Honey Glazed Salmon
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Why is honey so good on salmon?! The contrast of savory, flaky salmon with the sweet, floral notes of honey makes for the most delicious bite. This honey glazed salmon delivers the goods: honey complements the salmon perfectly without overpowering it, and caramelizes slightly for a delicate glaze. Oh, and it's a one-pan meal that takes just 20 minutes!
Saucy, flavorful salmon is always a winner at the dinner table. Make this amazing firecracker salmon or impress with teriyaki salmon.
Sticky, sweet, garlicky, honey glazed salmon is the perfect meal! It's a healthy, no-bake recipe made in just one pan. It's irresistibly delicious and arrives on your table faster than your favorite restaurant can deliver. Sweet honey, tart lime, zesty ginger, and savory garlic come together to make a delectable sauce that covers the salmon in flavor.
Ingredients needed
Honey glazed salmon is made from a handful of natural, wholesome ingredients that taste amazing ā it has to be one of the best salmon recipes! This is what you need:
- Salmon: Salmon is loaded with omega 3's, high in protein and packed with vitamins. If steelhead fillets are available to you, get those! Otherwise, any salmon fillets will work as a treat.
- Other ingredients: Sweet paprika, garlic granules, salt, pepper, butter, avocado oil (or another neutral-flavored oil).
- Honey glaze for salmon: Honey, lime juice, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic cloves. Sriracha is optional depending on if you'd like a spicy kick!
- To garnish: Lime wedges and minced cilantro, or minced chives (sliced green onions work, too!)
How to make honey glazed salmon
Honey glazed salmon is super simple to put together, so dinner will be served in just 20 minutes! Wondering how to make a honey glaze for salmon? Just whisk everything together in a bowl and pour it in with the cooking salmon. This is how it's done:
- Season: Rub the salmon fillets with paprika, garlic granules, salt, and pepper.
- Honey glaze: Combine everything for the honey lime glaze in a small bowl.
- Cook salmon: Add the salmon to a skillet at medium-high heat, seasoned side down. Once golden, flip it over, then pour the sauce into the pan. Let it boil and thicken until the salmon is cooked.
Tips for making honey glazed salmon
Serving up a fancy salmon dinner is easier than you think, especially when armed with these tips!
- Quality: Starting with good quality salmon will give the best flavor and texture. Fresh salmon will always taste, well, a bit fresher! Frozen will work, if fresh salmon isn't available where you live ā the glaze is so delicious it will taste good on anything. The same goes for a good quality honey. Check your grocery store or chat with your fishmonger.
- Pin bones: Even though most supermarket salmon is boneless, it's always wise to run your fingers over the surface to double check for pin bones. If you find any, pull them out, using kitchen tweezers if needed.
- Pat-dry:Ā Patting the salmon dry before cooking helps to draw out any excess moisture, and will also allow the glaze to coat the salmon better.
- Skin: Keeping the skin on your salmon is totally personal choice! See the FAQs for tips on removing salmon skin.
- Overcrowding: To prevent steaming, ensure your salmon fillets have enough space in the pan. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Baste: Spooning the honey glaze over the salmon as it cooks not only covers it with flavor but also keeps it moist.
- Cooking time: Salmon cooks quickly, so keep an eye on the time and use an instant read thermometer when needed.
What to serve with honey glazed salmon
Honey garlic salmon works as a quick, flavorful meal on busy weeknights, but is impressive enough to serve for date nights, too!
Round out the meal with veggies ā the honey glaze is perfect for spooning over a side of steaming basmati rice or cauliflower rice and sauteed green beans or spicy honey roasted carrots. Make some smoky roast potatoes on the side, or some miso butter roasted radishes for a lower carb option. Add a crisp salad, like a broccoli and kale salad.
Recipe FAQs
How do I store leftover honey glazed salmon?
Salmon is one of those dishes that just tastes better when it is fresh, so cook it when you intend to enjoy it! If you do have leftovers, storage is best in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You can either gently reheat leftover salmon or enjoy it cold on top of a crisp salad ā it's delicious!
You can also freeze leftovers if needed, thawing in the fridge a day before you wish to enjoy them.
Can I make honey glazed salmon gluten-free?
This recipe is gluten-free, so long as you use a gluten-free soy sauce. Check the label on the bottle or use tamari.
Can I make this with another type of fish?
Sure, the honey glaze flavors will work on other proteins. Just note that cooking times may vary depending on the protein you opt for.
How do I remove the skin from my salmon?
Whether you remove the skin or not is totally personal preference. If you would like to go ahead and cut off the skin, lay the fillet on a cutting board with the tail end facing towards you, then using a sharp knife, make a cut straight down through the flesh, stopping at the skin. Grab the cut piece and angle the knife at 45 degrees, pulling it towards you while moving the knife back and forth away from you. Keep the skin taut as it comes away, adjusting your grip close to the knife for ease. Voila! The skin is removed from your salmon fillet.
Can I adjust the spice level?
Yes! Omit the sriracha if you don't want any heat. If you like it spicy, add it to the glaze or sprinkle red pepper flakes over top.
Can I make honey glazed salmon on the grill or in the oven?
This recipe is for preparation on the stovetop, but the flavors will work with other cooking methods, too. If you're grilling your salmon, you won't be able to pour the glaze over, so marinade it instead. If you're baking your salmon, put the salmon filets in a baking dish and pour the glaze over. The salmon is cooked when it flakes easily with a fork and the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
How do I know the salmon is cooked?
The salmon is cooked when it flakes easily with a fork. An instant-read thermometer is a great tool to check if salmon (and other meats) are cooked to your liking. The FDA recommends cooking salmon to 145 degrees Fahrenheit. This is well-done and the salmon will be a bit dry at this temperature. We prefer tender and juicy salmon cooked medium, or 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
Honey Glazed Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
The Salmon
- 4 6-ounce salmon fillets
- Ā½ teaspoon EACH: sweet paprika, garlic granules, salt, and pepper
- 1 tablespoon EACH: butter and avocado oil (or another neutral-flavored oil)
The Honey Glaze
- Ā¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons EACH: lime juice and soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (finely minced or grated)
- 3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 1 teaspoon sriracha (optional, for heat)
- Lime wedges and minced cilantro or minced chives (to serve)
Instructions
- Season the top of the salmon fillets with paprika, garlic granules, salt, and pepper.4 6-ounce salmon fillets, Ā½ teaspoon EACH: sweet paprika, garlic granules, salt, and pepper
- In a small bowl, mix the honey, lime juice, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and if using sriracha.Ā¼ cup honey, 2 tablespoons EACH: lime juice and soy sauce, 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon sriracha
- Heat the butter and oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the salmon to the pan, seasoned side facing down. Sear the salmon for 3-4 minutes, until it is golden.1 tablespoon EACH: butter and avocado oil
- Flip the salmon over and pour the sauce into the pan. Let the sauce boil until the salmon is cooked, about 3 minutes more. See notes.
- OPTIONAL: if you'd like a thicker glaze, plate the salmon and then boil the sauce hard for 2-3 minutes to thicken it up.
- Serve the salmon with some lime wedges on the side and minced cilantro or minced chives over top.Lime wedges and minced cilantro or minced chives
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
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