Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Restaurant-Quality at Home: Crispy on top, succulent inside, and bathed in a smoky-sweet honey garlic sauce, this baked salmon recipe outshines many of the salmon you’ve ordered at restaurants.
- 20-Minute Dinner: Even if you’ve never cooked salmon before, you can make this recipe with rip-roaring success. It comes together in just 20 minutes, making it a great weeknight recipe.
- Seared and Baked:
Best of both worlds! Seared on the stove, then finished in the oven, the presentation of this healthy and easy salmon recipe is spectacular. - That Glaze, Though: The glaze is deep and sassy with smoked paprika, honey, and a heap of fresh garlic.
Ingredients
- 4 (6-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons hot water
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 6 cloves minced garlic (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 1/4 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 3/4 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Chopped fresh parsley or green onion for serving
- Lemon wedges (optional) for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Let the salmon rest at room temperature for 10 minutes. Pat dry on both sides.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, hot water, lemon juice, garlic, smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon salt, and cayenne pepper.
- Heat an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and swirl to coat the pan.
- Season the salmon with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Add the salmon to the pan, skin-side up.
- Cook the salmon for 4 minutes without disturbing it, until it is browned and releases easily from the pan.
- Carefully turn over each fillet. Turn off the heat.
- Pour the honey mixture over the salmon fillets. Baste the top of the fish with the sauce for 1 minute.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake until the salmon flakes easily with a fork, about 4 to 5 more minutes for 1-inch fillets.
- Sprinkle the salmon with parsley or green onion and squeeze additional lemon over the top if you like. Enjoy hot with more pan sauce spooned over the top.
Storage Tips
- To Store: Refrigerate leftover salmon in an airtight storage container for up to 2 days.
- To Reheat: Honey garlic salmon can be very gently reheated in a skillet over medium-low heat.
Meal Plan Tip
- Whisk the glaze ingredients together up to 1 day in advance, storing the mixture in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook.
Leftover Ideas
- Leftover salmon is tasty served on a salad or over Vegetable Lo Mein or Cauliflower Fried Rice.
What to Serve with Honey Garlic Salmon
- Vegetable Sides: Keep it simple with easy sides like Grilled Broccoli, Sautéed Green Beans, or Roasted Eggplant.
- Salads: Pair your honey garlic salmon with Asian Cucumber Salad on the side, or serve the fillets atop Asian Cabbage Salad.
- Grains: White Rice and Brown Rice will soak up all that delectable glaze, or make a pan of Egg Fried Rice.
- Asian-Inspired Dishes: I love this salmon with Cabbage Stir Fry or Zucchini Stir Fry, too.
