Easy Baked Honey Chipotle Salmon

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I was going through my newsletter surveys and saw that Nancy asked for an easy recipe she could make with her kids. Nancy, this one’s for you, friend.

My mama used to make this oven-baked salmon all the time when I was growing up, and you better believe I was right there next to her as her sous chef.

Now that you’ve got your own little sous chefs in the kitchen, this is the perfect recipe to make together. Quick, easy to make, and flavorful —just how we (and our kids!) like it.

20 Minute Sweet and Spicy Chipotle Honey Salmon

The ‘hardest’ part of making honey chipotle salmon? Honestly… it’s stirring the glaze together. That’s it. A quick mix of honey and spices in a bowl—boom, done! 

From there, we place the salmon filet on a parchment-lined baking sheet, giving it a good sprinkle of salt and pepper (don’t be shy—salmon needs seasoning!), and brushing on that sweet and smoky glaze.

This is the perfect part to let the kids jump in—hand them a pastry brush and let ’em paint that salmon like it’s art class. Then into the oven it goes. Easy as can be.

Why you'll Love this Recipe

• No dry salmon, ever. We bake just until it's tender and perfectly flaky. No overcooked, chalky fish here! And if you’ve got a thermometer, even better. Aim for 125–130ºF and thank me later.
• Super versatile. Flake it into tacos. Pile it over rice. Toss it into a salad or grain bowl. Serve it hot, room temp, or cold. It’s that kind of recipe that just works with whatever you’ve got.
• Quick, easy, and kid-friendly. This is a “real life” dinner. It comes together fast, uses one sheet pan, and it’s fun enough for the kids to help (let them go wild with the pastry brush—no rules). You can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes with zero drama.
• Uses really simple ingredients. Staple spices, some honey, and salmon. That's all we need to make this!

Ingredients Needed

Full ingredients, measurements, and printable instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Salmon - this can be fresh salmon or thawed, just pat it dry to remove any excess moisture.
• Chipotle Powder, Garlic Powder, and Chili Powder - this is how my mama made it and I'm not messing with it! Using the dried spices makes this recipe 
• Honey
• Salt and Pepper

How to Make this Easy Honey Chipotle Salmon Recipe

Step 1 | Preheat the oven to 375ºF, then season your salmon with salt and pepper on all sides.

Step 2 | Warm up your honey in the microwave so it's easy to stir, then mix in the spices.

Step 3 | Generously brush the honey chipotle sauce all over the salmon.

Step 4 | Bake the honey chipotle glazed salmon for 15-18 minutes, or until the internal temperature in the thickest part is 125ºF. Serve with your favorite sides!

Side Dishes for a Full Meal

Chef's Tips + Recipe Variations

• Don’t skip seasoning the salmon first. Even though we’re glazing it, salmon still needs salt and pepper on its own. Season the fillet before brushing on the glaze—this makes every bite flavorful, not just the top.
• Use parchment paper to avoid a sticky mess. Honey burns easily and will turn into cement on your baking pan. Line it with parchment for easy cleanup (and no soaking pans overnight).
• Want more glaze? Double it. If you’re serving the salmon over rice, salad, or tacos, you might want extra glaze to drizzle over everything. Just double the honey + spice mixture—easy.
• Turn leftovers into filling salmon bowls. This is my favorite leftover salmon dish: a base of rice or quinoa, some creamy avocado, and a touch of lime juice. ughhhh so good!

Sweet and Spicy Honey Chipotle Salmon Recipe

By: Eden Westbrook

4.67 from 27 votes

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This sweet and spicy salmon recipe is my go-to weeknight dinner when I'm short on time. Tender, juicy salmon coated in a sticky, smoky chipotle-honey glaze that comes together with just a few pantry staples, and it only needs about 15 minutes in the oven. It’s bold, it’s balanced, it’s delicious and simple — the kind of meal that tastes like you put in way more effort than you actually did!

Prep Time: 3 minutes mins

Cook Time: 18 minutes mins

Total Time: 21 minutes mins

6 servings

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Ingredients 

• ▢ 1 whole fillet fresh salmon, skin off
• ▢ 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• ▢ ½ tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ ¼ cup honey
• ▢ 2 teaspoon ground chipotle
• ▢ 2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside place the salmon filet on the parchment. Season both sides of the salmon with salt and pepper.
  1 whole fillet fresh salmon, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, ½ tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• In a measuring cup or microwave safe bowl, mix honey, chipotle powder, and garlic powder, then heat in the microwave for 30 seconds until loose and liquidy.
  ¼ cup honey, 2 teaspoon ground chipotle, 2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Generously brush or spoon the honey mixture over the entire salmon fillet.
• Cook in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part says 125 degrees F (52 degrees C).
• Cut the honey chipotle salmon into serving sizes (6 oz pieces) and serve hot.

Last step!Be sure to snap a pic and share on Instagram #sweetteaandthyme and tag me at @sweet_tea_thyme so we can all see!

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 291kcal (15%), Carbohydrates: 13g (4%), Protein: 34g (68%), Fat: 11g (17%), Saturated Fat: 2g (13%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 94mg (31%), Sodium: 87mg (4%), Potassium: 872mg (25%), Fiber: 0.5g (2%), Sugar: 12g (13%), Vitamin A: 268IU (5%), Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 26mg (3%), Iron: 2mg (11%)