Garlic Butter Salmon: The Easiest, Most Flavorful Healthy Dinner Recipe

This Garlic Butter Salmon recipe is your ultimate guide to creating a perfectly flaky, intensely flavorful, and incredibly easy salmon dinner, marrying tender salmon fillets with a rich, aromatic lemon garlic butter sauce in under 20 minutes.

Craving a dish that’s both indulgent and impressively simple? Look no further than our sensational Garlic Butter Salmon. This healthy seafood recipe transforms humble salmon fillets into a gourmet experience, making it an absolute weeknight fish recipe hero. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a kitchen novice, this quick salmon meal promises a delicious result every single time. Its versatility shines through, allowing for various cooking methods that cater to your preference and time constraints.

Achieving culinary perfection often comes down to the right tools. For instance, creating the silkiest sauces or smooth purees for your salmon sides is effortless with the Ninja BN751 Professional Plus DUO Blender, renowned for its high-power performance. When you’re looking to add perfectly roasted vegetables or crispy chickpeas to your healthy seafood recipe, the Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze Air Fryer 6 Qt is your go-to, delivering delicious results with less oil and ample capacity for family meals. For those moments requiring fast chopping, slicing, or shredding, especially when prepping fresh herbs and garlic for our butter garlic sauce, the Cuisinart 8 Cup Food Processor proves itself a true meal prep essential. And after enjoying your incredible easy salmon dinner, keeping leftovers fresh is simple with the Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Storage Set of 9, offering crystal clear, leak-proof, and stackable convenience. For serious home cooks who love to buy

ingredients in bulk, preserving freshness up to 5x longer and preventing freezer burn is a breeze with the FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine, ensuring your ingredients are always ready for your next culinary adventure.

Ingredients for the Perfect Garlic Butter Salmon

Crafting this incredible Garlic Butter Salmon dish requires a few simple, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Salmon Fillets: 1 to 1.75 pounds, cut into 4-6 oz portions.
  Save

  Vitamin C Serum Buy it now on Amazon

  Save

  Travel Shower Kit Buy it now on Amazon

  Save

  Portable Personal Blender (Rechargeable) Buy it now on Amazon
  Both skin-on and skinless work beautifully.
• Unsalted Butter: 3-6 tablespoons, melted or softened. Ghee can also be used.
• Fresh Garlic: 2-5 cloves, finely minced or pressed. Essential for that rich butter garlic sauce.
• Lemon Juice: 1/2 tablespoon to 3 tablespoons, freshly squeezed is highly recommended for our lemon garlic salmon.
• Lemon Slices/Wedges: For baking and elegant garnishing.
• Kosher Salt or Sea Salt: To taste.
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper: To taste.
• Fresh Parsley: 1-2 tablespoons, chopped, for a vibrant garnish and fresh flavor.
• Olive Oil or Cooking Oil: 1-1.5 tablespoons, for pan-searing or preparing your baking sheet.
• Optional Flavor Enhancers:
• Paprika: 1 teaspoon (smoked or regular).
• Italian Seasoning: 1 teaspoon.
• Dried Oregano: 1/4 teaspoon.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: 1/4 teaspoon, for a subtle kick.
• Honey: 2-3 tablespoons, for a touch of sweetness and glaze (especially delicious in a baked salmon recipe).
• Brown Sugar: 1 tablespoon.
• Garlic Powder: For an extra layer of garlic flavor.

How to Make Garlic Butter Salmon

Get ready to create a masterpiece! This guide offers both baked and pan-seared methods for your Garlic Butter Salmon, ensuring a perfect quick salmon meal every time.

Preparation Steps:

1. Prepare Salmon: Thoroughly pat your salmon fillets dry with paper towels. This crucial step helps achieve a beautiful sear if pan-frying, or a flakier texture if baking.
2. Season Well: Generously season both sides of the salmon with salt and freshly ground black pepper. This is also a great time to add optional paprika or Italian seasoning for an extra layer of flavor.
3. Whip Up the Garlic Butter Sauce:
   • In a small, microwave-safe bowl or saucepan, melt your butter.
   • Stir in the minced fresh garlic, lemon juice, and any additional seasonings you desire, such as paprika, Italian seasoning, dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, honey, or brown sugar. Allow the mixture to sit for a minute to let those wonderful flavors infuse into the butter garlic sauce.

Option A: Baked Garlic Butter Salmon (Oven Salmon Fillet Method)

This quick weeknight dinner method is fantastic for an easy salmon dinner with minimal fuss, perfect for a healthy seafood recipe.

