Orange glazed salmon is a citrusy sweet salmon recipe that I guarantee you’ll have on repeat. With just a handful of ingredients including salmon, orange juice, garlic, honey, tamari and thyme, it’s also incredibly easy to make (takes less than 30 minutes!).
What to serve with the salmon? I recommend my Steamed Broccoli, Bok Choy, Garlic Sautéed Swiss Chard and Parmesan Truffle Sautéed Zucchini.
I’m such a lover of salmon and I try to eat it a few times a week (to soak up all the health benefits listed below). But I also like variety. So to keep things interesting, I’m always experimenting with new marinades and sauces.
My Scallops with Citrus Ginger Sauce has been a reader favorite. Thus, I decided to make a sweet orange glaze to drizzle on top of this pan seared salmon. The outcome? Oh my word. Amazingly delicious! And you’ll want to drizzle the sauce on all your side dishes too.
How to Make Orange Glazed Salmon
From start to finish this recipe can be on your plate in less than 30 minutes (though it’ll look like you slaved over it). Here’s how you make it:
Sear the Salmon
Heat a couple tablespoons of avocado oil in a pan on medium-high heat and cook the salmon for 3-4 minutes each side.
Create the Thickener for the Sauce
To make the orange glaze, you need to create an arrowroot slurry. To do this, stir 1/2 tsp arrowroot powder with 1 tsp water and set it aside.
Make the Orange Glaze
Once the salmon is cooked, removed it to a plate. Turn down the heat, add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté for 30 seconds. Then add the orange juice, honey, tamari, thyme and arrowroot slurry and whisk together for 1-2 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Drizzle the Orange Glaze on the Salmon
Add the salmon back to the pan and drizzle the sauce all over the salmon before serving with the delicious side dishes mentioned above.
Health Benefits of Salmon
- Salmon is high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 are great for eye health, heart disease, and reducing inflammation in the body. Read more about Salmon’s anti-inflammatory properties in my 8 Anti-Inflammatory Foods I Eat Every Week.
- Salmon is a great source of potassium. This fish actually has more potassium than equally sized banana. Potassium is important for controlling blood pressure, which in turn can reduce the risk for having a stroke.
- Salmon gets its red pigmentation from astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant. In combination with Omega-3 fatty acid, astaxanthin is believed to protect the nervous system and brain from inflammation.
More Salmon Recipes to Enjoy
- Best Baked Salmon
- Cedar Plank Salmon
- Smoked Salmon, Avocado and Arugula Salad
- Salmon Patties
- Smoked Salmon, Avocado and Cucumber Bites
- Smoked Salmon Frittata
Description
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 4 (6-ounce) salmon filets, (Alaskan Sockeye or Coho)
- 1 orange, juiced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons tamari
- 1 teaspoon thyme, finely chopped
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon arrowroot flour
- 1 teaspoon water
Instructions
- Pat salmon dry with a paper towel, then season with salt and pepper.
- Heat the avocado oil in a pan on medium high heat. Add salmon and cook for 3-4 minutes each side.
- While the salmon is cooking, make an arrowroot slurry by stirring together the arrowroot powder and water. Set aside.
- Once the salmon is cooked, transfer to a plate.
- Turn the heat down to medium-low and sauté the minced garlic in the pan for 30 seconds. Add the orange juice, honey, tamari, thyme and arrowroot slurry. Whisk the ingredients together for 1-2 minutes or until slightly thickened.
- Add the salmon back to pan and spoon glaze over salmon before serving.
Lisa's Tips
- I recommend using a seasoned cast iron pan to ensure the salmon doesn't stick to the pan.
- The glaze will continue to thicken on its own during cooling process.
Nutrition
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Your orange sauce recipe is DEEEEEEELICIOUS!!! I did not have the tamari so I substituted 1 Tbls low sodium soy sauce, 1 Tbls coconut aminos & a splash of fish sauce. I cannot wait to try this sauce with alternate proteins & veggies. It’s soooo good! Thank you!
Wonderful! Happy to hear you enjoyed this orange glazed salmon, Lynn.
