Honey Glazed Salmon

This honey glazed salmon is incredibly tender and juicy. It’s covered in a sweet, sticky, and garlicky sauce, and only takes 20 minutes to make.

Salmon is one of my go-to proteins, especially during the week. It’s so healthy, but it can also feel so fancy with just a few minutes of work. This honey glazed salmon recipe is everything I love about this nutritious fish. The meat is moist and tender, the sauce is bursting with flavor, and the whole dish only takes 20 minutes to make.

The star of this recipe is the sauce, which is made out of honey, garlic, butter, and soy sauce. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and salty, with a nice kick from the garlic. The result is a restaurant-quality dinner that you can make at home any night of the week, in only 20 minutes. 

Why You’ll Love This Tender Honey Glazed Salmon

If you like salmon then you have to try making this recipe. You’ll love it! Here’s why. 

• Healthy. Salmon is one of the healthiest foods that you can put in your body. And this whole recipe is quite healthy. There’s a little butter and honey, but not enough to keep this salmon recipe from being healthy. It will leave your taste buds and your body feeling excellent.
• So easy. I make this recipe during the week all the time because it’s that easy. It only requires a few simple steps, and it’s done in 20 minutes. What’s not to love?
• Versatile. This is a great recipe to make because the salmon is so versatile. It can be a main entree, served by itself or on a bed of rice. Or you can cut up the salmon and put it in wraps, sandwiches, or salads. There’s no wrong way to eat this sweet and sticky salmon recipe. 

What You’ll Need

Here are all the ingredients that you’ll need to make this 20-minute salmon dinner. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page to see the exact amounts for each ingredient.

• Salted butter – You can replace the butter with olive oil for a healthier dinner.
• Garlic
• Honey
• Soy sauce – If you’re gluten-free, use tamari instead.
• Salmon fillets – You want to use fillets that are between 5 and 7 ounces.
• Sea salt
• Black pepper – Always use freshly ground pepper.
• Garlic powder

How to Make Honey Glazed Salmon

Here’s how to make this super easy fish recipe.

• Prep. Turn your oven on to 425F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
• Make the sauce. Add the butter, soy sauce, honey, and garlic to a saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk until the sauce is smooth, then cook for 3 minutes.

• Prep the fish. Place the salmon on the baking sheet, then season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
• Add the glaze. Pour the sauce over the salmon fillets.

• Bake. Put the baking sheet in the oven and bake the fish for 12 minutes.

• Finish. Remove the salmon from the oven, and spoon any extra sauce over the top of it, then serve. 

Tips for Success

Here are some of my go-to tricks and tips when I make this honey glazed salmon.

• Use pieces of fish that are the same size. It’s really important to make sure that all of your salmon fillets are similarly sized. If they’re not the same size, then they’ll take different times to cook. As a result, some of your pieces of fish will be undercooked, and some will be overcooked. 
• Fresh garlic. The garlic in this recipe really shines, so I strongly recommend using fresh garlic. Don’t buy garlic that’s already been minced or peeled, because it doesn’t have the same flavor. 
• Adjust based on the size. 12 minutes is the perfect amount of time for salmon fillets that are 5-7 ounces. But if you’re using bigger pieces of fish, you’ll need to cook the salmon a little longer. And if you’re using smaller pieces, adjust by cooking the fillets for a minute or so less. You can also adjust the cooking time based on how you like your salmon.

Serving Suggestions

My favorite way to eat honey glazed salmon is to serve it on top of some rice, such as Cilantro Lime Rice or Instant Pot Coconut Rice. I usually add a veggie-based side dish, such as Asian Cucumber Salad, Asian Kale Quinoa Salad, or Summertime Asian Quinoa Slaw.

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Salmon

Leftover honey glazed salmon fillets can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days. You can reheat by covering in aluminum foil and baking in a 350F oven for 7-8 minutes, or by microwaving on 80% power in 20-second increments. You can also eat this salmon cold. 

Can You Freeze This Recipe?

You can definitely freeze these sticky salmon filets. Just place them in an airtight container and put them in the freezer for 3 months. Defrost or thaw the salmon completely before reheating. 

More Quick and Easy Salmon Dinners

If you love salmon as much as I do, then you have to try some of these recipes. They’re quick, healthy, easy to make, and so delicious. 

• Citrus & Fennel Roasted Salmon with Herbed Quinoa
• Honey Almond Crusted Salmon
• The Best Salmon Tostadas
• Sweet Potato Salmon Cakes
• Healthy Baked Salmon Salad
• Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad
• Cinnamon & Pecan Crusted Salmon