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.
Huge hit in my house..my daughter won’t eat fish and loved this.. I shared with my friends..I will make this again!
This recipe was AMAZING!!!
By far the BEST salmon I’ve ever made.
Definitely locking this one in the vault. Thanks!
Fantastic recipe, thanks for sharing. Made it for the family this evening and it was voted a keeper. This will be making a return visit in a couple of weeks when we are on our extended family vacation.
You are amazing for adding the part to change number of servings, and have the recipe re-quantify the ingredients! Thank you!! Making this tonight for 25-30 diners.
Good ! I like a little kick added red pepper flakes.
I just made this dish and it was amazing ……… what more to say you did that ……
Made this dish tonight and it was delicious! Very easy, which I love! May add green onion or a little crushed red pepper to the sauce next time to see how it goes. Thank you for this recipe!
This is my new go-to salmon recipe! It was so good and so simple! I love that you didn’t need to marinate it to get all the flavor.
Just made it tonight. Like the reviews say delicious!
Made this for dinner for myself instead of eating the fried chicken my hubby bought for the kids. Followed the recipe and it tastes beautiful.
I served it over riced cauliflower – I LOVE cauliflower (even before it was “trendy’ lol)
Made this tonight omgoooooddddness!!! so easy and so good!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you for sharing!
I made this last night. It was AMAZING! The sauce was so easy and delicious. I made a side of risotto and steamed Asparagus.
Could I use this recipe but bake it?! Would you add before you bake or after?!
Yes that will work just fine! I’d add the sauce after the salmon is cooked through.
Perfect for everyday dinner! My husband loved it! I served it on brown rice with asparagus.
I made this without adding the cornstarch. It was amazing!
I didn’t substitute, take away or add any ingredient. I made the recipe as is above.
This recipe was a hit! Bookmarked!
So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for coming back to comment!
This was an EXCELLENT recipe, a hit in my household.
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, thanks for reporting back!
What do you suggest for a side dish?
This is great served over rice with a side of broccoli or asparagus!
We loved this recipe! So easy and yummy! It was even good the next day cold on my lunch salad.
Omg this is so good, even my picky 4 year old loved it. I think this is the only way I’m making salmon from now on.
So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thank you for reporting back!