I love making this salmon recipe, you can easily make it with food items in your pantry. So delicious resembling restaurant quality.
Happy to hear you love it, Christine!
Probably my favorite recipe I have tried so far. The orange and salmon pair perfectly. I made it with a side of sweet potatoes and broccoli. It was the perfect meal.
What a delicious meal you made! Glad you’re loving this flavor combination, Aleisa.
This is a great site. Found you by accident, keeping you on purpose. No nonsense and delicious, healthy recipes with tips and lots of extras. Thank you.
Bona Petite!!! Great!
Welcome to the Downshiftology community! Happy to hear you’re loving the recipes.
I always like your recipes. I tried a few of them.
I love to see your recipes more often, I like healthy food and like to cook for my family daily.
So thanks for your generous and kindness to keep us enjoying the foods we eat.
Thank you for trying many of my recipes, Miriam! I’m happy you enjoyed this orange glazed salmon. :)
This has become my go-to salmon recipe. It is so good! I always make extra sauce because it is delicious spread over green beans or even potoes (or anything I decide to serve up as a side).
Happy to hear you loved this salmon recipe, Hannah! And I agree, the sauce is delicious drizzled on just about anything. Enjoy!
Another fantastic salmon recipe from you. So easy to prepare, and the sauce was divine! Will be in regular rotation for sure!
Hi Alison – Happy to hear you love this orange glazed salmon!
Thanks Lisa! Another great recipe added in our rotation! Your creations make my weekly meals easier to Plan. Loved the Orange Glaze Salmon.
Thrilled to hear you enjoyed this orange glazed salmon, Ruth!
I made this for a second time tonight. I think the pan was too hot when I added the sauce because it immediately bubbles up and turned into more of a burnt sugar – oops. Glad I knew from my first attempt how delicious this recipe is – for anyone having this issue just turn the heat down a bit first before adding the sauce :)
I’m so glad this orange glazed salmon turned out great the second time around, Teresa!
This turned out so great!!!!! Can’t wait to make it again. The thyme flavour is quite strong which is fine for me.
Amazing! I’m so glad you loved this orange glazed salmon, Teresa.
What a delicious salmon recipe! The sauce is the perfect balance of savory and sweet. A winner for sure!
I’m glad you love this glazed salmon, Adrienne!
This is one of my favorite salmon recipes! I always have clementines and use that to substitute for orange juice.
Clementines are a great sub for the oranges. Happy you love it!
Ohhhh… my…. That was SOOOOO good!
The hubby and kids grabbed the fresh bread I just bought to get all the beautiful glazing out of the pan!
Winner!!
That orange glaze is amazing, isn’t it? So happy the whole family loved this recipe!
Is there a special reason to use avocado oil? Would olive oil work as well?
Yes, you can use olive oil in this recipe as well.
Hi, what can I use instead of arrowroot flour? Thanks.
You can use cornstarch as an alternative thickener.
Made this the other day for the family and even my (step)daughter (who normally doesn’t eat salmon) loved it. It’s so easy and scrumptious. One that I definitely will be making.
Now that I have made a few of your recipes, and have bought your book, the kids have been putting sticky-notes in the recipes I need to make for them :) Always a good sign…
Glad this recipe changed a picky salmon eater! And I hope you enjoy the cookbook recipes as well :)
Can you make salmon ahead and serve chilled?
I think this recipe would be better served warm, but up to you!
Absolutely delicious! Perfect in every way. We paired it with sauteed spinach. This is now our primary salmon recipe… maybe only salmon recipe!
Nice chef 👩🍳 👌
Hi Lisa, good afternoon. My name is Norita, I live in São Paulo, Brazil.
Your recipe “ORANGE GLAZED SALMON” is delicious. I prepared it for an event for 12 people and everyone was surprised at how delicious it was.
Today I prepared it again for lunch for two people. We simply adored it.
I would like to congratulate and thank you for sharing your recipes.
I will test many others.
Success and much peace!
Fraternal hugs
Norita
Wonderful! I’m so happy you love the recipe, Norita!