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.
Victoria says
Super yummy! I am also not usually a fan of salmon, but for some reason was craving honey glazed salmon. So when I googled it and found this recipe, I had to give it a try! It is sooo delicious! The sweetness of the honey really masks the fishy taste and I love the slight hint of spiciness! Some people were saying they were having trouble with the sauce being watery, but I didn’t have that issue.
I paired it with diced sweet potatoes and salad. Plus since I had some left over sauce, I used that as my dressing ๐ thanks Amanda for the awesome recipe!
Courtney says
I love this recipe!!! Have made it several times in the last few weeks and is my new go to salmon recipe. I like to eat it with avocado and cucumbers on the side. So good!!
Scott J says
Made
For the first tonightโฆwow! Absolutely delicious. Served it with bruschetta with a balsamic glaze and roasted zucchini mixed veggies. Yum!
My wife and I agree this is makes the short list for favourites and weโll definitely make this again.
Thank you for sharing.
Birdie Tattersall says
This was so delicious and amazing thank you
Ryan says
I made this for the first time a couple weeks ago and my wife & kids loved it. I did not use blackening seasoning & did not pan sear it.
Iโm making it again tonight and am thinking of using the blackening seasoning, pan searing and then garnishing with green onions at the very end. This recipe is a winner.
Chris says
Made this tonight, and I loved it! It was so juicy and bursting with flavor. Followed the recipe exactly โค๏ธ
Patty says
Flavor insanity! Loved it! I reduced the water based on comments-next time Iโll just eliminate. And yes thereโll be a next time!
My broiler is just high or low-so I play it safe and go low with rack 1/2 way down. Salmon was done at the 6 minute mark but I took it out foil tented it and put the sauce back in for a couple more minutes.
The salmon I used is frozen from Costco, so maybe thinner than some.
But oh my the flavor! Fantastic!
Courtney says
Made it twice in one week. OH MY GOD!! It is delicious- even the kids asked for it again. I made it with jasmine rice and carmelized green beans. We were licking our plates clean.
Tip: My sauce was watery, even with leaving the water out of the recipe.
Once I remove my cast iron pan from the oven after broiling, I remove the salmon, add in a slurry of 2Tbsp corn starch and 2 Tbsp water ( mix them before you put it in!) then brought the pan to a boil for 2 mins. It thickens up nice and sticky!!
Thanks for the recipe- I’ll be making it often ( Eating my leftovers for lunch as I write this!)
Liz says
This is hands down my favorite recipe for salmon. My family loves it. Itโs so delicious and easy to make. We make it at least twice a month if not more. The only change I made was cutting the honey to 1/4 c. Iโm going to try it with chicken. Iโm sure it will be just as yummy.
Kathy says
Easy, quick recipe. We loved it!!
Kat says
Beautiful sauce, and the salmon turned out perfectly! Used a cast iron skillet for the pan frying part, and made an Israeli couscous with broccoli and red pepper as a side. Will definitely be making this again!
Glenn says
Excellent salmon. Turned out perfect.
Kathy Brayton says
To start, I have never commented on a cooking/recipe site until today. This salmon is definitely comment worthy! After making salmon for years (many years) and preparing a myriad of different recipes, I stumbled on this one. No idea how I found it, but related to The Chunky Chef name and decided to give it a try. For company! These friends also eat salmon frequently, but any time it is prepared in their home, TWO recipes are cooked. He likes one, she the other. They BOTH loved your recipe as did I. We only use your recipe now, and any time I prepare it for company, they ask for the recipe. This is where the name comes into play. There are SO MANY recipes online, but who can forget The Chunky Chef? So easy to remember! This salmon is definitely company worthy. Pantry staples, easy to prepare, one pan, super easy clean-up, and absolutely delicious. To make it even better, if following the timing in this recipe the salmon is never dry or overcooked. Yes, I have ruined salmon by overcooking, even by a few minutes, but this timing is spot on. Did I mention delicious? I know I did, but let me say that I didn’t change a single thing in this recipe, and it’s DELICIOUS!
A Wendy Kaye Rohe says
Wow, I made this salmon recipe tonight and I do not like cooked salmon but wow it was amazing the garlic glaze it was fabulous. I will really highly recommend it but have everything ready because this goes quick.
Jules says
This recipe was delicious. I set the broiler to 550 and after 3 minutes
I had to remove the salmon from the oven because the sauce started
To smoke. The rack was lowered as you suggested. I definitely want to make this again but would like to know
What broiler temperature you would suggest.
The Chunky Chef says
I would maybe try 450ยฐF? My broiler’s high is set to 550ยฐF, but it’s an older oven, so maybe it’s not as powerful as yours ๐
Carrie says
You know what, I never comment or subscribe to recipe sites but yours is different! I like it and you own being a plus size person (me too girl!) which is awesome and I know you know the saying never trust a skinny chef ๐ letโs gooooo!!! It was delicious, thank you for sharing it
Claire says
Love making this dish for my family!
Shawn White says
My 18 year old daughter cooked me some salmon with this recipe. Best ever!!!
The Chunky Chef says
I absolutely love that your daughter cooked dinner, and that you all enjoyed this recipe! ๐
Shawn White says
Not just best salmon I have ever eaten. One of the best things I have ever tasted.
Rhonda M. says
Fantastic recipe. If you follow the recipe, it turns out perfect every time.