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My honey garlic salmon recipe features tender salmon fillets pan-seared in a sticky, garlic-infused glaze. It’s a simple yet elegant family weeknight staple!
If you love easy salmon recipes as much as we do, you should try my sweet chili salmon, lemon pepper salmon, and firecracker salmon next.
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I make salmon at home at least once a week because it’s so nutritious, and you don’t need much experience or expensive ingredients to make it flavorful.
This time around, I’m taking inspiration from my honey garlic chicken thighs and using that glaze to infuse sweet, savory, and umami flavors into our salmon. By pan-searing the fillets, we’re able to crisp up the outside of the fish while locking in moisture, resulting in a buttery soft interior.
Why I love this recipe
- Quick. Salmon cooks quickly, and like my air fryer salmon, this recipe takes barely 10 minutes.
- Easy yet sophisticated. This dish packs impressive flavor, yet you don’t need to overexert yourself. It’s a weeknight no-brainer.
- It’s healthy. Salmon is naturally lean, high in protein, and packed with healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
- It makes great leftovers. Seriously, do yourself a favor and make a double-batch so lunch is taken care of for the week!
Key ingredients
- Salmon filets. I prefer skin-on fillets because it helps prevent the salmon from overcooking, and the skin is easy to remove the skin once it’s been seared. As for fresh versus frozen, I recommend fresh salmon, as I find frozen fillets tend to be uneven, thin, and fragile.
- Kosher salt and pepper. To season.
- Paprika and cayenne pepper. For heat.
- Olive oil. To sear the salmon. Any neutral-flavored oil will do.
For the honey garlic sauce:
- Honey. Use whatever type of honey you have on hand, but don’t splurge for the super expensive stuff.
- Garlic cloves. Use freshly minced garlic cloves for the best flavor and texture.
- Soy sauce. For a deep umami flavor. Use low-sodium soy sauce or gluten-free tamari if needed.
- Lemon juice. Brightens up the dish.
How to make honey garlic salmon
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Season. Slice the salmon into fillets and de-bone if necessary. Dry the fillets with paper towels, and then season on both sides.
Step 2- Make the sauce. Combine the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
Step 3- Sear. Add the salmon to a hot, well-oiled skillet and sear for several minutes on both sides.
Step 4- Assemble. Pour the sauce into the pan and cook until it bubbles and thickens.
Arman’s recipe tips
- How to remove the skin. If you’re using skin-on fillets, start by searing the salmon skin-side down. After a few minutes, flip the fillets, and the skin should easily peel off.
- Make sure the pan is hot. If the pan isn’t very hot, it’ll latch onto the salmon as it warms up and make it more likely to stick when you flip it.
- Don’t flip the salmon too soon. If the salmon doesn’t want to flip, don’t push it. Give it a few minutes, and if it releases from the pan, you can flip it.
Variations
- Broil. Use an oven safe skillet to sear the salmon, then when it’s almost done cooking, broil it for 2-3 minutes to get even more caramelization.
- Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and lemon wedges for added flavor.
Frequently asked questions
Since this dish is quite flavorful, I like to pair it with more subtle sides, like air fryer broccoli and basmati rice. Or go the Asian route and serve it with Asian cucumber salad and kani salad.
Honey Garlic Salmon
Video
Ingredients
- 21 ounces salmon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Slice the salmon into 4 fillets and remove the bones with tweezers.
- Pat dry the salmon with a paper towel. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne on both sides.
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic, honey, soy sauce, and lemon juice, and set aside.
- Heat the non-stick frying pan with olive oil and cook the salmon for 3-4 minutes per side.
- Pour the sauce in the pan and cook until the sauce starts getting thicker, searing the salmon on all sides.
