Pan-Seared Salmon with Garlic and Lemon Butter Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-30 · Updated 2026-06-30

Tender salmon fillets pan-seared to a crisp golden crust, finished with a bright garlic lemon butter sauce. This seafood recipe, ready in about 17 minutes, pairs salmon fillets, skin on, unsalted butter, garlic cloves, minced 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 fillets (6 oz each) salmon fillets, skin on
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Pans + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 salmon fillets and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place salmon fillets skin-side down and cook for 5-6 minutes without moving until skin is crisp and edges are golden.
3. Step 3: Flip the salmon and cook for 2-3 minutes more until the salmon is opaque and flakes easily.
4. Step 4: Remove the salmon from the pan and set aside. Lower the heat to medium and add 4 tbsp unsalted butter and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, then spoon the lemon garlic butter sauce over the salmon fillets before serving.