Crisp Pan-Seared Salmon with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-22 · Updated 2026-06-22

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Pan-seared salmon fillets with a golden crust, topped with a bright, buttery lemon garlic sauce that elevates every bite. This seafood recipe, ready in about 17 minutes, pairs salmon fillets, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 12 min Serves 4 International cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 pieces, 6 oz each, skin on salmon fillets
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter
3, minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each, skin on) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Set aside.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down and cook for 5-6 minutes without moving to develop a crisp, golden crust.
Step 3: Flip the salmon carefully and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until just cooked through and opaque.
Step 4: Remove the salmon from the skillet and set aside. Reduce heat to medium-low and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and the butter is melted.
Step 5: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, cooking for 30 seconds until sauce slightly thickens.
Step 6: Spoon the lemon garlic butter sauce over the salmon fillets and serve immediately.