This quick and easy Honey Garlic Salmon Recipe is made with flakey salmon fillets cooked in a mouthwatering 5-ingredient honey garlic sauce. Cooked in one pan and ready in just 20 minutes, you’ll love everything about this sticky sweet, and garlicky salmon dinner.
Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon
This is one of my very favorite salmon recipes. So easy to make and so flavorful, it’s the perfect throw-together recipe for busy weeknight dinners or weekend dinner parties.
The salmon is pan-seared on the stovetop directly in the honey garlic sauce first, before being transferred to the oven for a quick broil. The result is perfect flakey glazed salmon in the best tangy, sweet, and delicious honey garlic sauce. If it’s your first time doing something like this, give it a try, it’s not as fancy as it sounds.
The best part is that salmon is not just delicious but it’s also really good for you! Loaded with omega 3’s, it’s full of protein and healthy fats, making it a great occasional alternative to chicken or beef.
Honey Garlic Sauce Ingredients
- honey
- soy sauce
- apple cider vinegar
- fresh lemon juice
- water
- minced garlic cloves
It’s the perfect combination of tangy, sweet, savory, and delightfully sticky. To add a little heat, try including a tablespoon of Sriracha or a teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
How to Make Honey Garlic Salmon
- Preheat the oven to broil. If you have the option to set the broil temperature to medium or low, pick one of the lower temperatures.
- Season your salmon fillets and whisk together the honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice, and water in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Add the olive oil and butter to a large oven-safe skillet and heat until the butter is melted. Sauté the fresh garlic for about 1 minute.
- Add the prepared sauce into the pan, combine with the garlic, and bring it to a gentle simmer.
- Nestle the salmon fillets, skin-side-down, in the sauce. Cook for 4-5 minutes, basting the top of each fillet with sauce and pan juices as it cooks.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven. Broil for 5-6 minutes, or until the edges are slightly charred and the salmon is fully cooked (salmon should reach an internal temperature of 145°F).
- Drizzle with additional honey garlic sauce and fresh lemon juice before serving. Garnish with green onions or fresh chives, if desired.
Salmon Cooking Tips
- Cook with the skin on – Even if you don’t enjoy eating the salmon skin, it helps prevent your salmon from sticking to your skillet by working as a protective layer between the hot skillet and the yummy flaky fish.
- Wild salmon is better for you – Wild-caught salmon that is sourced sustainably is packed with more vitamins and minerals and is lower in fat.
- Fresh (vs. frozen) salmon is also better – Frozen salmon fillets typically vary in size and thickness, making it more difficult to achieve even cooking throughout.
- Avoid overcooking – the last thing you want is overcooked, dry salmon. Since wild-caught salmon is lower in fat, it is more sensitive to overcooking (imagine cooking chicken breasts vs. chicken thighs). Your best defense against this is to keep a digital meat thermometer handy and check the temperature often.
How to Serve
I always serve this salmon with a side dish of cooked white rice or brown rice and veggies like roasted asparagus or sauteed zucchini. Creamy mashed potatoes are also delicious (especially with a little extra honey garlic sauce drizzled over the top) or keep it low carb with riced cauliflower.
Have you tried making this Easy Honey Garlic Salmon Recipe?
Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts. And tag me #theforkedspoon on Instagram if you’ve made any of my recipes, I always love to see what you’re cooking in the kitchen.
RECIPE CARD
Honey Garlic Salmon
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets - about 8 ounces per fillet, skin on (wild-caught if possible)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt + black pepper - to season
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic - minced
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ½ lemon - thinly sliced
Instructions
- Place the oven rack in the middle position of your oven. Preheat the oven to broil, medium/low heat.
- Season the salmon fillets with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice, and water. Set aside.
- Heat a large oven-safe 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and butter and heat until the butter has melted. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
- Add the prepared honey sauce into the pan, combine with the garlic, and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add the salmon fillets, skin-side-down, to the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes, basting the top of each fillet with sauce and pan juices.
- Arrange the lemon slices around the salmon fillets and transfer the pan to your preheated oven. Broil for an additional 5-6 minutes, or until the edges are slightly charred and the salmon is fully cooked (145°F).
- Drizzle with additional honey garlic sauce and fresh lemon juice, if desired. Serve with your favorite vegetables over rice.
Jessica’s Notes
- If available, try to purchase wild salmon vs. farmed salmon. Farmed salmon is higher in fat, including saturated fat, and is higher in calories.
- Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your salmon fillets (thicker fillets will take longer to cook). Try to purchase fillets that are equal thickness.
- Dairy-free – Replace the butter with additional oil.
- Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave, air fryer, or oven until warm.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
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