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.
Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!
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.
Mary says
Amazing salmon recipe! Delicious.
Johna says
An outstanding recipe that truly could not be any more easy. I had to cook my salmon about 5 mins longer to get it to 145 for whatever reason, otherwise, followed this recipe completely and it was fantastic.
Cathy Noon says
Iโve made this several times and it never disappoints. Make sure you put the glaze over the salmon often, itโs best if the edges of the salmon get a little crispy. So yummy!
Kimmie Brown says
Oh my, this was so delicious, I also made a pasta with it but instead of angel hair pasta used brown rice pasta. ๐
Kristen Weidner says
Absolutely phenomenal
Jason says
Delicious and very easy to make.
Jaylyn says
Such an easy recipe! I didnโt broil but I mixed all the ingredients in a stove top then added in my salmon. Love it!
Carrie Ward says
After reading some reviews about the sauce being runny, I decided to add a little cornstarch to the sauce just to be on the safe side. This was amazing! A new family fav!
Angela says
I tried your recipe and believe me this is how I would be making my salmon from now on.
Meghan Wagner says
My new favorite salmon recipe! We were licking our plates. Everyone I swear is asking me to cook this for them every night of the week… as if it’s their new Lifeline…..lol. so I will be making it tonight again! It’s been a week since I made it last. Thank you for this recipe.
Nona says
I forgot to take a picture ! I made it for Easter dinner , cut in strips and everyone commented on the deliciousness . lol
Thank you !
Deidra Nicole Wright says
It was an amazing hit!!! Made it 4 times so far!!
Wendy says
Amanda, I was like you and wasnโt a big fan of salmon till I tried this recipe, and OMG Iโm a huge fan now! This is sooo delicious! I love how easy it is to make and how quickly it comes together. My family loves this salmon with rice pilaf and steamed broccoli. I double the sauce so we have plenty to drizzle over the rice and the broccoli too. Thank you so much for this recipe!
Kim says
My family loves, loves this!
Danielle says
One of my favorite recipes. Delicious and easy to make..absolutely love it.
Ashley Qurollo says
I made this for supper, and it was delicious! Thank you for sharing your hard work and creativity!
Dee Anna S Behle says
Delicious! Iโve saved and made a few times. Thick, glazed sauce is flavorful and a family favorite.
Deb Risik says
Absolutely my favorite salmon recipe ever. Delicious. I was concerned it might be too spicy with the sriracha sauce but it simply cut the sweetness of the other ingredients. Love this recipe. Highly recommend it.
Deborah Price says
Made the salmon tonight , delish
Gail P says
Commented last year (canโt figure out how to update comment). Comment stated salmon did not carmelize. Today I cooked a little longer before putting in oven. PERFECT!11 I placed rack a few inches from broiler, in a couple of minutes it was perfectly carmelize! I spooned marinated from pan on salad under salmon. Try it!
Sarah says
I followed the recipe and it came out delicious consistency level in the thickness of the glaze was perfect. Just need to give it some time, and it will thicken.