Honey Garlic Salmon in 20 Minutes: Weeknight Dinner, Weekend Flavor
Twenty minutes, one pan, and a sauce that makes it taste like you tried way harder than you did. This honey garlic salmon is the weeknight dinner that punches above its weight every single time.
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each), skin-on
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Step 1 — Pat the salmon dry. Use paper towels to remove as much surface moisture as possible. This is the step most people skip and it’s the reason their salmon doesn’t sear properly. Dry fish = crispy skin. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
Step 2 — Make the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Set aside.
Step 3 — Sear skin-side up first. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add salmon flesh-side down. Don’t touch it for 4 minutes. You’ll see the color change halfway up the fillet — that’s your cue.
Step 4 — Flip and add the sauce. Flip the salmon skin-side down. Add butter to the pan — let it melt and foam. Pour the honey garlic sauce over each fillet. Use a spoon to baste constantly for 3-4 minutes until the sauce reduces and caramelizes slightly.
Step 5 — Rest and serve. Remove from heat, let rest 2 minutes. Spoon remaining pan sauce over the top before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve over rice or alongside roasted vegetables.
Tips from Camille
The sauce will burn quickly if your heat is too high once the honey hits the pan — lower it to medium when you add the sauce. Room temperature salmon sears more evenly than cold salmon straight from the fridge. Give it 15 minutes on the counter before cooking.