This creamy lemon salmon recipe is decadent yet easy with very few ingredients and is ready in only 20 minutes! The bright lemon cream sauce is really addictive.
You may also enjoy my Creamy Garlic Salmon or Creamy Dill Salmon.

Why you need to try it
This is one of those elegant yet really simple dishes that will wow your family (or guests) with hardly effort on your part. The pan-seared salmon is perfectly crisp on the outside and flaky and tender on the inside, and the zesty lemon cream sauce makes the best pairing.
Learning to cook salmon on the stovetop, in my opinion, is an essential kitchen skill to have. The good news is that it's super easy to master! In fact, it's so effortless that you'll be making this quick salmon recipe on any old weeknight, not just special occasions.
Ingredients for it
- Salmon - we're using fresh salmon that's cut into four pieces
- Garlic powder and salt & pepper - for perfectly seasoning each piece of fish individually
- Flour - for dredging and getting a great crust/browning on the salmon, and it also thickens up the sauce a little
- Olive oil and butter - for sautéing and making the rich base of the sauce
- Chicken broth - it gives even more savory flavor to the sauce. You can definitely use dry white wine instead.
- Lemon juice - always use freshly squeezed
- Italian seasoning - grab a jar of this fragrant blend that has rosemary and thyme and other dried herbs. I use it for so many sauces!
- Dijon mustard - it's a flavor enhancer to build up the layers of savory taste
- Heavy cream - what makes the sauce luxurious
- Italian parsley - for a pop of freshness to top it all off

Pro tip
- If you want to highlight the lemon flavor even more, some lemon zest would give another burst of lemony goodness to the sauce. It's easy to grate with a Microplane zester.
How to make creamy lemon salmon
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Cut the salmon into 4 roughly equal sized pieces. Coat in garlic powder, salt & pepper, and flour. Heat the oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the fish for 3-4 minutes per side, taking care to not overcook it. Transfer to a plate.

Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, and Dijon mustard to the pan. Stir it until the mustard has been incorporated, and then let it simmer for a minute or two. Pour in the cream, add the salmon back in, and simmer until the salmon has cooked through. Top with fresh parsley.
Tips for how to cook salmon
- It's very important to use your eyes to guide the process! Watch for the color change as the salmon is cooking. It will start as a brighter, deeper pink and transition to a lighter shade of pink.
- If it's sticking to the pan, don't force it off. Let it cook more, and it will naturally release.
- Note that if your fish is thicker than about 1", the cooking time may vary.
Substitutions and variations
- You can use salmon with or without the skin. If you do happen to buy skin-on salmon but don't want to eat the skin, it's really easy to peel it off once the fish is cooked. I'd do it after the searing step.
- I suggest using full-fat cream vs. something like half-and-half or milk. In my experience, the sauce is much more likely to curdle when you have that much lemon juice in it and use something with a much lower fat content.
- What to add in some greens? Toss in a handful of spinach once it's nearly done cooking! Whatever fresh herbs you have in the garden would work too.

What to serve with it
- I enjoy eating this lemon salon with a pile of Garlic Mashed Potatoes to soak up that delicious creamy sauce! Rice or pasta works too. Try it over top of these Easy Garlic Butter Noodles.
- For a veggie side dish, try steamed vegetables, fresh corn, or this Simple Asparagus Recipe.
- Go ahead and grate some fresh parmesan cheese from a block if you want to go all-out on the decadence. That would make it extra tasty.
Leftovers and storage
- Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days, but we do prefer eating seafood leftovers sooner rather than later.
- Reheat over a low heat in a covered saucepan. If the heat is too high, the sauce is liable to separate.
- Leftover salmon is really good served cold in my Super Simple Parmesan Arugula Salad the next day. Simply crumble it over top!
- Freezing this one won't work well since it has dairy.

Any questions, or did you make this recipe? Are you a fan of a good cream sauce for salmon? Talk to me in the comments below! You can also tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram with your beautiful creations.

