Description
Garlic butter salmon slides right onto your dinner plate with restaurant-quality elegance that feels totally doable at home. Perfectly seared fish meets rich, herby butter sauce in a quick 15-minute meal that makes weeknight cooking feel like a delicious adventure.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 (6 ounces / 170 grams) salmon fillets
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Cooking Fats and Liquids:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C) and position a rack in the center for even cooking.
- Pat 4 salmon fillets (6 ounces/170 grams each) completely dry using paper towels to ensure crisp edges.
- Arrange the salmon fillets on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between each piece.
- Mix 4 tablespoons (60 grams) softened unsalted butter, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly across the top of each salmon fillet, covering the entire surface.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice (about 1 tablespoon) over the buttered fillets to add brightness.
- Roast the salmon in the preheated oven for exactly 10-12 minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the salmon rest for 2-3 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Garnish with additional fresh parsley and lemon wedges before serving immediately.
- Transfer the salmon to individual plates, ensuring each portion receives an equal amount of the golden, fragrant butter.
Notes
- Always pat salmon fillets completely dry with paper towels before cooking to ensure a crispy, golden exterior.
- When melting butter, keep the heat low and watch carefully to prevent burning and create a smooth, flavorful sauce.
- Fresh garlic makes a huge difference, so crush or mince cloves just before adding to the pan for maximum flavor intensity.
- Cooking salmon to medium-rare keeps the fish tender and prevents it from becoming dry or tough, so aim for an internal temperature of 125°F.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salmon
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg