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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 or a bowl of Cauliflower Fried Rice make perfect companions, 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.
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.
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We have done this recipe several times and the family loves it. However, I have made one simple addition.
I double the amount of sauce. I use one half on the salmon while it is being cooked. The second half I reduce to make a thick glaze. When the salmon is finished, I glaze it before serving. Really intensifies the final flavor of the salmon. Great recipe!
Really good flavor. The family loved it, even the 4 year old ate up all of her salmon!
This was SO good. Even my son who normally turns his nose up at salmon loved this recipe and has asked me to make it again. A winner dinner.
Made this for dinner tonight! Absolutely delicious. Went a little heavier than prescribed on the garlic and lemon juice 🙂 So delicious! Served it with homemade garlic mashed potatoes and spinach. Dill and parsley from the garden.
A note: don’t remove the skin, it is so healthy for you!
This recipe was freaking FANTASTICAL! I used 2 portions of the Kirkland brand frozen Atlantic salmon (7 oz each), so I cut the sauce recipe in half. When I salt and peppered the fish before baking, I sprinkled some dry parsley over the fish just for kicks. I told my husband that this tasted like something I would order in a restaurant!!! This will definitely be my go to recipe for Friday nights during the Lenten season. Thank you for such a great recipe!
This is my kind of recipe. Easy AND delicious!!! Thanks
Amazingly delicious. I had my doubts. I added some chopped fresh dill just before broiling it and left out the parsley and I truly can’t believe how incredibly easy and good it is.
I tried this recipe just now, and it came out amazing! I didn’t have any salmon though, so I used some local fish. It’s taste is quite different from salmon, but this recipe complimented it super well too! Greetings from Chile!
We had this last night for dinner and it was delicious! I used skinless filets, cause that’s what was available. I made the sauce and baked the fish the day before and then broiled it just before serving. Perfecto!
I made this for dinner tonight and it was so easy and delicious. My husband loved it. We paired it with your asparagus recipe and that was also very delicious. Thanks.