Honey Garlic Salmon (Printable)

Crispy salmon with sweet honey garlic glaze, ready in 25 minutes

# What You’ll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 salmon fillets (about 5 ounces each), skin-on or skinless
02 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Sauce

03 - 3 tablespoons honey
04 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
05 - 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
07 - 1 tablespoon water

→ For Cooking

08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil or unsalted butter

→ For Serving (optional)

09 - Steamed rice
10 - Steamed or sautéed seasonal vegetables
11 - Sliced green onions
12 - Sesame seeds

# How-To:

01 - Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, lemon juice, and water until well combined. Set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil or butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
04 - Place salmon fillets in the pan, skin-side down if applicable. Cook for 3–4 minutes until the skin is golden and crispy.
05 - Carefully flip the fillets and cook for another 2–3 minutes until the second side is browned.
06 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour the honey garlic sauce around and over the salmon fillets.
07 - Spoon the sauce over the fillets as it simmers, allowing it to thicken and glaze the fish for about 2–3 minutes.
08 - Remove from heat once the salmon is cooked through and the sauce is glossy. Serve immediately with rice and vegetables, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together with pantry staples you probably have right now
  • Cooks in under 15 minutes but tastes like something you would order at a nice restaurant
  • The honey caramelization creates that sticky finger licking finish that makes people ask for seconds
02 -
  • Dry your salmon thoroughly with paper towels before seasoning, moisture prevents proper searing
  • Let the pan get properly hot before adding the fish, that golden crust is worth the patience
  • The sauce will look thin at first but thickens dramatically in the last minute of cooking
03 -
  • Room temperature salmon cooks more evenly, take it out of the fridge 15 minutes before cooking
  • If your sauce thickens too much, a splash of water or chicken broth brings it back to the perfect consistency
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