Creamy Lemon Salmon
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh salmon cut into 4 pieces
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Flour for dredging
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- Fresh parsley to taste, chopped
Instructions
- Cut your salmon into 4 pieces. Sprinkle it with the garlic powder and season with salt & pepper. Dredge each piece in flour on all sides.
- Add the olive oil and butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add the fish. Cook it for 3-4 minutes/side or until it's nicely browned. Be careful not to overcook - the salmon shouldn't be cooked fully yet. Remove salmon to a plate and set aside.
- Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, and Dijon mustard to the pan. Stir until mustard has dissolved, and let it bubble for a minute or two.
- Add the cream to the pan, along with the salmon. Let it cook for a few more minutes until the sauce has thickened a bit and the fish has cooked through.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving. Serve immediately.
Notes
- I don't recommend subbing the heavy cream with half-and-half or milk because then the sauce is likely to break because of the citrus juice, and the sauce won't thicken up as well.
- See blog post for tips on cooking the fish.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on June 13, 2018. It's been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
Alexandra says
I want to add shrimp… when would you add the shrimp?
Natasha says
They only take a few mins to cook so right at the end.
Tricia C says
Perfect recipe! This one is part of our rotation served over fettuccine. I love lemon and add the zest as suggested to make it pop.
Natasha says
Thank you!! 🙂
Anna says
This was delicious and FAST recipe! Totally not intimidating like most salmon recipes. Perfect for a 30 minute weeknight meal!
Natasha says
I'm so happy to hear that, Anna!! Appreciate your 5-star review. 🙂
Macki says
My husband avoids salmon and only occasionally will eat halibut and mahimahi. But, because salmon was recommended by his nutritionist, he said he'd try it if it didn't smell or taste too fishy. I am happy to have found your recipe. He turned to me and said, "This is good." It just melted in our mouths. Thank you for sharing.
Natasha says
I'm so happy it was a hit! 😀
Anna says
Delicious
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Thank you so much, Anna!
Angela says
Wow Natasha , I made this tonight and it was fabulous. So many flavours . Added some spinach and served it with pasta . Delish 🤩
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it! 😀
Bob says
I am not a fan of a strong dijon mustard taste, but I know a lot of recipes use mustard to develop a more complex flavor without really tasting like mustard. Is the flavor of the mustard strong in this, or more subtle? The recipe looks and sounds great!
Natasha says
Hi Bob! I’d say it’s more subtle in this one. You could add a little less or leave it out altogether if you’re worried. You’re right, though, that’s why I include a small amount of Dijon in so many of my recipes. 😊
Alice says
Normally I only pick recipes based on the amount of reviews, but I came across this on Instagram and decided to give it a try. I have been missing out! I am not a strong cook but this was so easy and tasted way out of my cooking range lol. New fan. I’m planning on making recipes from your site every night this week!
Natasha says
Aww I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Alice! So glad you'll be trying more of my recipes. 🙂
jennifer says
great recipe, I made this two nights in a row, once with baby potatoes and once with rice. it was delicious! thank you!
Natasha says
That is awesome!! Thanks for letting me know, Jennifer!
Lis says
Your salmon recipe is fantastic
Natasha says
Thank you!!
Marie says
Can the dijon mustard be omitted if I don't have any or can it be substituted?
Natasha says
Hi Marie! I'd just skip it. Hope you like the recipe!
Jallisa says
Natasha I recently tried this recipe and it was great!
Natasha says
So happy to hear it! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
Sarah Cummings says
So simple but delicious. Ive got to try this next week. Reading this has just made me so hungry!
Natasha says
Hope you love it, Sarah! 🙂
ABland says
Will the sauce keep for a few days?
Natasha says
Like with the fish cooked in it? I personally wouldn't leave it in the fridge for more than a day or so, but then I am quite rigid with food safety stuff like that. Cream sauces also can separate when reheated, so I prefer eating this type of dish day-of.
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy says
Creamy lemon? Yes!
Sarah Fennel says
YUM. I want this for dinner tonight!
Natasha says
Thanks, Sarah. I'd send some over if I could!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
Lining this up for dinner soon Natasha! That sauce has me totally drooling!
Natasha says
Thank you!! I hope you love it, Mary Ann! 🙂
Bianca says
Could this work with coconut cream? I’m trying to go dairy free, but this recipe looks so darn good!!
Natasha says
Hi Bianca! I think it could work. You'll definitely get a different flavor (coconut) and texture, but I think the flavors would work. Let me know how it goes!
Matt Robinson says
Cole would eat salmon every day if we let him. Love this recipe!
Natasha says
Cole has good taste! 😉