Pan-Fried Salmon in a garlic lemon herb sauce is a crispy skillet-cooked salmon recipe that requires few ingredients and only about 15 minutes to make.

Looking for that ONE skillet-cooked salmon recipe that you can swaddle your life around and use over and over and over on repeat? 

You’re in luck.

This easy approach to cooking salmon in a skillet can be your new go-to method for preparing fish. It requires so little time, energy and ingredients yet the result is a perfectly crispy salmon (the best kind!) with a nice moist and tender inside.

So let’s make it!

How to Make Garlic Lemon Herb Pan-Fried Salmon:

Heat the avocado oil in a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet (12-inch skillet recommended) over medium-high heat.

Sprinkle salmon fillets with sea salt, onion powder, and black pepper. Carefully place flesh-side down on the hot skillet. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, until the sides begin turning opaque. Carefully flip to the other side and cook another 2 minutes. If necessary, turn heat down to medium or medium-low.

Add the remaining ingredients (garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice and parsley) and stir.

Cover skillet and cook an additional 2 to 5 minutes, until salmon reaches desired done-ness.

Serve salmon with favorite side dishes and enjoy!

Suggested Side Dishes:

    • Crispy salmon for life!

      Two pan-fried salmon fillets in a metal pan, garnished with chopped herbs and spices, with a halved lemon placed beside the fillets.

      Garlic Lemon Herb Pan-Fried Salmon

      5 from 1 vote
      Skillet-cooked salmon with lemon and herbs
      Prep Time 10 minutes
      Cook Time 15 minutes
      Total Time 25 minutes
      Servings: 4 servings

      Ingredients

      • 3 Tbsp avocado oil
      • 1 1/2 lbs salmon cut into fillets
      • 2 tsp onion powder
      • 1/4 tsp black pepper
      • 1/4 tsp sea salt to taste
      • 4 cloves garlic minced
      • 1 lemon zested
      • 2 Tbsp lemon juice
      • 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped

      Instructions

      • Heat the avocado oil in a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet (12-inch skillet recommended) over medium-high heat.
      • Sprinkle salmon fillets with sea salt, onion powder, and black pepper. Carefully place flesh-side down on the hot skillet. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, until the sides begin turning opaque. Carefully flip to the other side and cook another 2 minutes. If necessary, turn heat down to medium or medium-low.
      • Add the remaining ingredients (garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice and parsley) and stir.
      • Cover skillet and cook an additional 2 to 5 minutes, until salmon reaches desired done-ness. Serve salmon with favorite side dishes and enjoy!

      Nutrition

      Serving: 1serving · Calories: 361kcal · Protein: 35g · Fat: 24g
      Author: Julia
      Course: Main Dishes
      Cuisine: American
      Keyword: gluten free, keto, low-carb, paleo, salmon, whole30
      Did You Make This Recipe?I want to see it! Tag @the.roasted.root on social media!
Julia Mueller
Meet the Author

Julia Mueller

Julia Mueller is a recipe developer, cookbook author, and founder of The Roasted Root. She has authored three bestselling cookbooks, – Paleo Power Bowls, Delicious Probiotic Drinks, and The Quintessential Kale Cookbook. Her recipes have been featured in several national publications such as BuzzFeed, Self, Tasty, Country Living, Brit.co, etc.

Read More About Julia

Need Help With Dinner?

View More Dinner Ideas
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Join The Discussion

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Questions and Reviews

  1. This dish is wonderful! It is so quick and easy and full of flavor. The only thing I would do different is wait a little longer to add the capers because they got a bit too over-cooked.