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Home Salmon

Honey Garlic Salmon

By Nagi Maehashi
402 Comments
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Published10 May '17 Updated9 May '25
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This Honey Garlic Salmon is a terrific way to serve salmon that is just sooooo crazy quick and soooo crazy delicious! Head here to see all my quick and easy salmon recipes!

Honey Garlic Salmon recipe original published March 2015. Refreshed with new photos and video in 2017.

A spectacular way to serve salmon which is crazy fast, crazy easy and crazy delicious! Honey Garlic Salmon recipetineats.com

HONEY GARLIC SALMON SAUCE

This Honey Garlic Salmon recipe is all about the sauce. Just four simple pantry essentials in the right proportions – soy sauce, honey, garlic and vinegar.

I used to just whisk up the Sauce and pour it over pan seared Salmon. Then I started adding the sauce into the skillet with the salmon, and that’s even better, so I decided it was time to refresh this recipe (which I posted originally posted in March 2015!) plus I’ve added a recipe video.

When you first mix up the sauce, you won’t think it’s anything special. In fact, it’s pretty flat tasting just as it is. There are some sauces that steal the limelight in a dish – like Sweet & Sour Sauce and the Lemon Cream Sauce in this baked fish.

And then there are other sauces that are designed to compliment the dish it’s served with, rather than taking centre stage itself.

This Honey Garlic Sauce is one of those (as is Garlic Butter with salmon!) Once it’s cooked with the salmon and it caramelises…. WOWEE!!!

A spectacular way to serve salmon which is crazy fast, crazy easy and crazy delicious! Honey Garlic Salmon recipetineats.com

HOW LONG TO COOK SALMON?

3 to 4 minutes on the first side and 2 to 3 minutes on the second side for a standard fillet that’s about 2.5cm / 1″ thick at the thickest part.

This will yield a salmon that is perfectly cooked to medium rare – so the flesh flakes when you cut into it, it’s beautifully moist and coral inside rather than a pale pink / white.

Salmon is a fatty fish so it’s more forgiving if overcooked slightly. But when perfectly cooked, it’s a thing of beauty!!

A spectacular way to serve salmon which is crazy fast, crazy easy and crazy delicious! Honey Garlic Salmon recipetineats.com

This Honey Garlic Salmon recipe is a firm favourite in my household – and it’s been a reader favourite for many years now, ever since I first published it!

It’s a terrific quick and easy way to cook salmon that makes the most of all that we love about salmon – it’s juicy flesh, the salmon flavour, and how the surface caramelises beautifully when seared with the right sauce.

For a quick and easy meal, serve it with a side of steamed vegetables, like broccolini or asparagus shown in the photos. Add some bread or mashed potato for mopping up the sauce, and you’ve got a quick dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes! – Nagi xx


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A spectacular way to serve salmon which is crazy fast, crazy easy and crazy delicious! Honey Garlic Salmon recipetineats.com

WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT

Honey Garlic Salmon recipe video!

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A spectacular way to serve salmon which is crazy fast, crazy easy and crazy delicious! Honey Garlic Salmon recipetineats.com

Honey Garlic Salmon (5 Ingredients, 15 Minutes)

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 10 minutes mins
Total: 15 minutes mins
Fish, Seafood
Western
4.96 from 146 votes
Servings2
Tap or hover to scale
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Recipe video above. A terrific way to serve salmon that is just sooooo crazy quick and easy and soooo delicious!

Ingredients

Sauce

  • 4 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce (all purpose or light soy sauce)
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar (or sub with any other vinegar except balsamic)
  • 1 large garlic clove (or 2 small) , minced

Salmon

  • 2 salmon or trout fillets, skinless (6oz / 200g each)
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Optional Garnishes

  • Sesame seeds
  • Finely sliced chives or shallots/scallions
Prevent screen from sleeping

Instructions

  • Take salmon out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking. Pat salmon skin dry with a paper towel and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Whisk together the Sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Drizzle oil in a non stick fry pan and heat over medium high heat (or just under, if your stove runs hot). Place salmon in the pan, and cook the first side for 3 – 4 minutes until golden. Turn, then cook the other side for 2 – 3 minutes or until golden.
  • Pour Sauce over salmon. Cook for 1 minute or until it starts to thicken slightly. Check the side of the salmon to tell how cooked through the middle is – I like mine medium rare inside. (Note 1). If Sauce thickens too much before your salmon is cooked to your taste, just add water 1 tbsp at a time.
  • Remove onto serving plates.
  • Serve salmon drizzled with Sauce, sprinkled with sesame seeds and chives/shallots, if desired.

