Honey-Garlic Glazed Salmon

We could tell you everything we love about this honey-garlic salmon, but we think that the fact that this recipe was one of our top recipes of 2022 and an enduring, tried-and-true favorite of Delish readers speaks for itself. This savory-sweet salmon is quick and easy enough for weeknights (ready in under 30 minutes), but is also fancy enough for special occasions (like a last-minute Father's Day surprise). If you’re a seafood novice, don’t sweat it: Searing fish might seem intimidating, but with our top tips, you’ll be a pro in no time. Here’s everything you need to know to ace this salmon dinner: 

Top tips for cooking salmon:
— Check your salmon before cooking. The average pack of portioned supermarket salmon typically doesn't have any remaining pin bones to worry about, but it's definitely best practice to double check. To check for bones, gently run your fingers along the surface of the fish until you feel a slight prick. Using a pair of kitchen or fish tweezers, firmly grip the bone and pull in the direction that it's naturally pointing.
— Get your pan seriously hot. It's important that you get your pan hot (and we mean hot), and the bottom of your pan thoroughly coated in oil. Once the fish hits the oil, you should hear a sizzle. If you don't, your pan isn't hot enough. Tip: With a hot pan comes hot oil—gently place your fillets away from you to prevent oil splatter.
— Let your salmon be. Let the fillets cook, undisturbed, for a few minutes. That (along with the high heat) is how you get that delicious crust. After about 3 minutes, use a spatula to gently lift a corner of one fillet. If it releases easily, it's ready to go. If not, give it a little more time. Flip, cook a few more minutes to get the skin crisp and the fish cooked through, and you're good to go!

The sauce (& variations).
We make our signature honey-garlic sauce with only a few staple ingredients: honey, low-sodium soy sauce, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes for a hint of heat. This simple sauce is not only ridiculously delicious, but also completely versatile! Switch out the lemon juice for lime, amp up the heat with some sriracha, skip the red pepper flakes completely if you’re not a fan, or add in some grated ginger to make things interesting. 

Serving ideas.
This recipe is perfect with a variety of sides, including roasted asparagus, bok choy, or any of our favorite side dishes for salmon, but we especially love it with coconut rice to soak up all of the delicious honey-garlic sauce. 

Storage.
If you have any leftovers, refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Made it? Let us know how it went in the comment section below!