Cajun Honey Butter Salmon

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Introduce a twist to your usual salmon with my delicious Cajun Honey Butter Salmon, made with homemade cajun seasoning and covered with an easy honey garlic butter sauce. It is the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and utter deliciousness!

Cajun Honey Butter Salmon on a plate.

You’ll never make any other way after you try this easy Cajun honey butter salmon! The perfect meal to enjoy with Garlic Herb Rice and Mango Avocado Salsa.

I am always making salmon in creative ways so ff you are looking for more recipes with salmon, you should try my Lemon Butter Salmon, Baked Cajun Salmon and Grilled Sockeye Salmon recipes.

Cajun Honey Butter Salmon Recipe

Indeed, this Cajun Honey Butter Salmon has become a staple in my list of preferred easy-to-prepare meals. The Cajun seasoning infuses the salmon with a pungent spiciness, which is followed by the honey butter sauce to give the salmon a sweet and buttery note.

Cooked salmon on a plate garnished with fresh parsley.

No boring salmon in sight! The meal is just irresistible with flaky salmon and a sauce that you’ll want to make for other kinds of fish or protein.

It excites me most to know that the preparation process of this dish does not take much time, making it a quick dinner option. With only 25 minutes of preparation, you could be feasting on a restaurant-standard meal.

The salmon comes out right each and every time, crispy on the surface and moist inside. Also, the honey-butter sauce is great for serving over rice or vegetables to really amplify the whole meal.

2 cooked salmon fillets garnished with black sesame seeds.

Why You’ll Love This Cajun Honey Butter Salmon

  • Rich in protein and a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fats, this mouth-watering meal is also good for you.
  • You do not need many ingredients to make this Cajun salmon.
  • Who doesn’t love adding Cajun seasoning to any dish? Just a little kick and a whole lot of taste.
  • Sweet honey stabilized by Cajun seasoning gives a nice flavor and the best combination of sweet and spicy.
  • Imagine a flavorful dinner ready in just 25 minutes from start to finish! That’s the great thing this Cajun salmon recipe.

Ingredients Needed

Here is everything you need for this easy salmon dinner. Cajun spices makes the best salmon seasoning!

Cajun honey butter salmon ingredients with labels.
  • Salmon fillets, skin on: I made this recipe with fresh salmon fillets, which weigh about 6 ounces each. Although fresh fillets are ideal for this recipe, you can use thawed frozen ones if it is difficult to get fresh fillets.
  • Olive oil: Be sure to use good quality olive oil. If you are out, you can use canola or vegetable oil, which will be just as suitable.
  • Honey: Honey can reduce the spiciness of the food, and maple syrup can be used in its place if necessary.
  • Cajun seasoning: Enhances it with a hot, spicy taste; if desired, a homemade seasoning mix or another spice mix can be employed.
  • Butter: Forms a thick, creamy sauce; one can use margarine in its place.
  • Salt: Adjust to taste.
  • Soy sauce: I suggest using low-sodium soy sauce so that you can easily regulate the amount of sodium used.
  • Garlic, minced: Choose the preferred amount of garlic, be it little or much. If you do not have any fresh on hand, you can always replace it with garlic powder.
  • Lemon juice: Adds a brightening, citrusy note.
  • Fresh parsley, chopped: Use this for a more herbal finish; cilantro or dill are good substitutes.
  • Lemon wedges: For serving, to make it even citrusier, not necessary but highly suggested.
  • Black sesame seeds: Provide an additional crunchy element to your food and enhance its aesthetic; you can use white sesame seeds if necessary.

There are other ingredients needed in this recipe. Please do not forget to look at the recipe card below. There, you will find a detailed list of all the ingredients and their measurements.

Cajun Honey Butter Salmon Recipe Variations

Cajun honey butter salmon can be prepared in numerous ways depending on your preferred taste. Here are a few ideas:

  • Spicy: Stir a pinch of red pepper flakes into the sauce if you want even more spicy flavors.
  • Herbed: Add fresh herbs such as thyme or rosemary to butter sauce.
  • Citrus: To improve the taste, use lime juice or apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice.

You could also make baked cajun honey butter salmon by combining all the ingredients and baking them.

Substitutions

No need to worry, if you do not have all the ingredients present now! Here are a few substitutions that will work just as well:

  • Salmon: Any firm white fish can be used, but choosing trout would be more appropriate.
  • Lemon juice: Lemon juice can be replaced with lime juice or apple cider vinegar.
  • Cajun Seasoning: Create your own delicious Cajun seasoning using paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and thyme. You could also use another seasoning blend like Italian seasoning.
  • Honey: Agave nectar or maple syrup may be used.
Landscape image of Cajun Honey Butter Salmon

How to Make Cajun Honey Butter Salmon

Step 1: Season the Salmon

Start by patting room temperature salmon fillets with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. This step is crucial for achieving a crispy skin and texture.

Patting salmon dry with paper towels.

Then, coat each fillet with olive oil and generously sprinkle Cajun seasoning. If needed, add a pinch of salt and black pepper to the fillets.

