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Two pan-seared salmon fillets glistening with a garlic butter sauce, served on white plates with a side of asparagus.

Lemon Butter Salmon: Your New Favorite 20-Minute Meal

Discover the best Lemon Butter Salmon recipe! This quick and easy dish is ready in 20 minutes, featuring pan-seared salmon in a luscious garlic lemon butter sauce. Perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 410
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 6-ounce salmon fillets skin on or off
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper freshly ground
  • 6 tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 3 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice from about 1 lemon
  • 3 tbsp Chicken or Vegetable Broth
  • 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley chopped

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet A 12-inch cast iron or non-stick skillet works best.
  • 1 Fish Spatula

Instructions
 

  1. Pat the salmon fillets completely dry with a paper towel. Season both sides generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  2. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once shimmering, place the salmon fillets skin-side up and sear for 4-6 minutes, until golden and crispy. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
  3. Remove salmon from the skillet. Reduce heat to medium, add the butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in lemon juice and broth, scraping the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce.
  4. Return the salmon to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the fillets and cook for another minute. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

Tip 1: Ensure salmon is fully patted dry before seasoning. This is the key to getting a perfectly crispy skin.
Tip 2: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor. The bottled kind just won't taste the same!
Tip 3: Don't overcrowd the pan. Cook the salmon in batches if necessary to ensure each fillet gets a great sear.
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