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Crispy Pan Seared Salmon with a Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce is a deliciously easy salmon recipe that can be ready in minutes!

The best thing about pan seared salmon is that it’s super crispy on the outside, while soft, tender and flakey on the inside, finished with a silky, buttery sauce. Our family favourite low carb salmon recipe is now yours!

Four pieces of salmon in a pan with cooked herbs, garlic, melting butter and lemon slices on top.

SALMON

Even after pumping out bangers like our Creamy Garlic Butter Salmon and our Honey Mustard Salmon, this simple pan seared salmon recipe has to be one of my family’s favourites. Searing salmon in a hot pan is one of our favourite ways to eat salmon. Not only because it’s delicious, but salmon is also a fantastic source of nutrients, such as omega-3 and vitamin B.

If you’re watching your calories, this pan seared salmon recipe will tick all of your boxes. High in protein and full of healthy fats, every bite of our tangy, garlicky salmon will leave you feeling fuller for longer.

This pan seared salmon uses minimal ingredients but has maximum taste, allowing the flavour of salmon to shine through. You really can’t go wrong with this recipe. Much less fuss than our Creamy Spinach Stuffed Salmon recipe, it comes together fast, making it perfect for any night of the week.

HOW TO COOK PAN SEARED SALMON

Grab all of your ingredients first as this recipe cooks fast!

  • Skinless salmon fillets
  • Lemon juice
  • Olive oil
  • Butter
  • Garlic
  • Parsley

Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce with lemon wedges

HOW TO PAN SEAR SALMON

Dry room temperature salmon filets with paper towel.
Season all over with salt and pepper.
Squeeze lemon juice over each fillet.
Heat oil in a large non-stick pan or skillet over medium-high heat until hot.
Sear salmon flesh side down, pressing them lightly so the entire surface of the flesh comes into contact with the pan, until crispy and golden.
Flip and sear the other side until the outside is crispy.
Add in the butter, garlic, parsley and lemon juice, stirring the melting butter around each fillet. (The butter will begin to brown slightly.)

SOME TIPS:

  • A good quality non stick pan will prevent the salmon from sticking to the pan and causing unnecessary stress.
  • You can substitute the butter with 2 tablespoons of olive oil if you’re hesitant to use butter
  • Add in a splash of white wine also for a gourmet feel! (I usually add in 3-4 tablespoons)
  • Fresh parsley is the only way to go with this! I don’t really recommend cooking or garnishing with dried parsley

Close up image of salmon in pan with lemon and herbs on top.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH PAN SEARED SALMON

Throw some greenery on your plate and pair your pan seared salmon with some Grilled Asparagus, Buttery Sautéed Green Beans or some Creamy Mashed Potato.

This pan seared salmon recipe is restaurant quality, ready in under 15 minutes! Perfectly cooked, crispy and flaky salmon with a silky, buttery lemon garlic sauce.

De-LICIOUS!

Love Salmon? Try these recipes!

Creamy Tuscan Salmon
Easy Salmon Piccata
Easy Honey Garlic Salmon

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Karina in a white and black dress with her hair blowing back, standing in front of her cooktop, cooking salmon in a pan

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4.98 from 45 votes

Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Lemon Garlic Herb Salmon is a deliciously easy salmon recipe, so simple to make, yet so delicious! Crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside!
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Ingredients 
 

  • 28 ounces skinless salmon filets
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt to season
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper to season
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice divided
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 8 cloves garlic finely chopped or minced
  • 4 tablespoons Italian parsley fresh, chopped, divided
  • 1/2 lemon sliced

Instructions 

  • Pat dry room temperature salmon filets with paper towel. Season all over with salt, pepper. Squeeze 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice over each filet, and rub all the flavour in.
  • Heat the olive in a large non-stick pan or skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Place salmon filets flesh side down, pressing them lightly so the entire surface of the flesh comes into contact with the pan. Sear, undisturbed, for 3-4 minutes until crispy and golden.
  • Flip and sear the other side of each filet for TWO minutes. Add in the butter, chopped garlic, 3 tablespoons of parsley, remaining lemon juice and lemon slices.  Stir the butter and garlic around each filet.
  • Continue to cook the salmon for a further 1-2 minutes, or until salmon reaches desired doneness. (The butter will begin to brown slightly.) Taste test and season with salt and pepper to your tastes, and add more lemon juice if desired.
  • Garnish with the remaining parsley and drizzle the butter over each filet. 
    Serve immediately.

Notes

  • A good quality non stick pan will prevent the salmon from sticking to the pan and causing unnecessary stress. 
  • You can substitute the butter with 2 tablespoons of olive oil if you're hesitant to use butter

Nutrition

Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 281mg | Potassium: 1.037mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 594IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2mg

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

Tried this? Leave a comment below!
PIN image of Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
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Hey Good Food Lovers! It’s nice to see you! My name is Karina. Welcome to Cafe Delites, my beloved space for the last 10 years where my passion for food has flourished and connected millions!

4.98 from 45 votes

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64 Comments

  1. John Morris says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious!

  2. Carol says:

    5 stars
    I thought I was over cooking my salmon and I actually cooked for less time but I was wrong. It was the best salmon I have ever made. Possibly the best I’ve ever had. Definitely better than any restaurant I’ve experienced and maybe better than my dad, the salmon king

  3. Jordan says:

    5 stars
    Just made this for dinner and even my husband who doesn’t like fish, loves it and finished his salmon filet happily! Definitely gonna refer back to this again.

  4. Johnny Boy says:

    5 stars
    Great recipe! I use ghee instead of regular butter and oil to sear the salmon, flip it over, then drizzle hot ghee over it with the garlic and fresh parsley.

  5. Vanessa says:

    5 stars
    This was the best salmon I’ve ever cooked! I used a cast iron skillet and it was so good!

  6. Marion says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is sooo good! Salmon tasted amazing