Recipe video above. This is a simple-yet-luxurious, cheffy way to cook salmon. By basting continuously with foaming garlic butter, it seeps into every crack and crevice of the salmon and gives it the ultimate buttery crust.It may seem like a lot of butter for one recipe, but you need it to ensure good basting coverage. You do not have to use all of it for serving. Save leftover butter (even if just a smear!) and pan fry bread with it tomorrow, see post for photos. It's Amazing – with a capital A!
Prep time: PT5M
Cook time: PT8M
Rating
5 stars (73 reviews)
Keywords
butter salmon, Creamy herb and garlic salmon sauce, pan seared salmon, Quick salmon recipe
Ingredients
4 salmon fillets ((180g/6oz each), skinless and boneless)
1/2 tsp salt (, cooking / kosher)
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp garlic (~2 cloves) (, finely minced by hand (don't use a garlic press))
Season salmon: Take salmon out of fridge 30 minutes prior to cooking. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
Sear salmon 3 mins: Heat oil in large non stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add salmon, presentation side (ie. curved side) down, and cook for 3 minutes until golden.
Turn, cook 1 min, then add butter: Turn salmon and cook the other side for 1 minute. THEN put the butter in.
Baste 1 1/2 minutes: Once butter is melted and foaming, add garlic and immediately start spooning the bubbling butter continuously over the salmon for 1 1/2 minutes. To do this, tilt the pan slightly so the butter pools on one side. Use a large spoon to scoop the butter up and spoon it over the salmon.
Remove salmon from stove: Check Internal temperature of salmon. It should be 50°C/122°F for medium-rare (optimum juiciness pull temp). Remove salmon to a plate. Rest for 3 minutes – it will rise to 53°C/127°F. (See Note 2 for internal temperatures)
Add lemon juice to butter: Put pan back on unlit stove to keep butter hot. Add lemon juice.
Serve: Place salmon on serving plates. Spoon over butter (be judicious, it's rich!), garnish with a sprinkle of parsley. Pictured in the post with Cauliflower Mash and leafy greens with French Vinaigrette.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 464 kcal
Carbohydrates: 1 g
Protein: 36 g
Fat: 35 g
Saturated Fat: 14 g
Trans Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 147 mg
Sodium: 531 mg
Sugar: 1 g
Reviews
Jean on 2025-11-10 (5 stars): Absolutely phenomenal. This was gobbled up by grandma, husband, and baby. Saved to our rotation. Many thanks!!
Rosie on 2025-08-19 (5 stars): This was delicious!! Something my whole family can eat! I accompanied it with white rice, pan roasted broccoli (parm, olive oil and garlic powder) and a balsamic vinegar dressed salad.
Nicole K on 2025-07-07 (5 stars): Omg. I tried cooking this and it tastes awesome. My 8 year old who is a picky eater loves it too. Simple and delicious.
Taysia Vick on 2025-06-28 (5 stars): This was amazing! Never have made salmon on the stove and this was the best salmon I’ve ever had. 10/10.
Alicia on 2025-05-06 (5 stars): This recipe took the guesswork out of preparing the salmon. It was clear and very easy to understand, which was great. Thank you.
Kristie on 2025-04-07 (5 stars): This was AMAZING!!! I will be making this a lot more!
Tyanne Koch on 2024-11-21 (5 stars): I loved this recipe. Super easy to make in a short amount of time. Will definitely make again!
bn on 2024-11-15 (5 stars): Receipe was easy and so delicious. Thank you Nagi.
Bonnie on 2024-10-22 (5 stars): This recipe was so easy and delicious. My whole family loved it.
Mary on 2024-10-14 (5 stars): Absolutely delicious
Sheri Webb on 2024-09-23 (5 stars): OMW! I will never make salmon any other way! First time cooking it was a success and it is so delicious! Read through directions first if you are a new cook like me. Ohhhh! sweet success!
kristine on 2024-09-01 (5 stars): So good! It will be my go to for salmon
Lynda on 2024-08-29 (5 stars): I just made this today after finding out I'm vitamin D deficient, again. It's such a simple dish but the salmon was perfectly cooked and flavourful, crispy on the outside and so tender inside. I served it with a simple salad and a few fries, yum!
Brian S on 2024-08-16 (5 stars): Have made this several times in the past. Made it again tonight and, as always, it came out great. I just have to cook it a bit longer than the times in the recipe.
Ann on 2024-08-12 (5 stars): Made the Garlic Butter Salmon tonight. I loved that it doesn’t use too many ingredients (I already had everything on hand). In fact, it was delicious even though I didn’t have the parsley. I’ll definitely make it again.
Kate on 2024-08-02 (5 stars): This was absolutely delicious! Came together so quickly. We had fresh salmon our neighbor caught and it was perfect.
Cindy Sevey on 2024-07-31 (5 stars): Loved this recipe and so did my husband. I followed the very simple easy directions and it was perfect! :-)
Skoshi on 2024-06-30 (5 stars): This recipe is so simple and absolutely amazing. One of the few recipes I did not modify at all. Thank you Nagi!
Mars on 2024-06-13 (5 stars): So good! Ate this over salad. I doubled on garlic because I love the crispy bits. So sweet!
Teresa on 2024-05-09 (5 stars): Well this was yummy! I used haddock. I cooked several servings of rice, then stirred in the extra garlic butter from the skillet. Oh. Yeah.
