Name: Easy Honey Pecan Baked Salmon
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Cuisine: seafood
Ingredients: 1 large salmon filet (about 1.5 lb); Juice of 1/2 lemon; Sea salt; Freshly cracked black pepper; cayenne pepper, optional; 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped; 3 tbsp honey

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Ready in less than 15 minutes, this sweet and savory honey pecan baked salmon is a simple and delicious way to include more heart-healthy seafood in your weeknight meals! (gluten-free, dairy-free)

closeup of honey pecan salmon on a white platter.

This delicious honey pecan salmon recipe is inspired by a recipe at one of our old college date-night spots. It was my favorite thing to order, and is incredibly easy to recreate at home. If you didn't think you liked salmon… well, you will now!

Why You'll Love Honey Pecan Baked Salmon

This recipe is just as easy as plain ol' baked salmon, but it gets a major flavor upgrade with just a couple of extra ingredients - honey and pecans. The combination of sweet honey and nutty pecans that get toasted under the broiler is naturally delicious and the perfect topper for fatty fish like salmon. Ready in just 15 minutes and with so few ingredients, the sweet, spicy and savory salmon with a crunchy pecan topping is perfect for weeknight dinners. It's also a great recipe for those who are trying to increase their intake of heart healthy fish. It's hard to resist, even for people who don't love fish!

The Ingredients

Salmon
Lemon
Cayenne Pepper
Honey
Pecans
Salt & Pepper

5 image collage showing steps for making honey pecan salmon.

How To Make Honey Pecan Baked Salmon

This delicious salmon couldn't be easier to make!

Place the salmon skin-side down on a baking sheet lined with foil, parchment paper, or a silicone baking mat. Squeeze the lemon on top of the salmon filet and sprinkle with salt, pepper and cayenne (if you like a little spice!).
Bake the salmon at 425°F for 8-10 minutes, or until rare to medium rare.
Stir the honey and pecans together in a bowl. Spoon on top of the salmon.
Return the salmon to the oven and broil for 1-2 minutes, or until pecans are toasty and the fish is done to your liking.
Once done, you'll easily be able to slide a thin spatula in between the salmon and the skin, leaving the skin stuck on the baking sheet.

Tips For Perfect Baked Salmon

Start with the freshest salmon possible for the most delicious salmon. I find that conventional frozen salmon portions, such as from the freezer aisle of the grocery store, tend to taste more "fishy".
Adjust the bake time based on the thickness of your salmon filet - thinner fish will take less time and thicker fish will take longer - and based on your oven. Careful not to over-cook it to avoid dry fish. I aim for rare to medium-rare when I pull it to top with the pecans.
I typically use parchment paper, but if it's broiled too long, parchment will burn. Foil is better if you're worried about burning.

honey pecan salmon filet flaked on the corner with a gold fork beside it on a white platter.

More Healthy and Delicious Salmon Recipes

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Easy Honey Pecan Baked Salmon

Print Recipe

Ready in less than 15 minutes, this sweet and savory honey pecan baked salmon is a simple and delicious way to include more heart-healthy seafood in your weeknight meals! (gluten-free, dairy-free)

Author: Kaleigh
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 12 min
Total Time: 22 minutes
Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Category: main dish
Method: baked
Cuisine: seafood

Ingredients

Scale

1 large salmon filet (about 1.5 lb)
Juice of ½ lemon
Sea salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
cayenne pepper, optional
½ cup pecans, roughly chopped
3 tbsp honey

Instructions

Heat oven to 425° F.
Line a baking sheet with foil, parchment, or a silicone baking mat and place salmon filet skin-side down. Squeeze the lemon on the salmon and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. If using, lightly dust the top with cayenne pepper to taste.
Bake salmon 8-10 minutes (to medium rare, or longer if you prefer your salmon more done).
Meanwhile, stir together honey and pecans in a small bowl.
Turn oven up to broil. Remove salmon from the oven and spread the pecan mixture over the top. Return to the oven to broil 1-2 minutes, or until pecans are toasted and fish is cooked to your liking.

Notes

Start with the freshest salmon possible for the most delicious salmon. I find that conventional frozen salmon portions, such as from the freezer aisle of the grocery store, tend to taste more "fishy".
Adjust the bake time based on the thickness of your salmon filet - thinner fish will take less time and thicker fish will take longer - and based on your oven. Careful not to over-cook it to avoid dry fish. I aim for rare to medium-rare when I pull it to top with the pecans.
I typically use parchment paper, but if it's broiled too long, parchment will burn. Foil is better if you're worried about burning.

Keywords: honey pecan salmon, baked salmon with pecans

This post was originally published March 2017 and has been updated.