Pan-Seared Salmon with Citrus and Herb Butter Sauce
Salmon fillets seared to a crisp golden finish and topped with a bright citrus and herb-infused butter sauce. This Mediterranean-inspired Easter recipe (gluten free), ready in about 22 minutes, pairs salmon fillets, olive oil, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 2, 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
- 2, 6 oz each, skin on salmon fillets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1, minced garlic clove
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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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 2 salmon fillets dry and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Step 2: Place salmon fillets skin-side down in the skillet and sear without moving for 5-6 minutes until the skin is crisp and golden.
- Step 3: Flip the fillets carefully and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until salmon is just cooked through.
- Step 4: Remove salmon from skillet and set aside on a warm plate.
- Step 5: Reduce heat to medium, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 1 minced garlic clove to the skillet. Stir butter until melted and fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Step 6: Add 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 1 tsp orange zest, stirring to combine. Cook sauce for 1 minute until slightly thickened.
- Step 7: Remove from heat and stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
- Step 8: Spoon the citrus and herb butter sauce over the salmon fillets before serving.








