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Close-up of golden-brown Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon fillets with visible flaky layers and shimmering butter glaze.

Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon: The Perfect 15-Minute Cast Iron Dinner

This Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon features thick, pan-seared fillets with a golden-brown crisp, bathed in a glossy lemon garlic butter sauce. Topped with charred lemons and fresh parsley, it's a 15-minute restaurant-quality dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Seafood
Calories: 410
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 3 fillets Salmon Thick, center-cut, approx 6oz each
  • 1 tbsp Avocado Oil Or high-smoke point oil
  • 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter High quality for better emulsion
  • 4 cloves Garlic Finely minced
  • 1 whole Lemon Half juiced, half sliced into thin rounds
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley Finely chopped
  • to taste Salt and Pepper Kosher salt preferred

Equipment

  • 1 Cast-Iron Skillet 12-inch seasoned skillet preferred
  • 1 Meat Thermometer To ensure perfect flakiness

Method
 

Searing and Sauce
  1. Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Sear salmon flesh-side down for 4-5 minutes until a golden-brown crisp forms.
  3. Flip salmon. Add lemon slices to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until salmon is flaky and lemons are slightly charred.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic to the center of the pan. Sauté for 1 minute, then add lemon juice.
  5. Spoon the glossy lemon garlic butter sauce over the fillets. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

Use a cold butter pat at the end for an extra thick, glossy sauce.
Patting the fish dry is the single most important step for a crispy crust.