This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Honey Garlic Salmon in foil is the ultimate easy dinner for busy weeknights or relaxed weekends. Wrapped in foil and baked to perfection, it’s the kind of no-fuss meal that delivers big on flavor with hardly any cleanup.
A rich, golden honey garlic butter sauce made with just four simple ingredients coats the salmon at it bakes, locking in moisture and flavor. Finish it under the broiler (or throw it on the grill) for those irresistible crispy, caramelized edges. This hands down the BEST Honey Garlic Salmon recipe you’ll ever make!
What Makes This Honey Garlic Salmon Work
The beauty of this Honey Garlic Salmon is in its simplicity. With just a few everyday ingredients—honey, garlic, butter, and soy sauce—you get a glossy, flavor-packed glaze that seeps into every flakey bite of salmon. It’s sweet, savory, garlicky, and absolutely addictive.
Cooking the salmon in foil helps lock in all the buttery goodness while keeping the fish moist and tender. A quick broil at the end caramelizes the sauce, giving you that golden, crispy finish without overcooking the fish. Minimal prep, maximum payoff—this is a keeper.
What Goes Into This Honey Garlic Salmon
This recipe keeps it simple with fresh, flavorful ingredients that come together to create a sticky, buttery glaze you’ll want to drizzle on everything. Here’s what you’ll need to make this irresistible Honey Garlic Salmon:
- Butter: The rich base of the sauce that melts into the salmon, keeping it tender and full of flavor.
- Honey: Adds a touch of natural sweetness and helps caramelize the salmon for that golden finish.
- Garlic: Crushed cloves infuse the sauce with bold, savory depth that balances the sweetness perfectly.
- Salmon: A whole side of salmon is ideal—it cooks evenly in foil and soaks up every drop of that honey garlic butter.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements
How To Make Honey Garlic Salmon
- Preheat the Oven and Prepare Foil: Position a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with a large piece of foil, making sure it’s long enough to fold over and seal the salmon completely.
- Make the Honey Garlic Sauce: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low-medium heat. Add the honey, crushed garlic, and lemon juice, then whisk until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Place Salmon on Tray: Lay the salmon fillet skin-side down on the prepared foil-lined tray. Pat it dry with a paper towel to help the sauce stick better.
- Add the Sauce: Pour the honey garlic butter sauce evenly over the salmon. Use a spoon or pastry brush to spread it out so the entire surface is coated.
- Season Generously: Sprinkle the salmon with salt and a pinch of cracked pepper. Add lemon slices on top or around the fish for extra flavor as it bakes.
- Wrap it up: Fold the sides of the foil over the salmon, sealing the edges to create a closed packet. This helps trap moisture and keeps the butter from leaking.
- Bake the Salmon: Place the tray in the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon and your desired doneness.
- Broil and Serve: Carefully open the foil (watch for steam) and broil the salmon for 2 to 3 minutes to caramelize the top. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately with extra lemon slices.
This Honey Garlic Salmon pairs beautifully with simple sides that soak up the extra sauce and let the fish shine. Fluffy mashed potatoes makes a perfect companion, giving you something to spoon that buttery glaze over.
For something green, go with garlic green beans or roasted asparagus for a crisp, fresh contrast. And if you’re after a lighter option, a lemony arugula salad rounds things out with brightness and bite. Whatever you choose, keep it simple—the salmon is the start here.
And if you’re looking for something fresh and zesty on the side, try my Fresh Fish Ceviche. It’s the perfect cool, citrusy contrast to the richness of the salmon.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes, just make sure it’s fully thawed and patted dry before baking so the sauce sticks well and the fish cooks evenl
Absolutely. Just adjust the baking time to about 10–12 minutes since fillets cook faster than a whole side.
Yes! Wrap the salmon in foil as directed and grill over medium heat for about 15 minutes, then open the foil to finish with a quick char.
Video
You might also like
Get a free eBook!
Subscribe to Cafe Delites FOR FREE and receive recipes straight into your inbox!
