Cajun honey butter salmon is a delicious dish that features salmon fillets that are coated in a Cajun seasoning mixture and then baked until perfectly cooked. The Cajun seasoning adds a bit of spice to the dish, while the honey butter glaze provides a sweet and savory contrast.
We love making salmon. It's a healthy fish that packs so much flavor. We've made a lot of cajun seafood recipes on the blog like this Red Beans and Rice with Shrimp but this is the only one that perfectly balances a sweet and spicy flavor profile. It's so easy to make and we love to serve it with Beetroot Broccoli Salad with Orange Ginger Vinaigrette.
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Why You'll Love Cajun Honey Butter Salmon
Bold Flavors: Cajun honey butter salmon combines the flavors of spicy delicious Cajun seasoning, sweet honey, and savory butter to create a deliciously complex flavor profile. It's the perfect balance between sweet, spicy, and savory.
Easy to Make: Cajun honey butter salmon is a relatively easy dish to make, just like this Cajun Sausage Spaghetti. You only need 7 ingredients and there's very little prep time. Everything is baked in the oven on a baking sheet or in a baking dish and it's done within 12-15 minutes. It's a quick dinner option that's packed with a great source of heart-healthy fats.
Versatile: This dish can be served with a variety of sides, such as rice pilaf, roasted green beans, or a fresh salad. It can also be customized to suit your tastes by adjusting the level of spiciness or sweetness.
Impressive: If you're looking to impress your guests, cajun honey butter salmon is a great choice. It looks and tastes impressive, but is actually quite easy to make, making it a perfect meal for special occasions or dinner parties. You can also easily scale this down for a dinner for 2 on date night at home.
What Is Cajun Cuisine?
Cajun food is a style of cooking that originated in Louisiana, USA, and is heavily influenced by French, Spanish, and African cuisines. Cajun cuisine is known for its bold and spicy flavors, and makes use of ingredients such as seafood, sausage, rice, vegetables, and spices.Cajun food is known for its bold and spicy flavors. It has gained popularity, and is now considered a staple of Southern cuisine.
Ingredients
For The Salmon
1lb salmon filets - be sure to choose fresh salmon filets for the best results and to avoid the fishy flavor salmon can sometimes have.
2 teaspoons olive oil - a good quality olive oil will bring so much flavor to the salmon. Try an infused olive oil like one infused with chili pepper, or garlic.
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice - for tartness and freshness. Lime juice can be substituted
1 tbsp cajun seasoning - a spicy blend of cajun spices that can be bought at any store or can be made from scratch using the recipe below
4 cloves garlic sliced - this is optional for the garlic lovers out
For The Cajun Honey Butter Sauce Recipe
2 tablespoons butter - unsalted butter works great for this recipe because there's already so much salt in the cajun seasoning ingredients
2 tablespoons honey - try using local honey for the best flavor and the added benefits during allergy season
Garnish
Parsley - a good way to finish the dish. Chopped cilantro can be used as a garnish as well.
Instructions
Step 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Step 2. Place salmon skin side down in a baking dish. Pat dry with a paper towel.
Step 3. Rub olive oil into the salmon, then rub lemon juice into salmon. You can do this by massaging the fish with your fingers or using the back of a spoon to distribute the olive oil and lemon juice. Afterward, cover with cajun seasoning. Top the salmon with fresh sliced garlic.
Step 4. In a small bowl melt butter, add honey and whisk until well combined. Then pour half over top of the salmon filets. Place cajun honey butter salmon in oven for 7 minutes.
Step 5. After 7 minutes, remove from the oven and add remaining honey butter sauce. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes or until the salmon is cooked through.
Tips and Tricks
Use fresh salmon fillets: Fresh salmon fillets will give you the best flavor and texture. Look for fillets that are firm and bright in color.
Pat the salmon dry before seasoning: Before seasoning the salmon, make sure to pat it dry with paper towels. This will help the seasoning stick better to the fish and prevent it from becoming too soggy.
Don't overcook the salmon: Overcooked salmon can become dry and tough. To prevent this, cook the salmon until it is just cooked through, and still slightly pink in the center. Salmon should be 125 degrees. Cook wild salmon until the internal temperature reaches 120 degrees.
Adjust the spiciness and sweetness to your taste: The great thing about this recipe is that the amount of Cajun seasoning and honey butter glaze you use can be adjusted to suit your taste. If you prefer a spicier dish, add more Cajun seasoning, and if you prefer a sweeter dish, add more honey.
