Make this cajun honey butter salmon for a simple and wholesome weeknight family fish dinner. The salmon is pan fried and then smothered in homemade cajun butter with honey. This is so good!!
The perfect balance of sweet and spicy from the compound butter and honey makes this dish delectable dish full of exciting flavors. With just a few minutes of preparation using simple ingredients, you can have dinner ready on the table in no time!
Why this recipe is so good
- Easy, healthy, and delicious: this recipe is simple to make, similar to how I make my honey garlic salmon. What may seem like hard work here is cooking the salmon on the stove. If you are worried about oil spaltter or smoking up your kitchen then you need to try my air fryer crispy skin salmon recipe. This cooking method is tried and tested and guaranteed not to dry out or overcook your salmon.
- Quick to make: You can have this salmon from your kitchen to the table in 20 minutes. The cajun butter can be made ahead of time to make this recipe even quicker.
- You can make your own Cajun seasoning, it takes less than 5 minutes to put together and adjust the level of heat to your preference. My go-to cajun seasoning recipe consists of the following herbs and spices. A combination of smoked and sweet paprika, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano, onion powder, thyme, garlic powder, and ground black pepper. I occasionally add cumin but this is not a requirement for making this spice blend.
Related recipes: blackened cod and garlic butter cod
What you will need
You will need the following ingredients to make this recipe
- Skin on salmon fillets
- Cajun butter: this is a type of compound butter made by combining butter (salted or unsalted) and cajun seasoning together with garlic or other herbs if you fancy. I shared my cajun butter recipe here a few days back, do check it out for how to make yours.
- Honey: you can use any of your choice but I recommend runny honey, it is easy and convenient to use.
- Olive oil: any neutral cooking oil will work just fine here too
- Garlic: use fresh garlic as opposed to garlic powder.
- Salt and black pepper
- Cajun seasoning: this could be homemade cajun seasoning or storebought. If using store-bought, make sure it is low in salt or salt-free.
How to make cajun honey butter salmon
Here is a quick overview of how to make this recipe
First, make the cajun butter: In a small bowl combine butter, cajun seasoning, and garlic and mix together using a spoon or fork until everything is combined. Set aside.
Cook the salmon: part dry each salmon fillet with a paper towel and set it on a plate or a work surface. Season both sides of the salmon with salt and black pepper, flip to the flesh side and season with cajun seasoning, and set aside.
Add oil to a nonstick pan or cast iron ad place on medium-high heat (more towards high heat) and heat the oil until hot, shimmering but not smoking.
Carefully place the salmon skin side down in the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes until the skin is nice and crispy. Using a fish spatula, flip the salmon over to the flesh side and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes (reduce the heat at this point to avoid overcooking the fish).
Move the cooked salmon to one side of the pan, add cajun butter, honey, and chopped garlic and cook until melt (about 20-30 seconds to release the flavor). Tilt the skillet to one side and (baste) spoon the cajun honey garlic butter sauce on the salmon, repeat this process for a few times.
Take the pan off the heat serve the salmon on the plate immediately with some of the pan sauce then top with some lemon slices and chopped fresh parsley. Enjoy
Tips for making crispy skin salmon
- To ensure you have crispy skin on the salmon, make sure you pat the skin dry completely dry with a paper towel for a better result. You could even go further and air dry in the fridge for about an hour or two for optimum results. This is best if time is not of the essence. That said if you are not a fan of crispy skin or would be removing the skin after cooking then ignore these steps.
- You may want to de-scale the salmon if it has not been done already. If you bought a salmon side, then scale it before cutting the fish into fillets.
- Make sure the size and the thickness of the fish fillet is similar, that way they will cook evenly
- Use enough oil (it should at least cover the circumference of the cast iron) and sear on high heat skin side down.
- Gently press down on the salmon while cooking to prevent the skin from curling and ensure even cooking throughout.
- Don't be in haste to move the salmon in the pan while it is cooking. Only move the salmon when you are ready to flip it, depending on the thickness of the fish, 3-4 minutes should be a good time, per cooking side.
FAQs
Can you eat salmon scales
Unlike other scaly fish, salmon has soft scales. However, chewing on scales while eating can be unappealing. To fully enjoy your salmon, especially if you're eating the skin, it's advisable to remove the scales before consumption.
How long to cook salmon in a pan
Depending on the thickness of the fillets, pan fry salmon skin side down for at least 3 minutes without moving it in the pan on medium high heat. Flip the fillet over to the fleshy side, reduce the heat and cook for another 2-3 minutes depending on the level of doneness you want to achieve. The internal temperature should be 145°F (63°C).
What to serve it with
Honey cajun salmon pairs nicely with roasted vegetables, on a bed of pillowy mashed potatoes, steamed rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa for a healthier dinner. You can also serve it with potato wedges, air fryer baby potatoes, Parmentier potatoes, gorgonzola gnocchi, or pan fried gnocchi.
It also makes the perfect healthy meal when served with any salad of your choice.
More Cajun-inspired recipes
- Creamy cajun chicken
- Creamy cajun chicken pasta
- Cajun chicken thighs
- Air fryer cajun chicken bites
- Cajun chicken orzo
More salmon recipes you will love
Cajun Honey Butter Salmon
Ingredients
- 1 lb Skin on salmon fillets
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup honey
- 1½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon garlic chopped
cajun butter ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Make the cajun butter: In a small bowl combine butter, cajun seasoning, and garlic and mix together using a spoon or fork until everything is combined. Set aside.
- Cook the salmon: part dry each salmon fillet with a paper towel and set it on a plate or a work surface. Season both sides of the salmon with salt and black pepper, flip to the flesh side and season with cajun seasoning, and set aside.
- Add oil to a nonstick pan or cast iron ad place on medium-high heat (more towards high heat) and heat the oil until hot, shimmering but not smoking.
- Carefully place the salmon skin side down in the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes until the skin is nice and crispy. Using a fish spatula, flip the salmon over to the flesh side and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes (reduce the heat at this point to avoid overcooking the fish).
- Move the cooked salmon to one side of the pan, add 4 Tablespoons cajun butter, honey, and garlic and cook until melt (about 20-30 seconds to release the flavor). Tilt the skillet to one side and (baste) spoon the cajun honey garlic butter sauce on the salmon, repeat this process a few times for another 30 - 60 seconds.
- Take the pan off the heat serve the salmon on the plate immediately with some of the pan sauce then top with some lemon slices and chopped fresh parsley. Enjoy
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
And there you have it, a simple and quick seafood recipe you can make at home in no time. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox.
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