Easy Honey Mustard Salmon – pan seared flaky salmon drizzled with a creamy, savory-sweet sauce that’s the perfect balance of honey and Dijon mustard.
This is an easy salmon recipe that readers say is “absolutely amazing”!
Perfectly cooked juicy salmon with a lightly crispy top drizzled with a sweet honey – tangy Dijon mustard sauce and it’s ready to go in just 15 minutes.
What ingredients do I need to make Honey Mustard Salmon?
A full list of ingredients and amounts below in the recipe card.
- fresh salmon salmon fillets and a little olive oil to cook it in.
- seasonings: garlic clove, basil, salt and black pepper
- the sauce: cream cheese, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon juice and a little milk.
How to make Creamy Honey Mustard Salmon:
Add oil to a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Pat excess moisture from each salmon fillet with a paper towel for a crispy exterior then season generously with salt and pepper.
Place salmon into the hot oil skin side up gently pressing with a spatula so the heat makes contact with all areas.
Sear 2-3 minutes or until lightly golden, then gently turn the fish over.
Continue cooking 4-5 more minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees on a meat thermometer or any instant read thermometer. Note: Cooking time will vary with the thickness of your salmon.
Transfer the salmon to a plate and tent with aluminum foil.
Reduce heat to low. Add minced garlic the same skillet. Cook 30 seconds then add softened cream cheese, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon juice and milk. Whisk over low heat until smooth.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and if you prefer a stronger Dijon flavor, add more a little at a time.
Cut basil into ribbons. Drizzle sauce over the top of the fish, sprinkle basil then serve right away with lemon slices.
Best side dishes with this salmon recipe:
There’s no one perfect pairing, but whatever you and your family prefer.
Creamy Parmesan Rice (or plain white rice)
Subs and variations to this recipe:
- Whole grain mustard or coarse grain mustard can be used instead of Dijon.
- Try other fresh herbs such as dill, rosemary or thyme instead of basil.
Can I make Honey Mustard Salmon in the air fryer?:
Yes – it’s easy to make perfectly cooked salmon of any kind in the air fryer.
Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees then spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
Season salmon with salt and pepper then add to the air fryer basket. Cook for 8 minutes turning halfway through cooking or until it reaches an internal temp of 145°.
While the salmon is air frying, make the sauce on the stovetop following directions listed. After air frying, remove salmon from basket, drizzle sauce over the top and sprinkle with basil.
Why I love this recipe:
- Quick and easy – loaded with delicious flavor – perfect for busy weeknights.
- Restaurant quality honey mustard sauce.
- Simple ingredients and step by step instructions – ideal for any level home cook.
Best way to safely store leftover salmon:
Cool any leftover salmon completely then transfer to an airtight container.
Refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat or add chilled to a salad.
Looking for another easy salmon recipe?
Enjoy!
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Creamy Honey Mustard Salmon
Equipment
- large skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 6 ounce salmon fillets
- 2 ounces light cream cheese softened to room temp
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice + optional extra lemon wedges for serving
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon basil sliced chiffonade
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the skillet over medium – medium-high heat until it’s hot then add the oil.
- Pat any excess moisture from the salmon with a paper towel then season both sides with salt and pepper and once the skillet is hot, gently place the salmon in face down.
- Cook the salmon over medium to medium-high heat 3-4 minutes on the first side until you have a nice golden sear then turn it over and continue cooking 2-3 minutes more (see tip #4). NOTE: Cooking times will vary with the size of the filets and the exact temperature of the skillet.
- After the salmon is cooked, transfer it to a plate then lower the heat and in the same skillet add the cream cheese, Dijon mustard, honey and lemon juice whisking to combine.
- Slowly add the milk and cook over low heat a couple of minutes, continuing to stir.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper then fold in the basil and drizzle over the top of the salmon filets.
Girl – you had me at honey mustard! The plate of fish and veggies looks delicious. We love salmon around here. I need to make a run to Costco for some fish. This is definitely going on the menu rotation. Pinned. Have a lovely week. Chat again soon, my friend.
Hi there Mary – so glad you love the recipe – I’m with you girl – honey mustard…anything 🙂 Let me know if you have a chance to make it – I’d love your feedback. Enjoy the weekend, friend!
This turned out absolutely amazing and my family LOVED it. I’m definitely going to be using that quick and easy mustard sauce on lots of things because I pretty much always have the ingredients for it. Thanks, Bernie!
Hi Melissa – thank you so much! This makes my day 🙂 Not sure why but I’ve never thought to use the sauce on other things – like chicken – or grilled shrimp – or even on top of a baked sweet potato! You can bet I’ll be making the sauce this week — thanks for the tip!
Soooo much to my shock and dismay I didn’t have all the ingredients!!! So I would like to tell you what I did use to come as close to this delicious looking recipe. Instead of Dijion I used Honey Musard, Ranch n place of lite cream cheese, bottled lemon juice and lastly I used heavy whipping cream instead of milk. I had the rest of the ingredients (lol), BUT it was without a doubt AWSOME!!!
Ahhhhh I’ve had that happen many times – so frustrating! But wow – what a rebound!! Such smart substitutions – I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for your kind words. I appreciate you taking time to comment – Bernie