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This Garlic Butter Salmon recipe showcases flaky, tender salmon in a rich, buttery garlic sauce for an impressive meal that whips up in just 10 minutes! We pan-sear the salmon on the stovetop to give it a gorgeous golden color. And we only use one skillet so there’s minimal cleanup!
I’ve come to rely on salmon when I need a quick and easy dinner option.
No matter what cooking method you choose to make this healthy fish, it’s always ready in a matter of minutes. And of course it’s as nutritious as it is delicious!
This recipe is done in just 10 minutes. And it cooks in just one pan on the stovetop. There’s minimal cleanup and no special cooking equipment needed!
Best of all, this is definitely an elegant restaurant-quality meal! Flaky, moist salmon with a rich garlic butter sauce. It’s perfect for date night, or double the recipe and make it for the family. Everyone loves it!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Deliciously tender, flaky salmon dressed in a buttery garlic sauce – what’s not to love?!
- There’s enough of that garlic butter to go around! Steam some broccoli, asparagus, or green beans and add them to the skillet with the salmon, spooning the butter on top.
- You don’t need fancy equipment for this recipe, and you don’t even need to turn on the oven! It cooks in a skillet on the stovetop.
The Best Garlic Butter Salmon Recipe
You’re 10 minutes away from a restaurant-quality meal at home!
Ingredients
Salmon:
- Salmon fillets
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Olive oil
Garlic Butter:
- Salted butter
- Garlic
- Fresh lemon juice
Step-by-Step Instructions
Cooks Tips
- You can use salmon fillets with the skin on or off for this recipe.
- If you have the time to let the salmon sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking, it will cook up faster and more evenly.
- No worries if you don’t have salted butter! You can use unsalted butter instead, and add a generous pinch of salt.
Garlic Butter Salmon FAQs
Do You Cover the Pan When Searing?
When you’re searing things that cook quickly like fish, do not cover the pan.
Once the fish is seared and golden on the outside, remove it from the skillet to a plate and drape a piece of foil on top to help the inside finish cooking.
What Flavors Go Well with Salmon?
Here we keep it very simple because it works beautifully! We season the salmon with salt and pepper, and serve it with a rich, buttery garlic sauce. A touch of lemon juice freshens up the flavor!
What Should I Serve with Salmon?
Salmon with Garlic Butter is almost a full meal because it makes enough sauce to spoon over the side dishes as well. Here are a few ideas of what to serve with it:
- Steamed green vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli, or green beans
- Mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower
- Quinoa or brown rice
Is Garlic Butter Salmon Keto?
Yes! This delicious recipe is low carb and keto with just 4g net carbs per serving.
To keep the carbs down and make it a full meal, serve it with steamed green beans, spinach salad, or mashed cauliflower.
More Quick and Easy Weeknight-Friendly Dinners
- 10-Minute Moist and Flaky Air Fryer Salmon – great with steamed or roasted veggies
- Eggroll in a Bowl (aka Crack Slaw) – serve with rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice
- Marry Me Chicken – perfect with mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower
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Garlic Butter Salmon Recipe
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Ingredients
Salmon:
- 2 6 ounce salmon fillets with or without skin is fine
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Garlic Butter:
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 large cloves garlic crushed
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Garnishes:
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
- 4 lemon wedges
Instructions
- Season the salmon fillets on both sides with salt and black pepper.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the oil, and then the salmon (if your fillets have skin, add them skin-side-up at first). Let the salmon cook until golden, about 2 to 4 minutes on the first side, and then flip and cook until golden on the second side, about 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer the salmon to a plate and tent with foil (make sure to tent with foil, this helps steam the salmon and make sure it’s cooked in the middle).
- Turn the heat down to medium-low. To the skillet you cooked the salmon in, add the butter. Once melted, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir in the lemon juice.
- Add the salmon back to the skillet and spoon the butter on top. Cook until the salmon is fully cooked (it should flake easily with a fork), which should only take about 1 minute.
- Sprinkle the fresh parsley on top and serve with the lemon wedges to squeeze onto the salmon.
Notes
- Net Carbs: 4g per serving
- Cooking Tip: If you have the time, let the salmon fillets sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking (they will sear faster and more evenly this way).
- Do You Cover the Pan When Searing? When you’re searing things that cook quickly like fish, do not cover the pan. Once the fish is seared and golden on the outside, remove it from the skillet to a plate and drape a piece of foil on top to help the inside finish cooking.
- How to Tell if Salmon is Cooked: Salmon is cooked when it’s opaque and flakes easily with a fork. You can also use a food thermometer to test salmon for doneness. According to the FDA, salmon should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145F in the thickest part. However, if you’re looking for a more medium-cooked salmon that retains some of its moisture, people generally aim for an internal temperature of 125 to 135F.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximate.
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I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
Free Bonus
I have NEVER cooked fish before…and definitely not salmon…but I am so happy to say that this was super easy and incredibly delicious!!
I used Kite Hill butter since we are a dairy-free family, minced garlic from the little jar (sorry – I know real cooks would gasp!), and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
My 6 YO & 12 YO, who do like salmon from restaurants, told me this was the best salmon they had ever eaten 😊
Thank you so much for such a fast, easy, and yummy recipe!