Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon (Printable Version)
Tender salmon fillets cooked in a flavorful lemon garlic butter sauce with fresh herbs and spices.
# What You'll Need:
→ Seafood
01 - 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each), skin-on or skinless
→ Aromatics
02 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
→ Sauce
04 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - Juice and zest of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons juice)
→ Seasoning
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Garnish
10 - Lemon slices, for serving
11 - Extra parsley, for garnish
# Directions:
01 - Pat salmon fillets completely dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add salmon fillets skin-side down (if using skin-on). Sear undisturbed for 4–5 minutes until skin is golden and crispy.
03 - Carefully flip fillets and add butter, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes to the pan. Cook for 2–3 minutes, continuously spooning melted butter over the salmon as it cooks.
04 - Pour in lemon juice and add lemon zest. Let simmer for 1–2 minutes until salmon is just cooked through and sauce is fragrant. Remove from heat immediately.
05 - Sprinkle with chopped parsley and arrange lemon slices alongside. Serve immediately, spooning extra sauce generously over each fillet.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- A restaurant worthy dish that comes together in under 30 minutes
- The sauce creates itself in the pan while the salmon cooks
02 -
- Crowding the pan drops the temperature and prevents proper searing
- The salmon continues cooking after you remove it from the heat
03 -
- Room temperature salmon cooks more evenly than cold from the fridge
- A fish spatula is thin enough to slip under delicate fillets without breaking them