Grilled Honey Lemon Butter Salmon

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Grilled Honey Lemon Butter Salmon — EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and a FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon!! Wonderfully tender, so juicy, just melts in your mouth, and has FABULOUS flavor!!

Grilled Honey Lemon Butter Salmon - EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and a FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon!! Wonderfully tender, so juicy, just melts in your mouth, and has FABULOUS flavor!!

Foil Pack Lemon Butter Salmon

If you’re looking for a fast, foolproof, and flavorful way to cook salmon, save this grilled lemon butter salmon foil pack recipe. 

It’s so easy and the grilled salmon in foil is wonderfully tender and perfectly moist. This is one of the best grilled salmon recipes thanks to the super easy salmon marinade I used! 

I use my outdoor grill but you can bake the foil packets in your oven if you don’t have a grill. 

This easy lemon butter salmon recipe can also be made using a grill pan on your stovetop. It’s a flexible recipe and can easily be adapted to suit whatever appliances you have! 

What’s in Grilled Lemon Butter Salmon? 

To make the healthy salmon marinade and grilled salmon, you’ll need: 

  • Skin-on salmon fillet
  • Lemon slices and juice
  • Unsalted butter
  • Honey
  • Kosher salt and pepper
  • Fresh parsley

Grilled Honey Lemon Butter Salmon - EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and a FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon!! Wonderfully tender, so juicy, just melts in your mouth, and has FABULOUS flavor!!

How to Make Grilled Salmon in Foil

Simply add a salmon fillet to a sheet of foil, nestle lemon slices under it, and drizzle it with a mixture of melted butter, honey, and lemon juice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, seal up the foil, throw it on the grill, and you’re all set.

I’ve used this basic honey-lemon butter sauce many times before and love it so much. 

It’s impossible to ever have a dry piece of salmon when it’s cooking in that luxurious buttery elixir.

How Long to Cook Salmon on the Grill?

The salmon cooks in about 7 minutes on an outdoor grill and if you want to be done right there, go for it.

However, because I love it when the top and edges are slightly browned, I pop it under my oven broiler for 5 minutes. This is totally optional and is more for the texture and visual aspects. 

A little color on the edges helps the photographs look nicer and I am a texture junkie with all food.

I don’t risk ‘adding color’ from the grill because I am scared to flip the salmon over at this point in the cooking process. First, there is way too much precious buttery juice that would leak. Secondly, the salmon is fall-apart-tender and it could quite literally just fall apart on the grill grates. The broiler feels much safer.

Grilled Honey Lemon Butter Salmon - EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and a FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon!! Wonderfully tender, so juicy, just melts in your mouth, and has FABULOUS flavor!!

Can I Add Veggies to the Foil Pack?

Yes you can cook some veggies alongside the grilled salmon in foil such as zucchini, broccoli, or summer squash.

You’d want to add veggies that cook at the same rate as the lemon butter salmon.

Or, simply make a separate foil pack with your vegetables of choice and grill at the same time. 

Grilled Honey Lemon Butter Salmon — EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and a FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon!! Wonderfully tender, so juicy, just melts in your mouth, and has FABULOUS flavor!!

Can I Make Lemon Butter Salmon Without a Grill?

Yes of course you can!

I recommend following the general gist of the recipe in this Sheet Pan Honey Lemon Salmon, baking at 375F for about 20 minutes, but it will depend on the size of your piece of salmon. That recipe is a great one for perfect oven-baked salmon. 

Tips for Making Grilled Lemon Butter Salmon

If you choose to finish the salmon under the broiler, you don’t have to broil on the top rack. You can use the second rack, and while it will take longer, there’s less chance of it burning.

Keep a close eye on it because all broilers are different and you don’t want the salmon to burn. Open up your kitchen windows because the honey in the butter mixture is prone to burning and smoking.

Exact broiling time will depend on the size and thickness of the salmon, climate and oven variances, and personal preference. Check after 2 minutes and go from there.

Pin This Recipe

4.52 from 25 votes

Grilled Honey Lemon Butter Salmon

By Averie Sunshine
EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and a FOOLPROOF way to make lemon butter salmon!! Wonderfully tender, so juicy, melts in your mouth, and has FABULOUS flavor!!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 3
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Ingredients  

  • 1.25 pounds skin-on salmon fillet
  • 1 lemon, sliced into thin rounds
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice, from about 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh parsley, optional for garnishing

Instructions 

  • Preheat outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Alternatively, preheat oven to 425F.
  • Place salmon on a sheet of foil (with the longer side parallel with the longer side of the sheet pan) with the skin-side down. Raise the edges of the foil up about 2 inches (or enough so that when you pour the buttery mixture over the top it will be contained in the foil).
  • Nestle lemon slices underneath the salmon, spaced evenly around the fillet; set aside.
  • To a microwave-safe glass measuring cup or bowl, add the butter and heat on high power to melt, about 1 minute.
  • Stir in the honey and lemon juice. Pour or spoon about three-quarters of the mixture over the salmon; reserve remainder.
  • Evenly season salmon with salt and pepper.
  • Seal up the foil. Likely you will need to add another sheet of foil on top in order to seal it. Crimp or pinch the top and bottom pieces of foil together; get it as air-tight as possible but it doesn’t have to be perfect.
  • If you have time, set aside to marinate for about 10 to 15 minutes (enhanced flavor).
  • Place foil pack on the grill and cook for about 7 minutes, or until done.
  • Optionally, if you want additional browning on the top of the salmon, set your oven to Hi broil.
  • Open the foil pack or remove the top piece of foil so the salmon is exposed but keep the edges raised to contain the buttery mixture.
  • Spoon the reserved buttery mixture over the salmon, if desired. Use your judgment and if there’s already lots of juice you don’t need to add it because you don’t want it to start leaking. If you have extra buttery mixture, it’s great served over the finished dish.
  • Broil salmon for about 5 minutes, or until salmon is as golden as desired. Tip – You don’t have to broil on the top rack, you can use the second rack, and while it will take longer, there’s less chance of it burning. Keep a close eye on it because all broilers are different and you don’t want the salmon to burn. Exact broiling time will depend on the size and thickness of the salmon, climate and oven variances, and personal preference.
  • Optionally garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Salmon is best warm and fresh but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 623kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 42g, Fat: 39g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 22g, Cholesterol: 160mg, Sodium: 828mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 24g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Easy Salmon Dinner Recipes:

