• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Dinner at the Zoo

  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Dessert
  • One Pot Meals
  • Slow Cooker
  • Asian Food

Home » Dinner » Pan Seared Salmon with Garlic Butter

Published: May 27, 2019 Last Modified: May 27, 2019 By Sara 61 Comments

Pan Seared Salmon with Garlic Butter

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Pan Seared Salmon Recipe | Garlic Butter Salmon | Seared Salmon #salmon #garlic #butter #keto #lowcarb #dinner #dinneratthezoo

This pan seared salmon is tender salmon fillets coated in the most delicious garlic butter sauce. A super easy dinner option that can be on the table in less than 20 minutes!

Salmon is a quick and healthy meal that takes minimal effort to cook. I often find myself making marinated salmon, salmon foil packets and this fabulously delicious pan seared salmon.

Pan Seared Salmon Recipe | Garlic Butter Salmon | Seared Salmon #salmon #garlic #butter #keto #lowcarb #dinner #dinneratthezoo Pan Seared Salmon Recipe | Garlic Butter Salmon | Seared Salmon #salmon #garlic #butter #keto #lowcarb #dinner #dinneratthezoo

Pan seared salmon fillets in garlic butter sauce.

When I’m looking for a simple meal that I know everyone will love, I turn to pan seared salmon. Salmon takes just minutes to cook, and the sauce for this dish only contains 5 ingredients! It doesn’t get much easier than this.

How do you make pan seared salmon?

This recipe starts with salmon fillets. The salmon fillets get seared to golden brown in a little olive oil until they’re cooked through. The next step is to remove the salmon from the pan and make a sauce of melted butter, garlic and lemon. Add the salmon back to the pan and spoon the sauce over the top. The finishing touch is a sprinkling of parsley and then you’ll be ready to eat!

Raw salmon fillets in a pan.

Tips for pan seared salmon

  • To get the best golden brown crust on your fish, you’ll want to make sure your pan is very hot and that the salmon fillets are patted dry before they are added to the pan. Let your salmon cook undisturbed for about 5 minutes for the best results.
  • I like to use wild salmon when possible, as it’s more flavorful and has more nutrients than farmed salmon
  • Be sure not to overcook your fish! Your salmon is done when it’s opaque and easily flakes. This typically takes about 5 minutes per side for an average sized salmon fillet.
  • Serve your salmon over rice, pasta or mashed potatoes to soak up all that delicious butter sauce. I also add a green vegetable on the side such as asparagus, broccoli or zucchini.

Sauteed salmon fillets in a metal skillet.

Pan seared salmon variations

This is a basic recipe for pan seared salmon, but there are so many different ingredients you can add to customize this dish to your tastes!

  • Vegetables: You can cook some vegetables in the garlic butter sauce before you spoon it over the salmon. Some great options include spinach or mushrooms. You can also add a handful of halved cherry tomatoes to the finished dish.
  • Seasonings: Try adding some sun dried tomatoes, olives or minced shallots to the sauce.
  • Finishing Touches: Instead of parsley, try chives or dill. You can also add a sprinkling of feta cheese or cooked crumbled bacon.

A pan of seared salmon in a butter sauce.

IS SALMON HEALTHY?

Salmon is a great choice for a healthy diet. This fish is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Salmon is full of vitamins and minerals including Vitamin B12, potassium and selenium. Salmon is also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which have numerous health benefits. It’s recommended to eat salmon about once a week if possible.

A pan seared salmon fillet served with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

When I’m looking for a recipe that’s hassle free yet totally satisfying, I turn to this salmon. It just can’t be beat!

More great salmon recipes

  • Honey Mustard Salmon
  • Honey Garlic Salmon
  • Salmon with Avocado Salsa
  • Salmon in Foil
  • Greek Salmon Salad
Pan seared salmon fillets in garlic butter sauce.
Print Pin
5 from 45 votes

Pan Seared Salmon

This pan seared salmon is tender salmon fillets coated in the most delicious garlic butter sauce. A super easy dinner option that can be on the table in less than 20 minutes!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 349kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 4 salmon fillets 4-6 ounces each
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Place the salmon fillets, skin side up, in the pan. Cook undisturbed for 5 minutes, or until a golden brown crust forms.
  • Carefully flip the salmon and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes or until fish is opaque and easily flakes.
  • Remove the salmon from the pan. Add the butter to the pan and melt.
  • Add the garlic to the pan and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir in the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Place the salmon back in the pan. Spoon the sauce over the top.
  • Sprinkle the parsley over the salmon, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 349kcal | Protein: 33g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 150mg | Potassium: 833mg | Vitamin A: 330IU | Vitamin C: 1.3mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1.4mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Dinner

FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

    ​
    ​

    Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

    « Shrimp Marinade
    Banana Split Cake »

    Comments

    1. The Conley family says

      November 22, 2022 at 8:21 pm

      5 stars
      Everyone LOVED this!

