Honey Garlic Salmon

Honey Garlic Salmon is simultaneously sweet and savory and bakes to perfection in less than 30 minutes! It turns out perfect every single time and pairs fabulously with all your favorite sides for a restaurant-worthy dinner at home. 

Health Benefits of Salmon 

We do our best to include seafood in our diets a couple of times a week, and making salmon is one of our favorite ways to do just that! Not only is it super versatile and tasty, but salmon is also an extremely nutritious protein source. 

For instance, salmon is: 

• Rich in vitamin B12 and vitamin B6. 
• A good source of selenium, niacin, thiamine, and phosphorus. 
• An excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. 

How to Make Foil Packet Honey Garlic Salmon 

All you need for this recipe is a saucepan, a sheet pan, and a few minutes of prep time! Then, the oven does all the heavy lifting so you can focus on the sides and get out of the kitchen in no time. 

What You’ll Need

• Unsalted Butter – If you use salted butter, you’ll just want to adjust the amount of extra salt included. 
• Light Brown Sugar – Dark brown sugar can be substituted, but the flavor will be slightly more intense and caramel-like. 
• Soy Sauce – Liquid aminos or tamari can be substituted. 
• Garlic – Fresh, whole garlic cloves are best. 
• Ginger – Use fresh ginger, and mince it finely to add a tangy taste. 
• Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed is best, but bottled lemon juice can also be used. The acidity helps balance out the sweet and savory flavors. 
• Cornstarch – This helps thicken the sauce, making it more of a sticky glaze. 
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – Use as little or as much as you like to add a bit of heat. 
• Salmon – Use whichever type of salmon you like best. Just make sure it’s thawed if you opt for frozen varieties! 
• Salt – Adjust to taste. 

Instructions

1. Create the honey garlic sauce. Whisk the ingredients for the sauce together in a bowl. Then, let it simmer in a saucepan over medium-high heat until it reduces slightly, and set it aside to cool.
2. Prepare the salmon. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and place the salmon on top. Season with salt. Then, fold the sides of the foil around the salmon to create a packet. 
3. Bake. Brush the honey garlic glaze on top, and transfer the salmon to a preheated oven. Bake until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit and easily flakes with a fork. 
4. Broil. Place the salmon under the broiler for a few minutes to allow the sauce to caramelize. Be careful not to let it burn! 
5. Serve. Brush the remaining glaze on top, garnish with fresh cilantro, and enjoy warm.

Tips for Success

• Remove the skin – or don’t. Whether you keep or remove the skin is completely up to you — it’s completely safe to eat. In fact, salmon skin actually has the highest concentration of omega-3 fats along with vitamin D and vitamin B!
• Avoid overcooking. Every oven bakes differently, and salmon cooks quickly. So, be sure to keep a close eye on it. You’ll know salmon is fully cooked when a meat thermometer can be inserted into the thickest part and reads 145 degrees Fahrenheit, the salmon is opaque pink all the way through, and it flakes easily with a fork.

Serving Suggestions

We love to serve this honey garlic salmon recipe over a bed of steamed rice with a side of veggies like steamed broccoli, bok choy, or Brussels sprouts. However, it tastes great with pretty much everything! 

More pairing options are: 

• Crispy Smashed Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Fried Rice with Veggies
• Parmesan Oven Roasted Carrots
• No Knead Cheesy Focaccia Bread
• Cucumber Thai Salad

Make Ahead and Storage

• To Make Ahead: Prepare the honey garlic glaze up to one day in advance, and store it in the fridge. Thin it out with a splash of water before using if it thickens. 
• To Store: Allow your salmon to cool completely. Then, transfer it to an airtight container, and store it in the fridge for up to two days. 
• To Reheat: Warm your honey garlic salmon in a skillet over low heat just until it is heated through. 

More Easy Salmon Recipes

Searching for more simple meals that place salmon front and center? Check out these mouthwatering recipes!

• Baked Feta Salmon 
• Parmesan Crusted Salmon with Mango Salsa
• Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies
• Easy Salmon Burgers

Honey Garlic Salmon

5 from 2 votes

Author: Food Dolls

Servings: 8 servings

Prep: 10 minutes mins

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Prepare honey garlic salmon with a handful of ingredients and just over 30 minutes for a sweet and savory restaurant-worthy dinner!

Ingredients  

1x2x3x

• ▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ▢ ¼ cup light brown sugar
• ▢ 1/4 cup soy sauce
• ▢ 4 cloves garlic
• ▢ ½ inch fresh ginger
• ▢ 1 whole lemon juiced
• ▢ 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• ▢ 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ▢ 2 pounds salmon
• ▢ Salt to taste
• ▢ Cilantro to garnish

Instructions 

• In a small saucepan, set the heat to medium-high.
• Whisk together the butter, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, cornstarch, and crushed red pepper in the pan. Let the mixture simmer for 2-3 minutes or until it slightly reduces. Then, set it aside to cool slightly.
  ¼ cup unsalted butter, ¼ cup light brown sugar, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 4 cloves garlic, ½ inch fresh ginger, 1 whole lemon, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and place the salmon on top. Sprinkle the salmon with a pinch of salt.
  2 pounds salmon, Salt to taste
• Fold up the sides of the aluminum foil around the salmon to create a “packet.”
• Brush with half of the glaze over the salmon.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the salmon is thoroughly cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Set the oven to broil, and place the salmon under the broiler for 3-5 minutes, or until it becomes brown and caramelized. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning.
• Brush with remaining glaze. Sprinkle with cilantro.

Equipment

1 Saucepan

1 Sheet Pan

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Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 458mg | Potassium: 596mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 223IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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