Garlic Butter Pan-Seared Salmon (Printable)
Pan-seared salmon fillets glazed with a rich garlic butter and lemon sauce, ready in 25 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each), skin-on or skinless
→ Garlic Butter Sauce
02 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
04 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
05 - Zest of 1/2 lemon
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Optional Garnishes
09 - Lemon wedges
10 - Extra chopped parsley
# How-To Steps:
01 - Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
02 - Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until foaming.
03 - Place the salmon fillets skin-side down in the hot skillet. Sear for 4–5 minutes until a golden crust forms, then carefully flip and cook another 2–3 minutes until nearly cooked through. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
04 - Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the same skillet. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
05 - Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and chopped parsley. Simmer for 30 seconds to allow the flavors to meld together.
06 - Return the salmon to the skillet and spoon the garlic butter sauce over the fillets. Cook for 1–2 more minutes until heated through and fully coated in the sauce.
07 - Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley sprigs and lemon wedges alongside.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The garlic butter sauce comes together in the same pan, so you get maximum flavor with almost zero extra cleanup.
- It tastes like something you would order at a nice restaurant but honestly takes less than thirty minutes from fridge to plate.
02 -
- If the salmon is wet when it hits the pan you will steam it instead of searing it, and that golden crust will never happen.
- The fish continues cooking from residual heat after you pull it, so take it off just before you think it is fully done and it will be perfect by the time you serve.
03 -
- Try swapping the parsley for fresh dill or chives when you want a completely different flavor without changing anything else about the recipe.
- The secret to a truly great garlic butter sauce is watching it constantly once the garlic hits the pan because it goes from golden to bitter in seconds.