by Tania Sheff · This post may contain affiliate links
Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
This Easy Lemon Butter Salmon recipe makes an elegant and delicious dinner. Seared in a skillet on the stove top and ready in under 20 minutes!
This easy salmon recipe is just great for busy weeknights when you need to make something quick. Cook some rice while the salmon is searing, and your filling dinner is ready in no time. On top of that, you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry to make this delicious dish.
Salmon is my favorite fish, and even though I don’t eat it very often, I always enjoy salmon recipes. I’ve already shared two of my favorite salmon recipes on Cooktoria (Salmon in Roasted Pepper SauceandSalmon Burgers), so I thought that today we could go back to basics and talk about how to make classic lemon-butter sauce and how to sear salmon. With a few simple tips, your salmon can be perfectly crispy on the outside, moist and tender and flaky on the inside.
Video Tutorial for Lemon Butter Salmon
Lemon Butter Sauce Ingredients
- Lemon Juice.Freshlysqueezed lemon juice is the best. You can also add a bit of orange juice for extraflavor.
- Butter.You’llneed cold butter, to make sure the sauce is the right consistency.
- Parsley.Freshfinely chopped parsley is the way to go.
- Garlic.Thisingredient is optional. If you are not a garlic fan, feel free to skip it.
- Salt & Pepper.
How to Make Lemon Butter Sauce
1. In a small skillet or saucepan, bring the lemon juice to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Reduce the heat to very low and add the cold butter to the lemon juice. Keep stirring, allowing the butter to melt slowly. When the butter is melted halfway, add the parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 more minute and remove from the heat.
How to Sear Salmon
1. Season the salmon fillets with Old Bay Seasoning (or salt and pepper).
2. Heat a large non-stick pan over high with olive oil. Place the fillets in the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Do not move the fillets. Allow them to cook for about 5-6 minutes or until well browned and cooked about halfway through. Turn the fillets and cook for about 5 more minutes, or until they reach the desired doneness.*
*NOTE:Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the salmon fillets. If you are not sure whether the salmon is cooked, you can use an instant-read thermometer. When the inside of the fish is 140-145°F, your fish is properly cooked.
How to Serve this Salmon
Once your salmon fillets are cooked, transfer them onto a plate and pour a generous amount of Lemon-Butter Sauce on top.
Serve this delicious salmon with:
- Your favorite side dish.Creamy Spinach Orzo,,EasyAngel Hair Pasta,RoastedFingerling Potatoes,Spinach,andMushroom Risottoareamong my favorites!
- Salad.Iabsolutely loveCucumberTomato Avocado Salad,RoastedZucchini Salad,MediterraneanQuinoa Salad, andSimpleKale Salad.
- Vegetables.Oven Roasted Vegetables,EasyZucchini Noodles,Pan FriedBrussel Sprouts, orSpiralized Fried Potatoes.
What is the best seasoning for salmon?
I always suggest usingyour favorite seasoningwhen making this easy salmon recipe. You can just season it withsalt and pepper, and it will turn out fantastic. I usedOld Bay Seasoning because it pairs really well with fish. Some other seasonings you might enjoy areCajun,Berbere, orAll-Purpose Seasoning. I especially likeOne & Done Seasoning.
How to Store and Reheat this Salmon
Once the salmon has been cooked, it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can keep the lemon-butter sauce separate, or pour it over the salmon. To reheat, just place the salmon together with the sauce on a skillet, and cook on low heat for about 5 minutes, flipping once.
Skinless vs. Skin-On Salmon
You can use both skinless and skin-on salmon in this recipe. Some people prefer to cook salmon with the skin on. Cooking the salmon this way helps stop the delicate flesh from drying out. Crispy salmon skin can also add a different texture to the dish.
Useful Tips and Tricks
- Salmon is a delicate fish. When cooking salmon, wait until it’s cooked halfway through before flipping it.
- When purchasing fresh salmon, make sure it has a firm texture, moist appearance, and fresh odor. Store it in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to 2 days before cooking.
- If using frozen salmon, make sure you thaw it completely before searing it. Learn how to thaw salmon here:How to Defrost Salmon.
- It’s best to let your salmon fillets rest out on the counter for about 30 minutes, until they have come to room temperature.This will help cook the fish evenly.
- Use a non-stick skillet to make sure your salmon flips easily.
Looking for More Tasty and Easy Salmon Recipes?
I’ve got you covered. Try the recipes below and you won’t be disappointed.
- Blackened Salmon
- Cajun Salmon
- Salmon Steak Recipe
- Salmon Patties
- Spinach Stuffed Salmon
Lemon Butter Salmon
Tania Sheff
ThisEasy Lemon Butter Salmonrecipe makes an elegant and delicious dinner. Seared in a skillet on the stove top and ready in under 20 minutes!
4.70 from 96 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 3 servings
Calories 382 kcal
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 4 tbsp. butter
- 1 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley
- 1 small garlic cloves minced
For the Salmon:
- 3 salmon fillets, about 6 oz. each skin on or off
- 2 tbsp. avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning or to taste
Instructions
Sear the Salmon
Season the salmon fillets with Old Bay Seasoning (or salt and pepper).
Heat a large non-stick pan over high with olive oil. Place the fillets in the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Do not move the fillets. Allow them to cook for about 5-6 minutes or until well browned and cooked about halfway through. Turn the fillets and cook for about 5 more minutes, or until they reach the desired doneness.*
Make the Sauce
In a small skillet or saucepan, bring the lemon juice to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Reduce the heat to very low and add the cold butter to the lemon juice. Keep stirring, allowing the butter to melt slowly. When the butter is melted halfway, add the parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 more minute and remove from the heat.
Notes
*NOTE:Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the salmon fillets. If you are not sure whether the salmon is cooked, you can use an instant-read thermometer. When the inside of the fish is 140-145°F, your fish is properly cooked.
USEFUL TIPS AND TRICKS
- Salmon is a delicate fish. When cooking salmon, wait until it’s cooked halfway through before flipping it.
- When purchasing fresh salmon, make sure it has a firm texture, moist appearance, and fresh odor. Store it in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to 2 days before cooking.
- If using frozen salmon, make sure you thaw it completely before searing it. Learn how to thaw salmon here:How to Defrost Salmon.
- It’s best to let your salmon fillets rest out on the counter for about 30 minutes, until they have come to room temperature.This will help cook the fish evenly.
- Use a non-stick skillet to make sure your salmon flips easily.
Nutrition
Calories: 382kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 34gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 184mgPotassium: 882mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 896IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below, I can't wait to hear from you!