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–+ servings
Two garlic butter salmon fillets on a white plate topped with garlic butter and herbs, surrounded by lemon slices and whole garlic cloves, with a buttery herb sauce.

garlic butter salmon

A 12-minute garlic butter salmon that tastes like a restaurant meal — rich, buttery, garlicky, and foolproof. Made with six everyday ingredients, this garlic butter salmon is fast, flavorful, and perfect for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
2 minutes
Total Time 14 minutes
Servings: 3 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American, Seafood
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

The Main Stars
  • 4 fillets Fresh salmon 4–6 oz each skin-on or skinless
  • 2 tablespoon Olive oil For searing
  • 3 tablespoon Unsalted butter Or ghee for richer flavor
  • 3 cloves Garlic Minced fresh
  • ½ whole Lemon For juice and zest
  • Salt and pepper To taste
Optional Extras
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh parsley or dill For garnish
  • ¼ teaspoon Red pepper flakes For spice
  • 2 tablespoon White wine For extra flavor in butter sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Capers for Mediterranean flavor

Equipment

  • 1 Large non-stick or cast-iron skillet (For searing salmon fillets)
  • 1 Spatula or fish spatula (Helps flip salmon cleanly)
  • 1 Sharp Knife (For mincing garlic)
  • 1 Garlic press (Optional but convenient)
  • 1 Paper towels (To pat salmon completely dry)
  • 1 Tongs or fork (For turning or serving salmon)

Method
 

  1. Prep Pat salmon fillets completely dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Mince garlic and cut lemon in half for later.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
    Two raw salmon fillets on parchment paper, seasoned with garlic, rosemary, and herbs, with lemon and small bowls of seasoning in the background.
  3. Place salmon skin-side up (or presentation side down). Don’t move it for 4–5 minutes until golden and crusty. Flip gently with a spatula and cook another 3–4 minutes, until the salmon flakes easily.
  4. Lower heat to medium. Add butter to the pan around the salmon. Once melted, add minced garlic and stir constantly for 30 seconds until fragrant (don’t let it burn). Squeeze in lemon juice and spoon the garlic butter over salmon several times.
    Three cooked salmon fillets in a skillet with asparagus spears, lemon wedge, garlic butter, and herbs on top.
  5. Remove salmon from heat immediately. Spoon remaining garlic butter sauce on top, sprinkle with parsley or dill, and serve hot.

Nutrition

Serving: 150gCalories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 34gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 115mgSodium: 290mgPotassium: 780mgVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 25mgIron: -2mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes

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