• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

COOKTORIA logo

  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Vegan
    • Quick Dinners
    • Sweet treats
  • About
  • Quick Dinners
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Lunch
  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Side dish
  • Quick Dinners
  • Healthy Recipes
  • Comfort Food
  • About
  • Free E-Book
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Seafood

    Easy Lemon Butter Salmon (Recipe + Video)

    Jan 5, 2023 by Tania Sheff · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    This Easy Lemon Butter Salmon recipe makes an elegant and delicious dinner. Seared in a skillet on the stove top and ready in under 20 minutes!

    Flaky Lemon Butter Salmon

    This easy salmon recipe is just great for busy weeknights when you need to make something quick. Cook some rice while the salmon is searing, and your filling dinner is ready in no time. On top of that, you probably have all the ingredients in your pantry to make this delicious dish.

    Salmon is my favorite fish, and even though I don’t eat it very often, I always enjoy salmon recipes. I’ve already shared two of my favorite salmon recipes on Cooktoria (Salmon in Roasted Pepper Sauce and Salmon Burgers), so I thought that today we could go back to basics and talk about how to make classic lemon-butter sauce and how to sear salmon. With a few simple tips, your salmon can be perfectly crispy on the outside, moist and tender and flaky on the inside.

    Video Tutorial for Lemon Butter Salmon

    Lemon Butter Sauce Ingredients

    • Lemon Juice. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is the best. You can also add a bit of orange juice for extra flavor.
    • Butter. You’ll need cold butter, to make sure the sauce is the right consistency.
    • Parsley. Fresh finely chopped parsley is the way to go.
    • Garlic. This ingredient is optional. If you are not a garlic fan, feel free to skip it.
    • Salt & Pepper.

    How to Make Lemon Butter Sauce

    1. In a small skillet or saucepan, bring the lemon juice to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Bowling down the lemon juice

    2. Reduce the heat to very low and add the cold butter to the lemon juice. Keep stirring, allowing the butter to melt slowly. When the butter is melted halfway, add the parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 more minute and remove from the heat. 

    making lemon butter sauce for the salmon

    How to Sear Salmon

    1. Season the salmon fillets with Old Bay Seasoning (or salt and pepper).

    seasoning the salmon with Old Bay

    2. Heat a large non-stick pan over high with olive oil. Place the fillets in the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Do not move the fillets. Allow them to cook for about 5-6 minutes or until well browned and cooked about halfway through. Turn the fillets and cook for about 5 more minutes, or until they reach the desired doneness.*

    searing the salmon in oil

    * NOTE: Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the salmon fillets. If you are not sure whether the salmon is cooked, you can use an instant-read thermometer. When the inside of the fish is 140-145°F, your fish is properly cooked.

    How to Serve this Salmon

    Once your salmon fillets are cooked, transfer them onto a plate and pour a generous amount of Lemon-Butter Sauce on top.

    Pouring Lemon Butter Sauce on Salmon

    Serve this delicious salmon with:

    • Your favorite side dish. Creamy Spinach Orzo, Rice & Beans, Easy Angel Hair Pasta, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Spinach, and Mushroom Risotto are among my favorites!
    • Salad. I absolutely love Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad, Roasted Zucchini Salad, Mediterranean Quinoa Salad, and Simple Kale Salad.
    • Vegetables. Oven Roasted Vegetables, Easy Zucchini Noodles, Pan Fried Brussel Sprouts, or Spiralized Fried Potatoes.

    What is the best seasoning for salmon?

    I always suggest using your favorite seasoning when making this easy salmon recipe. You can just season it with salt and pepper, and it will turn out fantastic. I used Old Bay Seasoning because it pairs really well with fish. Some other seasonings you might enjoy are Cajun, Berbere, or All-Purpose Seasoning. I especially like One & Done Seasoning.

    How to Store and Reheat this Salmon

    Once the salmon has been cooked, it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can keep the lemon-butter sauce separate, or pour it over the salmon. To reheat, just place the salmon together with the sauce on a skillet, and cook on low heat for about 5 minutes, flipping once.

    Skinless vs. Skin-On Salmon

    You can use both skinless and skin-on salmon in this recipe. Some people prefer to cook salmon with the skin on. Cooking the salmon this way helps stop the delicate flesh from drying out. Crispy salmon skin can also add a different texture to the dish.

    Useful Tips and Tricks

    • Salmon is a delicate fish. When cooking salmon, wait until it’s cooked halfway through before flipping it.
    • When purchasing fresh salmon, make sure it has a firm texture, moist appearance, and fresh odor. Store it in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to 2 days before cooking.
    • If using frozen salmon, make sure you thaw it completely before searing it. Learn how to thaw salmon here: How to Defrost Salmon.
    • It’s best to let your salmon fillets rest out on the counter for about 30 minutes, until they have come to room temperature. This will help cook the fish evenly.
    • Use a non-stick skillet to make sure your salmon flips easily.
    Lemon Butter Salmon on a plate with orzo pasta on the side

    Looking for More Tasty and Easy Salmon Recipes?