Salmon coated with seasoning.

Dry the salmon fillets well to help the spices adhere to the surface of the fish and crisp up effectively.

Step 2: Cook the Salmon

Secondly, place a large non-stick skillet on the stove on medium-high heat. Put the salmon fillets on the skillet skin down; sear it for approximately 3 minutes to develop a brown finish.

Salmon cooking in a skillet.

Turn the salmon over again so the skin side is on the bottom, and continue to cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Salmon flipped to the other side.

Step 3: Prepare the Honey Butter Sauce

Making honey butter sauce in a small pot.

As the salmon cooks, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the soy sauce, honey, and minced garlic. Stir with a wooden spoon until well mixed. Let the sauce cook for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld and until it can coat the back of a spoon. Then, remove from the heat and add the lemon juice.

Step 4: Combine and Finish Cooking

Next, pour the honey butter sauce over the salmon fillets. Go on, spoon the sauce over the salmon, and simmer the salmon for the next 3-5 minutes for the salmon to cook well.

Salmon in skillet simmered in honey butter sauce.

When you are done cooking the salmon, decorate it with freshly chopped parsley and lemon wedges and sprinkle black sesame seeds on the salmon.

Garnished salmon with chopped parsley and lemon wedges.

Searing the salmon on medium-high heat will ensure crispy skin as well as make sure the inside is done to perfection.

Love the flavor of honey? Also, check out my wonderful Honey Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls.

Expert Tips for Cajun Honey Butter Salmon

  • Watch for the cooking time so that you do not overcook it. The salmon should be fully cooked, firm to the touch and should be easily flaked using a fork.
  • Do not allow the honey-butter sauce to boil; merely simmer it slowly to allow the honey and the butter to mix properly and not burn.
  • If you want your salmon to be as moist and juicy as possible, let it rest for a minute or two before eating so the juices can redistribute.

Serving

You can serve this Cajun Honey Butter Salmon alongside the following:

How to Store Leftovers

Any remaining Cajun Honey Butter Salmon should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a maximum of 3 days.

You can also put the cooked salmon into a freezer airtight container for up to 2 months. Before reheating, thaw it first in the refrigerator.

FAQs

Can I use frozen salmon?

Yes you can use frozen salmon. Just make sure you thaw it first. Thaw frozen salmon overnight in the fridge or for quicker thawing, thaw in a bowl of cool water, changing the water every 30 minutes until completely thawed.

What if I don’t have Cajun seasoning?

You can easily make your own cajun seasoning by following my recipe for Cajun Seasoning Substitute.

What can I substitute honey with?

You could use maple syrup or brown sugar in place of honey.

More Salmon Recipes

More Easy Dinner Recipes

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Cajun Honey Butter Salmon on a plate.

Cajun Honey Butter Salmon

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Introduce a flavorful twist to your boring weeknight dinners with my delicious Cajun Honey Butter Salmon.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients  

  • 4 salmon fillets skin on
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
  • Salt to taste
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter or salted butter
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • Fresh parsley chopped for garnishing
  • Lemon wedges for serving
  • Black sesame seeds for garnishing

Instructions 

  • Firstly, dry the salmon fillets with paper towels to remove moisture. Coat each fillet with olive oil and generously sprinkle Cajun seasoning; you can add a pinch of salt to the fillets if preferred.
    4 salmon fillets, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, Salt
  • Place a large non-stick skillet on the stove on medium-high heat. Skin down, put the salmon fillets on the skillet and sear for approximately 3 minutes to develop a brown finish. Turn the salmon over again so the skin side is on the bottom, and continue to cook for an additional 2 minutes.
  • While the salmon is cooking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the soy sauce, honey and minced garlic. Stir with a wooden spoon until well mixed, and let it cook for a few minutes. Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice.
    4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 garlic cloves, Juice of ½ lemon
  • Next, pour the honey butter sauce over the salmon fillets. Spoon the sauce over the salmon and simmer it for 3-5 minutes to cook it well.
  • When you are done cooking the salmon, garnish it with freshly chopped parsley and lemon wedges and sprinkle black sesame seeds on the salmon.
    Fresh parsley, Lemon wedges, Black sesame seeds

Notes

  • Dry down the salmon with paper towels to help adhere to the seasoning and form a nice crust.
  • For the best flavor, use fresh lemon juice in the honey butter sauce.
  • If you want a less spicy salmon, lesser the amount of Cajun seasoning.
  • Eat fresh for the optimal flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 450kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 331mg | Potassium: 937mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2142IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg

Additional Info

Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Tried this recipe?Mention @preciouscore or tag #PreciousCore!


About Precious

Welcome to my core! I am Precious Nkeih, the recipe developer and writer right here on my blog, Precious Core. My goal is to show you insanely delicious recipes you can replicate in your kitchen. And I love to tell stories too. Hope you find recipes here that will make cooking easier for you! Check me out on YouTube at YouTube.com/PreciousKitchen.


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