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.
Diane says
I’m from the Pacific Northwest and we have salmon regularly and this is a great sauce. I actually cooked it in a pan and let it thickend and then poured it over the salmon and it was perfect. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I will definitely use this again and on other seafood.
Jayme says
Way too watery! Sauce needs to cook down, or eliminate water. There was no carmelization. It seemed tasty. Will have to try again making adjustments.
Cynthia Harris says
I had never cooked Salmon before, after trying this recipe Iโm in the process of cooking it again. It was easy and delicious. If youโre like me and have never cooked Salmon before this is the recipe to try.๐
Sylvia Stanisa says
Absolutely awesome sauce! Award winning in our eyes! Thank you for making our meal fantastic!
Juju says
Ok, I DO NOT like salmon. But Iโm trying to like it. This recipe was perfect for me. It camouflaged the salmon taste enough that I actually liked it a bit. I gave the recipe to my sister who loves salmon and she said it was her new favorite. Thanks for a great recipe!
MICHAEL says
OK. I live in Finland, land of salmon. I have eaten this 6 or 8 different ways. D*MN IT AMANDA … THIS IS POSITIVELY THE BEST SALMON I HAVE EVER COOKED! I did sear it first, quickly. And I accompanied it with boiled asparagus (only until it is still crunchy, never too soft), and Potatoes Parisian. THANK YOU AMANDA FOR THIS … MY GOD, THIS IS THE BEST
Mark says
I tried a short cut and added asparagus to the sauce just before I added it to the oven….. Did not go well – your way sounds much more reliable to get the right crunch!
Emily says
I cut down on the honey but it was one of the best tasting salmons I’ve made yet. Excited to try it again, maybe with ginger.
Judy says
This was OK. The sauce overpowered the salmon. I will not make this again.
Charly says
Very good from someone who doesnโt like salmon but eats it anyway for the health benefits! I will make it again
I thought the sauce was going to be too watery but it cooked down well.
CH says
Best Salmon I have ever made or eaten
Ms Dee says
I simply love it! I’m not a big Salmon eater, I love recipe! My sauce didn’t get sticky but that’s okay, I’ll try it again and maybe add shrimp. ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ
Zelda says
Tried this for the first time and it came out really good. Just a bit sweet. I pair it with some garlic roasted potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts.
mkmd says
flavors were good but the sauce should have been boiled down before the salmon added. was way to runny.
Joseph Peddle says
All the ingredients were on hand, easy to make, and pleased a fussy eater, Well done.
Blondie says
Awesome!!
Monique says
Simple and quick to make. Excellent cooked on the barbecue. Flavours amazingly delicious. Definitely a keeper!
Dee says
Excellent recipeโฆjust made it for dinner and it was succulent. I also had a thicker piece of salmon and sooo enjoyed it!!
Amari Johnson says
Beginner cook here! This came out amazing and wasnโt that bad to prep
Deborah says
So sweet! Ugh! A diabetes special. How it managed to get 5 stars reviews is beyond me. Cut the honey by at least 1/4 cup.
The Chunky Chef says
If a recipe isn’t your cup of tea, that’s completely fine, even normal. But there’s no reason to be rude and disparaging. Just say it wasn’t for you ๐
Mary Huber says
I agree. Not everyone has the same tastes. Obviously, many people liked it. Honey glazed is a big cue that it will tend to be sweet.
Ana says
Incredible flavor and the salmon is so tender. Like you said, simmer the sauce for a bit to thicken it before adding the salmon in takes care of any *potential* runny issues. As for too sweet, look at the recipe and determine for YOURSELF if you would prefer to reduce it BEFORE you make it so it is inline with how you eat. There’s always one!
Kimberly says
Omg this is the best salmon recipe I have ever had. My special needs son loved it.