The Best Quick Pan-Seared Salmon
Perfectly seared salmon with a lemon-dill finish, ready in 25 minutes for a healthy weeknight meal. This American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs salmon fillets, olive oil, lemon juice 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.
Ingredients
- 4 (about 6 oz each) salmon fillets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried dill
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1, sliced lemon
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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 4 salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides evenly with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering (about 30 seconds).
- Step 3: Place salmon fillets skin-side down in the skillet and cook undisturbed for 6-7 minutes until the skin is crisp and golden brown, with edges slightly curled.
- Step 4: Flip salmon carefully and cook for 3-4 minutes more until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C) and the flesh is opaque throughout.
- Step 5: Remove from heat and immediately drizzle with 1 tbsp lemon juice. Sprinkle with 1 tsp dried dill and serve topped with 1 lemon slice.







