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    You are here: Home » Fish and Seafood Recipe » Best Damn Honey Garlic Salmon

    Best Damn Honey Garlic Salmon

    Last Modified: March 27, 2025

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 5 reviews

    This 30-minute Honey Garlic Salmon features tender, juicy salmon fillets coated in a lucious, savory-sweet honey garlic sauce. The highlight? A perfectly caramelized honey crust that takes each bite to the next level. Simple yet impressive, this easy sheet pan dinner delivers on all fronts!

    Honey garlic salmon on a gray plate with zucchini noodles and lime wedges.

    Why You’ll Love This Honey Garlic Salmon Recipe

    When it comes to making a delicious salmon dinner, there are so many directions you can take it. From my Citrus Garlic Salmon and Honey Mustard Salmon to my Miso Salmon and Broccoli and Garlic Butter Salmon, an easy salmon recipe is always at the ready in my home.

    Now it’s time to marry two ingredients I absolutely love in any salmon recipe— honey and garlic! Bring these two together with some melted butter, and you’ve got a savory glaze that is perfect for any cut of salmon. It not only brings on the flavor but also creates a caramelized, crispy skin that contrasts beautifully with the flaky fish inside. 

    Salmon has a quick cooking time, so if you’re in need of a quick dinner with top-notch flavor, this honey garlic salmon recipe is your partner in culinary crime! But is it a crime to make a salmon this delicious? If you consider eye-rolling, lip-smacking, and plate-licking a crime, then yes!

    Laying salmon filets out on a foil-lined baking sheet for our honey garlic salmon recipe.

    ​Simple Ingredients You’ll Need

    • Salmon filets: These can be either skinless or skin-on fillets. I like to use wild salmon for its superior flavor and nutritional value.
    • Unsalted butter: Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature. This will ensure even distribution of flavor.
    • Honey: This creates an irresistibly sticky sauce that complements the salmon perfectly.
    • Spice blend: We’ll get our flavors by mixing garlic powder, kosher (or coarse salt), ground black pepper, and paprika.
    • Lemon: Topping the salmon off with lemon allows the flavor to trickle down through the salmon while it bakes. Mmm.

    Preparation

    Make sure you start with room-temperature butter. This doesn’t mean melting it—just letting it sit out until it’s malleable. Then, in a small bowl, use a spoon or spatula to mix it well with the honey and seasonings. You want a uniform mixture, so make sure to mix it thoroughly.

    Mixing honey garlic butter for the honey garlic salmon recipe.

    Place the salmon fillets, skin side down, on the foil-lined baking sheet and smother each with the butter mixture. Then, shingle 3 lemon slices atop each filet. It’s now ready for the oven!

    Recipe for oven baked honey garlic salmon on foil getting ready to bake.

    Cooking

    Place your salmon in the oven at 450°F for about 12-16 minutes. We want the salmon to reach an internal temperature of 145°F when measured in the thickest part of the filet with a meat thermometer.

    Once the salmon reaches the desired internal temperature, it’s ready to come out of the oven.

    Pro Tip

    While food safety guidelines recommend cooking salmon to 145°F, many chefs prefer it medium rare (125°F) or medium (135°F) for better texture and flavor. Using fresh, high-quality fish is crucial when cooking it less than well done. Personally, I prefer mine at 145°F, so I monitor the internal temperature closely.

    Taking our honey garlic salmon out of the oven.

    Serving

    Once removed from the oven, allow the salmon to rest for a few minutes before eating. The rest period allows the juices to redistribute throughout the fish, improving the texture and ensuring the heat is evenly distributed. A short rest of about 2-3 minutes is sufficient.

    After the salmon is plated, garnish with fresh chopped parsley, green onions, or dill if desired. You’re now ready to dig in!

    Serving honey garlic salmon filets with zoodles and lemon slices.

    What to Pair with Honey Garlic Salmon

    This sweet and savory salmon is the star of the plate and will be complimented well with fresh, simple sides that let its rich flavors shine. These Easy Stovetop Sautéed Green Beans or Best Damn Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts would be a great way to round out the meal. 

    If you’re craving something heartier, serve it over a side of rice, like white rice, coconut rice, or cauliflower rice, to soak up every last drop of that delicious honey garlic glaze.

    Serving honey garlic salmon filets with a side of zucchini noodles.

    Storage & Reheating Honey Garlic Salmon

    Before storing, allow the salmon to cool. Once ready, wrap the leftover salmon in plastic wrap or foil, then place them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    You can reheat the salmon in a few different ways:

    • Oven: Preheat your oven to 275°F. Line a baking sheet or dish with foil, then place the salmon on top. Add a light drizzle of oil or a splash of water to keep it moist, cover tightly with foil, and heat for about 15 minutes.
    • Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. Place the salmon in the basket or on a tray (no overcrowding), then air fry for 3-4 minutes until just warmed through.
    • Microwave: For a quick fix, place the salmon on a microwave-safe plate, cover it with a damp paper towel, and heat at 50% power in 1-2 minute bursts to avoid overcooking.
    Print

    Recipe

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    Best Damn Honey Garlic Salmon


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 5 reviews

    • Author: RecipeTeacher
    • Total Time: 26 minutes
    • Yield: 2 servings
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    This honey garlic salmon recipe is coated with seasoned honey butter, topped with fresh lemon, and cooked to perfection in about 15 minutes. It’s excellent for a quick and delicious meal any night of the week!


    Ingredients

    • 2 (6 oz.) salmon filets
    • 2 tbs unsalted butter, room temperature
    • 2 tbs honey
    • 1 tsp garlic powder
    • 1 tsp kosher or coarse salt
    • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
    • ¼ tsp paprika
    • 1 lemon, cut into ⅛-inch slices

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and give it a spray with cooking spray.
    2. In a small bowl, combine softened butter, honey, garlic powder, salt, pepper and paprika. Mix well with a spoon or spatula to create a smooth texture. Place salmon filets on prepared baking sheet, skin-side down, and brush with butter mixture. Shingle 3 lemon slices onto each filet.
    3. Bake at 450°F for 12-16 minutes, until internal temperature in thickest part of the salmon registers 145°F on an instant-read thermometer.
    • Prep Time: 10 min
    • Cook Time: 16 min
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: American

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    1. Kathy Klingenberg says

      June 02, 2024 at 10:19 am

      This sauce was delicious on the grilled salmon. I have leftovers to be used on either shrimp or chicken. The recipe is super simple and takes just little time. I highly recommend this if you have access to meyer lemons.

      Reply
    2. Stan says

      March 06, 2024 at 5:09 pm

      Very good results. Used maple syrup instead of honey because it was in the fridge. Turned out perfectly!

      Reply
    3. Robin says

      December 09, 2023 at 10:17 am

      Looking forward to trying this recipe – I always cook mine to medium rare – and ask for medium rare when eating out.

      Reply
    4. Nancy says

      November 30, 2023 at 9:09 pm

      Oh wow, this is so good!!! This sauce (without lemon) would be so wonderful on pork chops too!! I cooked it to 120 degrees with my Chef Alarm.

      Reply
    5. Nancy Ravey says

      November 29, 2023 at 5:16 pm

      First time I’ve cooked and tried salmon. It was absolutely amazing ! Never knew what I was missing!

      Reply
    Jason of Recipeteacher.com

    Hi, I’m Jason and i’m here to help you make easy, delicious homemade recipes. My approach is to provide the easy-to-understand instructions, use simple ingredients, and have you make the best meals possible.

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