Easy Balsamic Glazed Salmon
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Published Jun 04, 2021, Updated Jul 29, 2022
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For this easy balsamic salmon you simply sear the salmon with a balsamic glaze. It’s so tasty and takes less than 20 minutes to whip up.
Despite the fact that we make salmon nearly every week, I realized that I haven’t shared a ton of our salmon recipes here on EBF. I’ve decided it’s time for that to change! To kick things off I’m sharing a healthy and super easy balsamic glazed salmon recipe.
Not only is this balsamic salmon easy to make and healthy, but it’s super flavorful, especially considering there’s only six ingredients involved, all of which you probably have in your kitchen right now. It doesn’t get much better than that!!
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you’ll need for this easy balsamic salmon recipe:
- salmon fillets ā both wild salmon and farmed salmon have benefits! While wild salmon might be considered the better choice, it is more expensive and farmed salmon is still a great option! (Source)
- olive or avocado oil ā to sautĆ© the salmon in.
- honey ā a hint of sweetness for the glaze.
- balsamic vinegar ā the balsamic vinegar caramelizes slightly and is oh so good!
- red pepper flakes ā adds more flavor than spice, promise!
- sea salt and black pepper ā to taste and bring the flavors of the dish together.
Dinner in 30 Minutes
The best part about having fish for dinner is that it cooks super fast and you can have dinner ready in less than 30 minutes. This is always a plus in my book!
Salmon Health Benefits
Salmon is a superfood in my book! It’s packed with long-chain omega-3 fatty acids which can help reduce inflammation and blood pressure. It’s a great source of protein and has a ton of key vitamins and minerals. Studies have linked salmon to protecting brain health, reducing heart disease and weight control. (Source)
It’s such a delicious fish and super simple to make. We’ve been in the habit of having salmon at least once a week and it’s been great because Olivia (our 18 month old) has been loving it too!
Can You Eat Salmon Skin?
You sure can! The skin contains the same nutrients found in salmon. Just make sure you’re eating high quality fish from a reliable source if you choose to eat the skin. Of course, it’s a personal preference and you can just slide the flesh off before eating as well!
What to Pair With this Balsamic Salmon?
This is such a great recipe because it pairs with so many different sides! I love serving it with a grain and a veggie but feel free to get creative! Here are some ideas:
- Rice: Brown rice, quinoa or cauliflower rice.
- Salad: This balsamic salmon would taste great paired with my garlicky kale salad or an easy spinach salad.
- Veggies: We love pairing salmon with roasted veggies like roasted broccoli, roasted carrots or acv roasted brussels sprouts.
More Salmon Recipes to Try:
- Blackened Salmon
- Mediterranean Salmon Salad
- Teriyaki Salmon with Broccoli
- Teriyaki Salmon Burgers
- Grilled Salmon Salad
- Superfood Salmon Salad
- Pesto Salmon Bowl
- Baked Salmon with Herbs and Lime
- Salmon Salad
- Salmon Burgers
Balsamic Glazed Salmon
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets, about 3ā4 oz each
- 1 Tablespoon olive or avocado oil
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- ā cup balsamic vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium to high heat. Season both sides of salmon with salt and pepper. Add salmon to skillet and cook 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden brown.
- While the salmon is cooking, whisk together honey, vinegar and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Add vinegar mixture to skillet and simmer until fish is fork-tender and liquid reduces and thickens, about 5 minutes. For a thicker, reduced sauce, simmer for 5 to 10 additional minutes. You may need to remove the salmon during this process, just to make sure it doesn't overcook.
- Plate salmon and serve with sides of your choice.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love the sweet/tangy combination of balsamic and honey. Looks amazing!
Awesome job, Brittany!
Congrats on your April Challenge success! Hard work pays off!!!
Oh wow! That salmon looks super delicious! š I love being able to pop fish in the oven and have it be ready so quickly. AWESOME job on the tone it up plan! š
Yes, this came at the perfect time! I have salmon defrosting at home for dinner tonight and didn’t sure how I would cook it. I have all those ingredients on hand so this is perfect. So excited to try it – thanks Brittany! š
What a fabulous recipe, this looks absolutely delicious! š
You’re right, Brittany, I do have all of those ingredients in my kitchen right now, and we eat salmon every week. I’m going to try this on Thursday!
Salmon is my life. I cannot go a DAY WITHOUT it! How crazy is that. Seriously. Every single day, salmon. So thank you for this recipe! š
Yum! I love finding new salmon recipes. Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad you are doing well with your challenge from April! Keep up the good work!
Oh, salmon! I love salmon and this recipe looks deliciously healthy. Gotta try this out. Thanks for sharing.
