Name: Garlic Butter Salmon
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound salmon (cut into 4 pieces); Salt & pepper (to taste); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 4 tablespoons butter (divided); 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice (or more, to taste); 4-5 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)

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It's easy to master cooking pan-seared salmon with this garlic butter salmon recipe that's so juicy with a bright lemon garlic butter sauce. It's fast and uses simple everyday ingredients!

If you can't get enough of these flavors, try my Quick and Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi or Garlic Butter Steak Bites next.

close-up of skillet garlic butter salmon

Why you'll love it

When I first started cooking on my own, I was actually nervous about learning how to cook salmon, but this no-fuss method is so simple that it's now my go-to. This tasty lemon garlic butter salmon is made all in one skillet. There is nothing to be intimidated about, and the tips below will ensure you have flaky, tender, perfectly cooked salmon every time.

Let's talk about that sauce! What could be better than a simple garlic butter sauce for salmon? This recipe is great for busy weeknights, date night, or when you've got company over. It doesn't take much to make salmon taste really delicious. Getting back to the basics is what makes this so special. There's nothing fancy, but it sure tastes good.

What you'll need

Salmon - most salmon fillets that you buy from the grocery store, Atlantic salmon in particular, will be around 1" thick, and that's what our kitchen based the timing on in this recipe
Salt & pepper - it's important to generously season each piece of salmon to bring out the flavors
Olive oil - for pan searing
Butter - the base of the delicious sauce
Lemon juice - for brightness and acidity. Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Garlic - I like to mince it with this garlic press since you don't need to peel the cloves first.
Parsley - it's optional, but it adds a great pop of freshness and more flavor

How to make garlic butter salmon

This is an overview, and full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Cut the salmon into four equal sized pieces, pat dry, and season with salt & pepper.
Heat up the oil and 1 tbsp of butter in a skillet. Cook the salmon skin-side down for about 5 minutes, and then turn the heat down and cook the other side for a few more minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Melt the remaining butter in the pan, and stir in the garlic and lemon juice until the garlic is just cooked.
Remove the skillet from the heat, and then return the fish. Spoon the sauce over, and garnish with fresh parsley if using!

Pro tips

Let the fish warm up for 15-20 minutes prior to starting the recipe if you can, and pat it dry before adding the salt & pepper. This helps it not stick to the pan.
Ensure the pan gets nice and hot before you add the salmon. Don't crowd the pan. It's better to cook the fish in two batches than stuff all the pieces in at once.
Resist the urge to move the salmon around the pan. It needs to cook undisturbed to get a nice sear. When you go to flip the salmon, if it's sticking, give it a little more time to release naturally.
I recommend using cooking tongs to quickly and easily flip the salmon. They're also handy for cooking any other kind of fish and meat.

How do you know when salmon is cooked?

The key to pan searing salmon is to watch the color of the salmon change. The light pink color moves up slowly as it cooks, giving you an idea of how close it is to being ready. It will continue cooking a little after removed from the heat, too. It's easy to overcook salmon, so keep a close eye on the color.

garlic butter salmon on a black plate with arugula salad and a lemon wedge

Substitutions and variations

This recipe has only been tested as written, so make any subs at your discretion. We found the flavors to be well balanced, but that said, you're welcome to change up the quantities (e.g., add more lemon juice or garlic).
The salmon skin is crispy, keeps the salmon moist, and tastes great when served right away, but you can definitely discard if that's not your thing.

What to serve with this salmon

Try some restaurant-style Mashed Potatoes for a hearty meal. Mashed potatoes with extra butter and garlic? Yes please.
Rice or pasta works too. My Garlic Butter Noodles are a quick and easy option if you want to double down on garlicky goodness.
For a lighter option, my Super Simple Parmesan Arugula Salad is a winner.

Leftovers and storage

I like to eat seafood fresh, but leftovers will keep for a couple of days in the fridge in an airtight container. I don't recommend freezing this one.
Warm it up slowly over a low heat in a saucepan. If you reheat too fast and on a high heat, it's liable to dry out.
Leftovers of this salmon are fantastic served cold in a salad for lunch the next day.

More easy salmon recipes

close-up of garlic butter salmon in a skillet

Questions about this garlic butter pan-seared salmon recipe, or did you make it? Let me know in the comments below, or find me on Instagram!