Sticky Citrus Glazed Salmon

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

-2 Peter 3:9 NLT

This Sticky Citrus Glazed Salmon is the perfect way to utilize fresh citrus while it’s in season this winter. Bright orange, lemon, and lime come together with honey and garlic to create a glossy glaze that’s sweet, savory, and beautifully caramelized as it reduces in the pan.

The orange brings natural sweetness, the lemon adds brightness, and the lime gives just enough sharpness to cut through the richness of the salmon. When simmered together with honey and soy sauce, the glaze thickens into a sticky coating that clings to each piece of salmon and creates incredible flavor in every bite.

The salmon itself is pan-seared until the outside is lightly crisp while the inside stays tender and flaky. If your salmon fillet doesn’t cook through while being seared, finish by baking it off in the oven. Once the glaze reduces, the fillets are returned to the skillet and spooned generously with that glossy citrus sauce, allowing everything to finish cooking together.

Serve it over rice to soak up the extra glaze, alongside roasted vegetables, or with a crisp salad for something lighter. It’s a beautiful way to use fresh citrus and create a meal that feels comforting while still bright and balanced.

Lauren Eliza Eats

Sticky Citrus Glazed Salmon

Sticky Citrus Glazed Salmon is pan-seared salmon coated in a glossy citrus soy glaze made with fresh orange, lemon, and lime. Sweet, savory, and perfectly balanced!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Asian

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 6 fillets salmon (about 6oz each) skin removed
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp salt

Citrus Soy Glaze

• 1 orange zested and juiced
• 2 lemons zested and juiced
• 2 limed zested and juiced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 2 Tbsp honey
• 3 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch for slurry
• 1 Tbsp water for slurry

Method

 

Cook off salmon

1. Remove the skin on your salmon and portion them out to about 6 oz salmon fillets.
2. Pat salmon dry with paper towel and season both sides with salt.
3. Heat a skillet on medium to medium low heat with olive oil.
4. Once skillet is hot, sear skin side up first and leave without touching the salmon for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and not sticking to the pan.
5. Sear salmon on the other side until it is golden brown and not sticking (about 3-4 minutes).
6. If salmon is not fully cooked through, bake in a 350℉ for 6-8 minutes until it is cooked through.
7. Remove salmon and set aside.

Make sticky citrus glaze

1. In the same pan, wipe out ay excess oil with paper towel.
2. In a small bowl mix together citrus zest, juice, minced garlic, soy sauce, honey, and brown sugar.
3. Add sauce ingredients to the skillet and cook on medium low heat until simmering.
4. Let sugars dissolve in sauce and thicken up for a couple of minutes.
5. If sauce is not thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, make a cornstarch slurry by combining cornstarch and water in a small bowl.
6. Add slurry 1 tsp at a time to simmer sauce until citrus glaze is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
7. Adjust seasoning in the sauce to your taste and remove from heat.
8. Add salmon back to skillet and coat with citrus glaze.
9. Garnish with sliced green onions or sesame seeds. Serve sticky citrus glazed salmon warm over rice and broccoli, or your choice of sides.