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Easy One-Pan Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon in 20 Minutes

one pan lemon garlic butter salmon - featured image
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A quick and delicious one-pan salmon recipe with a rich lemon garlic butter sauce, ready in just 20 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights or a simple yet impressive dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz / 170g each, skin-on or skinless)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (56g)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large lemon (zest and juice)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (15ml)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (5g)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground (2g)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the Salmon (5 minutes): Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes if possible.
  2. Zest and Juice the Lemon (2 minutes): Zest the lemon using a microplane. Cut in half and juice (about 2 tablespoons / 30ml). Set zest and juice aside separately.
  3. Mince the Garlic (1 minute): Peel and finely mince 4 garlic cloves.
  4. Heat the Pan (2 minutes): Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Wait until the oil shimmers.
  5. Sear the Salmon (4-5 minutes): Place salmon fillets in the pan, skin-side down. Cook without moving for 4 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until just cooked through.
  6. Make the Butter Sauce (2 minutes): Reduce heat to low. Push salmon to one side. Add butter to empty space, let melt, then add minced garlic. Stir for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add lemon juice and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir together.
  7. Finish and Serve (1 minute): Spoon buttery garlic sauce over salmon. Sprinkle with lemon zest and fresh parsley. Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

Pat salmon dry for best sear. Watch garlic carefully to avoid burning. Use low heat for sauce after searing. Salmon is done when it flakes easily and internal temp reaches 145°F (63°C). Leftovers keep up to 3 days in fridge; reheat gently in skillet.

Nutrition

Keywords: salmon, lemon garlic butter, one-pan, quick dinner, weeknight meal, healthy, low-carb, keto

Find it online: https://daintydine.com/easy-one-pan-lemon-garlic-butter-salmon-in-20-minutes/