Honey Garlic Salmon
Consider yourself ruined. Thanks to this 5-star, menu-quality Honey Garlic Salmon, you can never order salmon from a restaurant again.
Crispy on top, succulent inside, and bathed in a smoky-sweet honey garlic sauce, this baked salmon recipe outshines much of the salmon you’ve ordered at restaurants.
Do I sound insufferable?
Learning to cook perfect salmon at home will do that to you. (For an excellent overview of baking salmon, check out my How to Cook Salmon).
Even if you’ve never cooked salmon before, I promise you can make this recipe (and my Pesto Salmon) with rip-roaring success.
Once you’ve tasted it, I bet you’ll think twice about ordering baked salmon from someone else’s menu too!
Ready to feel like a total salmon master with the best salmon recipe ever? OWN IT.
Let’s make some honey garlic salmon!
TIP!
If you are new to the salmon game, start with this million-dollar Baked Salmon and use this Salmon Temperature Guide for extra tips and tricks.
Then, when you are ready to WOW, come back to this glazed salmon with honey garlic sauce.
5 Star Review
“Just made this salmon tonight, and it was delicious! Very tasty, quick and easy. Will definitely make it often!”
— Danielle —
How to Cook Honey Garlic Salmon
Seared on the stove, then finished in the oven, the presentation of this healthy and easy salmon recipe is spectacular (as is this Salmon Wellington).
- The glaze is deep and sassy with smoked paprika, honey, and a heap of fresh garlic, and this recipe makes plenty of it.
- Added bonus: this dish comes together in just 20 minutes, so it is a great weeknight recipe.
TIP!
The secrets to the perfect salmon sear are 1. Get that skillet nice and HOT (don’t rush it and add the salmon when the skillet’s only at medium heat), and 2. Don’t disturb the fish while it cooks.
See this Pan Seared Salmon for more tips, and watch the recipe video below for an easy visual.
The Ingredients
- Salmon. With a tender, flaky texture and delicious flavor, salmon fillets are an excellent lean, low-carb protein option. Plus, the glaze will make them appealing to the fish skeptics at your table (sway them with this Bourbon Glazed Salmon next). They’re also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, and B vitamins.
- Honey. Honey adds scrumptious natural sweetness to the glaze and helps it caramelize to perfection. (I also love it in both this Miso Glazed Salmon and this Honey Glazed Salmon with soy sauce.)
- Lemon Juice. For acidity and brightness.
- Minced Garlic + Spices. Minced cloves of garlic, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt add wonderful flavor to the glaze. The smoked paprika adds a nice smokiness, and the cayenne brings just a touch of heat.
- Parsley or Green Onion. I love to finish off this salmon dish with a shower of freshness. Both parsley and green onion are tasty choices.
TIP!
Extra glaze? Spoon it over the fish before serving or enjoy it over Instant Pot Brown Rice or cauliflower rice (my favorite).
The Directions
- Let the salmon filets come to room temperature, and pat dry.
- Whisk the honey garlic glaze ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Heat an oven-proof skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat to high heat. Start cooking the salmon skin side up.
- Once browned, flip each fillet over (so it’s now skin side down). Turn off the heat.
- Baste the salmon fillets with the honey-garlic mixture. Move the skillet to a 450-degree F oven, and bake for 4 to 5 minutes. Serve with parsley or green onion and lemon. ENJOY!
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- To Reheat. Honey garlic salmon can be very gently reheated in a skillet over medium-low heat.
Meal Plan Tip
Whisk the glaze ingredients together up to 1 day in advance, storing the mixture in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook.
Leftover Ideas
Leftover salmon is tasty served on a salad (like this Ramen Salad) or over Vegetable Lo Mein or Cauliflower Fried Rice.
What to Serve with Honey Garlic Salmon
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Oven-Safe Skillet. The ideal tool for this recipe.
- Instant Read Thermometer. A foolproof way to know when your salmon is done.
- Liquid Measuring Cups. You can mix and measure your ingredients all in the same cup.
