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
4.98 stars (94 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
Sarah on 2026-04-05 (5 stars): Made this for my daughter and I this evening, so simple yet absolutely delicious. The salmon was perfectly cooked. Will most definitely be cooking salmon this way again.
Pam on 2026-03-22 (5 stars): We eat a lot of pan fried salmon but this quick & easy recipe took it to another level - will definitely be cooking salmon this way again
Holly on 2026-02-26 (5 stars): This was awesome! This is now my go to for salmon! I used parchment paper in a stainless steel pan. Skin was so crispy. Salmon was cooked to perfection following the times given.
Kay on 2026-02-25 (5 stars): Thank you, Nagi! Easy, quick. My salmon was crispy, juicy, and delish!!
Leslie Ross on 2026-02-18 (5 stars): Loved this recipe! Simple, clear instructions and ingredients and it turned out beautifully. Thank you!!
LISA R on 2025-12-18 (5 stars): Best salmon I've ever made. My Mom hasn't had an appetite, but she thoroughly enjoyed this. We both thank you!
Andrew Balmat on 2025-12-11 (4 stars): Very tasty, but it took much longer than the recipe indicated to finish after flipping. I don’t know if my heat was too low or what, but I basted for closer to 15 minutes
Edith on 2025-11-14 (5 stars): Overall very good. Use as little oil as possible, otherwise it comes out greasy. Be aware that once you add the butter and garlic this moves _very_ fast. When you take the fish out you need to keep stirring the butter otherwise you'll have burnt garlic in seconds. We'll definitely make again.
Jean on 2025-11-10 (5 stars): Absolutely phenomenal. This was gobbled up by grandma, husband, and baby. Saved to our rotation. Many thanks!!
Wendy D on 2025-10-26 (5 stars): Wow, this was brilliant and so quick and easy! No complicated ingredients or processes, beautiful balance of flavours! I had it with a small salad and a slice of sourdough bread fried in the juices in the pan. Best garlic bread ever!
Chanel on 2025-09-21 (5 stars): Very delicious recipe thanks for sharing.. come out super yummy
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.
Cole on 2025-04-17 (5 stars): I made this for dinner tonight, a perfect dinner, the salmon ws perfectly cooked the little crisp garlic pieces made for a beautiful surprise and the butter was silky smooth, i served with sweet potatoes mash with pak choy…delicious, ill be making this again.
Larissa Larsen on 2025-04-15 (5 stars): Love this recipe!! Have made it a few times with roasted potatoes and green salad with french vinaigrette. Goes perfectly altogether. Thank you!!!
Kristie on 2025-04-07 (5 stars): This was AMAZING!!! I will be making this a lot more!
21 cfr cleaning validation on 2025-04-05 (5 stars): Ensuring food safety and regulatory compliance has never been easier. At Thermosoft Technologies, we provide expert Autoclave Validation, sterilization, and food safety consulting to help businesses meet FDA, FSMA, HACCP, and GMP standards seamlessly.
