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.
Mark salloum says
Excellent recipe for salmon! My wife typically refuses to eat salmon but actually enjoyed this. Great flavors all the way through. I used less garlic and it was still plenty.
Rita C. says
Made this last night and everyone LOVED it. My 8 year old nephew who doesnโt like salmon ate it and loved it. I will def keep this one in the rotation. The sauce wasnโt too thin for me. I let it simmer a little u til it got thicker before putting it in the oven. Also, my skillets/pans have rubber plastic type handles so what I do is wrap the handle with foil and it becomes oven proof. Have done it tons of times and never had a problem.
Allie says
I love this recipe!! So tasty! I’m thinking the readers that found the recipe too watery maybe did thoroughly dry the salmon when preparing the recipe?
Lorin Moya says
OMGosh! This is the best salmon I’ve ever made. I don’t even like fish, but I love this salmon. Fast, easy and full of flavor. You made me and my whole family very happy. Thank you.
liliana escobar says
What temperature do you broil?
The Chunky Chef says
My high broiler temp is 550ยฐF
Cheryl says
I made this last night and I have tried 1000 different ways to make salmon because I want to like it because it’s healthy, but meh to me. Well lemme tell ya…this was the BOMB. Even our 3 children loved it and ate their entire portion!! Winner winner salmon dinner haha ๐
Jinny Van Doren says
My family loves this recipe. I make it at least once a month. I make a batch with Salmon and a batch with Chicken because some of my family do not like Salmon. Both are delicious. Sauce can be thinner than we like so I just thicken it a little.
Jasmin says
So good! It was super easy to make and the flavors were amazing. I didnโt have any sriracha, so I just added some red pepper flakes. It was absolutely delicious and my family loved it. Thank you for the recipe!
Gary Solimando says
What can be used instead of Siracca sauce?
The Chunky Chef says
You could use some hot sauce, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper (amounts will vary).
JUDY says
OH MY GOODNESS !!!! WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE. I CAN’Y WAIT TO MAKE THIS AGAIN NEXT WEEK. I WAS SURE MY HUBBY WOULD’NT LIKE IT BECAUSE IT’S SLIGHTLY ON THE SWEET SIDE BUT THE COMBINATION OF THE INGREDIENTS WAS OVER THE TOP AND IT DIDN’T REALLY COME OFF AS “SWEET”. HUBBY LOVED IT. IF I COULD GIVE IT A TEN I WOULD. THANK YOU.
Adriene says
Absolutely the best salmon recipe I have tried! Love the sweet salty and hint of garlic. Weโll be making this recipe again and again. Thank you for sharing. It was fast, easy, healthy!
Mary says
I used Brisket Seasoning because I did not have the blackening. We thoroughly enjoyed this dinner!
Parker says
Great recipe, with some tweaks! Used twice the amount of garlic, butter and lemon which gave a creamy, savoury sauce and the lemon helped keep it from being too rich.
Tresa Halsey says
Absolutely delicious!!!!eating it now!!
Gaik says
Has anyone used this recipe on the bbq
Sonia Vindel says
Hola buenos dias. Excelente receta, no sabรญa como hacer el salmรณn, y probรฉ hacerlo siguiendo tu receta y me quedรณ delicioso, a mi familia le gustรณ muchรญsimo. Muy sencilla, rรกpida y rica.
Arlene says
This is now my go to recipe for salmon! I’ve made it a few times now and the family loves it. I have a tendency to overcook my salmon, but not with your technique. Perfect every time
Shannon says
Followed the recipe and it was delicious
Meredith BELL says
Great in a pinch!
Dara Gray says
One of my favorite recipes!