Skillet Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

Honey Glazed Salmon is one of those unicorn recipes that is ideal for busy weeknights but also fancy enough for special occasions. Serve with rice and your favorite veggie.

Perfect Salmon with Honey Glaze

Have you ever seen one of those cooking scenes in Top Chef or The Bear or something where a chef is tilting a skillet and continuously spooning butter or a glaze over a piece of protein? Do you get as starry-eyed and mouth-watery as I do?

Let’s go for it and do this at home and live out all of our chef dreams. And we’re actually going to do it on a weeknight, because that’s how easy it really is. You don’t even need your oven!

This honey glazed salmon is as easy as searing some salmon fillets in a skillet, then using the same skillet to turn a handful of ingredients into a rich, sweet and savory glaze that you’ll want to spoon over everything else on your plate, too.

Honey Salmon Ingredients

• salmon – you’ll need 4 skinless salmon fillets, which should be about 5 to 6 ounces each.
• salt and pepper – to enhance the natural flavor of the salmon.
• paprika – adds a subtle warmth and smokiness.
• butter – used for cooking the salmon and finishing the glaze.
• olive oil – for cooking the salmon and preventing the butter from burning due to the oil’s higher smoke point.
• garlic – adds a savory aromatic flavor to the glaze.
• honey – the key sweetener that forms the base of the honey glaze for salmon.
• soy sauce – adds umami and saltiness to balance the sweetness of the honey.
• lemon juice – brightens the overall flavor of this honey salmon recipe. Feel free to substitute lime juice if you have it.
• rice vinegar – adds a a bit more acidity to balance the glaze.
• red pepper flakes – adds a mild heat to offset the sweetness.
• chives – an optional garnish to add a pop of color.

How to Make Honey Glazed Salmon

1. SEASON. Sprinkle the tops and sides of the salmon filets with salt, pepper and paprika.

2. SEAR. Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet, then add a bit of olive oil to the butter. Add the salmon to the skillet and cook until the salmon is deep golden brown on both sides, turning once and pressing the salmon down with a spatula so it makes good contact with the pan. Transfer the salmon to a plate.

3. SAUCE. Reduce the heat on the skillet. Add the garlic and cook briefly until it is fragrant, then add the honey, soy sauce, water, lemon juice, vinegar and red pepper flakes. Increase the heat and cook until the mixture is reduced by half.

4. BASTE. Add the remaining butter, then transfer the salmon back to the skillet. Use a spoon to baste the salmon with the hot glaze until the salmon is warmed through.

Honey Glazed Salmon Recipe Variations

• SPICIER – Add even more red pepper flakes or a squirt of sriracha to the glaze.
• MAPLE – Replace the honey with maple syrup for a different kind of sweetness.
• GINGER – Add a few teaspoons of freshly grated ginger to the sticky glaze for extra zing.

How to Serve Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

This honey glazed salmon recipe pairs beautifully with a variety of side dishes. My favorite way to serve it is with the soy-butter rice from my salmon rice bowls recipe, and lemon broccoli or steamed carrots. Regular white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice or quinoa also works well.

Honey garlic salmon is also great paired with sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes with heavy whipping cream.

Storing Leftover Salmon With Honey Glaze

If you have leftovers of honey garlic glazed salmon, transfer them to a storage container and place them in the fridge uncovered for a few hours until they are fully chilled, then cover them with the lid and keep in the refrigerator up to 2 days.