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Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon
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Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon

This quick and easy Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon is pan-seared to perfection and finished with a rich, sweet, and savory glaze. The sticky brown sugar sauce, infused with garlic, soy, lemon, and ginger, makes this a go-to 30-minute meal that even picky eaters will love. Serve it with rice, roasted veggies, or a light salad for a balanced and flavorful dinner.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy salmon dinner, glazed salmon, pan-seared salmon, sweet and savory salmon
Servings: 4
Calories: 284kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh salmon cut into 4 equal pieces
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter divided

For the Sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons chicken broth or water
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Instructions

Prep the Salmon:

  • Remove salmon from the fridge 15–20 minutes before cooking to bring it to room temperature.
  • Pat dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper.

Make the Sauce:

  • In a bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic powder, lemon juice, ginger, Worcestershire sauce, chicken broth, and cornstarch. Set aside.

Sear the Salmon:

  • Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter.
  • Once hot, add the salmon skin-side down and sear for 5 minutes.
  • Reduce the heat to medium, flip the salmon, and cook for another 2–3 minutes, or until nearly cooked through.

Glaze the Salmon:

  • Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the skillet and let it melt.
  • Pour the sauce into the skillet between the salmon pieces.
  • Let the sauce bubble and thicken for about 20–30 seconds, then remove the skillet from heat.
  • Flip the salmon one more time and spoon the glaze over the top.

Serve:

  • Serve immediately with your favorite sides. The skin will be crispy and flavorful, but feel free to remove it if preferred.

Notes

If your salmon is thicker or thinner than 1 inch, adjust cooking time accordingly.
Avoid overcrowding the pan—sear in two batches if needed.
For easy ginger grating, freeze fresh ginger and use a Microplane or zester.