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Bourbon Glazed Salmon

Bourbon glazed salmon with a sweet-and-savory bourbon glaze, glossy butter finish, and quick skillet simmer. Salmon cooks until tender and nearly done, then gets caramelized with the glaze for a restaurant-style dinner in under 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 490
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Salmon
  • 4 salmon fillets About 6 ounces each
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
Bourbon glaze
  • 0.25 cup bourbon
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 3 garlic minced cloves
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger grated
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp butter
Garnish
  • 1 tsp sesame seeds
  • 2 tbsp sliced green onions

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Prep and season salmon
  1. Pat the salmon fillets dry and season lightly with salt and black pepper.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Sear salmon
  1. Cook the salmon for 4–5 minutes per side until nearly cooked through.
  2. Remove the salmon and set it aside.
Make bourbon glaze
  1. In the same skillet, add bourbon, brown sugar, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic, fresh ginger, and lemon juice.
  2. Simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened, stirring as needed.
  3. Stir in the butter until the glaze looks glossy.
Glaze and finish
  1. Return the salmon to the skillet and spoon the glaze over the top.
  2. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the glaze clings to the salmon.
  3. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, then serve immediately.

Notes

For best caramelization, keep the skillet at a steady medium-high heat during the sear and avoid moving the salmon too much after flipping. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; reheat gently so the glaze doesn’t burn. Freezing isn’t recommended because the glaze texture softens. For a lower-sugar swap, use a reduced-sugar brown sugar alternative in the same amount.