Pan-Seared Fresh Salmon with Lemon and Dill
Salmon fillets seared to golden perfection, finished with a zesty lemon-dill sauce that enhances the fish's natural flavor. This American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs salmon fillets, olive oil, salt 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.
Ingredients
- 4 (6 oz each), skin-on salmon fillets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp, finely chopped fresh dill
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Step 2: Place salmon skin-side down in the skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes until skin is crisp and golden. Flip and cook for 3-4 minutes more until internal temperature reaches 125°F (medium-rare).
- Step 3: Remove salmon from skillet and set aside. Add 1 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp fresh dill to the skillet, stirring to combine. Cook for 1 minute to warm through, then pour sauce over salmon and serve immediately.
