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.
Tori Crockett says
Iโve recently been trying to find salmon recipes to put on rotation. I hated salmon for the longest but recipes like this one have made me change my mind! Itโs extremely delicious and easy which works well with my schedule. Will absolutely be making this in the near future!!
Yolande says
Ok 1st I have to say this was hands down the easiest, tastiest salmon I’ve had in a long time!! Made it twice and it was 2x delicious!! Was at a lost to make salmon tasty but this right here solved my problems.. I felt like licking my plate the sauce was oh sooo good!! It’s now in my dinner guest coming over rotation!! Thank You
Nathalie moreau says
Wow never post ratings but this recipe is amazing!! I tend to overcook or undercook salmon but now I found a way to cook it perfectly. And the sauce, my god, my son and I almost licked it off the plate.
Joan Talbert says
This was delicious! The only thing I replaced was European vegan butter for the real butter.
Tasty!
lucy says
best recipe i’ve ever made! amazing flavors
JW says
Delicious, a new favorite in our home.
My husband, and I, are not fans of salmon, but weโre changing our diet to eat healthier. ย I decided to make your salmon recipe because of the great reviews, plus I had all of the ingredients. ย It was very easy to make, and now one of my husbands favorites, heโs requested it everyday since I made it. ย Your recipe has converted him! ย Me not so much, everything was delicious except the salmon still taste like salmon, and I just donโt like salmon. ย I will try it again, but with a much thinner piece. ย Thank you for sharing your recipe, itโs going to be a staple in our home.
Andria says
Amanda, this was absolutely delicious. I have never been a fan of Salmon, but my fiance and I devoured this and had no leftovers. I served it with rice with some of the flavorful sauce mixed in. I’m having this for dinner again tonight ๐
Colleen says
Great recipe. Very flavorful and easy to make. Did not change a thing!
Hailee says
I love this recipe! I use 1/4 cup of honey to keep the calories lower and it’s still amazing. So glad I found this!
Amy says
This was delicious! We are not all salmon lovers so I made it with 1/2 salmon and 1/2 chicken breast and it was great on both! Definitely making again
B says
Super approved. The reviews are spot on. Quick Friday night dinner. Pregnant lady and kids approve. Winner!!!ย
Megan says
This was the most amazing salmon, and the amount of sauce was enough to drizzle over a side of pasta or rice cauliflower. Thanks for an awesome dish!
Tammy says
This was delicious. Excellent recipe!!
Valerie Crosby says
This was amazing, and I also messed up the recipe by accident because my broiler wouldn’t heat up in time. I just did the whole thing on the stovetop. My family said it was the best salmon they ever had, and two of them don’t even like salmon. I will be making this again and again.
Thank you.
Nadia says
Hi Amanda!
I just want to say thank you for your amazing recipes! Your epic party wings have become my go-to recipe. And now this.. I love, love, loved this honey glazed salmon! Great flavor, super easy to make, fast, delicious, and no pan sticking!ย
Hermione says
This salmon was the best salmon I’ve ever made…!โค
My family loved it!
I added all ingredients except the sriracha, It was still amazing!
Thank you!๐
Joanne says
Wow. ย This was the best tasting salmon ever. ย I used the pan sear method. ย I also used frozen salmon. It did not fall apart and so easy to cook. I have never replied to a recipe, but this one is awesome ๐. ย I canโt wait to try it again. ย Thanks.ย
Carrie says
This was amazing! I was dreading serving it to my kids 5 and under but they actually all liked it! I donโt think theyโre ever enjoyed seafood, aside from fish sticks. We called it candy fish to encourage them to try it. Served with rice and peas, all mixed up.ย
I subbed a few things for what we had on hand/allergies- like taco sauce instead of sriracha, garlic powder, and soy-free coconut โsoyโ sauce. And my frozen salmon was falling apart after defrosting so I just chopped it all up in the pan, which made it easier for the kids too. This will have to be our go-to salmon recipe. Thanks!!
Hema says
Thanks Guys, Your Recipe Was Too Fantastic. Me and My Family Loved it. I Will Share your Rrecipe with my friends. Hope they will love it too.
Linda Hamilton says
That sauce was delicious! My kids gobbled it!
YourEarlyGrave says
Delicious! I just cooked in the pan and added sauce and it turned out awesome!
Constance Johnson says
This is crazy good.