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to 400°F (200°C).
2. Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. If using foil, you can create a loose packet or crimp the edges to form a “boat” to contain all that delicious butter garlic sauce.
3. Arrange Salmon: Place the seasoned salmon fillets, skin-side down (if applicable), on the prepared baking sheet. For added moisture and flavor, some prefer to nestle lemon slices directly underneath the salmon.
4. Drizzle with Sauce: Evenly drizzle or brush the prepared garlic butter mixture generously over each salmon fillet.
5. Bake to Perfection: Bake for 12-20 minutes. The exact time depends on the thickness of your salmon and your desired doneness. Your oven salmon fillet is perfectly cooked when it flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 140-145°F (60-63°C).
6. Optional Golden Finish: For a beautiful golden, slightly crispy finish, especially if using foil, open the packet and broil for 2-3 minutes. Keep a very close eye to prevent burning!

Option B: Pan-Seared Garlic Butter Salmon

For those who love a crispy skin and a rich pan sauce, this method delivers an exquisite lemon garlic salmon experience.

1. Heat Skillet: Heat olive oil (and optionally a portion of the butter) in a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until it’s hot and shimmering.
2. Sear Salmon: Carefully place salmon fillets, skin-side down (if applicable, for that irresistible crispy skin), into the hot skillet. Cook undisturbed for 3-5 minutes until a beautiful golden-brown crust forms and the salmon naturally releases from the pan.
3. Flip & Continue: Flip the salmon and cook for another 1-4 minutes, depending on thickness.
4. Introduce Garlic Butter: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining butter to the pan. Once melted, stir in the minced garlic and lemon juice. Cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, just until the garlic becomes fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic!
5. Baste for Flavor: Continuously spoon the bubbling garlic butter sauce over the salmon fillets for 1.5-3 minutes. This basting infuses immense flavor and keeps the fish wonderfully moist.
6. Check Doneness: Cook until the salmon is just tender and pink in the center, or reaches an internal temperature of 125-130°F (52-54°C) when removed from heat. Remember, it will continue to cook slightly as it rests.

Finishing Touches & Serving:

1. Rest: Remove the perfectly cooked Garlic Butter Salmon from the oven or skillet and let it rest for 3-5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring maximum tenderness.
2. Garnish & Serve: Spoon any remaining exquisite butter garlic sauce from the pan over the salmon. Garnish generously with fresh chopped parsley and optional fresh lemon slices or wedges. Serve immediately with your favorite side dishes. You can find inspiration for healthy sides for fish on our blog!

Your Top Questions About Garlic Butter Salmon, Answered!

1. How do you keep salmon from drying out?

The key to moist salmon is not overcooking it. Salmon is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 140-145°F (60-63°C) and flakes easily. Basting with the butter garlic sauce, especially in the pan-seared method, also helps keep it wonderfully juicy. Patting it dry first actually helps create a crust and seals in moisture rather than drying it out.

2. What temperature should salmon be cooked to?

Salmon is typically cooked to an internal temperature of 140-145°F (60-63°C). For pan-seared salmon, removing it around 125-130°F (52-54°C) allows for carryover cooking, resulting in perfectly flaky fish.

3. What are good side dishes to serve with garlic butter salmon?

Garlic Butter Salmon pairs beautifully with a variety of sides! Think roasted asparagus, green beans, creamy mashed potatoes, lemon herb rice, quinoa salad, or a simple garden salad. Steamed broccoli or a crisp Caesar salad also make excellent companions for this healthy seafood recipe.

4. Can I use frozen salmon for this recipe?

Absolutely! Just be sure to thaw frozen salmon completely in the refrigerator overnight, or under cold running water, before preparing. Patting it very dry after thawing is even more crucial to achieve the best texture.

5. Should I cook salmon with the skin on or off?

It’s entirely your preference. Skin-on salmon often provides extra flavor and helps keep the fillet moist. If pan-searing, cooking skin-side down first gives you wonderfully crispy skin. If baking, the skin can simply be removed after cooking, or enjoyed if you prefer it.

6. How long does garlic butter salmon last in the fridge?

Cooked Garlic Butter Salmon can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat gently to avoid drying it out.

7. Can I prepare garlic butter salmon ahead of time?

While salmon is best enjoyed fresh, you can prepare the garlic butter sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge for a few days. The salmon itself is so quick to cook, making it ideal for a last-minute weeknight fish recipe. For more tips on making meals easier, check out our meal prep secrets!

8. Why is my salmon sticking to the pan?

Salmon typically sticks if the pan isn’t hot enough, if you haven’t used enough oil, or if you try to flip it too soon. Ensure your skillet is hot, use enough oil (or a combination of oil and butter), and let the salmon sear undisturbed until a crust forms and it naturally releases before flipping.

9. What kind of salmon is best for this recipe?

Any type of salmon fillet works wonderfully for this Garlic Butter Salmon recipe. Sockeye, Coho, or Atlantic salmon are all excellent choices. Look for fresh, firm fillets with a vibrant color for the best results in your easy salmon dinner.

10. Can I make this recipe on a grill or air fryer?

Yes, absolutely! For grilling, cook over medium-high heat for 4-6 minutes per side. For an air fryer, preheat to 380°F (195°C) and cook for 8-12 minutes, flipping halfway, depending on thickness, for a fantastic oven salmon fillet alternative.

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love and believe will enhance your culinary experience.