      Reply
    2. Susi says

      March 26, 2022 at 8:33 am

      What kind of skillet /size do you recommend ?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        March 28, 2022 at 8:13 am

        You’ll want a 10 or 12 inch pan!

        Reply
    3. Melanie says

      January 6, 2022 at 8:17 pm

      I love this salmon recipe!!! It’s so delicious!!! I’ve made it nemesis times now in the past year since I discovered it.
      Thankyou!!!

      Reply
    4. Ni says

      November 28, 2021 at 7:11 pm

      5 stars
      I didn’t realize I did not have any salmon today, so I used just the sauce portion of the recipe to baste and bake some trout. It turned out absolutely amazing. Everyone kept wanting to go back for more, including the ones in my family that aren’t a big fan of trout! Awesome recipe, thank you!

      Reply
    5. Skye says

      September 23, 2021 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      This recipe was awesome!!! I couldn’t believe that o made it. Will definitely make again.

      Reply
    6. Nancy says

      September 15, 2021 at 5:50 pm

      5 stars
      Made this tonight and it so easy and tasty. Will make again

      Reply
    7. Lorna Taylor says

      August 5, 2021 at 10:41 am

      I tried this recipe for the first time, and it was delicious! I’ve tried other salmon recipes and they all came out really dry. This is definitely a recipe than I intend to save and make again!

      Reply
    8. Felice Berger says

      July 9, 2021 at 5:47 pm

      5 stars
      I took this recipe and improved on it. I marinated the salmon in salt/pepper and milk for about 20 minutes, then rinsed the pieces off, and followed the recipe. I added an extra tbsp of fresh chopped parsley after melting the butter and garlic, and then added about 2 tbsp of capers, and tsp of the brine juice from the capers. It came out absolutely flavorful and delicious. Served with basmati rice with a touch of parsley on top with fresh asparagus. Plated beautifully. I’ve never made salmon before because of the fishy aroma, but by marinating in the milk, it was tender and did not have that nasty aroma.

      Reply
    9. Donna says

      June 7, 2021 at 6:25 pm

      We loved this! Will definitely make it again.

      Reply
    10. Liz says

      May 21, 2021 at 7:47 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for dinner and it came out really good. Thank you for sharing this easy and delicious recipe.
      Will definitely make it again.

      Reply
    11. Sue DiSanto says

      April 28, 2021 at 9:32 pm

      OMG! Ii was gonna take a picture but ate the whole thing! Thank you!,

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More

    Winter Soups

    A bowl of beef chili topped with cheese, sour cream and green onions.

    Beef Chili Recipe

    A bowl of slow cooker turkey chili topped with sour cream and cheese.

    Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

    A pot full of beef barley soup made with beef stew meat, barley and vegetables all simmered together.

    Beef Barley Soup

    A pot of chicken and rice soup with carrots, celery, chicken breast and white rice.

    Chicken and Rice Soup

    White chicken chili topped with tortilla strips, cilantro and avocado.

    White Chicken Chili

    A bowl of taco soup topped with tortilla strips, sour cream, cheese and avocado.

    Taco Soup Recipe

    More Posts from this Category

    Featured Recipes

    A pan of honey garlic chicken stir fry with a spatula in it.

    Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry

    This recipe for chicken caprese is grilled seasoned chicken, topped with fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, basil and balsamic reduction. A quick and easy dinner that's easy enough for a busy weeknight but special enough to serve to company!

    Chicken Caprese

    Steak kabobs with mushrooms, red onion and bell peppers, brushed with garlic butter.

    Steak Kabobs with Garlic Butter

    Filet mignon steaks topped with garlic butter and garnished with fresh rosemary.

    Filet Mignon with Garlic Butter

    FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

    Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

      ​
      ​

      Categories

      Sites I am featured In
      PRIVACY POLICY ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT © Sara Welch and Dinner at the Zoo® LLC, 2015-2022.
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • RSS
      • Twitter
      • About Me
      • Contact Me
      • All Recipes
      • Dinner
      • Appetizers
      • Dessert
      • One Pot Meals
      • Slow Cooker
      • Asian Food