Recipe Notes:

1. I tell how cooked a salmon is by eye, looking at the side of the salmon. I like mine to be coral inside (rare to medium rare), not pale pink and fully cooked. You can use a thermometer if you want. Insert it into the thickest part – it should be 120F / 50C for medium rare or 130F / 55C for medium.
Remember, the salmon will keep cooking for a minute after removing from the pan.
2. Nutrition per serving, assuming all the sauce is used, which is may not be (a lot of it remains in the fry pan).

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 271gCalories: 583cal (29%)
Keywords: Honey Garlic Salmon, Quick salmon recipe
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

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402 Comments

  1. jen says

    May 12, 2015 at 3:00 am

    New follower! I was lucky enough to stumble upon you via Pinterest. I’m looking forward to trying so many of your recipes ….. I have been pinning, pinning, pinning! I especially like your Collections section and Arabian Feast entry. Keep up the great work!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      May 12, 2015 at 7:07 am

      Hi Jen! Welcome! So glad you found my site. 🙂 Thank you for reading – and happy to hear there are plenty of things here that have caught your eye!! N x

      Reply
  2. Rachel (LittleChefBigAppetite) says

    March 11, 2015 at 11:02 am

    GAH, THIS LOOKS SOOOOO GOOD! Sorry for the all caps but I had trouble containing my excitement!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 11, 2015 at 11:18 am

      He he you made me giggle!! I’m exactly the same, I write in caps when I’m excited!! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

    March 10, 2015 at 11:48 am

    5 stars
    That first photo should be in a magazine somewhere. What a lovely dish!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 10, 2015 at 4:33 pm

      Aww, thanks Maureen! BTW this is a good one for Jayce if you use a white fish because it’s so low fat. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Amanda@ChewTown says

    March 9, 2015 at 3:08 pm

    I love it when I look at your recipes and they only have a handful of ingredients and sound amazing! As we say, you don’t need 1000s of ingredients to make something lipsmaking

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 9, 2015 at 6:28 pm

      “We”, as in Italians?! 🙂 YES it is so true. It is quite the mantra for Japanese cooking too, though it’s very different to Italian in that there are things like Kaiseki and Bento boxes which have lots of varieties so while each item might be easy to make, there’s a lot of things to be made!! This is a pretty classic flavour combo though. I’m trying it for drumsticks tomorrow! 🙂

      Reply
  5. THE HUNGRY MUM says

    March 7, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    how very delish! I adore salmon and this sauce looks great.

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 7, 2015 at 8:29 pm

      Thanks so much! I love salmon too. Definitely my favourite fish! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Shinee says

    March 6, 2015 at 3:23 pm

    Nagi, I just bought a beautiful salmon yesterday. I’m glad I didn’t cook it today, I would have missed the great sauce to try. I now know what I’m gonna serve for dinner tomorrow. Can’t wait!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 6, 2015 at 8:46 pm

      I hope you do!! I really think you will enjoy this – and it’s just so crazy easy!! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Kathleen | HapaNom says

    March 6, 2015 at 8:44 am

    5 stars
    Salmon is my favorite fish, and so I’m always on the lookout for a great recipe. This one certainly fits the bill! Quick, easy, delicious – what could be better? Great flavors in the sauce (I have all of that in my pantry) all I need is the salmon! I know what I’m having for dinner next week 🙂

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 6, 2015 at 8:47 pm

      Thanks so much Kathleen! Hope you do try it! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Kevin | keviniscooking says

    March 6, 2015 at 4:13 am

    Easy + Delicious = serve it to me! Nothing wrong with that. These days I prefer it when crunched for time, especially if it’s this. 🙂

