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This sticky-sweet Honey Garlic Salmon recipe is the perfect quick & EASY one-pan dinner. It’s made with simple, delicious ingredients and on the table in less than 20 minutes!
Honey Garlic GLAZED Salmon
This honey garlic salmon is one of my very favorite salmon recipes, and one I’ve made countless times since I originally shared it here more than four years ago.
Ready in about 20 minutes, this easy honey garlic glazed salmon starts on the stovetop and finishes in the oven. It’s sweet, savory, garlicky, and made with simple pantry ingredients, making it the perfect throw-together recipe for busy weeknight dinners.
The glaze is glossy, flavorful, and caramelizes beautifully in the oven, the salmon stays tender and flaky, and the whole thing comes together with very little effort. Perfect with a side of cooked rice and simple roasted veggies.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Quick and easy, ready in about 20 minutes.
- Sweet and savory, with flavors enjoyed by whole family.
- Easy to serve with everything from rice and noodles to roasted veggies and salad.
Love easy salmon recipes? Be sure to check out my Baked Salmon Recipe and this fast 15-Minute Air Fryer Salmon for two more simple weeknight favorites.
Table of Contents
Recipe Ingredients
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this easy honey garlic salmon recipe:
- Salmon fillets: I made this recipe with four 5- to 6-ounce salmon fillets. You can buy a whole side of salmon and cut it into four equal pieces, or use pre-portioned fillets for convenience. Wild-caught salmon, such as sockeye or coho, tends to be firmer and more flavorful, while farm-raised Atlantic salmon is richer, fattier, and usually more affordable.
- Seasoning: A simple mix of garlic powder, salt, and black pepper seasons the salmon without overpowering the sauce.
- Olive oil and butter: Olive oil helps sauté the garlic, while butter adds extra richness and flavor to the sauce.
- Fresh garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives this recipe its bold, savory flavor and is one of the key ingredients in the glaze.
- Honey garlic sauce: This quick homemade sauce is made with honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and water. It is sweet, tangy, and savory, and turns into a delicious glaze as the salmon cooks. To add a little heat, try including a tablespoon of Sriracha or a teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
How to Make Honey Garlic Salmon
This easy salmon recipe comes together in just a few simple steps. You will season the salmon, make the sauce, sear everything in an oven-safe skillet, then finish it in the oven until perfectly cooked.
- Preheat the oven to broil. If your oven allows you to choose a broil setting, use low or medium broil.
- Season the salmon fillets with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and water. Set aside.
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute, stirring often, just until fragrant.
- Pour the honey garlic sauce into the skillet and stir to combine with the garlic. Bring it to a gentle simmer.
- Nestle the salmon fillets into the sauce, skin-side down. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, occasionally spooning the sauce over the tops of the fillets as they cook.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and lightly charred around the edges. The salmon should register 145°F at the thickest part.
- Spoon extra sauce from the pan over the salmon and finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Garnish with green onions or fresh chives, if desired.
Cooking Tips
- Skin-on vs. skin-off: Either works in this recipe, so use what you prefer. I usually recommend skin-on salmon because it helps hold the fillets together as they cook and makes them a little easier to transfer in and out of the skillet.
- Wild vs. farmed salmon: Both are delicious, but they cook a little differently. Wild-caught salmon is typically leaner, firmer, and more flavorful, while farm-raised salmon is fattier, milder, and often a bit more forgiving.
- Fresh vs. frozen: Fresh salmon is always great when you can find it, but frozen salmon works, too. Just be sure to thaw it completely in the refrigerator and pat it very dry before cooking so the sauce clings better and the salmon cooks evenly.
- Avoid overcooking: The last thing you want is dry, overcooked salmon. Because wild-caught salmon is leaner and lower in fat, it is especially sensitive to overcooking. A digital meat thermometer is the easiest way to stay ahead of this, so start checking early and pull the salmon once it reaches 145°F at the thickest part.
Favorite Ways to Serve Honey Garlic Salmon
This honey garlic salmon is easy to pair with all kinds of flavorful sides, which makes it perfect for simple weeknight dinners or a slightly more dressed-up main course.
Serve it with fluffy jasmine rice, creamy coconut rice, or hearty Instant Pot brown rice to soak up every bit of the sweet and savory sauce. For vegetables, try it with roasted root vegetables, roasted zucchini, or delicious stir-fried garlic bok choy. It is also delicious served over a pile of creamy mashed potatoes for an extra cozy dinner.
Storage and Reheating Tips
- To store: Let the salmon cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container with any extra sauce. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To reheat: Reheat leftovers gently in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave in short intervals until warmed through. Add a spoonful of water if needed to loosen the sauce and help keep the salmon moist.
- To freeze: You can freeze cooked honey garlic salmon, but the texture of the salmon and sauce may change after thawing. For best results, let it cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
More Favorite Salmon Recipes
If you try making this easy honey garlic salmon recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment and a star rating below, your feedback helps other readers discover (and enjoy) this recipe too. Thank you so much! 💛
Honey Garlic Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets, about 5-6 ounces each, preferably similar in thickness
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ lemon, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to broil, using a low or medium broil setting if your oven gives you the option.
- Season the salmon: Pat the salmon dry with paper towels and season with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and water, then set the sauce aside.
- Cook the garlic: Heat the olive oil and butter in a large oven-safe skillet set over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute, stirring often, until fragrant.
- Simmer the sauce: Pour the honey garlic sauce into the skillet and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Add the salmon: Carefully nestle the salmon fillets into the sauce, skin-side down. Let them cook for 4 to 5 minutes, occasionally spooning the sauce over the tops so they stay moist and flavorful.
- Broil the salmon: Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and lightly caramelized around the edges. For best results, the thickest part of the salmon should register 145°F.
- Finish and serve: Remove from the oven and spoon the warm sauce from the pan over the salmon. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and garnish with green onions or fresh chives, if desired.
Notes
- Do not overcook: Salmon can go from tender to dry very quickly, especially wild-caught varieties. A digital thermometer is the easiest way to know when to stop cooking.
- Make it dairy-free: Replace the butter with extra olive oil.
- Want a little heat? Add a little sriracha or a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for a sweet-spicy variation.
- Storage: Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat gently in the microwave, oven, or a covered skillet over low heat until warmed through. Add a spoonful of water if needed to loosen the sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
