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.
Dianne says
Best salmon recipe EVER!!!!
Maggie says
The sauce was delicious, but like others, it was watery. I read the entire article, comments, suggestions, and omitted the water, but it still was runny. I will let it simmer longer next time and play with it if it does not thicken up.
Thank you for the recipe. It’ll be a go-to at least 2x a month.
Maryam says
Can I use chili garlic sauce instead of sriracha?
The Chunky Chef says
Sure can ๐
Sabina Roberson says
Delish!! Made this tonight for my family and they want me to make this on the regular. It was so easy but it tasted like it took a lot of effort to make it.
I served it with sticky rice and roasted veggies and it was a perfect meal.
Sarah says
This is a staple in our house now. Absolutely delicious and I pass the recipe on to everyone I know.
I do sub more lemon juice for the water, and I use a chili garlic sauce instead of Sriracha, but honestly the original recipe is fabulous and doesn’t need to be any different. I just wanted a little more lemon flavor and didn’t have Sriracha on hand. 100% 5 star recipe. Easy and yummy
Lisa says
Absolutely freaking delicious and Iโll never make another salmon dish again! Trust me I make a ton of salmon and this is by far our favorite! I even had extra rice with the sauce over it! Thank you so much for posting girl! Youโre my favorite chefโฆyou genius!
Alie says
Just made this and itโs absolutely amazing!! The sauce was a little watery but itโs ok we will omit the water next time to see if that helps ๐
Nicole says
Iโve made this recipe a few times and WOW!!! It is the best recipe for salmon that Iโve ever tried. Everyone Iโve made it for always says it tastes amazing. Itโs my absolute favorite way to cook salmon!!
Tricia Dempsey says
Made the Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon! So good! Going to make it at least once a week!
Samantha says
I just made this. My husband and I are still talking about how delicious it was an hour later !!!!! Mine was not watery at all and I followed the recipe to a tee! Thank you so much for posting this amazing & memorable recipe!
Kelly says
The flavor is AMAZING. The sauce is VERY watery and I didnโt even use the water.
Mary Lou Taylor says
Delicious! Trying to love salmon and this was an absolute home run. My husband loved it just as much
Definitely make again!
Patsy Gallery says
Awesome sauce and the salmon was perfect. Talk about wanting to lick the plate good!
Shawna says
Have uou or anyone tried this on the grill? Wondering if we can grill it and baste it with the sauce.
The Chunky Chef says
I haven’t tested this recipe using our grill, so I can’t say for certain how well it would work or whether any changes would need to be made. If you do some experimenting, I’d love to know how it turns out ๐
Debra says
This was delicious! I did not have Sriracha so I used Cholula Chili Lime hot sauce! Will definitely make this again and will try it with the Sriracha!
Ashley says
This recipe was tasty and flavorful.
Autumn says
Best fish recipe
Eileen Hunter says
Absolutely fantastic tasting and easy.
Sarah says
This recipe is my new favorite way to make salmon. So flavorful!!
Nicholas M says
My kids and wife loved it!
Ann says
As some have stated, my sauce turned out way too watery. It never got sticky and caramelized. I broiled the salmon/sauce for 6 minutes. If I would have kept it in the oven long enough for it to caramelize, the salmon would have been overcooked. Next time I will eliminate the water. The salmon was still tasty!