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.
Vickie says
Perfect! I rarely do not tamper with a recipe, but I left this alone, with the exception of cutting back on the garlic. I’ll increase what I used each time I make it. I’m not big on fish, usually, but am trying to eat salmon more and this is going to be at the top of the list! In fact, why make a list now – this is perfect!
Anthony Gatto says
Made this recipe tonight and it turned out delicious! I made one addition and added some red pepper flakes to the sauce and it was delightful! Will definitely make again.
joe says
I substituted brown sugar for the honey and that gave it a more flavorful taste.
Karen Krakower says
Can I bake and just skip the broil and stove top portion?
The Chunky Chef says
Sure, but this recipe wasn’t developed or tested that way so I can’t say at what temperature or for how long.
Pablo says
Always looking for a variations in making salmon. Tried my broiler for the first time. Very simple, very quick. The salmon I used was thicker on one end, so I just used the thermometer to decide when to remove the thinner end. I let the thicker end cook a bit longer, checking the temperature a couple of more times. Glaze kept the salmon moist. I usually donโt make my salmon sweet, but this was nice for a change.
I baked some sweet potatoes in the microwave and heated up some frozen succotash on the stove and ended up with an easy delicious meal.
Tena says
This is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! For this recipe to be so simple, it sure is delicious. I will be making this again! Definitely will be a staple in my household.
Teri says
I’m not much of a salmon lover either, but this is amazing! My family loves it so much, and I’ve made it many times. Absolutely delicious!
David A says
OMG!!! This is the best salmon recipe Iโve ever made!!! I live on an island in Washington and everyone we know gives us several salmon during salmon season and I try a different recipe every time. No more! The only substitution I made was using Chardonnay instead of water. I work at a winery so it was a good choice. Iโm going to use this recipe for now on, it is the BEST!!!
Charlotte says
Made this tonight for the second time. It is amazing. My sauce doesnโt seem to come out as thick but it is absolutely delicious.
Judy Ory says
I made it and loved it
Mitch says
5 stars. Easy and so yummy. I was worried the sauce would be too runny, but it was perfect thickness once it came out of the broiler.
Tracey says
I love this recipe and it’s so easy! I’m not much of a cook but I found this so simple with such great flavour. I’d even feel confident to serve this to guests. What do you recommend serving this dish with?
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Tracey! So happy to hear how much you enjoy this salmon recipe ๐ We love to serve this alongside some roasted asparagus or brussels sprouts, and some garlic and ginger rice.
Linda says
Tried this tonight for dinner. Everybody loved it..thank
Sherry D says
One of the best recipes I own. My boys and I love this dish! Thank you
L says
Iโm not a fish eater but this is delicious! Definitly a keeper.
Jennifer says
This is decilious as is. My picky son loves it. I was wondering if you think this recipe would still work if I replaced the honey with maple syrup? I happen to have a lot on hand. Thanks
The Chunky Chef says
I haven’t tested this recipe using maple syrup, so I can’t say for certain how it would taste, although I suspect it would be delicious. If you do some experimenting, I’d love to know how it turns out ๐
Debby says
Very tastey, will make againโฆ๐
Joanie Hines says
I normally donโt eat Salmon, Iโve never liked it but wanted to try something new. This recipe is now a once a week meal!
Andrew says
1/2 cup of honey is where i got lost at.
Most honey on the market is just High Fructose Corn Syrup so this is just a terrible on budget.
The Chunky Chef says
This isn’t really the place to rail on some of the honey that is available in stores, or the price. It’s up to every reader to buy the brands and types of ingredients that they like best, and this recipe was developed and posted well before the grocery prices were as high as they are now. Everyone is free to choose whether or not to make a recipe, or adapt it as they see fit.
Mitch says
wow. Well the honey I get is 100% honey and considering there’s enough sauce for really 6 servings I think its actually very budget friendly considering this is SALMON which itself isn’t cheap. What an odd comment.
Cynthia says
I get my honey from local beekeepers in my part of my state. It’s way way better quality, always raw and unfiltered 100% honey, and it’s way cheaper than what you get at the store. If price and quality is your concern, you should definitely look into finding some local honey to buy.
Joyce says
Easy recipe, and great taste