Description
Delicious pan-seared salmon fillets topped with a flavorful garlic lemon butter sauce. This easy and quick recipe combines tender salmon with a tangy, buttery sauce enhanced by fresh garlic, lemon juice, and parsley, perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon
- 4 (6 oz) skinless salmon fillets (about 1-inch thick)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tsp olive oil
Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 3 Tbsp + 1 tsp unsalted butter, diced into 1 Tbsp pieces
- 1/2 tsp honey
- 2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
- Lemon slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Rest Salmon: Remove salmon fillets from refrigerator and allow to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small saucepan, melt 1 tsp of unsalted butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until lightly golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, then let the sauce simmer until it reduces by half, about 3 minutes.
- Finish Sauce: Stir in the remaining unsalted butter pieces and honey into the simmering sauce. Whisk until the butter melts completely and the sauce is well combined. Set aside off heat.
- Season Salmon: Pat both sides of the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Heat Pan: Heat olive oil in a heavy 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Cook Salmon: Add salmon fillets to the pan skinless side down and cook undisturbed for about 4 minutes until the bottom is golden brown. Flip the fillets carefully and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
- Serve: Plate the cooked salmon, then drizzle each fillet generously with the garlic lemon butter sauce. Sprinkle with minced fresh parsley and garnish with lemon slices if desired. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- This pan-seared salmon recipe is incredibly quick and easy, requiring minimal ingredients and yielding delicious results suitable for any meal.
- Allowing salmon to rest at room temperature before cooking helps it cook evenly and reduces the chance of overcooking.
- Use a heavy non-stick skillet to prevent sticking and achieve a beautiful golden crust on the salmon.
- The garlic lemon butter sauce can be prepared in advance and gently reheated just before serving.
- Adjust seasoning and lemon juice to taste for personal preference.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute butter with a plant-based alternative.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet with sauce (about 6 oz)
- Calories: 347 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 81 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 116 mg
