This Honey Chipotle Salmon is sweet, savory, and just spicy enough to have a little kick. The flavorful glaze makes it delicious on its own or topped with sliced avocado, cilantro-lime cream, crunchy slaw, fresh cilantro, or green onions. Quick and easy to prepare, this salmon recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and can easily work as a crowd-pleasing option when hosting.
This salmon recipe was inspired by my salmon with peach salsa. It has a similar smoky flavor profile. However, unlike my peach salsa salmon, which requires fresh peaches, this recipe can be enjoyed year-round with no fresh fruit needed! Ready in about 30 minutes, it’s a foolproof option on busy days. I love to prep a few filets at once to keep on hand for nutritious meals for the next couple of days!
Recipe Highlights
- Minimal Prep: With simple ingredients, the only real prep work involved is preparing the honey chipotle sauce. I often keep a batch on hand, storing it in the fridge for even faster meals.
- Quick and Easy: This sheet pan salmon comes together with minimal equipment and simple steps. With easy clean-up, this recipe is perfect for nights when I’m in a time crunch. I just whisk the sauce, glaze the salmon, and let the oven do the rest. It’s a weeknight winner, and leftovers taste great the next day!
- Flavorful: The honey chipotle glaze is really the star of the show here, giving the salmon a bold, sweet, savory, smoky flavor with just a kick of heat.
- Nutritious: Salmon is an excellent source of protein and omega fatty acids.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the complete ingredient list and instructions!
- Salmon – You can use one 1-pound salmon fillet or 3 to 4 individual fillets. If using individual salmon fillets, choose pieces that are similar in thickness so they finish cooking at about the same time. If some are thinner, remove those from the oven first to prevent overcooking.
- Honey Chipotle Sauce – My homemade honey chipotle sauce comes together with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, honey (or maple syrup), avocado oil, garlic, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
Ingredient Swap: Replace one tablespoon of chopped chipotle pepper in adobo with 1 tablespoon of bottled chipotle hot sauce. (See my notes in the recipe card below for a homemade version!)
- Optional Garnishes – I like to top my salmon with fresh cilantro, flaky sea salt, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. The garnishes are optional but really elevate the flavor!
How to Make Honey Chipotle Salmon
Start by preheating the oven to 400°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then, follow the steps below!
- Prepare the honey chipotle sauce. Whisk all the ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
- Season the salmon. Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel, and place it in the center of a prepared baking sheet. Brush the honey chipotle glaze evenly over the top and sides of the fillet.
- Bake salmon. Transfer the salmon to the oven, and bake just until it flakes easily with a fork and is your preferred doneness. If using skin-on salmon, place it skin-side down on the baking sheet and leave it that way while baking. The skin also helps protect the bottom of the salmon from drying out.
Pro-Tip: Individual portions may cook a little faster, especially if they’re thin, so begin checking them around 8 minutes. A larger whole fillet may need the full 10 to 12 minutes or slightly longer if it’s particularly thick.
- Optional Broil. I like to broil my salmon for a couple of minutes after baking to achieve a caramelized effect and crispy skin. Just keep a close eye on it to prevent the honey from burning!
- Serve. Let the salmon rest for a few minutes. This keeps it tender and flaky. Then, garnish with cilantro, flaky sea salt, and lime wedges, and enjoy!
Grilling Option
In the summer, I often prepare this recipe on the grill. It enhances the smoky flavor even further!
- Place the glazed salmon skin side down on well-oiled grill grates or a sheet of heavy-duty foil.
- Grill over medium heat for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness, without flipping. Watch the glaze closely because the honey can burn over high heat!
- Rest at room temperature, and enjoy warm.
My Favorite Ways to Serve
I love to keep things simple, pairing my honey chipotle salmon with a side of quinoa, rice, or air fryer baby potatoes and a veggie option like my air fryer asparagus or easy air fryer green beans. It’s also delicious topped with sliced avocado, cilantro-lime cream, crunchy slaw, or green onions.
When I have leftovers, I like to flake the salmon and add it to almond flour tortillas or coconut flour tortillas for tacos! Or, try adding it to salads.
Common Questions
This recipe has a nice kick, but I don’t consider it spicy. For a milder glaze, use half of a chipotle pepper and reduce the adobo sauce to 1 to 2 teaspoons. For more heat, add another chipotle pepper or extra adobo sauce.
Salmon is done when it is opaque pink, flakes easily with a fork, and reaches an internal temperature of 140–145°F (as recommended by the USDA). Keep in mind that salmon will continue to cook slightly after you remove it from the oven, so you can take it out around 140°F and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Once cool, leftover salmon can be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat the salmon gently over the stovetop.
Yes, in fact, I recommend it! Baking salmon with the skin on creates a crispy exterior and prevents the fish from drying out.
More of Our Favorite
Gluten-Free Salmon Recipes
Honey Chipotle Salmon Recipe
- Total Time: 25 – 27 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten Free, Gluten-Free, Keto, Low-Carb, Pescatarian
Description
This honey chipotle salmon recipe is sweet, savory, and just spicy enough to have a little kick. Quick and easy to prepare, this salmon recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and can easily work as a crowd-pleasing option when hosting.
Ingredients
- 1 pound wild-caught salmon fillet, skin on or off or 3-4 fillets
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, finely chopped with sauce (about 1–1.5 tbsp)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil or light olive oil
- 1 small garlic clove, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Optional Garnishes
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Flaky sea salt
- Fresh lime wedges
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the chopped chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, honey, oil, garlic, lime juice, salt, and black pepper.
- Pat the salmon with a paper towel then place the salmon in the center of the prepared baking sheet. Brush the chipotle honey glaze evenly over the top and sides of the salmon or each salmon fillet. See cooking note. .
- Bake for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on whether you’re using whole fillet vs individual fillets and thickness of the salmon, or until it flakes easily with a fork and is cooked to your preferred doneness. (see note).
- Extra caramelization: Broil the salmon for 1 to 2 minutes after baking, watching it closely so the honey glaze doesn’t burn.
- Remove the salmon from the oven and let it rest for 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with optional cilantro, flaky sea salt, and lime wedges before serving.
Notes
- Storage: Refrigerate the cooked salmon and peach salsa separately in airtight containers for up to 3 days.
- Cooking Tips: Bake skin-side down. The skin helps protect the salmon from drying out. Salmon continues to cook slightly after it’s removed from the oven. You can take it out when it reaches 140°F, then let it rest for a few minutes as it comes up to the recommended 145°F.
- Chipotle substitutes: Replace 1 tablespoon chopped chipotle pepper in adobo with 1 tablespoon bottled chipotle hot sauce. For a homemade option, combine 1 teaspoon tomato paste, 1 teaspoon avocado or olive oil, ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar, and ½ teaspoon chipotle powder. If you don’t have chipotle powder, use ½ teaspoon smoked paprika plus a pinch of chili powder or cayenne.
- Adjust the heat: For a milder glaze, use half of a chipotle pepper and reduce the adobo sauce to 1 to 2 teaspoons. For more heat, add another chipotle pepper or extra adobo sauce.
- Grilling instructions: Place the glazed salmon skin-side down on well-oiled grill grates or a sheet of heavy-duty foil. Grill over medium heat for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness, without flipping. Watch the glaze closely because the honey can burn over high heat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: 30 minute meals, baked salmon, seafood
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 ounce fillet with sauce
- Calories: 210-220
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 8.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.2 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 22.6 g
- Cholesterol: 62 mg
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