Hot Honey Salmon

We’re big fans of seafood in our house and salmon is one favorite that’s always met with enthusiasm at the dinner table! There are so many ways to cook salmon, but this hot honey salmon is probably the one I make the most.

If you have fish-lovers in your house, too, they are bound to love this sweet and spicy salmon. And if you have family members who are on the fence when it comes to fish? This dish might just sway them over to team salmon!

What Makes This Hot Honey Salmon Special? 

There are a few things that set this salmon apart from other hot honey salmon recipes. 

• It Uses Actual Hot Honey – Instead of incorporating honey along with other spicy ingredients, this recipe uses hot honey. You can make it yourself, or buy one of the many available brands at the grocery store. 
• Super Simple – This meal is so easy to make it’s equally good as an easy weeknight meal or a weekend meal that feels upscale.
• Full of Flavor – With both sweet and spicy ingredients, this salmon has layers of flavor. 

Ingredients

The hot honey salmon itself requires only a handful of simple ingredients, but I’ve also included the ingredients for a simple salad that pairs perfectly with it.

Hot Honey Salmon:

• Salmon – Make sure to find the freshest raw salmon in your grocery store’s seafood section. You can purchase the filets individually or slice up a larger piece. 
• Dijon Mustard – Dijon gives the salmon an earthy and tangy flavor. 
• Garlic – Fresh garlic is absolutely the best to use, but you can use garlic powder if you don’t have fresh cloves in your fridge.
• Shallot – Be sure to finely and uniformly mince the shallot so that it’s evenly dispersed in the marinade.
• Lemon Juice – I prefer to freshly juice lemon and that makes the most sense since you need the zest, too. But you can use store-bought lemon juice if needed.
• Lemon Zest – Be sure to zest the lemon before you squeeze the juice out — it’s easier that way. Also, avoid getting any of the pith (the white part) into the bowl when you zest — that part will make the zest bitter.
• Coarse Kosher Salt – This is the easiest salt to use, but if you have another type of salt, you can use it instead.
• Ground Black Pepper – Black pepper adds a gentle heat to the salmon and balances out the ingredients.
• Smoked Paprika – I love the smoky flavor that smoked paprika imparts but you can use traditional sweet paprika if you prefer.
• Hot Honey – I like to make my own homemade hot honey but you can also pick up your favorite brand at the grocery store. Use the rest of it to make Hot Honey Chex Mix.

For Serving:

Serve over rice or make it into a delicious salad using these ingredients.

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil – I always use the highest quality oil that I have on hand since there are so few ingredients in this simple salad dressing.
• Red Wine Vinegar – Red wine vinegar imparts acidity into the dressing, giving it balance.
• Dried Italian Seasoning – This simple addition to the dressing gives the dressing herbaceousness.
• Mixed Green Lettuces – Choose whichever greens you like to use for a salad. I like to incorporate arugula to give it a peppery flair.
• Goat Cheese Crumbles – The creaminess of the goat cheese perfectly complements the spiciness of the hot honey. 
• Grape Tomatoes – I like to use grape tomatoes because they tend to be reliably fresh throughout most seasons but feel free to use any variety that you like.
• Fresh Lemon – Quarter the lemon so that you have wedges to squeeze over the salad. 
• Flaky Sea Salt And Freshly Ground Pepper – Salt and pepper balance out the whole salad.

How to Make Hot Honey Salmon

This recipe is so easy, it’ll be done in a flash! 

Hot honey salmon: 

1. Add salmon to baking sheet. Place the filets onto a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 
2. Make topping. Add the mustard, garlic, shallots, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and paprika to a small bowl. Stir to combine.
3. Add to salmon and bake. Using a spoon or brush cover the salmon filets with the mustard mixture. Bake the salmon for the recommended time.
4. Remove from oven and drizzle with honey. Once the filets have reached the desired doneness, remove them from the oven. Allow the salmon to rest briefly before drizzling with hot honey. 
5. Serve. Serve the salmon immediately or allow it to come to room temperature before storing. 

For serving, optional:

1. Make dressing. To prepare the dressing, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Italian seasoning in a small bowl and stir to combine. 
2. Top lettuce with cheese and tomatoes. Place the lettuce on plates or in bowls. Sprinkle goat cheese over the top of the lettuce and add grape tomatoes. 
3. Top with dressing and lemon. Pour the dressing over the salads. Add a pinch of sea salt and pepper and squeeze the lemon juice over the salad. 
4. Add salmon and serve. Place a salmon filet over each salad and serve.

What to Serve With Hot Honey Salmon

While I do love this hot honey salmon over a simple side salad, it’s also delicious swapped into a salmon poke bowl or served over ginger rice.

It’s also perfect for pairing with so many different soups and stews or alongside veggies like broccolini, spicy honey vegetable kabobs, air fryer diced potatoes or cauliflower fried rice.    

Variations 

Salmon is such a great canvas for creativity. There are lots of ways to change up this simple recipe. 

• Citrus – Replace lemon juice and zest with orange or lime juice and zest for a different citrusy flavor.
• Maple Glaze – Substitute hot honey with a spicy maple syrup glaze for a unique sweet and savory combination.
• Soy Ginger Marinade – Add soy sauce and fresh ginger for an Asian-inspired sauce.
• Cajun Spice – Swap smoked paprika for a Cajun spice blend to add a bit of heat and depth of flavor.
• Herbs – Add chopped fresh herbs such as thyme, rosemary, or dill to the marinade for an herbal twist.
• Fruity Salsa – Top the cooked salmon with a mango salsa made with diced mango, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice.

Storage and Freezing

For the best results, be sure to store the salmon and the salad separately. This will keep the greens from becoming soggy. 

You can season the salmon ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator overnight before baking. 

How to Store Hot Honey

Store leftover hot honey salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Can You Freeze Hot Honey?

You can also freeze this hot honey salmon in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.

Common Questions About Hot Honey Salmon

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