Creamy Lemon Butter Salmon for Two
A quick and easy salmon dinner featuring tender fillets with a silky, tangy lemon butter sauce, perfect for an intimate meal for two.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each), skin-on preferred
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest, finely grated (optional)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
- Place salmon fillets skin-side down in the skillet. Press gently with a spatula to keep skin flat. Cook without moving for 4-5 minutes until skin is crisp and salmon is cooked about two-thirds through.
- Flip the fillets carefully and cook for another 2-3 minutes until salmon is opaque and flakes easily. Transfer to a plate and tent loosely with foil to keep warm.
- Lower heat to medium. In the same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter and let it brown slightly for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, allowing the sauce to sizzle.
- Slowly add heavy cream while stirring. Let sauce simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened and silky.
- Season sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in chopped parsley.
- Spoon the creamy lemon butter sauce over the salmon fillets and serve immediately.
Notes
Pat salmon dry before cooking for a crisp skin. Watch butter carefully to brown but not burn. If sauce is too thin, simmer longer; if too thick, add a splash of water or cream. Use skin-on salmon for best texture. Sauce is best made fresh after cooking salmon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet with
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: salmon, lemon butter sauce, quick dinner, easy salmon recipe, creamy sauce, seafood, healthy dinner, dinner for two