Honey-Garlic Salmon

This delicious honey-garlic salmon will make your whole family happy at dinner time! Anyone who loves sweet and savory flavors together will absolutely love this dish, and the best part is it’s ready in just 40 minutes on busy weeknights.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Prep Time: 15 minutes, Additional Time: 25 minutes, Total Time: 40 minutes, Serves: 4 people.

Nutrition Profile: Low-Carb, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, Omega-3, High-Protein, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Low-Calorie.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 222 Calories, 9g Fat, 5g Carbs, 29g Protein.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Reduced-sodium tamari or soy sauce: You’ll need 2 tablespoons of this salty goodness. Tamari is gluten-free if that matters to you, but regular soy sauce works great too!

Fresh lime juice: 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lime juice gives this dish its bright, zesty flavor. Trust me, fresh is so much better than bottled here!

Honey: Just 1 tablespoon adds the perfect touch of sweetness that balances out all the savory flavors beautifully.

Toasted sesame oil: 1 tablespoon brings that nutty, rich flavor that makes this marinade special. You can find this in the Asian section of most grocery stores.

Fresh garlic: 1 large clove grated up adds amazing flavor. Grating it instead of chopping helps it blend into the marinade perfectly.

Salmon fillet: 1¼ pounds of center-cut salmon works best here. Ask your fish counter to remove the skin for you – they’re happy to help!

Salt: Just ¼ teaspoon to bring out all those wonderful flavors.

Fresh cilantro: 1 tablespoon chopped adds a fresh, bright finish that looks pretty too.

How to Make Honey-Garlic Salmon

Step 1: Mix tamari, lime juice, honey, sesame oil and garlic in a small bowl. Put your salmon pieces and 3 tablespoons of this yummy mixture in a plastic bag. Save the rest of the sauce for later! Let the salmon marinate in the fridge for 20 minutes, flipping the bag a few times.

Step 2: Heat your broiler to high and move the oven rack to the upper third. Line a big baking sheet with foil and spray it with cooking spray. Take the salmon out of the bag and put it on your prepared baking sheet. Pour any leftover marinade from the bag over the fish and sprinkle with salt.

Step 3: Broil the salmon for 5 to 8 minutes until it flakes easily with a fork. Thicker pieces might need the full 8 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and serve with that reserved sauce you saved earlier.

Easy and Quick Honey-Garlic Salmon Version

Need this even faster? You can skip the marinating time completely! Just brush the salmon with the sauce mixture and broil right away. It won’t have quite as much flavor, but it’s still really tasty and saves you 20 minutes when you’re in a rush.

Serving Ideas

This salmon makes a complete meal that feels fancy but is so easy to make! Serve it over fluffy brown rice or quinoa to soak up that delicious sauce. A simple green salad with cucumber and carrots makes the perfect fresh side dish.

Storage

Store leftover salmon in the fridge for up to 3 days in a covered container. To reheat, warm it gently in a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes. You can also eat it cold on top of salads – it’s really good that way too!

Substitutions

No lime juice? Lemon juice works just as well and tastes great too. If you don’t have sesame oil, you can use olive oil instead. Maple syrup makes a nice swap for honey if you want to keep it vegan.

Pro Tips

• Check for doneness: Your salmon is perfect when it flakes easily but still looks a little pink in the center.
• Even cooking: Try to cut your salmon pieces about the same thickness so they cook evenly.
• Extra flavor: Save a little extra marinade before adding the raw salmon to drizzle on top when serving.
• Don’t overcook: Salmon cooks fast under the broiler, so keep an eye on it after 5 minutes.

FAQs

Can I use frozen salmon for this recipe?

You bet! Just make sure to thaw it completely first and pat it really dry with paper towels. Frozen salmon can have extra water, so drying it well helps the marinade stick better and prevents soggy fish.

What if I don’t have a broiler?

Sure! You can bake this at 425°F for about 12-15 minutes instead. It won’t get that nice caramelized top, but it will still taste amazing and be perfectly cooked through.

Can I make this ahead of time?

The salmon is definitely best fresh, but you can make the marinade up to 2 days ahead and keep it in the fridge. You can also marinate the salmon for up to 4 hours if you want to prep earlier in the day.

Is this recipe kid-friendly?

Most kids love the sweet honey flavor in this recipe! If your little ones don’t like cilantro, just leave it off their portions. The mild garlic and sweet-salty combo usually wins them over.

I hope you love this honey-garlic salmon as much as my family does! Let me know in the comments how it turned out for you – I always love hearing about your cooking adventures and any fun changes you made to the recipe.