Pan-Seared Salmon with Garlic-Butter and Herb Quinoa

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-09 · Updated 2026-08-09

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 drafted and published.

Tender salmon fillets pan-seared to a golden crust served over fluffy quinoa tossed with fresh herbs and garlic butter. This American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs salmon fillets, quinoa, water 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 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: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 American cuisine 450 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 fillets (6 oz each), skin on salmon fillets
1 cup, rinsed quinoa
2 cups water
3 tbsp unsalted butter
4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add 1 cup rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
Step 2: In a small saucepan, melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned. Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup chopped parsley, 2 tbsp chopped dill, and 1 tbsp lemon juice.
Step 3: Season 4 salmon fillets evenly with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 4: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place salmon fillets skin-side down and cook for 4-5 minutes until skin is crisp. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes until salmon is opaque and flakes easily.
Step 5: Toss the cooked quinoa with half the garlic-herb butter mixture until well combined and serve onto plates.
Step 6: Top each quinoa portion with a salmon fillet and drizzle remaining garlic-herb butter over the salmon before serving.