Honey Lemon Salmon

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This honey Lemon Salmon is delicious and so quick to make. I’m talking on the table in 20 minutes! It’s so full of flavor, too. Tender, flaky salmon, pan-fried and covered in a sweet, sticky lemon glaze. Serve your lemon honey salmon with a hearty salad or rice side dish, and you’ve created a fast and family-friendly dinner that hits all the marks.

If you’re like most home cooks, you stay away from cooking fish at home for fear of making it too dry or getting a fishy taste. But this lemon honey salmon might be just what you need! It’s pretty much a foolproof method of cooking salmon on the stovetop with only a handful of ingredients, resulting in golden and caramelized salmon with a tender, flaky interior. 

This cooking method works with as few ingredients as salmon, salt, pepper, and olive oil. But I’ve added a sweet and tangy honey lemon sauce to make it a little more special. Still, the technique is the same and adaptable for any other sauces or seasonings you’d like. 

Salmon with honey and lemon might be the perfect weeknight dinner recipe, but it’s also impressive enough for fancy occasions. Make for your next dinner party and be prepared for recipe requests! 

Recipe At a Glance

Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop
Dietary Info: Dairy-free, can be gluten-free with tamari
Key Flavor: Buttery and sweet
Skill Level: Beginner

Summary

• Quick recipe with easy clean-up: Pan fried honey lemon salmon is fast to make, and the one-pan prep makes clean-up easy, too. 
• Foolproof pan-searing method: Pan-searing is an easy way to cook salmon quickly and perfectly, with a golden caramelized exterior and a tender, flaky interior. 
• Versatile recipe: This delicious weeknight dinner recipe is also special enough for fancy occasions.
• Healthy & nutritious: Salmon is a hearty, nutrient-dense food. It’s high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids while low in saturated fats. The lemon adds a little boost of vitamin C, too!

Ingredients to Make Honey Lemon Salmon

• Salmon: I like to use fresh, wild-caught, skinless salmon for this recipe.
• Honey: Adds sweetness and lends a sticky quality to the glaze.
• Lemon: Use the zest and the juice for the brightest, zingiest flavor.
• Soy sauce: Adds salty, umami flavor that pairs perfectly with salmon and honey-lemon flavors.
• Herbs & spices: Garlic powder, parsley, salt, and pepper.
• Olive oil: Full of healthy fats and with a subtle fruity flavor, olive oil is a great choice for pan-frying salmon.

Popular Substitutions & Additions

• Swap out the honey: If you don’t have honey on hand, pure maple syrup or agave syrup are good substitutes.
• Replace the lemon with lime: Lime is delicious with salmon! Replacing the parsley with cilantro will set off the lime flavors even more.
• Make it gluten-free: Soy sauce contains gluten, so if you’re looking for a gluten-free option, try subbing in tamari sauce or liquid aminos.

How to Make Honey Lemon Salmon

This salmon recipe couldn’t be easier to make! First, you stir together the short list of sauce ingredients in a small bowl, then prepare the salmon and sear it in your skillet. Finally, add the sauce to the skillet with the salmon and finish cooking the salmon while the sauce thickens into a sticky glaze.

Prepare the honey lemon glaze

1. Add the honey, lemon zest, lemon juice, soy sauce, and garlic to a small bowl.
2. Whisk together until combined.

How to make honey lemon salmon

1. Pat both sides of the salmon dry with a paper towel.
2. Season the salmon with salt and pepper.
3. Add the olive oil to the skillet. When hot, add the salmon.
4. Carefully flip the salmon and continue cooking.
5. Pour the glaze over the salmon.
6. Let the glaze bubble and thicken, spooning it over the salmon fillets as it thickens.

Tips for making the best honey lemon salmon

• Dry the salmon with a paper towel. There is a lot of moisture in salmon, so you want to make sure to pat it dry before cooking it.
• Make sure the pan is hot before adding the salmon. When you heat the oil in the pan, you want to make sure it’s shimmering but not smoking. I recommend heating the oil on medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes. If you hear a sizzle when the fillet hits the pan, you know it was heated well!
• Don’t crowd the pan. If the skillet is crowded with salmon, there will inherently be a lot of moisture in the pan, which could affect the sear on the salmon. To avoid that, cook in batches or use an extra large skillet so that the salmon fillets are not touching in the pan.

What to Serve With Lemon Honey Salmon

• Green Beans Almondine
• Tangy Kale Salad
• Parmesan Roasted Brussel Sprouts
• Buttery Potato Galette
• Smashed Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes

How to Store & Reheat Honey Lemon Salmon

Cooked salmon will keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, add a bit of oil to a skillet to keep the salmon from sticking, place the cooked salmon in the warm skillet, and cook until warmed through.

How Long Does Salmon Last in the Fridge?

It will last in the refrigerator for about three days.

Can I Freeze Salmon with Honey and Lemon?

Yes! Wrap your cooked salmon tightly in plastic wrap or place it in a freezer-safe container. It will last for up to three months. 

To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat the cooked salmon in a skillet. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Honey Lemon Salmon is so full of flavor and such a terrific dinner recipe, whether it’s a weeknight or a special occasion. Nobody can resist this perfectly pan-fried honey lemon salmon with its sweet-and-tangy glaze, and when served up with a simple side salad or potatoes, it’s the perfect cornerstone of a hearty and healthy meal.

More Salmon recipes:

• Salmon Burgers
• Harissa Glazed Salmon
• Panko Crusted Salmon
• Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Salmon
• Garlic Cilantro Oven Baked Salmon
• Baked Salmon with Feta
• Pan Seared Salmon
• Pesto Salmon
• Greek Salmon
• Asian Salmon Bites
• Baked Butter Salmon

If you try this feel good Honey Lemon Salmon recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!

This honey lemon salmon recipe was originally published on June 10, 2019 and has recently been updated with a new and improved glaze, step by step instructions, and new photography.