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Looking for an easy way to meet your protein goals and still thrill your taste buds? Say hello to Brown Butter Salmon. With only three main ingredients and about 15 minutes on the clock, you get nutty, caramel notes from browned butter, sweet garlic, and a glossy finish that tastes like a night out.
A Cafe Delites original, this brown butter honey garlic salmon starts with salmon steaks pan fried in browned butter, then kissed under the grill or broiler for about 6 minutes until golden, crispy, and caramelised. The browned butter sinks into every flake, while the honey and garlic create a rich, sticky glaze. If you have been hunting for a weeknight-easy brown butter salmon recipe, this honey brown butter salmon is the one to save.
What Makes This Recipe Work
Brown butter builds deep, nutty flavor in minutes. This Brown Butter Salmon sears in one pan, then finishes under the broiler for a golden, caramelised crust. With only three main ingredients and about 15 minutes, the method is quick, reliable, and easy to clean up.
Honey and garlic reduce into a glossy glaze that clings to the fish, giving crispy edges and a tender, flaky center. The technique works with fillets or steaks, so this brown butter honey garlic salmon fits busy weeknights yet tastes restaurant quality. If you want a brown butter salmon recipe you can count on, this honey brown butter salmon delivers every time.
What Goes Into Brown Butter Salmon
A handful of pantry staples make this Brown Butter Salmon shine. We brown the butter first, then let honey and garlic glaze the fish before a quick broil.
- Salmon Fillets: Four wild caught fillets, about 250 grams each, skin on or off. Thick enough to sear and stay juicy.
- Unsalted Butter: ¼ cup that browns to a nutty, toasty base for the sauce.
- Honey: ¼ cup for gentle sweetness that caramelises under the broiler.
- Garlic: Three cloves, minced, bloomed in the hot brown butter for mellow depth.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
How To Make Brown Butter Salmon
- Position And Preheat: Set the oven shelf about 8 inches from the heat element. Preheat to broil (grill) while you start the pan.
- Brown The Butter: Melt butter in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Swirl and cook until the foam settles and it smells nutty.
- Build The Sauce: Pour in honey to dissolve. Add garlic and sauté about 1 minute, then stir in lemon juice to balance the sweetness.
- Sear The Salmon: Add salmon to the skillet, skin side down if using skin. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, basting the tops with the pan butter.
- Season Generously: Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Keep basting as the underside turns golden and the edges start to look opaque.
- Add The Citrus: Tuck wedges around the salmon in the skillet. The heat will help them release juice and perfume the sauce.
- Broil To Finish: Transfer the skillet to the oven. Broil 5 to 6 minutes until the tops are charred at the edges and just cooked through.
- Rest And Serve: Let the salmon rest briefly. Drizzle with the brown butter sauce and serve with steamed vegetables, rice, or a crisp salad.
Swap in Crispy Broccoli Parmesan Fritters for a crunchy, cheesy bite that soaks up the honey brown butter without feeling heavy, and add Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice for a light, citrusy base that echoes the lemon on the fish and keeps the plate bright. Keep Zucchini (Zettuccine) Carbonara for silky ribbons that mirror the salmon’s rich browned butter vibes while staying lighter than pasta.
Recipe FAQ’s
Both work. Skin-on helps protect the flesh and gets crispy in the pan. If using skinless, be gentle when flipping and baste often so it stays moist.
A light-colored stainless or cast iron skillet lets you see the milk solids turn golden. Nonstick works, but watch closely so the butter does not go from brown to burnt.
Brown the butter first, then add garlic for only 20 to 30 seconds. If it darkens too quickly, pull the pan off heat, stir in honey and lemon, then return to low heat.
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Browned Butter Honey Garlic Salmon
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced*
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice or juice of half a lemon
- 4 fillets wild caught salmon – about 1/2 pound or 250 grams each skin off or on
- 1 large Lemon cut into wedges to serve
- 2 pinches salt to taste
Instructions
- Arrange oven shelf about 8-inches away from heat element in your oven. Preheat your oven to broil (or grill in Australia).
- Place butter in a cast iron skillet (or an oven-proof frying pan if you don’t have a skillet). Cook over medium heat, stirring and swirling pan occasionally for about 3 minutes, or until the foam settles; the butter begins to change in colour to golden brown and has a nutty fragrance.
- Pour in the honey and let it dissolve into the butter. Then add in the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add in the lemon juice; stir well to combine all of the flavours together.
- Add the salmon steaks to the butter in the pan; cook each fillet (skin-side down if there’s any skin) for 3-4 minutes or until golden, while basting the tops with the pan juices. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Add the lemon wedges around the salmon. Transfer the pan to your oven to broil / grill for a further 5-6 minutes, or until the tops of the salmon are nicely charred.
- To serve, drizzle with the reserved brown butter sauce. Serve with steamed vegetables; over rice or with a salad.
Notes
- Pre-heat oven to 410°F (210°C).
- Follow Steps 2-3 as above.
- At Step 4 when adding the fillets into the skillet, transfer to oven to bake for 4 minutes (depending on the size and thickness of your fillets).
- Broil (or grill) for 2 minutes to get nice charred edges.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I loved this recipe! I am not a big fan of salmon because of its strong taste but this was the best salmon I have ever had! Coooking salmon on the stove in the sauce completely masked its strong taste. Thank you so much! Looking forward to trying your other recipes.
That is awesome to hear! I am so glad that you were able to enjoy the salmon! Thanks so much for sharing!
Made this following the recipe exactly. The sauce is very good and was delicious over the mixed grain rice we had with it. One of our sources for salmon tends to be dry and that is what we used. It was moist and flavorful for perhaps the first time. The technique could be used with other sauces as well, as long as they can handle the broiler. This sure was delicious!
That is great to hear! I am so glad that it turned out for you! Thanks so much for sharing!
Best recipe for salmon family loved it!
Thanks Brianna!
Just found this recipe and I have to say that I can’t think of any other way I’ll be eating salmon. I made this tonight with a lobster tail, rice, and creamed spinach. It was by far one of the best meals I have ever eaten. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I’m so happy to hear that SHRONE! But with lobster tail?! My mouth is watering just thinking about that in this sauce! THANK YOU for that suggestion and sharing your feedback!
This recipe was awesome. It was really easy to make and it tasted good. 🙂
Thank so much Cory! So happy to hear that!
Hi,
I find this recipe on Pinterest and HAD to try it ! I tried it once, and now we eat it at least once a week ! It is so delicious, thank you for this recipe !!
This was fantastic over indirect heat on the grill. I smoked it partially then finished it off with some direct flame adding more buttery sauce often. Thanks i will be making this often.
I legit just ate he glaze with a spoon. Yummmmmm
I made this for dinner tonite. Not only did my family ???? the recipe, they sat at the dinner table and named a list of other foods this glaze can be put on ?? it was delicious!!! I didnt put it in the oven though, I just sauteed it on the stove turned the heat to low.
This was incredibly yummy!!! I made with Smart Balance dairy free butter… amazing!!!