Garlic Butter Salmon Fillet (Printable)
Pan-seared salmon in a luscious garlic butter lemon sauce, ready in 25 minutes for a satisfying weeknight meal.
# 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 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
07 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Optional Garnish
08 - Lemon wedges
09 - Additional fresh parsley
# How-To Steps:
01 - Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
02 - Melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until foamy.
03 - Place the salmon fillets in the skillet, skin-side down if using skin-on. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until the bottom develops a golden crust and the flesh is mostly opaque.
04 - Flip the fillets and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, minced garlic, and lemon zest to the pan. Cook for 2 to 3 more minutes, spooning the melted garlic butter over the salmon repeatedly.
05 - Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the fillets and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Remove from heat when the salmon flakes easily with a fork. Serve immediately, garnished with lemon wedges and extra parsley if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The garlic butter sauce basically creates itself in the pan while the salmon cooks, so you get a luxurious finish with almost zero extra work.
- It feels fancy enough for date night but honest enough for a Tuesday when youre eating standing over the sink.
02 -
- Overcooked salmon turns dry and chalky in seconds, so pull it from the heat when the center still has a slight translucence.
- Adding a splash of dry white wine with the garlic transforms the pan sauce into something deeply restaurant worthy.
03 -
- Press the salmon gently in the center with your finger; if it springs back and flakes apart, it is perfectly done.
- Basting constantly during the last two minutes is the single move that takes this from good to unforgettable.