Crispy Pan Seared Salmon with a Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce is a deliciously easy salmon recipe ready in minutes!
Pan Seared Salmon are super crispy on the outside, while soft, tender and flakey on the inside, finished with a silky, flavourful buttery sauce. Our family favourite low carb salmon recipe is now yours!
SALMON
Searing salmon in a hot pan is one of our favourite ways to eat salmon, and this recipe is one I make often for our family.
Minimal ingredients and maximum taste, while allowing the flavour of salmon to shine through and taste absolutely delicious. You really can’t go wrong with this recipe. It comes together fast, making it perfect for any night of the week.
HOW TO MAKE PAN SEARED SALMON WITH LEMON GARLIC BUTTER SAUCE
Grab all of your ingredients first as this recipe cooks fast!
- Skinless salmon fillets
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil
- Butter
- Garlic
- Parsley
How To 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 save you unnecessary stress of salmon sticking to a non-seasoned pan, and many tears of frustration
- You can substitute the butter with 2 tablespoons of olive oil if your 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
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
Creamy Spinach Stuffed Salmon
Easy Honey Garlic Salmon
Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
Ingredients
- 28 ounces (800 g) skinless salmon filets
- Salt and pepper , to season
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice , divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 8 cloves garlic , finely chopped or minced
- 4 tablespoons fresh chopped Italian parsley leaves , divided
- Lemon slices of half a lemon
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.
Roxanna says
So delicious!! I’m not the type to cook with exact measurements but I did eye the ingredients to use about the amount called for in the recipe and it turned out so good! I added a splash of Sauvignon blanc to mine! Served with grilled asparagus and brown rice, this meal was quick and so yummy.
Ann says
I have been looking for a seared salmon recipe and tried this tonight. It was truly excellent and will be cooking again. I did not have parsley so used fresh tarragon which I had on hand instead. Delicious! I did add the white wine as suggested. I also had to cook a little longer, probably depends on size of salmon filets. Great flavors! Thank you.
Christine P. says
Thanks for this easy to follow recipe!! I’m a vegan but still love to make my hubby his fav dishes. He said this is the best salmon dish he’s ever had!
Joanne says
Awesome amazing recipe! Tasted great and looked very presentable! This recipe made it seem like I know what I’m doing in the kitchen when in reality it was such a simple recipe to follow. I served it with a baked potato and veggies. Thank you.
Jo says
I’m very picky when it comes to eating fish and I really loved this dish! It wassuper easy to make and the ingredients were very simple. I didn’t have fresh parsley on hand so I ended up using parsley flakes but I will try to use a fresh one next time. Thank you for this recipe!
Carol says
This was delicious, deceptively easy, and best of all, very low sodium. Thank you. I am looking forward to your other recipes.
Jacqueline V. says
I made this tonight to impress a guest. It was mainly because the guest likes to eat fish, but not me. Can I just tell you! I loved this recipe and will definitely make it again. I followed your recipe to the letter. Thank you so much!
Allyson says
My favorite way to cook salmon! Even the kids love it, and so quick. For thicker fillets, sometimes the middle isn’t cooked through. When that happens, I just put a lid on the pan for a few minutes after turning the burner off and they’re perfect.
Jack Bender says
I purchased some inexpensive Atlantic Farm raised salmon that was on sale.
Your recipe turned this rather mundane Salmon fillet into a meal that was very delicious. Thanks a lot! Jack
Chauntol Ottey says
Loved this recipe. Easy to follow with simple ingredients.
Laurie says
I have always baked salmon at home, and it usually turns out edible, but not delicious. This salmon was so spectacular with its caramelized crust and yummy lemon garlic butter sauce. I will use this recipe every time I make salmon now. Thank you for the wonderful, easy-to-follow recipe!
Mila says
My so picky husband, who hates fish,lol… loves this!! Thanks a Bunch!
Michelle says
Easy and delicious! My husband scraped the pan for any garlic bits left. This was so easy and fast.
Arpita Patel says
This recipe is simple yet delicious. I skipped the capers and used a normal non-stick frying pan. Poured the olive oil into the pan instead of coating the salmon with it. Perfectly accompanied by my favorite salad composed of tomatoes, onions, feta cheese with lemon juice and olive oil. Thanks!
Anovitch says
Absolutely delicious!!!!!! I didnt cook this right but the flavor was amazing
Allie says
It was good, but I think I did something wrong. The garlic turned blue! ?♀️?
Mary says
This salmon ever!
Samantha says
It was great. I have fresh Thai basil and used that instead of parsley. It was gourmet-level delicious! THANK YOU for sharing! It was very difficult to post this due to all the adds on this page blocking my view, but I persevered even though I can’t see what I’m typing. I wanted to acknowledge your excellence in doing this and making me look like I know what I’m doing with a salmon fillet. Cheers!
Jennifer Sinnott says
Delicious
stefanie cooper says
Im a beginner level cook, and this came out perfect! I used a dutch oven and it worked so well to sear salmon as well a super fresh salmon. So easy and presentation was awesome . thank you so much
Molly says
Super delicious, thansk for sharing!
Jane says
This was my first time cooking and eating Salmon. I tweaked some ingredients used in native cooking. It still turned out to be family favorite. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.
LL says
Loved it!
Teri McCarthy says
Best salmon ever! My whole family loved it. Thanks for this wonderful recipe!!
Nancy says
Excellent!! I made this tonight in just a few minutes and it looked & tasted like restaurant fare. This is a keeper. Thank you.
Kari says
This recipe was amazing and so easy to make! A very elegant meal made at home. Even my picky grandfather enjoyed it.
Thank you for sharing!
Shari K Richart says
Thi was delish! I would have taken a picture but it got eaten too quickly!
Tonya Frost says
This recipe was sooooo delicious. Loved it and quick and easy to prepare.
Lisa says
hi karina. the instructions say “Flip and sear the other side of each filet for TWO minutes. Then, add in the remaining butter” but for the life of me, i can’t figure out what i did with the beginning butter! LOL … help!
Karina says
You can use the butter or olive oil when searing the salmon. Hope that helps clarify it for you! Thanks so much for following along with me! You will love this salmon! Enjoy!
Lala says
This came out amazing!
Rohit says
Simple receipe and great result! Thanks a ton for sharing this
Karina says
You’re welcome Rohit! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one!
Jean Goebel says
I would like to try this.
April says
I’m all in for trying this tonight for me & my boyfriend. This is my first time cooking & eating salmon so I am excited to try this. I have a little confusion however.. In step 3, it says to add remaining butter after flipping the filets.. Where do I put the first amount of butter at? In the olive oil in step 2? I want this to come out perfect so I just wanted to make sure I don’t miss anything.
Latoya says
So, you do leave the skin on?
Heather Strider says
This recipe is for skinless. But I used skin on and just started skin down, then followed the recipe directions otherwise.
Ana says
Amazing recipe. Love the garlic and lemon combined with the crispness of the salmon. Tried it today!
Barbara says
Was great a definite do over.
Cindy says
So easy, moist and delicious!
doris gonzalez says
I would love to know the nutritional value. I love salmon, can’t wait to try it. thanks.
Kandy McDonald says
This recipe looks amazing and I want to try right away. My question is this. The ingredients say skinless fillets, but the directions day to saute them skin side down first. I prefer skinless, but if the recipe is better with the shin on, I’ll do it that way.
Karina says
Hi Kandy! My apologies! I’ve fixed it to read ‘flesh side down’. Thank you for picking that up!
Kellien says
Served in the restaurant is always usually skin on and that’s the best bit- the crispy salmon skin! Makes the dish look superb on the plate and also that’s where all the vitamins and flavours are!!