Honey Old Bay Salmon (Quick & Easy with Hot Honey Glaze)

This Honey Old Bay Salmon is quick, easy, and full of flavor thanks to a hot honey glaze. Ready in 25 minutes - perfect for busy weeknights or special dinners.

This recipe was inspired by my mother-in-law, a Maryland native—home of the beloved Old Bay seasoning. She made this dish for the family during a holiday gathering one year, and it instantly became one of my husband’s and my favorite salmon dishes of all time.

Over time, I made it my own by swapping regular honey for hot honey. The sweet-heat twist complements the spices in Old Bay so well and adds just enough richness to keep us reaching for seconds. I’m so excited to share this simple, flavor-packed salmon recipe with you—it's a dinner we return to again and again.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Big flavor, minimal effort – This recipe uses just 8 ingredients (mostly pantry staples) but delivers bold flavor in a short amount of time.
• Flexible cooking methods – Make it in the oven or air fryer, depending on your kitchen setup or time constraints.
• Sweet meets a hint of spicy – The hot honey balances beautifully with the spices in Old Bay to create seriously addictive bites.
• Perfect for weeknights – The whole recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, start to finish.

Ingredients You Will Need for Honey Old Bay Salmon

• 4 salmon fillets, about 6 oz each, thawed and patted dry
• 1½ teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
• ½ to ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt, adjust to taste
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 3 to 4 tablespoons hot honey, plus more to taste

I use Old Bay seasoning (find it here or at most grocery stores) and Mike's Hot Honey (link here), but any brand of hot honey will work.

Substitutions & Customization

• If you don’t have hot honey – Mix regular honey with about ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to create your own hot honey. You can also use a dash of hot sauce to mimic the mild tang of hot honey.
• If you want a honey-free option – Use maple syrup with a pinch of cayenne pepper. Since maple syrup is thinner than honey, I recommend adding 1 teaspoon of brown sugar to thicken the glaze slightly and help it cling to the salmon.
• Adjusting spice level – Use less hot honey or regular honey for a milder flavor. You can also swap cayenne for more paprika if you prefer less heat. Want it spicier? Add more cayenne for a bold kick!
• Salt choice – This recipe was tested using Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt. If you're using table salt (which is more concentrated), start with about ⅓ teaspoon and adjust to taste.

How to make Honey Old Bay Salmon

You can make this recipe in either the oven or air fryer—both work great! I’ll walk you through how to do it step-by-step so you can choose what works best for you.

1. Preheat your oven or air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
   If you're using the oven, line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. If using an air fryer, lightly oil the basket or use the basket liner if needed.
2. Mix the seasoning.
   In a small bowl, stir together the Old Bay seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
3. Season the salmon.
   Pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel. Evenly sprinkle the seasoning blend over each fillet (top and bottom) and gently pat it in so it sticks.
4. Cook the salmon.
   • Oven: Place the fillets on your prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
   • Air fryer: Place the fillets in the basket in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Air fry for 8 minutes.
5. Add the hot honey.
   Carefully drizzle ½ to 1 tablespoon of hot honey over each fillet. The heat will help the honey spread as it cooks, so drizzle it near the center of each fillet to avoid it running off the edges.
6. Finish cooking.
   • Oven: Return the salmon to the oven and bake for another 2 to 4 minutes, until the honey caramelizes slightly and the salmon flakes easily with a fork.
   • Air fryer: Air fry for another 2 minutes to let the glaze set and slightly crisp.
   • NOTE: This method creates a light, glossy glaze rather than a caramelized crust. I prefer it this way because the salmon stays super moist and the hot honey keeps its kick without burning.
   • For a more caramelized finish:
     • Option 1: Drizzle the hot honey before cooking (right after seasoning the fillets).
     • Option 2: Use the broiler for 1–2 minutes after adding the honey — just watch closely so it doesn't burn.
7. Serve and enjoy.
   Drizzle with a little extra hot honey if you’d like, and serve with your favorite sides.

Meal Prep & Storage Tips

• Meal prep tip – To make things easier on a busy weeknight, thaw your salmon in advance and mix the spice blend ahead of time. That way, all you have to do is season and cook.
• Leftovers – Store any cooked salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I usually reheat mine with some rice for a quick meal.
• Reheating – Let’s be honest—most of us reheat leftovers in the microwave. While it won’t taste as good as when it’s freshly made, it unfortunately will dry out the fish a bit. But to minimize the dryness, add a few drops of water or olive oil on top of the salmon and cover it with a damp paper towel. Reheat in short bursts (about 30 seconds at a time) until just warmed through. You can always drizzle a little more hot honey on top.

Serving Suggestions

Veggies that go well with this salmon:

• Roasted asparagus or broccolini – I usually just toss it with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast it until tender
• Sautéed green beans with garlic – simple, quick, and pairs perfectly with the sweet-spicy glaze
• A simple cucumber salad – something cool and crunchy to balance out the heat

Carbs I like to serve with it:

• Broken jasmine rice – light, fluffy, and easy to make
• White rice or jasmine rice
• Mashed potatoes if you’re not in the mood for rice

Full Dinner Game Plan (Honey Old Bay Salmon, Broken Jasmine Rice + Roasted Asparagus)

This is how I would plan my dinner when I really only have about 30 minutes. You definitely don’t have to follow this exactly, but I hope it gives you a helpful starting point!

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and get all your prep done before anything hits the heat—it really helps everything go smoother.
2. Start cooking the broken jasmine rice on the stovetop.
3. Bring the rice to a soft boil (about 2–4 minutes), then cover and reduce the heat to a simmer for 11–13 minutes.
4. While the rice is cooking, mix the spice blend for the salmon and set it aside.
5. Prep the asparagus on a sheet pan - trim the ends, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
6. Season the salmon with the spice blend and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
7. Once the oven is hot, add both the asparagus and salmon to the oven at the same time.
8. Check the asparagus after 8 – 11 minutes - I like mine with a little crisp, so I cook mine for about 8 minutes (also depending on the thickness of the asparagus). If you like yours cooked a little more tender, continue to cook for a few more minutes.
9. (If your rice has finished cooking, turn off the heat and let it steam with the lid on.)
10. Add the hot honey glaze to the salmon and return it to the oven for another 2–4 minutes, just until it glaze the salmon nicely and finishes cooking through.
11. Fluff the rice, plate everything, and drizzle with a little extra hot honey if you’d like!

I’ll be sharing more full dinner game plans like this over the next few months to see if it’s helpful. If you like it, let me know—I’d love to hear how it works for you!

Looking for another quick seafood dinner idea? My Swai Fish recipe is just as easy and packed with flavor — perfect for busy nights.

Honey Old Bay Salmon: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions I get about this recipe, from ingredients to prep and reheating. I hope these tips help you feel more confident as you make it!

I hope this Honey Old Bay Salmon becomes one of your go-to weeknight meals like it has for us. It’s simple, bold, and so satisfying. If you give it a try, I’d love to hear how it turned out—feel free to leave a comment. And if the Full Dinner Game Plan section was helpful, let me know! I’m planning to share more of those soon. Happy cooking!

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