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If you enjoy sweet and savory flaky salmon that is perfectly tender, then you will love this easy Honey Glazed Salmon recipe that is pan-seared on the stovetop. Made with a sticky honey glaze, and olive oil, this salmon recipe is delicious and perfect with rice and veggies!
You may also like this BBQ salmon recipe or this Creamy Tuscan Salmon.
Ready in about 30 minutes or less for an easy dinner, this pan-seared Honey Glazed Salmon is a simple recipe that is family-friendly, low-carb, gluten-free, and yummy.
Sweet honey glazed over the salmon fillets creates flavors that are satisfying, bold, and healthy. Salmon is rich in healthy protein and fats that are great for the body and will keep the hunger aside for a few hours.
This easy and healthy salmon recipe is perfect for meal prep whenever you are wanting to stick to a healthier diet and lifestyle at home for lunch or dinner. Simply prepare a batch of quinoa, cauliflower rice, or fluffy white rice to serve alongside this salmon with lime and honey glaze.
Why you will love this recipe
- Simple and Ready in Minutes: Prepare this honey-glazed salmon whenever you are short on time or just want something quick and easy. You will have dinner or lunch ready in no more than 30 minutes with this glazed salmon recipe!
- Meal Prep Friendly: Salmon is super easy to prepare for meal prep and will cover your lunch and dinner needs for a few days. There are so many different ways to serve the salmon, too, so get creative.
- Low-Carb and Healthy: This glazed salmon is made with fresh real ingredients and fish that is rich in lean protein, omega-3s, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and low in carbs. Salmon is great to have for lunch or dinner if you’re trying to eat healthier!
- Easy to Customize: Switch things up with different proteins and ingredients. You can also prepare this salmon in different ways other than the stovetop such as baking in the oven with foil and grilling.
Ingredients you will need
To make this healthy honey-glazed salmon recipe, you will need the following ingredients. Full measurements will be listed further down below.
- Olive Oil: High-quality olive oil is a great healthy oil for this salmon recipe and provides aromatic flavors.
- Salmon: I use salmon fillets that are between four to six ounces because they are perfect in size and cook well. If you’re using bigger fillets, then you may have to adjust the cooking time.
- Salt and Pepper: Simple Kosher sea salt and black pepper give this tender lime salmon the best flavors.
- Honey: Fresh local honey is a great natural sweetener that allows the glaze to be irresistible and sticky-sweet.
- Lemon: You will need one whole lime, both the zest and juice. Get more lime if you plan to serve the salmon with them!
- For Serving: Fresh cilantro with lime wedges and green onions are optional but highly recommended for this lime glazed salmon.
How to make this honey lemon glazed salmon
- Season the salmon: First, heat some oil in a large skillet over high heat. I like to use a large skillet so the salmon fillets have plenty of room to cook and get evenly browned.
- Cook: Season the salmon with salt and pepper on both sides so it has plenty of flavor while the oil gets warm. I like to pat the salmon dry with a paper towel before seasoning so the flavors stick better. Place the salmon in the heated oil and cook for four minutes on each side to prevent it from overcooking.
- Make the lemon and honey glaze: Meanwhile, create the lemon juice glaze by mixing honey, lime juice and zest, salt, and pepper. Using these simple ingredients for the glaze allows you to enjoy sweet salmon but with healthy ingredients.
- Drizzle salmon with glaze: With a spoon or measuring cup, evenly pour the sweet glaze over the cooked salmon fillets making sure to coat all of the salmon. Cover all of the salmon with the glaze so you can taste the sweetness with each bite and allow the salmon to cook in the pan for one more minute.
- Serve: Remove the salmon from the heat and serve immediately with fresh cilantro, lemon wedges, and prepared rice. Refrigerate any leftovers.
Recipe Notes
- You can use either fresh or frozen salmon fillets for this recipe. If you are using frozen salmon, then be sure to allow the salmon to thaw just before preparing this honey-glazed salmon recipe.
- Cook the fish until a meat thermometer reads at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Stainless steel and cast iron pans are best for this salmon because it doesn’t stick to them while cooking. Use any kind of nonstick pan for an easier cooking experience.
- Instead of honey, you can use maple syrup or agave nectar.