    I’ve got you covered. Try the recipes below and you won’t be disappointed.

    • Blackened Salmon
    • Cajun Salmon
    • Salmon Steak Recipe
    • Salmon Patties
    • Spinach Stuffed Salmon

    Lemon Butter Salmon

    Tania Sheff
    This Easy Lemon Butter Salmon recipe makes an elegant and delicious dinner. Seared in a skillet on the stove top and ready in under 20 minutes!
    4.69 from 85 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 3 servings
    Calories 382 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    For the Sauce:

    • ¼ cup lemon juice
    • 4 tbsp. butter
    • 1 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley
    • 1 small garlic cloves minced

    For the Salmon:

    • 3 salmon fillets, about 6 oz. each skin on or off
    • 2 tbsp. avocado oil or olive oil
    • 1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning or to taste

    Instructions
     

    Sear the Salmon

    • Season the salmon fillets with Old Bay Seasoning (or salt and pepper).
    • Heat a large non-stick pan over high with olive oil. Place the fillets in the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Do not move the fillets. Allow them to cook for about 5-6 minutes or until well browned and cooked about halfway through. Turn the fillets and cook for about 5 more minutes, or until they reach the desired doneness.*

    Make the Sauce

    • In a small skillet or saucepan, bring the lemon juice to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Reduce the heat to very low and add the cold butter to the lemon juice. Keep stirring, allowing the butter to melt slowly. When the butter is melted halfway, add the parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 more minute and remove from the heat. 

    Notes

    * NOTE: Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the salmon fillets. If you are not sure whether the salmon is cooked, you can use an instant-read thermometer. When the inside of the fish is 140-145°F, your fish is properly cooked.

    USEFUL TIPS AND TRICKS

    • Salmon is a delicate fish. When cooking salmon, wait until it’s cooked halfway through before flipping it.
    • When purchasing fresh salmon, make sure it has a firm texture, moist appearance, and fresh odor. Store it in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to 2 days before cooking.
    • If using frozen salmon, make sure you thaw it completely before searing it. Learn how to thaw salmon here: How to Defrost Salmon.
    • It’s best to let your salmon fillets rest out on the counter for about 30 minutes, until they have come to room temperature. This will help cook the fish evenly.
    • Use a non-stick skillet to make sure your salmon flips easily.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 382kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 34gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 184mgPotassium: 882mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 896IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below, I can't wait to hear from you!

    More Seafood Recipes

    • Shrimp Fajitas
    • Salmon in Creamy Sauce
    • Shrimp Fajita Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
    • Healthy Tuna Salad
    416.4K shares
    • Share

    Filed Under: All Recipes, Comfort Food, Lunch, Quick Dinners, Seafood

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mimi Barbie says

      April 29, 2022 at 7:43 pm

      Made this tonight for my husband. I’m not a salmon fan, so I cooked chicken kabobs for me. I put the sauce on his salmon filet and over my chicken. We both loved it. My husband said it was the best salmon he had had in a long time.

      Reply
      • Tania Sheff says

        April 30, 2022 at 11:20 am

        Wow! That's amazing. Thanks for reporting back, Mimi!

        Reply
    2. Geo says

      March 07, 2022 at 12:12 pm

      Are the nutrition values for 3 fillets? Or just one? TIA!

      Reply
      • Tania Sheff says

        March 08, 2022 at 6:25 pm

        Hi Geo! The nutritional info is per 1 fillet. Happy cooking!

        Reply
    3. Trixie says

      February 19, 2022 at 9:52 pm

      I’m going to substitute lake trout fillets for the salmon. Wish me luck! 🙂

      Reply
      • Tania Sheff says

        February 20, 2022 at 12:58 pm

        I am sure you are going to like it. Happy cooking!

        Reply
    4. Cindy E Seay says

      January 28, 2022 at 8:36 pm

      Made this recipe for dinner tonight. My husband loved it and so did I of course. Thank you for sharing. I might put a few capers in it next time. What do you think?

      Reply
      • Tania Sheff says

        January 30, 2022 at 11:31 pm

        Hi Cindy! Capers would definitely work great here. Happy cooking!

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    SEARCH COOKTORIA

    Hello friend!

    My name is Tania. I create quick, healthy, and wholesome meals. Let's get to know each other, shall we? Read More…

    BEST HEALTHY RECIPES

    Red Lentil Soup

    Zucchini Noodles with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

    Cilantro Lime Rice and Black Beans

    Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe

    Refreshing Chickpea Salad

    Tofu in Indian Sauce

    More Posts from this Category

    LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    POPULAR RECIPES

    Shrimp Fajitas

    Parmesan Mashed Potato Cakes

    Easy Baked Cabbage Steaks

    Baked Cod on a tray topped with breadcrumbs

    Baked Cod

    Quick & Easy Creamy Spinach Orzo

    Roasted Green Beans and Potatoes

    More Posts from this Category

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Privacy Policy

    Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Get in Touch

    Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © Cooktoria LLC 2021

    416374 shares