Honey Garlic Butter Salmon In Foil
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/3 cup honey
- 4 cloves garlic large, crushed
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed, juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 2 1/2 pound side of salmon
- 1 pinch salt to taste
- 1 pinch cracked pepper to taste – optional
- 4-5 lemon slices to serve
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and position a rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with a large sheet of foil, making sure it’s long enough to wrap and seal the salmon fully.
- In a small saucepan over low-medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the honey, crushed garlic, and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth and fully combined, then remove from heat.
- Place the salmon fillet skin-side down on the foil-lined tray. Pat it dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture and help the sauce adhere better.
- Pour the honey garlic butter evenly over the salmon. Use a spoon or brush to spread it across the surface. Season with salt, cracked pepper, and top with lemon slices for added flavor.
- Fold the foil over the salmon and crimp the edges to seal it into a packet. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillet and your preferred doneness.
Notes
- I use two sheets of foil when wrapping my salmon to ensure it completely wraps around the width of the fillet.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Omg I am sooo glad I found this recipe. I’m starting my meal preps again and was in need of new ways to make salmon.. Made this tonightneith asparagus in individual pouches and I’m in love! Broiling them after baking gives it nice color also.
Karina, I made this recipe for dinner tonight and it was delicious. Thank you for posting it.
I’was going to Grill salmon for Christmas dinner, but my husband now wants me to make your Honey Garlic Butter Salmon for dinner.
We are having 14 people for dinner. Would it be alright to make the sauce, put the fish in the foil, add the sauce, close the foil for baking, and then wait an hour or two to bake it?
Thank you,
Karen
Hi Karen! I’m so glad you liked it! Yes that’s absolutely fine. The sauce will marinade into the salmon and you’ll have a great flavour! Have a wonderful Christmas!
Excellent recipe! Simple and delicious. Thank you for sharing.
Just made this with Wild Sockeye Salmon !! It turned out GREAT! Thank you!
Cooked this tonight exactly as printed though cut recipe in half as there’s just two of us. It was easy to make, all ingredients were in my cupboard except salmon. It was absolutely great! Thx so much!
This is an awesome recipe! I just loved it. It’s not too sweet or two lemony, the lemon and honey blend perfectly to create an amazing taste. Thanks for sharing this one! I’m a new fan of your website so I will be trying more recipes!
I want to make thjs for dinner tonight but don’t know how long to bake, what temperature and how long to broil
Hi Linda. Please see the recipe box within the post. All ingredients and instructions are located there.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I served it with Mexican corn (includes broccoli) and white rice. I made some minor adjustments: I topped the salmon with scallions, in the absence of parsley; I also added a dash of Ol’ Bay seasoning (I’m a Southern lady) and a hint of Hungarian paprika. It was the best (and prettiest) salmon dish I have ever prepared! My husband and I loved it!
Karina, I wanted to say thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I am a pescatarian and thus prepare and eat a lot of fish. This was an exciting new way to cook salmon and it is now one of our favorites, my husband and also a friends absolute favorite! It is amazing how easy this recipe comes together from start to finish. I had my friends little 8yo helping me and as a extremely picky eater, she cleaned her plate! That is by far the biggest compliment to how amazing this recipe tastes! Thank you again, and I will be looking into some more of your recipes to try!
That’s so AWESOME Karen! I’m so SO happy to this!! It is a huge compliment when kids like something they may not have tried before. Wow! You’ve made my day Karen, thank you so much for sharing this with me! Enjoy your week!
Excellent and easy! Look forward to trying the sauce with pork or chicken. Also like the suggestion of paprika (smoked). Thank you! Served with refried rice and asparagus.
So I followed your recipe exactly to the last detail and not only are your instructions easy to follow, this is by far the best salmon I’ve ever had! Ive been a subscriber for a year now and had to let you know that I look forward to receiving your recipes to my email! We get excited to open them and see what’s on the menu this week. I’m making your chicken and rice next and your fudgy brownies! Can’t wait! Thank you all the way from Chicago!