- Use lime instead of lemon if you would like.
- Any kind of cooking oil will work for this lime and salmon recipe.
frequently asked questions
Salmon is very versatile when it comes to the way it gets prepared. It comes down to what your taste buds are in the mood for. You may go for salty and sour by just seasoning it with some salt, pepper, lemons, and any of your favorite seasonings like Italian or Oregano. If you prefer it more on the sweet side, then try honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar. Our honey-glazed salmon would be a great choice. Salmon can also be prepared in a creamy garlic sauce.
Any veggies will pair well with Salmon. Serve with your favorite roasted veggies. Options can be endless but our favorite vegetables are some steamed broccoli, green beans, roasted asparagus, some parmesan roasted cauliflower, or just a side of fresh garden salad!
If your salmon fillet is skinless, it doesn’t matter which side you sear first. When cooking the salmon fillet with the skin on, it is best to cook it with the skin side down first for 5-6 minutes. Once the skin is crispy, you can flip to the other side and let it cook for another 4-5 minutes.
Both are great options and create salmon that is healthy and full of tender fresh flavors.
Some of our favorite veggies to eat with salmon include green beans, kale, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, carrots, spinach, salads, and more.
Some people like to leave the skin on salmon and others like to remove it before eating. Eating the skin on the salmon is a personal preference and I personally won’t eat it.
What to serve with this seared honey salmon
Apart from rice, quinoa, and cauliflower rice, here are some of our favorite veggies to serve with this glazed salmon:
- Garlic Roasted Potatoes
- Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots
- Healthy Mashed Potatoes
- Baked Sweet Potato Wedges
- Garlic Charred Brussel Sprouts
- Baked Candied Sweet Potatoes
- Oven-Roasted Parmesan Garlic Green Beans
Recipes you may also like
- Creamy Lemon Pepper Chicken
- Roasted Chickpea and Avocado Salad
- Chicken Florentine
- Baked Tomato Feta Pasta
- Parmesan Cauliflower Taco
- Baked Teriyaki Chicken Breast
More seafood recipes
- Blackened Salmon
- Oven-Baked Salmon Meal Prep
- BBQ Salmon
- Avocado Corn Salad with Grilled Shrimp
- Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice
If you try a recipe and you like it, leave me some feedback in the comment section below, and don’t forget to rate it! I would love it if you shared it with friends and family.
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Pan-Seared Honey Glazed Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- Kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste
- 4 x 6 oz salmon fillets, skin off if desired
- Green onions, sliced, to garnish
For the sauce:
- ⅓ cup honey
- ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1-2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch
Optional
- to serve: cooked rice of choice and veggies
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season the salmon with salt and pepper on both sides. Cook until golden brown and flaky, 3-4 minutes per side. Set aside.
- To the same preheated skillet, add all the sauce ingredients and whisk well to combine.
- Cook for a couple of minutes, or until it’s thick and bubbly.
- Return the salmon to the skillet and simmer into the sauce to heat it up.
- Serve the salmon with cooked rice and garnish with green onions.
Notes
- Nutrition Facts and serving size does not include the rice.
- Consider serving the salmon with cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
- If you must, honey can be substituted with maple syrup or brown sugar,
- Use fresh l juice instead of bottled lemon juice.
- You may keep the skin of the salmon on, but skin off is preferred.
- If you keep the skin on, cook the salmon with the skin down first.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love the glaze. Can be used fir other proteins as well. Thank you for the simple, easy recipe.
Fireworks for your mouth! Had initial doubts about the sauce; but was pleasantly surprised though would reduce cooking time slightly since salmon goes back into skillet with sauce mixture & continues to be exposed to heat-otherwise it resembles spicy hot salmon candy. Used flour instead of cornstarch; didn’t have onion powder. Still turned out ok. Would omit pepper as the sauce was hot enough. Interesting combo!
THIS WAS AMAZING!!!! I am in love with this recipe. It is so EASY and tastes GOOD. Everything I need in a recipe .. easy and so delicious!!! This will be a weekly recipe. Thank you!!!!
Nice. Thanks for the feedback
Sorry; is there any lime in this recipe?
Sorry about that. Will fix now.