Pan-Seared Salmon with Garlic Lemon Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-28 · Updated 2026-07-28

Tender salmon fillets pan-seared to golden perfection with a silky garlic lemon butter sauce that brightens the rich fish. This seafood recipe, ready in about 22 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 370 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 pieces, 6 oz each salmon fillets
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3, finely minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley

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 (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 0.5 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
3. Step 3: Place salmon fillets skin-side down and cook for 5-6 minutes without moving, until edges are crispy and skin releases easily.
4. Step 4: Flip fillets and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until salmon is just cooked through.
5. Step 5: Reduce heat to medium, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 3 minced garlic cloves to the pan. Stir butter and garlic gently for 1 minute until fragrant.
6. Step 6: Remove skillet from heat and stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley to create a glossy sauce.
7. Step 7: Spoon the garlic lemon butter over the salmon fillets and serve immediately.