honey glazed salmon

This honey glazed salmon is the kind of lunch or dinner I make when I want something quick, delicious and satisfying without doing too much. The salmon is cooked in the air fryer until soft and flaky, then finished with a sticky honey glaze that’s sweet, savoury, garlicky and just a little tangy. It’s lovely with rice, noodles, vegetables or a simple salad, and it comes together quickly enough for a weeknight dinner.

why you’’ll love this honey glazed salmon recipe

• it’s really great as a quick and easy weeknight dinner or lunch – the salmon cooks fast in the air fryer, so this is really good for busy days.

• the glaze is sticky and glossy – the honey gives the salmon a sweet, caramelised coating.

• it uses simple ingredients – this recipe is made with salmon, honey, garlic, soy sauce and a few other classic pantry ingredients you probably have at home.

• it works with lots of different sides – you can serve this salmon with rice, noodles, roasted vegetables or a simple salad.

• it feels a little bit more special without needing a complicated method or lots of washing up.

what this honey glazed salmon tastes like

this salmon is sweet, savoury and garlicky, with a sticky glaze that coats the top of the fish.

The honey gives the glaze sweetness and shine, the soy sauce adds saltiness, the garlic makes it more savoury, and a little vinegar helps balance everything so it doesn’t taste too sweet.

the chilli sauce and chilli flakes add a nice warmth too. I love serving this salmon with rice because the extra glaze is so good spooned over the top.

honey glazed salmon ingredients

• salmon – cut the salmon into cubes that are similar in size so they cook evenly. Skin-on or skinless salmon both work! i decided to remove the skin, but it’s completely up to you.

• spices and seasonings – i start off by marinating the salmon in a mix of spices and seasonings, like sALT, PAPRIKA, GARLIC POWDER, RED CHIlLI FLAKES and black pepper. i also use some of these in the honey glaze.

• soy sauce – soy sauce balances the sweetness of the honey and adds savoury flavour. I usually use light soy sauce in both the marinade and the glaze.

• vinegar or lemon juice – a little acidity keeps the glaze from tasting too sweet. i used white vinegar in both the marinade and the glaze, but you can also use lemon juice instead.

• chilli sauce or hot sauce – i love to add a little bit of chilli sauce to the marinade and the glaze to give the salmon a little heat.

• oil – i like to add a small amount of a neutral oil to the salmon marinade before cooking it in the air fryer. you can add some extra oil spray before cooking as well if you like.

• butter – butter makes the glaze a little richer and helps the garlic cook gently. You can use salted or unsalted butter, but adjust the extra salt depending on which one you use. i prefer to use salted.

• garlic – fresh garlic gives the glaze the best flavour. I like using fresh minced or grated garlic along with garlic powder for extra garlic flavour.

• honey – honey gives the glaze its sweetness and helps it turn sticky and glossy. Because honey can burn if it cooks for too long, the glaze goes in near the end. i usually like to remove the pan from the heat at the end and then add the honey.

• sesame oil – this is optional, and i didn’t add it, but you can add a small amount of sesame oil to the glaze at the end for a toasted, nutty flavour. A little goes a long way.

• spring onion or green onion – to garnish the finished honey glazed salmon bowl before serving.

tools:

• mixing bowl – for the salmon marinade

• air fryer – you’ll need an air fryer to make the salmon

• pan – for making the honey glaze

step by step instructions

for full measurements, keep scrolling down to the recipe below.

step one: pat the salmon dry, and then cut into equal-sized cubes. patting the salmon dry helps the seasoning stick.

step two: in a large bowl, add the salmon cubes, and then add all of the seasonings: garlic powder, black pepper, red chilli flakes, paprika and salt. then, add white vinegar, hot sauce, light soy sauce and oil and mix all of this into the salmon pieces until completely coated.

step three: preheat the air fryer. spray the air fryer basket with oil or line the air fryer basket. place the salmon pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between each piece. don’t overcrowd – work in batches if needed.

step four: air fry the salmon until it is cooked through or for about 10 minutes, making sure to switch sides halfway through.

step five: while the salmon cooks, make the honey glaze. melt the butter in a small pan over medium heat, and add the garlic and cook gently until it smells good and turns lightly golden.

step six: add the seasonings – the garlic powder, black pepper and paprika and mix them in. then, add the light soy sauce, hot sauce, vinegar and sesame oil (if using) and mix all of this until combined.

step seven: remove the pan from the heat and add the honey. mix the honey into the sauce until combined and smooth.

step eight: add the cooked salmon to the honey glaze and mix it into the sauce until coated.

step nine (optional): if you want the glaze to be thicker, mix water and cornstarch to make a cornstarch slurry and add this to the pan. mix it in and let the sauce cook over low-medium heat until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.

step ten: serve the honey glazed salmon warm with extra glaze spooned over the top. I like finishing it chopped spring onions or green onions and rice on the side, as well as some extra vegetables.

step eleven: let’s eat!

tips for the best honey glazed salmon

• cut the salmon into roughly equal-sized pieces so they cook evenly in the air fryer . make sure you don’t cut your salmon into cubes that are too thick or big, as thick/big pieces of salmon will take longer to cook.

