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A plate featuring perfectly cooked easy honey garlic salmon with a glossy glaze

Classic Easy Honey Garlic Salmon

This classic easy honey garlic salmon recipe delivers perfectly cooked, flaky salmon with a sweet and savory glaze. It's quick to prepare and absolutely delicious.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 fillets
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1.5 lbs Salmon Fillets skin on or off, wild-caught preferred
  • 1/4 cup Honey good quality
  • 3-4 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons Low-sodium Soy Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
  • 1-2 tablespoons Olive Oil or other high-heat oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Black Pepper to taste
Optional Garnish
  • Sesame seeds
  • Chopped fresh parsley or green onions

Equipment

  • Paper towels
  • Small bowl
  • Whisk
  • Large non-stick skillet or cast-iron pan
  • Spatula
  • Serving plates

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Pat the salmon fillets very dry with a paper towel and season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Whisk together honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil in a small bowl to create the sauce.
Cooking
  1. Heat olive oil in a large non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then place the salmon fillets skin-side down in the hot pan.
  2. Sear the salmon for 3-5 minutes on the first side until the skin is crispy and the flesh is opaque halfway up, then carefully flip the salmon.
  3. Immediately pour the honey garlic sauce over and around the salmon, continuing to cook for 2-4 minutes while spooning the sauce over it until the salmon is cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
Serving
  1. Remove from heat and let the salmon rest in the pan for a minute or two to absorb flavors, then transfer to plates.
  2. Garnish with sesame seeds and fresh herbs, if desired.

Notes

Patting the salmon dry ensures a crispy skin. Be careful not to overcook the salmon; it should be slightly pink in the center for the best texture. Spooning the sauce over the salmon during the last few minutes of cooking will help build a beautiful glaze.