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 6, 2015 at 5:56 am

      Thanks Kevin!! Same here – on a day to day basis, I stick with the simple stuff. I have a handful of recipes like this up my sleeve! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Jessica @ Sweet Menu says

    March 5, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    Never be embarrassed when your meal looks THAT GOOD! Straight out of a magazine! Delicious!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 5, 2015 at 3:16 pm

      Awww, thanks so much Jessica! Magazine? You’re making me blush! (With absolute pride!!) 🙂

      Reply
  10. Jessica @ Sweet Menu says

    March 5, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    Never been embarrassed when your meal looks THAT GOOD! Straight out of a magazine! Delicious!

    Reply
  11. Nancy says

    March 5, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    Just made it with some of last years salmon out of the freezer, stir fry vegetables and rice. Excellent!!! Love the sauce with everything! I’ll have to remember to make extra sauce next time. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 5, 2015 at 3:17 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it Nancy!! I love the sauce with everything too!! Thank you for coming back to share your thoughts! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Nancy says

    March 5, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    Just made it with some of last years salmon out of the freezer, stir fry vegetables and rice. Excellent!!! Love the sauce with everything! I’ll have to remember to make extra sauce next time. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Rachel (Rachel's Kitchen NZ) says

    March 5, 2015 at 12:24 pm

    Fabulous as always – Nagi – just love those flavours and colours!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 5, 2015 at 3:18 pm

      Thanks so much Rachel! You’re too kind! I bet YOU have a killer “go to” salmon recipe…popping over to find out! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Dianne Harris says

    March 5, 2015 at 9:17 am

    Do your recipes upload immediately into your app? Looks wonserful

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 5, 2015 at 11:26 am

      Hi Dianne! I wish it did, but it doesn’t! I wanted to make a recipe collection app where you could collect recipes from anywhere! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Mel says

    March 5, 2015 at 9:03 am

    I always go for salmon & steamed veg mid-week: quick, easy, delicious. normally only use my flavoured butter, but your sauce sounds heavenly. Pinning!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 5, 2015 at 11:27 am

      I make salmon with flavoured butter a lot too! I actually keep herb garlic butter in my freezer all the time. It’s my “go to” flavouring! 🙂

      Reply
  16. Kim Bultman | a little lunch says

    March 5, 2015 at 7:47 am

    Oh my goodness, I’m tickled with your salmon recipe and cooking tips — thank you! This is going to be on my menu this weekend… ingredients in stock, appetite chomping at the bit. (Good things come to those who wait… 😉 Again, thanks!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 5, 2015 at 8:02 am

      Thanks so much for your enthusiasm Kim! I’m so glad you like the look of this….I would love to know what you think when you try it!! 🙂

      Reply
  17. Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says

    March 5, 2015 at 5:46 am

    5 stars
    My friend, you never cease to amaze. If this dish is half as mouth-watering as your photos, I need to make it immediately!!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 5, 2015 at 6:48 am

      Thanks Marissa!! Trust me, it tastes BETTER than the photos!! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Kim says

    March 5, 2015 at 5:36 am

    We love salmon at our house and simple and easy recipes!!! Will be trying this one! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 5, 2015 at 6:49 am

      Thanks Kim! I’d love to know what you think if you do try it! Honestly tastes like it has so many more ingredients in it! 🙂

      Reply
  19. mila furman says

    March 5, 2015 at 4:28 am

    Perfection Nagi. Easy. Beautiful and I am sure delish!

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 5, 2015 at 6:51 am

      Thanks Mila! And YES it is seriously delish!!:)

      Reply
  20. Heather (Delicious Not Gorgeous) says

    March 5, 2015 at 4:27 am

    Oooh this sounds great! Have you ever tried it with ginger and/or fish sauce? I think that could be yummy.

    Reply
    • Nagi | RecipeTin says

      March 5, 2015 at 6:53 am

      Hi Heather! Yes, most definitely! Ginger is a fab addition or sub for garlic. I found that using only fish sauce made it too fishy but if you sub 1/2 tbsp of soy with fish sauce, the sauce gets another dimension to it! 🙂

      Reply
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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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