Let the salmon rest before serving: After the salmon is cooked, let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the juices to redistribute and the fish to become more tender.
Serve with fresh lemon wedges: Fresh lemon wedges are the perfect accompaniment to cajun honey butter salmon. Squeezing a bit of lemon juice over the fish before serving will add a bright, citrusy flavor that complements the other flavors in the dish.
Other Ways to Make This Cajun Honey Butter Salmon Recipe
Grill Pan - This is a great way to get those beautiful grill marks without having to heat up the grill and worry about burning or over cooking the salmon. To do this, heat a grill pan over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray to prevent sticking. While the grill pan is heating, prep the salmon according to the directions below.
For the cajun honey butter recipe, combine butter (melted) and honey in a small bowl and whisk with a whisk or an electric hand mixer until well combined. Then, brush a generous amount of cajun honey butter onto the salmon. Place the salmon flesh side down onto the preheated grill pan. Sear for about 4-5 minutes then flip the grilled cajun salmon and brush with more honey butter. Finish cooking the grilled salmon for an additional 6-8 minutes or until the salmon is cooked through.
Air fryer - Another great way to make this easy dinner. To make this delicious honey salmon in the air fryer, preheat to 400 degrees. Prepare the salmon according to the instructions below and brush the easy honey garlic butter sauce onto the salmon. Place the filets onto the air fryer basket and air fryer for 7-9 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish. Open the basket about half way through to brush more honey butter onto the cajun spiced salmon. Finish with honey butter and top with fresh parsley.
Make Cajun Seasoning Homemade
Making your own spice blends is so much fun, especially when you have a pantry stocked with various spices. Below is my go-to homemade cajun seasoning that I like to use in this cajun salmon recipe. It's also a great way to control the amount of salt and spice that goes into the cajun recipe.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Instructions:
In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients. Mix well until everything is evenly distributed. Taste the seasoning and adjust the cayenne pepper and salt to your desired level of spiciness and saltiness. Store the cajun seasoning in an airtight container until ready to use. It will keep for several months. It's the perfect cajun seasoning for salmon.
Ways to Serve Cajun Honey Butter Salmon
Roasted Vegetables: Roasted vegetables, such as asparagus, Brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes, are a great choice to serve alongside the salmon. The roasted flavors of the vegetables will complement the spicy and sweet flavors of the cajun seasoned salmon.
Rice: A simple side of white or brown rice is a great way to soak up the flavorful honey butter glaze from the salmon. You can also try serving the salmon on top of a bed of rice for a complete meal.
Salad: A fresh salad with greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and a light vinaigrette dressing can help balance out the richness of the salmon.
Corn on the Cob: Cajun honey butter salmon goes great with sweet corn on the cob. Try brushing the corn with the honey butter glaze to add an extra layer of flavor.
Garlic Bread: A warm and crusty garlic bread is the perfect accompaniment to soak up any leftover honey butter sauce.
Roasted Potatoes: Seasoned roasted potatoes, such as Cajun-style roasted potatoes or garlic herb roasted potatoes, will complement the salmon well with their earthy and savory flavors.
Storing
Leftover cajun salmon can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Before storing, allow the salmon to cool down to room temperature. Placing hot or warm salmon in the fridge can raise the temperature and cause food spoilage. Place the salmon in an airtight container or wrap it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This will help prevent air from getting in and keep the salmon fresh. When you're ready to reheat the salmon, gently warm it in the oven, air fryer, or microwave until it is heated through, being careful not to overcook it. Leftover salmon may not be as crispy or flavorful as when it was first cooked, but it can still be enjoyed as a quick and easy meal.
Other Recipes You'll Love
Best Ever Cajun Honey Butter Salmon
Ingredients
- 1 lb salmon filets
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tbsp cajun seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place salmon skin side down in a baking dish. Pat dry with a paper towel.
- Rub olive oil into the salmon, then rub lemon juice into salmon. Cover with cajun seasoning. Top the salmon with fresh sliced garlic.
- In a small bowl melt butter, add honey and whisk until well combined. Pour half over top of the salmon filets. Bake for 7 minutes.
- After 7 minutes, remove from the oven and add remaining honey butter sauce. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes or until the salmon is cooked through.
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