This honey garlic salmon is a one-pot recipe that gets done in less than 20 minutes and needs only 6 ingredients, most of which are pantry staples. Garlicky, tangy, and sweet this will soon become your next favorite fish meal.
Salmon and tuna are the family favorite fish in our home, raw or cooked. The best thing about fish is that it cooks in minutes, which means dinner or lunch is ready in minutes.
Table of Content
About this recipe
Salmon is super simple and easy to make. Honestly, the only three ingredients you need for a good salmon dish are garlic, salt, and pepper. And yet, this one is taking it to the next level, just like my balsamic glazed salmon or garlic butter salmon.
The butter and honey with vinegar is a wonderful combination of sweet, tangy, and nutty. The nutty flavor comes as the butter browns towards the end of the recipe.
In fact, it is the brown butter flavor that sets this recipe apart from all the other recipes. But, be careful not to overcook at the end as it can burn the butter and caramelize the honey.
My kids love to eat this with rice pilaf or turmeric rice with a side of roasted carrots or squash. My personal favorite is an avocado salad or cauliflower rice.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Salmon - Always make sure to buy your fish from a reputable source. I recommend Alaskan or Pacific salmon. You want the flesh to be moist, shiny, and bright in color. The skin will usually be silvery bright. It should not have a fish smell. A fishy smell is a good indication that it has been sitting out for a long time.
Leave the skin on when you pan sear it like this, as the skin prevents it from falling apart. - Butter - Adds a nice buttery flavor as well as a wonderfully nutty flavor when browned. Therefore, I highly recommend you add the butter.
- Honey - I like to use pure honey, but you can also use maple syrup.
- Garlic - Adds a wonderful flavor. And yet, a little bit goes a long way. So, don't put too much.
Video and step by step instructions (pin)
Sear salmon
- In a skillet, heat the oil, place the salmon skin-side down. A cast-iron skillet or this frying pan works best for this recipe as it spreads the heat evenly.
Tip - Keep the heat to medium-high and don't flip the fish for the first two minutes. This will ensure you have nice crispy skin.
- Cook for 6 to 8 minutes carefully flipping on all sides every 2 minutes (see video).
Tip - Salmon is very delicate, so use tongs and don't move and flip too often. Give it a minute on each side. - Remove from the pan and set aside.
Tip - We remove it from the pan after a few minutes to prevent it from overcooking. Use a flat spatula to lift the salmon up and out of the pan.
Garlic honey sauce
- To the same skillet, on medium-low heat, add the butter and garlic, and cook a minute until fragrant.
- Then, add the lemon juice and honey, and cook for another minute.
- Next, add the parsley and return the salmon back to the pan. Cook for 2 minutes coating it well with the sauce.
Tip - Do not overcook the fish and sauce at this time as the butter will burn and the honey will caramelize. - Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Frequently asked questions
This cooked honey garlic salmon will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. You can reheat it in the microwave at 30-second intervals until warm for serving again.
You can remove the salmon skin but you run the risk of it falling apart. The skin helps to keep the fish in place. So, even if you don't plan to eat the skin at least cook it with the skin on. To remove the skin, just peel it off or lift the fish off. It does peel off very easily.
It is recommended that salmon be fully cooked at an internal temperature of about 145 F (measure at the thickest part of the fish). Having said that, a good quality salmon can be eaten at medium-rare, which is what I do. Because I like to serve my salmon at 135 F.
What can you serve along with salmon?
You can even try a side of simple salad such as celery, carrots, cabbage, etc. or a side dish such as:
- Skinny Mashed Potatoes,
- Oven-Baked Potato Wedges or Potato Chips
- Garlic Parmesan Asparagus or sesame green beans
- Easy Swiss Chard Patties or spinach potato patties
- Roasted Lemon Dill Potatoes - or garlic roasted potatoes
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- Breadcrumb baked fish fillets
- Cilantro baked fish or cilantro fish cakes
- Tuna fish patties or tuna potato patties
- Moroccan fish in spicy tomato sauce
- Gefilete fish - Jewish fish balls
Recipe
Honey Garlic Salmon
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Ingredients
- 2 (350 g) Salmon fillets (about 6 to 8 oz each)
- 1 tbsp Cooking oil
- 1 tsp Garlic sliced
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1 tbsp Lemon (or white vinegar)
- 2 tbsp Honey
- 4 tbsp Parsley chopped finely
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Pepper
Instructions
Sear salmon
- In a skillet, heat the oil, place the salmon skin-side down. A cast-iron skillet or this frying pan works best for this recipe as it spreads heat evenly. Tip - Keep the heat to medium-high and don't flip the fish for the first two minutes. This will ensure you have nice crispy skin.
