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–+ servings
“Close-up of garlic butter salmon topped with melted butter, herbs, and lemon slices on a serving plate.”

Garlic Butter Salmon

A restaurant-quality Garlic Butter Salmon ready in just 20 minutes! Juicy, tender fillets seared to perfection and coated in a rich lemon-garlic butter sauce with fresh herbs. Simple, elegant, and absolutely foolproof.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course, Seafood
Cuisine: American, European, Mediterranean
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Salmon:
  • 4 Salmon fillets - Skin-on or skinless
  • 1 teaspoon Sea salt - For seasoning
  • 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper - Freshly cracked
  • 0.5 teaspoon Smoked paprika - Adds depth of flavor
  • 0.25 teaspoon Garlic powder - Enhances garlic butter flavor
  • 2 tablespoon Olive oil - For searing
For the Garlic Butter Sauce:
  • 4 tablespoon Unsalted butter - Use quality butter
  • 6 cloves Garlic - Minced
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh lemon juice - Brightens the sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon zest - Optional but recommended
  • 2 tablespoon Fresh parsley - Chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh dill - Chopped
  • 1 pinch Red pepper flakes - Optional for mild heat
Optional Add-ins:
  • 0.25 cup White wine - Deglazes pan adds acidity
  • 2 tablespoon Heavy cream - For creamy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Honey - Balances acidity
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard - Adds tang and depth
For Serving:
  • Lemon wedges - For garnish and flavor
  • Extra herbs - Optional for topping
  • Flaky sea salt - Sprinkle before serving
  • Cracked black pepper - Optional finish

Equipment

  • 1 Heavy-bottomed skillet (Cast iron or stainless steel for best sear)
  • 1 Fish spatula (Thin and flexible for easy flipping)
  • 1 Instant-read thermometer (Ensures perfect doneness (125°F))
  • 1 Chef’s knife (For chopping herbs and mincing garlic)
  • 1 Cutting board (For prep work)

Method
 

  1. Pat fillets dry, season with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, then let rest at room temperature for even cooking.
    “Seasoned salmon fillets with salt, pepper, and spices arranged on parchment paper before cooking.”
  2. Heat oil in a hot pan and sear salmon on both sides until golden with a crispy skin and tender, flaky center.
  3. Melt butter, sauté garlic briefly, then add lemon juice, zest, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for rich flavor.
  4. Stir in herbs and optional cream or wine, return salmon to pan, and spoon buttery sauce over each fillet.
  5. Plate salmon hot, drizzle with sauce, garnish with lemon wedges, and finish with fresh herbs and sea salt.
    “Plate of garlic butter salmon fillets topped with herbs and sauce, served with lemon wedges and a side of greens.”

Nutrition

Serving: 200gCalories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 35gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 510mgPotassium: 960mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 620IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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