Julie Clark
Updated:
Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
This Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon will melt in your mouth! Pan fried salmon is golden brown with amazing flavor. This low carb dinner recipe is ready in under 30 minutes.
Don’t you just love the different ways you can put lemon and garlic together for recipes? Sheet pan chicken, lemon garlic shrimp, garlic parmesan chicken sprinkled with lemon and grilled pork chops…you can use this flavor combination on just about anything.
This easy dinner is not only ready in under 30 minutes, but is also healthy! It fits keto and low carb diet plans, and is also Paleo and Whole30 if you use ghee instead of butter.
This pan fried Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon has such a fantastic flavor. Your family will love it served with our butter rice recipe. And you’ll also love our salmon burgers!
How to Buy Salmon
Buying seafood can be overwhelming. You may have heard that some salmon and seafood is not good for you, so here are a few tips when choosing salmon:
- Fresh, wild caught salmon is best.
- Alaskan salmon is a great option.
- It should not smell fishy.
- Frozen wild caught salmon filets are a great option if you need to plan ahead. They often come individually wrapped for easy dinner options.
How to Make Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
After you purchase the salmon, you will most likely have the rest of the ingredients for this seafood recipe in your pantry. Let me show you how to make it!
- Stir together garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika in a small bowl.
- Season the top of the salmon with seasoning mixture. The top is the part that does not have skin on it. Set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is completely melted, add salmon. Cook 3 minutes.
- Turn heat down to medium. Flip the salmon.
- Top with remaining butter, and add lemon slices to skillet. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. That butter is going to melt down into the salmon and make it taste AMAZING.
How do you know when salmon is done?
Salmon will flake apart easily when it is done. It will turn from a reddish raw color to an opaque pink. As long as the salmon is flaking apart, it is safe to eat even if it is slightly translucent inside. The salmon should NOT look raw at all.
What is the white stuff on salmon?
The white “stuff” that sometimes ends up on the outside of salmon during cooking is 100% safe to eat. It’s a protein called albumin. This white coagulated protein actually appears more when you heat the salmon aggressively. It can be a sign you’ve overcooked the salmon or cooked it at too high a heat. You can read more about albumin here.
Can I eat salmon skin?
Salmon skin is generally considered safe to eat as long as your fish comes from a safe source. The skin contains more of the fatty acids and minerals that the salmon meat has.
It’s really a matter of preference. I prefer skin off, but my daughter loves the crispy skin on.
We also make this recipe with pink sockeye salmon, as shown below. It has a beautiful color!
What to serve with salmon?
We love to serve salmon with a side of cauliflower rice, sweet potato or mashed potatoes.
For veggies, you can whip up roasted asparagus or carrots, and then serve with a side salad.
Other Salmon Recipes
- Brown Sugar Salmon
- Grilled Lemon Salmon
- Salmon with Brown Butter Almond Sauce
- Salmon Quesadillas
- 10 Minute Air Fryer Salmon
Lemon Butter Garlic Salmon
This Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon will melt in your mouth! Pan fried salmon is golden brown with amazing flavor. This low carb dinner recipe is ready in under 30 minutes.
Servings 6
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds salmon filets
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon paprika
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 4-6 lemon slices
Instructions
- Stir together garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika in a small bowl.
- Season top of salmon (not skin side) with seasoning mixture. Set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once butter melts, add salmon skin side down. Cook 3 minutes.
- Turn heat down to medium. Flip the salmon. Top with remaining butter, and add lemon slices to skillet. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or dill. Serve with a lemon wedge or squeeze additional lemon juice over salmon before serving.
Notes
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 6 people, with 1 serving being 1 piece of salmon. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**
Nutrition
Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 344mg | Potassium: 556mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 518IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
Question.? When you say add the salmon, you do not specify which side. Pretty sure this is important. Am I wrong?
Thank you for ALL the information, from buying it, preparing it, what to eat with it, and all the information in between. This was so informative. I learned a lot and really appreciate how well written it was. Sincerely, TQ