I love almonds…but I don’t like it when they are roasted…raw is the way I like it! š
With seafood recipes like this, I hope you do share more and more! This salmon sounds so delicious =)
I am totally going to make this for dinner tomorrow! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Thanks for this- I love a good and fast fish recipe.
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile and its a great healthy inspiration for me š
Made the salmon tonight for dinner – it was delicious!!! Thanks!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the salmon. Thanks for leaving a comment to let me know. I love hearing from readers who have made my recipes. š
This shockingly simple recipe is great! I have to remind myself sometimes when I cook that simply using 2-3 ingredients is okay and can taste REALLY good. This recipe is definitely in my cooking rotation nowāfast and delicious.
I am cooking this right now, but the problem I am having is that 3 1/3 tablespoons of liquid is not enough to simmer anything — it just disappeared in my pan when I poured it in. Smells great but just hope the fish is done because there isn’t enough liquid to keep cooking it.
Great recipe! My family loved it. Thanks!
So happy to hear that Jacinda. Thanks for coming back to comment and let me know.
The food here looks very good. How can I get recipes
emailed to me?
Thanks Tonya. Sign up for my email subscription here: https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/14733-2/
This was fantastic! My husband and I loved this salmon. Thank you for posting š
So glad that you both loved it. Thanks for coming back to let me know how it turned out.
im going to try tonight
Do you take the skin off?
I don’t remove the skin before cooking, but I typically don’t eat it. Just personal preference. š
Delicious!! I added sriracha to taste and grilled it on a cedar plank instead of a skillet. I just brushed the sauce on as it cooked. Definitely making this again!
SĆŗper easy and delicious!
So glad you liked the salmon, Diana.
I lov this recipe , it’s easy and yummy
I’m so glad you like it, Candice!
I made this because I didn’t want to go to the store and get extra ingredients and I had all of these at home. It was surprisingly tasty. I say surprisingly because I’m tricking The Boy (my SO) into eating healthy with me. He didn’t complain and say “this tastes healthy” which is sometimes a remark I get followed by him drowning whatever I made in soy sauce. But he was content with this. We did garlic kale as a side. (He made it, it was salt that looked green.)
Yay!!! So glad you and your SO enjoyed this one!!
A mommy of 3 little ones and whose husband is gone A lot for work, trying to make a quick easy healthy meal that isn’t a smoothie is tough sometimes! I love salmon and I am totally making this, like right now!! Thank You! ????
Yay!! I hope you loved the recipe, Nina!
This was my first time cooking salmon and this couldn’t have been any easier or any more delicious! I loved it!
Quick and easy utilizing pantry staples that are readily available! I seared the fish then used the balsamic glaze as a basting liquid for 3 min and tossed the filet into a 350 deg oven for 4 min with my asparagus/roasted garlic combo. Served with mushroom couscous and this was my favorite meal all week! Thanks for sharing!!
Great recipe!Switched the plain balsamic vinegar with a HONEY infused balsamic vinegar.
Awesome flavor.
tasted great, though mine dried out a bit.
Just made it! Love!!! It was delish!
Perfection
Yay, so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Sarah! Thank you for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. The ratings are super helpful, so I really appreciate it.
What is the sodium content? I am cooking for an end stage renal failure patient & wanting to keep her off dialysis.
RECIPE SAYS; Sodium: 203mg
This is a family favorite even with my two littles- who can be well be kids- and my hubs who doesn’t like salmon but inhales this!
It is super quick and easy. I saute some Brussel sprouts and cherry tomatoes in the sauce and serve it all together over cauliflower rice risotto. š
Woo! This makes me so happy to hear, Brittany! Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!!
This salmon was a HUGE hit tonight. And so easy to make! Thanks Brittany for an easy and tasty recipe!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Christina. Thanks for the review, I appreciate it!
Iprepared the Salmon today and loved it!!! It was quick and cooked perfectly without spending tons of time and ingredients. Served it with roasted aspargus. Yummy
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Rubie. Thanks for the review. I so appreciate it!
Just watched video and want to make this ASAP….
Do you ever flip the salmon?
Thanks!
Hey Joanne – Yes, it says to cook the salmon 1-2 minutes per side. Sorry if that wasn’t clear enough!
Your work seems to be great. Continue the great effort!!
Just tried this recipe and wow!! I loved it and have added it to my favs!
Ah yay! This makes me so happy to hear. I’m so thrilled you enjoyed this recipe, Emmala. Thanks for the review and star rating. It means so much to me!
Simple and yummy!
Hi Jessica, thanks for coming back to leave a comment + review. I appreciate it so much!
So glad you were able to test out this recipe! Thank you for coming back to leave a review. : )