- Cook for 6 to 8 minutes carefully flipping on all sides every 2 minutes (see video).Tip - Salmon is very delicate, so use tongs and don't move and flip too often. Give it a minute on each side.
- Then, remove from the pan and set aside.Tip - We remove it from the pan after a few minutes to prevent it from overcooking. Use a flat spatula to lift the salmon up and out of the pan.
Garlic honey sauce
- To the same skillet, on medium-low heat, add the butter and garlic, and cook for a minute until fragrant.
- Then, add the lemon juice and honey, and cook for another minute.
- Next, add the parsley and return the salmon back to the pan. Cook for 2 minutes coating well with the sauce. Tip - Do not overcook the fish and sauce at this time as the butter will burn and the honey will caramelize.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Equipment
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
SML
I'm surprised no-one else appears to have mentioned it, but I do get annoyed when amounts are not given in recipes - in this case, there's nothing to suggest WHAT amount of GARLIC to use!
While I generally love your recipes, Veena, this omission is annoying as I don't want to overdo it, but equally don't want to end up with a tastelessly meal.
So, what is the approximate amount> 1 clove, 2? more? or 1/23 teaspoon crushed, or WHAT, please??
Veena Azmanov
My apologies, SML. That would upset me too. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Just fixed it. You will need one small about a teaspoon of garlic.
Andrea Howe
This recipe looks so easy and flavorful! We love salmon in our house, but it can often dry out if not cooked right. I love this method for cooking fish and I think the sauce will help it stay really moist and flavorful. Thanks for sharing!
Jo
That salmon looks absolutely delicious! The flavors are perfect for my taste preference. I love quick dinner meal, and this is perfect for those busy week days meals
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Jo, happy you enjoyed it
Nicole Washington
What a great flavor for Salmon! We eat salmon a lot so I'm going to have to try this recipe.
Christine
I love this recipe because it's so quick and easy - Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. It's tender and has SO much flavor! I love to serve it with some rice or roasted veggies.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Christine. Happy to hear that
Ramona
This recipe seems perfect since in my house we love salmon and eat it often! I love making different recipes with salmon and the sound of honey and garlic with salmon really catches my eye! thank you for sharing this recipe, I cant wait to give it a go.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Romana
Marisa F. Stewart
We eat a lot of salmon and I'd never tried making it with the lemon and honey. So, I decided to shake things up a bit for a salmon night. Hubs loved the honey lemon for a change. I'll be keeping this in our rotation. The salmon was flavorful and so moist.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much for the feedback, Marisa. I am so happy you enjoyed it.
Sharon
We eat salmon at least once a week so I'm always looking for new salmon recipes. The sauce on this is delicious!
Shelley
We eat a lot of salmon at my house (just made a new salmon recipe I'm testing last night!) - and I always love finding delicious new, quick and easy ones like this. Big, big flavors so simply - why over-complicate it if you don't have to, right?!? Great tips on selecting and working with the salmon, too!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Shelley
HEATHER PERINE
Ooh love these flavors and simplicity. And thanks for the tip on how to get crispy skin, I always mess that up!
Maria
This looks scrumptious!
Beth
This looks so delicious and full of flavor! My daughter and I are going to love this recipe! I can't wait to give this a try!
Adrianne
Wow Veena this Salmon looks so good! It is making me hungry just looking at the pics. The lemon honey combo sounds zingy and fresh, cheers.
Veena Azmanov
It is so refreshing and light Adrian, you must try it
Nicole
This recipe looks fantastic! I can see it going great with all of us salmon lovers over here. Yum!
Heather johnson
this looks delicious - i'm a huge fan of salmon, butter and garlic - can't go wrong here - can't wait to make it!