ALL OF MY SALMON RECIPES!

Sheet Pan Honey Lemon Salmon â€“ Make salmon at home in 30 minutes that tastes better than from a restaurant! Easy, tender, and packed with flavor from the honey and lemon butter!

Sheet Pan Honey Lemon Salmon - Make salmon at home in 30 minutes that tastes BETTER than from a restaurant!! EASY, tender, and packed with FLAVOR from the honey and lemon butter!!

Sheet Pan Orange Chili Salmon â€“ Make restaurant-quality salmon at home in 30 minutes! Easy and packed with so much flavor from orange juice, honey, and chili seasoning!

Sheet Pan Orange Chili Salmon - Make restaurant-quality salmon at home in 30 minutes!! EASY and packed with so much FLAVOR from orange juice, honey, and chili seasoning!!

Foil Pack Lime Cilantro Salmon â€” EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and a FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon!! Tender, juicy, and bursting with Mexican-inspired flavors that everyone loves!

Foil Pack Lime Cilantro Salmon - EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and a FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon!! Tender, juicy, and bursting with Mexican-inspired flavors that everyone LOVES!!

Foil Pack Orange Molasses Salmon â€” Easy, ready in 10 minutes, and a foolproof way to make grilled salmon! Tender, juicy, and bursting with layers of fabulous flavors!

Foil Pack Orange Molasses Salmon - EASY, ready in 10 minutes, and a FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon!! Tender, juicy, and bursting with layers of FABULOUS flavors!!

Sheet Pan Garlic Lemon Butter Salmon – Juicy salmon at home in 30 minutes that’s easy and tastes better than from a restaurant! The butter is infused with lemon and garlic and adds so much flavor!

Garlic Butter Salmon in foil packet with sliced lemons

Honey Dijon Salmon â€“ Easy, ready in 20 minutes, juicy, tender, and so flavorful from the honey, Dijon, and lemon juice! If you’re trying to incorporate more fish in your diet, this is the recipe to make!

Honey Dijon Salmon - EASY, ready in 20 minutes, juicy, tender, and so FLAVORFUL from the honey, Dijon, and lemon juice!! If you're trying to incorporate more fish in your diet, this is THE RECIPE to make!!

Sheet Pan Chili Dijon Salmon – A 5-ingredient salmon recipe that tastes 5-STARS and is ready in 25 minutes!! Loaded with layers of incredible flavor from two types of chili sauce, Dijon mustard, and honey!

Overhead shot of Sheet Pan Chili Dijon Salmon in foil

Originally posted August6, 2018 and reposted September 5, 2022 with update text.

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I just made this Honey Lemon Butter Salmon for dinner tonight and I LOVE it. I couldn’t decide which recipe to use, so just added spice to this one. I added red pepper flakes and the pepper to the honey and lemon juice and let it set before adding the butter. Then, followed the instructions, including letting it rest in the butter marinade. Yum!!! Thank you!!!

  2. 5 stars
    I just made this Honey Lemon Butter Salmon for dinner tonight and I LOVE it. I couldn’t decide which recipe to use, so just added spice to this one. I added red pepper flakes and the pepper to the honey and lemon juice and let it set before adding the butter. Then, followed the instructions, including letting it rest in the butter marinade. Yum!!! Thank you!!!

  3. 5 stars
    Delicious! Perfectly cooked and I loved the flavor and moisture the lemon slices added to the fish. Will definitely make it again. 

  4. 5 stars
    Delicious! Perfectly cooked and I loved the flavor and moisture the lemon slices added to the fish. Will definitely make it again. 

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and I’m glad it you loved the flavor and moisture from the lemon slices – me too! Great you’ll make it again.

  5. 5 stars
    This is a very delicious, foolproof recipe.    Easy peasy but everyone swooned.  Even my teen son, who hates fish, devoured it.   I’m always worried about over- or under-cooking fish, but this recipe gets it just right.  Tender on the inside but a nice golden crust on the exterior. 

  6. 5 stars
    This is a very delicious, foolproof recipe.    Easy peasy but everyone swooned.  Even my teen son, who hates fish, devoured it.   I’m always worried about over- or under-cooking fish, but this recipe gets it just right.  Tender on the inside but a nice golden crust on the exterior. 

  7. Your honey lemon butter salmon looks fabulous! Do you think I could do this using parchment paper and baking in the oven?

    1. Yes and I also have quite a few other baked salmon recipes if you check the Relate Recipes underneath the recipe section that were designed to be baked in the oven or broiler.