The Best Cast Iron Skillet
This heavy-duty cast iron skillet will last you a lifetime. Use it on the stovetop or in the oven.
While I rarely repeat meals—with salmon variations ranging from Teriyaki Salmon to Broiled Salmon, we have plenty to choose from even in the salmon family—this honey garlic glaze has become a regular.
Fortunately, when you cook it yourself, it can be the nightly special any time you feel like ordering it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sometimes! If you have individual salmon fillets, you can cook them directly from frozen either in the oven (see this Salmon Baking Guide for tips) or by making Air Fryer Salmon. For this salmon recipe, where you will sear and glaze the salmon, you need to thaw the salmon first, so the glaze adheres and the outside can crisp.
Salmon goes well with a wide range of flavors, ranging from sweet and salty, to herby (rosemary, dill, and parsley all go well with salmon), to spicy. You can use sweet or savory glazes (as in this recipe), try a rub like this Salmon Seasoning, or use garlic and herbs like this Garlic Salmon.
Salmon is a super versatile fish that does well in a variety of cooking methods. From Baked Spicy Salmon, to Broiled Salmon, to Cedar Plank Salmon, to Grilled Salmon in Foil, and even Poached Salmon, how you cook your salmon really comes down to personal preference. I love this easy salmon with honey garlic because it combines all the benefits of baking and pan-frying salmon in one tasty recipe.
Honey Garlic Salmon Recipe Video
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Honey Garlic Salmon
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Ingredients
- 4 (6-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons hot water
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 6 cloves minced garlic about 2 tablespoons
- 1 1/4 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 3/4 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Chopped fresh parsley or green onion for serving
- Lemon wedges optional, for serving
Instructions
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Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
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Let the salmon rest at room temperature for 10 minutes. With paper towels, pat it dry on both sides.
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In a small mixing bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the honey, hot water, lemon juice, garlic, smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon salt, and cayenne pepper. Keep near the stove.
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Heat an ovenproof skillet (cast iron is ideal) just large enough to hold the salmon comfortably over medium high—you don't want the salmon to overlap, but you also don't want there to be too much extra room around the salmon or the sauce may burn.
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Sprinkle the salmon with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (wait to season the fish until just before adding it to the pan).
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Once the skillet is hot, add the olive oil. Swirl to coat the pan, then add the salmon, skin-side up/flesh side down. When lowering the fish into the pan, move it in a direction away from you so that you aren’t splattered with oil. Sprinkle the skin side of the fish with a generous pinch of additional salt.
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Cook the salmon for 4 minutes without disturbing it, until it is browned and releases easily from the pan. With a thin spatula (a fish spatula is perfect), carefully turn over each fillet. Turn off the heat.
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Pour the honey mixture over the salmon fillets. With a spoon, baste the top of the fish with the sauce for 1 minute.
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Transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake until the salmon flakes easily with a fork, about 4 to 5 more minutes for 1-inch fillets; if your salmon is thicker or thinner, you will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Salmon is done when it reaches 145 degrees F on an instant read thermometer and flakes easily with a fork. Do not overcook or the salmon will be dry (once I get close to 145 degrees F, I remove the salmon to a plate then cover it and let it rest a few minutes so the carryover cooking finishes the job).
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Sprinkle the salmon with parsley or green onion and squeeze additional lemon over the top if you like. Enjoy hot with more pan sauce spooned over the top.
Video
Notes
- INGREDIENT NOTE: If your honey starts to get very dark, don’t panic! It is just the sugar caramelizing, and your fish should not taste burned. If this happens, it may be that your skillet is too large (so the honey cooks more quickly) or too hot. Take it as a learning for next time and enjoy your salmon.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover salmon in an airtight storage container for up to 2 days.
- TO REHEAT: Honey garlic salmon can be very gently reheated in a skillet over medium-low heat.
Nutrition
More Salmon Recipes
Here are some of my favorite healthy salmon recipes:
