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.
Denise says
I rarely leave a comment but had to do it because this recipe was so easy and yummy! Thank you so much Amanda! I drizzled the sauce over my broccoli and will add rice next time which I know will make this more complete. I plan to use another persons comments and cook shrimp in the sauce. I did not have blackening spice, or fresh parsley (but know adding this next time will make it more yummy) and I did not include any water. I cooked it exactly as you suggested and it was perfect. A keeper for sure and can’t wait to experiment with other spices using your method.
GS says
This is one of my favorite recipes. I usually make poke bowls with this recipe. I add the salmon, white rice, pico de gallo with fresh pineapple, thin relish, sprinkled some wontons and some of the salmon sauce on the top..I usually double the recipe to have extra sauce for my poke bowls. so easy and delicious.
Christine says
Tasty and quick to prepare!
Christine says
Very tasty and quick!
Jim Giroux says
Much like everyone’s comments, this for sure a keeper. So easy to prepare. I cut the water in half. At 145f, so moist and perfect. Great recipe. Thanks so much. I was so anxious, I just realized that I forgot the green onions. Next time.
Andrea M Gaus says
Easy & delicious! Have made this for family & company. Even served this as one of my 7-fishes on Xmas Eve. If you are a novice cook, try this recipe.
Em says
We’ve added this recipe to our rotation and eat it almost weekly. Not only is it healthy and delicious, it is restaurant quality for sure!!! Directions always followed exactly. Thank you for such a superb recipe!!
Carolyn Johnson says
This is delicious and very moist
JAN says
My sauce came out so sweet and thick. Im planning to use it gor other dishes.
My husband, who loves salmon gave this a 10 out of 10.
RICHARD says
I make this all the time it’s one of my wife’s favorite dishes I cook and she really isn’t big on fish at all. I tweak ratios time to time depending on what I have available or add an extra ingredient and it’s always great. Thanks for the recipe.
Ashara Houston says
This recipe was amazing!!
I left out the water and used maple syrup instead of honey because I didn’t have anymore honey. Everything was soo good. I paired it with parsley roasted potatoes and green beans. I used the remaining sauce to cook shrimp in. OMG!!!!
Sam says
No complaints at all! It was delicious!
Jen M says
FABULOUS all-around. This is now my go-to way to prepare a piece of wild caught king salmon. The lacquer-style glaze is delicious and beautiful. This is a restaurant quality recipe. Thanks Amanda!
Joanne Schaller says
Best salmon dish I ever made! I did put in less water & the sauce was magnificent!
jay says
This is our favorite Salmon recipe.
Thank you for creating & sharing this.
Kari Dowdy says
My son said that this looks like restaurant quality and to please make salmon this way from now on! Everyone loved it, including my picky eater. Thank you for a delicious recipe!
Kari Pelletier says
Delish x 100!!! I cook a LOT and always trying new recipes. This was voted to three dinners ever made.
For me it took quite a bit longer because Iโm cooking for 6, and I couldnโt find blackening seasoning so I had to make my own.
I serve this with microwaveable sticky rice (bought by the case at Costco) and a green veggie – asparagus is usually easiest but I do sometimes do broccoli or brussell sprouts.
I serve with white sangria in the summer outside and it is a feast!
Thanks so much – adult kids and significants and hub say โyouโre the best cook!โ because of this lol. Thanks for making me shine!
Also I have used both the rub (blackening seasoning) and the garlic honey on CHICKEN as well, so if you have anyone who doesnโt like salmonโฆ..
Deb says
I’m trying to add more fish into our diet. Unfortunately I don’t like Salmon. The meal was ok if you like salmon. I did like the glaze and will be using it for some other meats. If I used a different meat with the glaze it would have been much better. It’s just because I don’t like salmon, but I keep trying.
T broadwell says
Easy and delicious! We sprinkled chopped green onions on the top and served with white rice and seaweed salad.
Nick says
It is the worst food I ever ate
Please never try this at home
The Chunky Chef says
Well I’d be happy to troubleshoot and help figure out where things went wrong.
Babs says
AmandaโฆI honestly believe that Nick is a troll and never cooked this dish. Believe it or not, some people get a kick out of trolling reviews and comment sections just to be an a**.
Jane says
Delicious