Pan-Seared Salmon with Cilantro Lime Butter
Tender salmon fillets pan-seared to golden perfection and topped with a bright cilantro lime butter sauce. This American-inspired seafood recipe (gluten free, high protein), ready in about 20 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 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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 pieces, 6 oz each, skin on salmon fillets
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup, finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 1 small, minced garlic clove
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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 dry 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each) with skin on, then season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place salmon skin-side down and cook for 5-6 minutes until the skin is crisp and the fish is cooked 3/4 of the way through.
- Step 3: Flip the fillets carefully and cook for an additional 2 minutes until the salmon is just cooked through and opaque.
- Step 4: While salmon cooks, melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, 1 tsp lime zest, and 1 small minced garlic clove. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant and well combined.
- Step 5: Remove salmon from skillet and spoon the cilantro lime butter generously over the top before serving.









