Pan-Seared Salmon with Garlic Herb Butter and Asparagus

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

Tender salmon fillets pan-seared to golden perfection, topped with a fragrant garlic herb butter and served alongside crisp asparagus. This Mother’s Day recipe (gluten free, high protein), ready in about 25 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 420 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 fillets, 6 oz each, skin on salmon fillets
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 lb, trimmed asparagus spears
• 1/4 tsp (optional) red pepper flakes

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + 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. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
2. Step 2: Place salmon fillets skin-side down in the skillet and cook for 5-6 minutes without moving until the skin is crispy and golden. Flip and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until the salmon is opaque and flakes easily.
3. Step 3: While salmon cooks, melt 4 tbsp unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Remove from heat and stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice.
4. Step 4: In a separate skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 lb trimmed asparagus and sauté for 5-7 minutes until tender-crisp, seasoning with a pinch of salt and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes if using.
5. Step 5: Serve each salmon fillet topped with the garlic herb butter alongside the sautéed asparagus.