This honey garlic salmon is salmon fillets seared to perfection and coated in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. The perfect easy and healthy dinner for a busy weeknight!
I’m always looking for simple seafood recipes that my whole family will enjoy. Some of our favorites include grilled tilapia, garlic butter shrimp, grilled swordfish and this delicious honey garlic salmon.
First came honey garlic chicken, which has been pinned over a million times! Then came honey garlic shrimp which is just as fabulous as the chicken version. And now I’m bringing you a new version of this favorite with honey garlic salmon. The 4 ingredient sauce just makes this dish special, and is such a great way to dress up plain salmon.
Table of Contents
Honey Garlic Salmon Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need salmon fillets, olive oil, salt, pepper, honey, garlic, soy sauce, water, cornstarch and parsley. You can also garnish the dish with lemon wedges.
How Do You Make Honey Garlic Salmon?
Heat the olive oil in a pan or large skillet. Season the salmon with salt and pepper to taste. Sear the salmon on both sides until it is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the fish from the pan and cover to keep warm. Add the garlic to the pan, then stir in the soy sauce, honey and water. Bring the sauce mixture to a simmer. Whisk the cornstarch with cold water, then add the cornstarch slurry to the pan. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook for 1 minute or until it is thick. Return the salmon to the pan. Spoon the sauce over the top of the fish. Sprinkle with parsley, then serve with lemon wedges if desired.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
- This recipe works with both fresh salmon and frozen salmon. If you use frozen salmon, be sure to thaw it completely, then use a paper towel to blot the moisture off the fillets so that they will brown nicely.
- Be sure not to overcook your salmon! The salmon is done when the flesh is opaque and it flakes easily with a fork.
- Leftovers will stay fresh in an airtight container for 2 days. Reheat leftovers over low heat on the stove or in the microwave.
- Use fresh minced garlic for the best results. The kind in a jar doesn’t have as much flavor.
Quick Tip
I recommend serving the salmon over sushi rice or sour cream mashed potatoes, with a green vegetable on the side such as sauteed broccolini.
Recipe FAQs
The best method to cook salmon is one where the exterior gets crispy while the interior stays moist and enter. This can be achieved by grilling, broiling or pan searing salmon.
Salmon pairs well with a variety of sauces. Some of the most popular options include garlic butter sauce, honey garlic sauce, creamy dill sauce, honey mustard and pesto.
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Flavor Variations
While this recipe is delicious as-is, you can easily customize the flavors to suit your tastes.
- Protein: You can use other types of firm fish such as swordfish, halibut or steelhead trout. This sauce is also great on chicken breasts or pork chops.
- Sauce: Jazz up the sauce by adding extra ingredients such as ginger, sesame oil, sriracha or sesame seeds.
- Toppings: Finish the dish with a sprinkle of sliced toasted almonds, chopped cilantro or sliced green onions.
If you’re looking for a little bit different take on salmon, you’re going to love this recipe!
More Salmon Recipes
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Honey Garlic Salmon
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 pounds salmon fillets
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Season the salmon with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place the salmon skin side up in the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side or until cooked through.
- Remove the salmon from the pan and place on a plate. Cover with foil to keep warm.
- Add the garlic to the pan and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the water, soy sauce and honey to the pan; bring to a simmer.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cold water.
- Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the pan and whisk to combine. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute or until sauce has just thickened.
- Return the salmon to the pan and spoon the sauce over the top. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
- This recipe works with both fresh salmon and frozen salmon. If you use frozen salmon, be sure to thaw it completely, then use a paper towel to blot the moisture off the fillets so that they will brown nicely.
- Be sure not to overcook your salmon! The salmon is done when the flesh is opaque and it flakes easily with a fork.
Could I broil the salmon and baste it with the sauce when it’s nearly finished cooking?
Yes that’s fine!
Another successful recipe! So easy and yummy. I made jasmine rice on the side and grilled asparagus w/mushrooms.
Definitely a keeper. Quick, easy and absolutely delicious.
How long do you leave salmon on after placing back in the pan with cooked sauce?
You can serve it as soon as the sauce goes on!
I prepared this tonight for our son’s birthday. My deviation was that I broiled a 3.5# slab of fresh wild-caught Atlantic salmon in the oven for about 7 minutes while preparing the secret sauce. The cooked fish went directly into the skillet that we used to prepare the sauce. Smiles all around the dinner table. Thanks for a great, easy to prepare recipe.
I had my husband make this for me and I have never been able to choke down salmon without gagging. I want to eat salmon because it’s so good for you so I will try it every so often. I had it served over rice with steamed broccoli and I have to say I kinda liked it. This is a huge victory for me! While this isn’t something I will be begging him to make…but just for the fact I’m okay with it makes it 5 stars.
Yummy! I added a little sriracha for a kick. My kiddo even loved it.
This was fantastic. I am not a salmon lover, but made this for my son who was visiting. We absolutely loved it. Nice slight crunch on top, not fishy, and great flavor. Served on a bed of wilted spinach and a side of roasted asparagus. delicious👍
My family loves this recipe for salmon! It was delicious! I Can’t wait to try this on chicken and shrimp!!
Im planning to make this tonight – it says cook the salmon skin side up, but the picture has the salmon skin side down in the pan (how I would normally cook salmon). Which way is best?
I start skin side up then flip over halfway through!
Can I do this on the grill??
Yes that’s fine, grill the salmon then brush the sauce on during the last few minutes.
This was excellent!! So yummy. I am not a big fan of salmon, but hubby loves it and I know it is good for me, so I fix it occasionally. This was so good that I may have been converted to the “I like it” side.
I made this today with my family here in Uganda and its mouth watering also delicious in its way
If you’re looking for a new way to make salmon other than with the traditional lemon and garlic sauce, this it it! Quick, easy, and delicious! My husband and I both loved it!
Everyone is giving this recipe such too poor reviews I will have to write this recipe my Hubby & I are lovers of salmon always looking to try new recipe. Thks everyone. Be Safe👍👍👍🤗🤗
I made this for dinner tonight and it’s absolutely delicious. Quick and easy. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Made this recipe tonight and my family and I love it! Will be enjoying this for years to come