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Garlic lemon butter salmon fillet with silky garlic butter sauce, lemon, and herbs on a plate

Garlic Lemon Butter Salmon with Garlic Butter Sauce

Garlic Lemon Butter Salmon with Garlic Butter Sauce is a tender, flaky salmon dish with a rich buttery, fresh lemon flavor. It is an easy and flavorful choice for a satisfying weeknight meal or a special dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Salmon
  • 4 salmon fillets (6–8 oz / 225 g each / 170–227 grams each)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (optional)
Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
Garnish
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Dry the salmon fillets with paper towels, then season both sides with salt, black pepper, and paprika if using.
Cooking
  1. Warm the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Arrange the salmon fillets in the skillet with the skin side facing down and cook for 3–4 minutes. Turn the fillets carefully and continue cooking for another 2–3 minutes.
  3. Move the skillet to a preheated oven at 375°F / 190°C and bake the salmon for 10–12 minutes, until it flakes easily and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F / 63°C.
Sauce
  1. While the salmon is baking, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, keeping the garlic from browning.
  3. Mix in the fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, then gently simmer the sauce for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  4. Season the garlic lemon butter sauce with salt and black pepper.
Serving
  1. Spoon the warm garlic lemon butter sauce over the cooked salmon and finish with chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

Allow the salmon to rest briefly after baking before serving to help keep the fillets moist.