Salmon is one of our favorite dinner recipes and for a good reason, it’s simple to prepare and has so much flavor without using too many extra ingredients. This hot honey salmon is a sheet-pan meal made with our new favorite homemade condiment, spicy honey, which adds a nice glaze and caramelization to the fish.
With just honey, jalapenos, and red chili flakes, you will want to keep a batch of this hot honey sauce in your fridge to drizzle on roasted veggies, our Italian sandwich, or even our strawberry spinach salad. This easy salmon recipe has been on repeat in our house whenever we need to serve a crowd (we made it 3 times in one week!), and we can’t wait for you to try it too.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- A fancy salmon recipe that takes no time at all. With just 10 minutes of prep time, the oven does the rest of the work for you.
- A sheet-pan main course to serve a crowd. It’s a meal that uses just one baking sheet and one saucepan to feed the whole family or a group of guests effortlessly. The 3-ingredient hot honey adds spicy and sweet flavor in every bite.
- Perfect for pairing with any side dish. We love serving this with rice and roasted broccoli, but it also compliments any side dish you’re craving.
Tip for Busy Cooks: Make a big batch of the hot honey and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. We always have a jar of it around to add rich flavor to so many recipes.
Key Ingredient Notes
For the hot honey:
- Honey – The base of the spicy honey, choose a high-quality brand for great flavor.
- Jalapeno pepper – If you prefer a mild hot honey, just remove the seeds of the pepper prior to adding.
- Red chili flakes – Adds nice heat to the sweet glaze.
For the salmon:
- Smoked paprika – Adds a smoky flavor to every bite that pairs so nicely with the sweetness of the spicy honey.
- Garlic powder – Infuses each bite with garlic flavor.
- Salmon fillet – Ask for a side of salmon from your fishmonger. This will be 2 to 3 pounds in size. You can either ask for the skin to be removed or keep the skin on for cooking.
- Broccoli – An easy vegetable to roast as a side dish around the salmon. Buy the pre-cut florets for ease if you want to save some prep time.
- Olive oil – The cooking fat for the recipe. Be sure to purchase an oil that is high in quality.
How to make hot honey salmon
1. Make the hot honey
- Combine the honey, jalapeno slices, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan.
- Cook the mixture over medium heat until small bubbles appear around the edges.
- Turn off the heat and let it steep for 5 minutes.
- Strain the honey to remove the jalapeno and pepper.
2. Cook the salmon
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with a sheet of foil, or parchment paper.
- Combine 2 teaspoons of salt, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper in a small dish.
- Place salmon fillet, skin-side down, on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle the seasoning evenly all over the salmon.
- Toss the broccoli with olive oil and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, and add it to the sheet pan around the salmon.
- Drizzle half of the hot honey over the salmon and broccoli.
- Bake for 13-18 minutes, or until the internal temperature at the thickest part of salmon reads 135°F.
- Remove from oven, cover with foil, and rest for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Serve over steamed rice with an extra drizzle of hot honey. You can also serve the salmon with salad greens.
Expert Tips:
- A side of salmon is about 2 to 3 pounds. You can choose either a skin-on, or skinless fillet. Skin acts as an insulation, preventing the fish from overcooking. Remove prior to eating if desired.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the salmon is cooked correctly. This is the best way to make sure the fish is cooked to your liking. Cook to 125ºF for medium-rare or 135ºF for medium-well/well.
- Remove the seeds of the jalapeno for a milder honey. If you want to make the honey less spicy, carefully remove the seeds of the jalapeno – this is where the heat is in the pepper!
- Frozen salmon works well too. Defrost the salmon in the fridge overnight. Pat the fish very dry with paper towels before glazing and baking.
- Swap the broccoli for another vegetable. You could also use Brussels sprouts, cauliflower florets, or green beans.
What to serve with hot honey salmon
When it comes to flavorful side dishes to serve with the salmon, we have some great options! Here are some of our favorites:
Storing Tips
- Store any leftover honey salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat the salmon carefully either in the microwave for a couple of minutes until warmed through, or in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Be careful not to over-heat the salmon, as it will make it tough and dry in texture.
- The cooked salmon also freezes well too. Wrap it in plastic wrap and store for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat according to the instructions above.
FAQs
Yes, it you want the prep time for this recipe to be even quicker, use a store-bought brand of spicy honey to glaze the fish.
Yes, but the heat level may not be as spicy as with the peppers. You can add the hot sauce to taste, and make it as mild or as spicy as desired.
Spices and herbs. We love adding paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and even chili powder depending on the flavors we’re craving.
More Delicious Salmon Recipes
Hot Honey Salmon
Ingredients
For the hot honey:
- ½ cup honey
- 1 jalapeno pepper thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
For the salmon:
- 3 teaspoons coarse kosher salt divided
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 side salmon fillet (2 to 3 pounds)
- 4 cups broccoli
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
To make the hot honey:
- In a small saucepan, combine honey, jalapeno slices, and red pepper flakes.
- Cook the mixture over medium heat until small bubbles appear around the edges.
- Turn off the heat and let it steep for 5 minutes.
- Strain the honey to remove the jalapeno and pepper.
To cook the salmon:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with a sheet of foil, or parchment paper.
- In a small dish, combine 2 teaspoons of salt, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper.
- Place salmon filet, skin-side down, on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle the seasoning evenly all over the salmon.
- Toss the broccoli with olive oil and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, and add it to the sheet pan around the salmon.
- Drizzle half of the hot honey over the salmon and broccoli.
- Bake for 13-18 minutes, or until the internal temperature at the thickest part of salmon reads 135°F.
- Remove from oven, cover with foil, and rest for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Serve over steamed rice with an extra drizzle of hot honey. You can also serve the salmon with salad greens.
Share your thoughts! If you make this please leave a review letting me know how it was!
Notes
– Reheat the salmon carefully either in the microwave for a couple of minutes until warmed through, or in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Be careful not to over-heat the salmon, as it will make it tough and dry in texture.
– The cooked salmon also freezes well too. Wrap it in plastic wrap and store for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat according to the instructions above.
Nutrition
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full nutrition disclosure.
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Reader's Reviews
Jesseca says
The hot honey adds just the right kick, and I love how easy it was to prep ahead. Definitely going into the dinner rotation. So simple but feels restaurant-level.
Brianna says
This salmon was absolutely delicious and going into my weekly dinner rotation! So much flavor and super easy to make.
Minshien says
We LOVE this recipe! I used a store bought hot honey because I had it on hand and followed your dry seasoning exactly. Came out Fabulous. Thank you thank you!
Jill says
We’ve been on a hot honey craze and found this while looking for more hot honey recipes. It did not disappoint! The flavors were just what we were looking for. My husband gave this 5 out of 5 stars. We served it with some simple white rice and steamed broccoli. Winner, winner!
chahinez says
I was never the biggest salmon lover until I tried this recipe! It turned out SOOOO delicious, plus it was incredibly easy to make 🙂
Rebecca says
This recipe is a keeper! And your photos are stunning. Mine turned out just like the recipe and we loved it. Especially my son who loves recipes with a little kick.
Tara says
Came back here to say we loved this salmon! And I loved that it was a new salmon glaze flavor, but also a sheet pan dinner with the broccoli option. Make my meal planning so much easier. Well done!