• adjust any spices and seasonings to your taste – i tried to keep the spices in the salmon marinade and glaze pretty balanced, but if you’RE WORRIED that this might be TOO SPICY for you (or if you’D prefer it to be spicier), I WOULD recommend adjusting some of the seasonings (like the red chilli flakes or the hot sauce).

• don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. cook the salmon in batches if needed to ensure that the salmon cooks evenly. you want to make sure to leave space around each piece of salmon so the hot air can circulate properly.

• if you’d like a sweeter honey glaze, you can add more honey. or if the sauce is too sweet for you, feel free to reduce the amount of honey.

• be sure not to overcook the salmon as it can dry out quickly, especially if the pieces are small. The safest way to check is with a food thermometer. FoodSafety.gov lists fish, including salmon, at 145°F / 63°C, or cooked until the flesh is no longer translucent and separates easily with a fork.

troubleshooting

1. why is my salmon dry?

   – the salmon was likely cooked for too long, or the salmon pieces were quite thin. Check the salmon early and remember that it can continue cooking slightly after it comes out of the air fryer.

2. why is my glaze too runny?

   – the glaze may need a little longer to thicken, or there may be too much liquid in it. You can simmer it for another minute or two, or use a small amount of cornstarch slurry if you want it thicker.

3. why is my glaze too thick ?

   – you can add a small splash of water and stir it through the sauce until it loosens. Honey glazes thicken as they cool, so i’d recommend keeping it slightly looser than you think you need.

4. why did my salmon stick to the air fryer basket ?

   – the basket may not have been lightly oiled. be sure to lightly oil the basket or use air fryer-safe parchment before cooking the salmon in the air fryer.

what to serve with honey glaze salmon

this salmon is lovely with:

• steamed rice

• egg fried rice

• noodles

• cucumber salad

• roasted broccoli

• green beans

• air fryer potatoes

• avocado salad

• edamame

• stir-fried vegetables

• a simple side salad

if I’m making this into a salmon bowl, I like serving the salmon over rice with cucumber or carrots, spring onions, sesame seeds, avocado and extra glaze spooned over everything.

storage and reheating

store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

reheat gently in the air fryer at a lower temperature, or in the microwave in short bursts. try not to overheat it because salmon can dry out quickly.

if you have extra glaze, store it separately and spoon it over the salmon after reheating.

variations

• make it spicy: you can add extra chilli flakes and chilli sauce to the marinade and the glaze. or, add something like sriracha, gochujang, chilli crisp or chilli oil to the glaze.

• make it more garlicky: add an extra clove of garlic to the glaze, or add minced garlic to the marinade along with the garlic powder.

• make it more tangy: add extra vinegar or a squeeze of lemon juice to the glaze.

• make it a salmon rice bowl: serve the salmon over rice with cucumber, avocado, edamame, spring onions or green onion and extra glaze.

frequently asked questions

can i use frozen salmon?

• yes, but thaw it fully first and pat it very dry before cooking. If the salmon is too wet, the glaze will not stick as well.

can i make this without soy sauce?

• i have not personally tried this without soy sauce, but you can leave out the soy sauce adjust the glaze and marinade to your taste.

can i make the salmon and the honey glaze ahead of time?

• yes, You can mix the glaze ingredients ahead of time and store them in the fridge until needed. heat gently, and If it’s too thick, loosen it with a small splash of water. you can also marinate the salmon pieces ahead of time, and then just cook in the air fryer when needed.

can i make this honey glazed salmon without an air fryer?

• Yes, but the timings and method will change. You can cook the salmon in a pan or oven instead. if making the salmon in the oven, i’d recommend cooking at 400°F / 200°C until the salmon is cooked through.

can i use maple syrup instead of honey?

• you can, but the flavour and texture will be slightly different. Honey gives a thicker, stickier glaze, while maple syrup is a little looser and more caramel-like.

recipe