Garlic Butter Lemon Salmon

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🧄🍋 Garlic Butter Lemon Salmon – Juicy, Flavor-Packed, Ready in Minutes!

If you’re craving a quick, restaurant-quality salmon dinner that’s bursting with flavor, this Garlic Butter Lemon Salmon is a total winner. With juicy, tender salmon fillets seared to perfection and coated in a garlic, butter, and lemon sauce, this dish is perfect for weeknights, date nights, or even meal prep.

It’s easy, quick, and versatile, delivering a rich, buttery sauce with a bright lemony kick that pairs beautifully with rice, roasted veggies, or creamy mashed potatoes.

⏱ Prep & Cook Time

  • Prep time: 8 minutes

  • Cook time: 12 minutes

  • Total time: 20 minutes

  • Servings: 4

  • Calories: ~430 per serving

  • Protein: ~34g per serving

📝 Ingredients

  • 4 salmon fillets (skin-on or skinless, 6–8 oz each)

  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter

  • 5 cloves garlic, minced

  • Juice of 1 lemon

  • Zest of 1 lemon

  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

  • 1 tbsp olive oil

  • Salt and cracked black pepper, to taste

  • Lemon slices, for garnish

  • Optional: ½ tsp chili flakes for a subtle heat

🥄 Step-by-Step Instructions

1️⃣ Sear the Salmon

  1. Pat salmon fillets dry with a paper towel to ensure crispiness.

  2. Season generously with salt and cracked black pepper.

  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

  4. Add salmon, skin-side down if using skin-on, and sear for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and just cooked through.

Pro Tip: Don’t move the salmon too early—let it naturally release from the pan for a perfect sear.

2️⃣ Sauté the Garlic Butter

  1. Reduce heat to medium.

  2. Add unsalted butter to the skillet.

  3. Stir in minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.

Tip: Be careful not to burn the garlic; it should be golden and aromatic, adding richness to the sauce.

3️⃣ Add Lemon Magic

  1. Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, and chopped parsley.

  2. Let it bubble for 30 seconds to combine flavors and infuse the butter with zesty, herby goodness.

Optional: Add chili flakes for a gentle heat kick.

4️⃣ Finish with a Simmer

  1. Nestle the seared salmon back into the skillet.

  2. Spoon the garlic lemon butter sauce over the fillets.

  3. Simmer for another 1–2 minutes until salmon is perfectly coated and cooked through.

Tip: Salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork but still remains moist in the center.

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