This Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon Butter Garlic Sauce recipe offers a perfect balance of tender salmon fillets with a flavorful, tangy lemon sauce, that’s incredibly easy to prepare. With just a few basic ingredients and about fifteen minutes of time, you’ll have a mouthwatering dish that tastes like it came from a fancy restaurant. This salmon recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you do not have a lot of time, but want a satisfying, homemade meal.
Why You Should Make This Salmon Recipe
There are countless reasons why you should make this Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon Butter Garlic Sauce recipe, but let’s start with the incredible flavor profile. The combination of tender, flaky salmon with the zesty butter sauce, is heavenly.
In addition, this salmon recipe is incredibly easy to make, requiring just a handful of simple ingredients and minimal prep time. Plus, salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and protein, making it a nutritious choice for any meal.
If you would rather try a similar recipe using white fish, try my Pan Fried Cod with Lemon Butter Sauce recipe!
Skin-Off or Skin-On Salmon
Honestly, using skin-off salmon, or skin-on is a matter of preference. If you decide to keep the skin-on, here’s how you will prepare the salmon.
Achieving crispy salmon skin requires the right technique, and a bit of patience. Despite what others may do, my technique involves searing the salmon, flesh-side down, first. Here are a few tips to help you achieve that crispy skin:
- Pat the salmon dry with paper towels. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness.
- Score the skin using a sharp knife. Making shallow scores on the skin helps prevent the skin from curling.
- Use medium-high to high heat. Add the salmon only after the pan and oil have been heated and shimmers.
- Chose the right oil. Use an oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable, canola, avocado or grapeseed oil.
- Place the salmon flesh-side down, or skin-side down.
- Do NOT disturb the salmon until ready to flip.
- Be patient.
- Flip and finish cooking the salmon filet until the skin is crispy. This should only take a few minutes.
- After cooking and to preserve the skin’s crispiness, blot the salmon skin to absorb any excess grease oil
Ingredients
- Salmon: Easily substitute with your favorite white fish, such as cod or tilapia. Chicken or shrimp can also be used as alternatives.
- Garlic cloves: Garlic paste can be used instead of fresh garlic cloves.
- White wine: Chicken or vegetable broth can be used as a substitute for white wine in the sauce.
- Lemon juice: Lime juice can be used as a substitute for lemon juice in the sauce.
- Seasonings: Change up the seasoning mixture to suit your preference.
How to Make Pan Seared Salmon with a Lemon Butter Garlic Sauce
If you have fifteen minutes, you have enough time to prepare this simple, yet sophisticated salmon dish:
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- As the butter is melting, add the minced garlic. Cook for a minute.
- Pour in the white wine and fresh lemon juice.
- Let the sauce simmer and reduce while you prepare the salmon.
- Season the salmon fillets with the seasoning blend.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Place the seasoned salmon fillets and cook until a golden crust forms.
- Carefully flip the salmon fillets and reduce heat to medium.
- Cook until the salmon is cooked to your desired doneness.
- Transfer cooked salmon fillets to serving plates.
- Finish the lemon butter garlic sauce by stirring in fresh chopped parsley.
- Pour the lemon butter garlic sauce over the seared salmon fillets.
How to Serve and Store Salmon with Lemon Butter Caper Sauce
Pair this Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon Butter Garlic Sauce with your favorite side dishes such as:
- Steamed rice or Almond Rice Pilaf
- Roasted vegetables
- Mashed potatoes or Mashed Cauliflower
- Green salad
How to Store:
- If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Reheat the salmon and sauce gently in a skillet over low heat until warmed through.
- Alternatively, you can enjoy the leftovers cold, flaked over a salad or sandwich for a delicious and nutritious lunch option.
More Salmon Recipes to Love
- Seared Salmon with Lemon Butter Caper Sauce
- Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad
- Salmon Wellington
- Tomato Garlic Roasted Salmon
- Miso Maple Glazed Salmon
Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon Butter Garlic Sauce
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Description
This Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon Butter Garlic Sauce recipe offers a perfect balance of tender salmon fillets with a flavorful, tangy lemon sauce that’s easy to prepare.
Ingredients
- 2 (6-8 ounce) salmon fillets, skin-off
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
For the Lemon Butter Garlic Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- As the butter is melting, add the minced garlic. Cook the garlic for about a minute until it becomes fragrant, but be careful not to let it brown.
- Pour in the white wine and fresh lemon juice and allow to simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until it reduces slightly and thickens. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
- While the lemon sauce is simmering, prepare the salmon fillets.
- Season both sides of each fillet with the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil is hot, carefully place the seasoned salmon fillets.
- Allow the salmon to cook without moving or flipping for about 3-4 minutes until a golden crust forms on the bottom.
- Carefully flip the salmon fillets. Reduce the heat to medium. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes on the other side, or until the salmon is cooked to your desired level of doneness.
- Once the salmon is cooked, transfer it to serving plates.
- Finish the lemon butter garlic sauce by stirring in the chopped parsley.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
- Drizzle the lemon butter garlic sauce generously over the seared salmon fillets.
- Serve immediately, accompanied by your favorite side dishes such as roasted vegetables, rice or salad.
- ENJOY!
Equipment
Small Sauce Pot with Pour Spout
Buy Now →Notes
- Easily use skin-on salmon. See post for how to achieve a crispy skin salmon.
- Start cooking the lemon sauce first to allow the sauce to reduce while you are preparing the salmon.
- Once the lemon sauce has reduced, turn off the heat. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
- The thickness of the salmon will determine cook time. Try not to overcook the salmon.
- Do not add the fresh parsley to the sauce until ready to pour over the fish. This helps to retain the bright green color.
- Serve with steamed rice and roasted vegetables for a balanced meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Fish and Seafood
- Method: Easy
- Cuisine: Seafood
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WELCOME! My name is Melissa Latin aka. Charlotte Fashion Plate. Happy to meet you! I am more than just recipes. I love fashion and style too! Most importantly, I love my Family (my Hubby and my Fur Babies). My Husband (aka my “Kitchen Bitch”) means the world to me. He’s pretty damn cool too. Not only is he one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, he also has had a lengthy career in professional hockey. Not only winning two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the early ’90’s, but most recently winning the Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers, amongst many other accolades. If you live in Charlotte and play hockey, or have a family member who plays, be sure to contact him!
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