Iโve been making salmon my whole life but I normally keep it pretty simple. Last night I wanted to try something new and this popped up first on Pinterest. MY GOD Iโm glad it did. This might just be the best salmon Iโve ever had EVER. Restaurants included. Rest assured this will be a weekly meal for me. Thank you!
Crystal Queen says
Perfect
MBmom says
I made this with lime instead of lemon and it was incredibly delicious!
Lisa McClain says
I just made my first attempt at Salmon and used this recipe. It was AMAZING! I made a serving for 2 but did not cut the recipe down but left the sauce as a serving for 4. It made a great sauce to pour over the salmon and rice. I did cut the water from 3 TBSP to 2 and was happy that I did. The sauce was perfect! I started my salmon when my rice was almost done and the timing was good.
Ladonna V. says
A visit with the family and it was delicious- it was good until it was gone before I could put the fork down for a picture. Better than was I have had previously in a restaurant. Very, very good
Frances says
Delicious! We loved it and enjoyed spooning the extra sauce over rice. Will be making it again.
Renee says
Is the sriracha a chili sauce? How hot is ot’ we are not much on really hot stuff???
The Chunky Chef says
This article has plenty of information about sriracha https://www.rd.com/article/what-is-sriracha/ Spiciness is subjective, so while I consider it about a medium heat level, that doesn’t mean it won’t taste spicier to you or milder to you. You can omit it or use less if you’re worried ๐
Lisa McClain says
I just made it using sriracha and noticed no heat at all.
Candace says
I have had about e other staple salmon recipes in my rotation.. I eat salmon once a week (sometimes twice!)โฆ THIS SALMON IS MY NEW ADDICTION! It was perfect! The flavor was amazing! In fact I canโt wait to also try this combination of the seasoning and sauce on chicken wings!
I did use the blackened seasoningโฆ reduced the water to 2 tbsp – I also let the sauce cook down to thickenโฆ broiled the salmon about 8 minutes – halfway through basting again- it was crunchy blackened on the outside, perfect on the inside and bursting with flavor in every way! Thankkkkk you!!!
Cindy Drews says
I would give this 4.5. The flavor was amazing but the sauce didnโt thicken up! I will remove the water next time!!
Rick says
Great recipe
Catherine Lora says
Fantastic with perfect balance of flavor!!! Salmon was getting boring around here but this recipe helped renew our enjoyment! Added bonusโฆ. Kids loved it! Thanks ๐
Pamela says
I Love the flavors as opposed to just butter and garlic. I tried it with the green onions and lime also which was a definite hit!!! This will be my go to recipe from now on.
Jane says
Delicious, easy, quick and will definitely make again! We had it over rice and the sauce was so flavorful. Next time I will make extra sauce!!
Victoria says
Wowsa! This is incredible. Made exactly as written. This sauce would be good on so many things. Thanks for sharing!!
Lori Robarge says
I have used several of your recipes and have never had a bad one. Anytime I need a recipe for something, your web site is the first one I check out. Keep posting new recipes!
Santana says
It was so good!!!
Elle says
This is it. The only recipe youโll ever need to make restaurant quality salmon. I usually cut down the butter and honey a bit at no detriment to the taste. I always serve it with fresh mango salsa and rice and itโs truly the perfect dish.
Sue Edwardy says
Sooo delicious!!!!!
Tammy says
I made this last nightโand it was absolutely AMAZING! Salmon is a major part of my diet and Iโm thrilled to find an easy recipe the change uo the taste. Even my picky hubby complimented the dish and he ABHORS salmon lol. It was delicious and Iโll be making it again. Thank you, Amanda!
K Spencer says
Iโve made this recipe every Wednesday for about 2 months now. We call it salmon Wednesday. Our family LOVES it! I like my protein well done, so I normally do 6 minutes on the stove top and 3-5 on broiler. Absolutely amazing!!
MV says
Crispy top and tender inside. I did 3 minutes on the stove and 5 under the broiler. With the skin on. Without the skin Iโd do 2 minutes on the stove and 4 in the broiler. There was quite a lot of sauce left.
Barbara says
We loved this and are having it again today. Can’t wait to try some other recipes of yours. Thank you so much! Yummy!
Michelle J says
Found this recipe about a year ago and this is the only way weโve made salmon since! Everyone that I make it for loves it – both adults and kids!! We follow the recipe exactly as written and it never disappoints. We love love love this so much that we eat this once a week! Saved and sharing this one with anyone that loves salmon. Thank you! ๐