Honey Garlic Salmon (The Best Recipe!)

Salmon recipes with honey garlic salmon.

4.54 from 1536 votes

Honey Garlic Salmon (The Best Recipe!)

Garlicky, sweet, and sticky—this honey garlic salmon is my go-to for a quick and healthy dinner. It’s ready in just 15 minutes, but the flavors make it feel like something you’d splurge on at a fancy restaurant.

Prep Time10

Cook Time5

Total Time15

Course: Salmon

Cuisine: American Recipes

Keyword: Honey Garlic Salmon

Servings: people

Author: Bee Yinn Low

Ingredients

12 oz. salmon cut into 2-3 fillet strips
salt
black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon warm water
1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic minced
1/2 lemon sliced into wedges
1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions

Season the surface of the salmon with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, and then set aside.
Combine the honey, water, apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice), and a pinch of salt in a bowl, and stir well to mix.
Heat an oven-safe skillet (preferably cast iron) over high heat. Add olive oil and pan-fry the salmon, skin side down, for about 1 minute. Flip the salmon and cook for another minute. Then, turn it over again so that the skin side is facing down.
Add the garlic to the pan and sauté until it is slightly browned. Then, add the honey mixture and lemon wedges to the skillet, and reduce the sauce until it becomes sticky.
Finish by broiling the salmon in the oven for 1 minute, or until the surface becomes slightly charred (optional step).
Top the salmon with parsley and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Sear for Crispy Skin: When cooking the salmon, I always start by pan searing it skin-side down in a hot cast-iron skillet with a little olive oil. This helps crisp up the skin and creates a delicious texture contrast with the tender flesh of the salmon.

Olive oil: Olive oil is my go-to choice for this because it has a relatively high smoke point and its unique flavor profile works perfectly with the salmon.

Cast-iron skillet: I love using a cast-iron skillet for cooking salmon. It heats evenly, retains heat well, and is incredibly versatile. It helps cook the salmon consistently, giving it that perfect crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender. Plus, the natural non-stick surface and patina of the skillet make it the best tool for cooking salmon to perfection!

Nutrition