This Easy Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon is a weeknight dinner winner! It’s incredibly flavorful, thanks to a simple yet delicious honey-lime garlic butter sauce that coats the salmon and keeps it moist and flaky. I love how quickly this recipe comes together – it’s ready in under 30 minutes, and it requires minimal prep work. This is the perfect dish when you want a healthy, elegant, and satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

Why You’ll Love This Baked Salmon

Quick and Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.
Flaky and Moist: Baking the salmon with the honey-lime garlic butter sauce ensures it stays perfectly moist and flaky.
Flavorful: The combination of honey, lime, garlic, and butter creates a delicious sweet, savory, and tangy flavor profile.
Healthy: Salmon is a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
Elegant: This dish looks and tastes impressive, making it perfect for a special occasion or a simple weeknight dinner.

Ingredients for Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious salmon. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Salmon

Salmon fillets (Fish)

Seasoning

Salt (Seasoning)
Pepper (Spice)

Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Sauce

Unsalted butter, melted (Fat)
Garlic, minced (Aromatic)
Honey (Sweetener)
Lime juice (Acid)
Lime zest (Flavoring)

Garnish

Freshly chopped parsley
Lime wedges

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)

Variations

I love this Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon recipe as is, but here are a few variations you might want to try:

Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce.
Add Herbs: Stir in some chopped fresh dill, thyme, or chives to the sauce.
Use Different Citrus: Try using lemon or orange juice and zest instead of lime.
Maple Syrup: Substitute maple syrup for the honey for a different flavor profile.
Add Soy Sauce: Add a tablespoon of soy sauce or tamari to the sauce for an umami boost.

Drizzling the honey-lime garlic butter sauce over the Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon.

How to Make Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon

Let me show you how simple it is to make this flavorful Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon:

Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet

First, I preheat my oven to 375°F (190°C).
Then, I line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Season Salmon

I season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper.
Then I place them on the prepared baking sheet.

Make the Sauce

In a small bowl, I combine the melted butter, minced garlic, honey, lime juice, and lime zest. I whisk everything together until it’s well combined.

Drizzle Sauce Over Salmon

I drizzle the honey-lime garlic butter sauce evenly over the salmon fillets, making sure to coat them completely.

Bake

I bake the salmon in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until it flakes easily with a fork.
For a more golden top, I broil the salmon for the last 2-3 minutes, watching it very carefully to prevent burning.

Garnish and Serve

I remove the salmon from the oven and garnish it with chopped fresh parsley.
I serve it immediately with lime wedges.

Tips and Tricks for PERFECT Baked Salmon

Here are my secrets for making the best Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon:

Don’t Overcook the Salmon: Overcooked salmon is dry and tough. Cook it until it’s just cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
Use a Meat Thermometer: For perfectly cooked salmon, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should reach 145°F (63°C).
Fresh Lime Juice and Zest: Fresh lime juice and zest will give the sauce the best flavor.
Watch Carefully During Broiling: The broiler can quickly burn the salmon, so keep a close eye on it during the last few minutes of cooking.

How to Serve

This Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon is incredibly versatile. Here are a few serving suggestions:

With Roasted Vegetables: Serve it with roasted asparagus, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts.
Over Rice or Quinoa: It’s delicious served over a bed of rice or quinoa.
Salad: Flake the cooked salmon and add it to a salad for a healthy and flavorful meal.
Tacos: Use the flaked salmon as a filling for tacos.

Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon served with roasted vegetables.

Make Ahead and Storage

You can prepare the honey-lime garlic butter sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. Leftover baked salmon can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave.

FAQs about Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon

Can I use frozen salmon?
- Yes, you can use frozen salmon. Thaw it completely in the refrigerator before cooking.
Can I grill the salmon instead of baking it?
- Absolutely! This recipe is also delicious on the grill. Grill the salmon over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes per side.
What if I don’t have fresh parsley?
- You can use dried parsley, but fresh parsley has a brighter flavor.

Enjoy this Easy Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon! It’s a flavorful, healthy, and elegant meal that’s perfect for any occasion.

Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon

Author: Caoimhe Byrne
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 18
Total Time: 28
Yield: 4 1x
Category: Main Course, Seafood
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Description

This Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon is a quick, easy, and flavorful dish. The salmon is baked to perfection with a sweet and tangy sauce that’s sure to impress!

Ingredients

Scale

4 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon lime juice
Zest of 1 lime
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
Lime wedges, for serving

Instructions

Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Season Salmon: Season the salmon fillets with salt and black pepper to taste. Place the seasoned fillets on the prepared baking sheet.
Make Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, honey, lime juice, and lime zest. Whisk until well combined.
Coat Salmon: Drizzle the honey-lime garlic butter sauce evenly over the salmon fillets, making sure to coat them well.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. For a more golden-brown top, you can broil the salmon for the last 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Garnish and Serve: Remove the salmon from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve immediately with lime wedges for squeezing over the top.

Notes

Salmon: You can use skin-on or skinless salmon fillets for this recipe. If using skin-on fillets, place them skin-side down on the baking sheet.
Doneness: The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your salmon fillets. Use a fork to check for doneness – the salmon should flake easily and be opaque in the center.
Serving Suggestions: This salmon is delicious served with rice, quinoa, roasted vegetables, or a salad.
Storage: Leftover baked salmon can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Easy Honey-Lime Garlic Butter Baked Salmon (Flaky & Flavorful!)