Garlic Butter Salmon might look like a simple recipe, but it’s got clout. Salmon is basted continuously with bubbling garlic butter so it seeps into every crack and crevice. A cheffy technique that’s actually dead simple yet produces a luxurious result – you’ll feel (and look) like a pro!
(PS. Once you’ve done salmon, do it for steak!)
Garlic Butter Salmon
I was a bit hesitant to share this recipe, thinking, “Salmon cooked in garlic butter? So obvious. So simple,” But as I thought about it, I realised that I did actually have some things to say about this “simple” recipe.
Like: finely chop the garlic with a knife; don’t use a garlic press/crusher. Garlic crushers make the garlic bits too small such that they burn, and they force out the garlic juice so it spits everywhere when it hits the butter.
And: don’t just pan fry the salmon in butter. Nooo! If you really want a great garlic butter salmon, we need to baste, baste, baste!
Plus: my specific sear-then-baste times. Following this method gets you maximum butter basting with perfectly cooked salmon every time, rather than overcooked salmon because you got too caught up in a nerve-racking basting frenzy.
Well, well, well. What do you know? Turns out I do have a recipe to share with you! 😂
What you need for this Garlic Butter Salmon recipe
Here’s what you need to cook this salmon recipe:
Salmon fillets – Opt for skinless, if you can. More exposed flesh means more garlic butter will seep into the meat! But if you’ve only got skin-on, it’s really not a big deal and I’ve included directions in the recipe;
Garlic – Because I think I mentioned this is a garlic butter salmon? 😂 Finely chop the garlic using a knife and don’t use a garlic crusher because the garlic will burn too quickly otherwise. Also garlic crushers force the garlic juice out, causing it to spit everywhere when it hits the hot butter;
Butter – 99% of the time when cooking, I use unsalted butter. For this recipe though, I used salted because I happened to have it. Conveniently, salted butter here partially takes care of the seasoning for you. If you only have unsalted, just add a pinch of salt into the butter;
Lemon – Just a little squeeze towards the end, for the tiniest tang to balance the richness of the butter. It’s not intended to be a lemon butter sauce like this one. Most people wouldn’t even identify lemon in this!
Parsley – For some colour as a garnish.
How to make this Garlic Butter Salmon recipe
This exercise is fabulously fast, and you’ll feel like a pro cook as you baste that bubbling butter over the salmon!
Season salmon with salt and pepper;
Sear the curved presentation side of the salmon (ie. put it in upside down) and cook for 3 minutes until it is nicely golden;
Butter and garlic – Turn the salmon, cook another minute, then add the butter. As soon as the butter melts, add the garlic; then
Baste, baste, baste – Immediately after you’ve added the garlic and even before it has had a chance to go golden, start basting. To do this, tilt the pan slightly so the butter pools on one side. Then scoop up the butter using a large spoon and spoon it over the salmon. The garlic will cook as you baste so by the time the salmon is done, the garlic is perfectly golden;
Baste 1 1/2 minutes – Baste for 1 1/2 minutes in total, which should be a total cooking time of around 3 minutes for the second side (1 minute cooking after turning + 30 seconds butter melting time + 1 1/2 minutes basting). Target an internal temperature of 50°C/122°F for medium-rare (optimum juiciness), with the thermometer inserted into the middle of the thickest part of the salmon. See below for more information on the internal temperature of cooked salmon; and
Rest 3 minutes, then serve with the garlic butter in the pan!
Internal temperature of cooked salmon
| Target “pull temperature” (ie. take off stove) | Final temperature after resting 3 mins | |
| Medium-rare (recommended) – Optimum juiciness Restaurant-style / my preference | 50°C/122°F | 53°C/127°F |
| Medium – Safest, not as juicy but still not overcooked! FDA recommendation | 60°C/140°F | 63°C/145°F |
While the FDA recommends an internal temperature of 63°C/145°F for cooked salmon (which is a fully-cooked medium), you’ll find that most chefs prefer salmon at 50°C/122°F. This is medium-rare which means the salmon is just cooked through and not raw, and is at its optimum juiciness.
These are the “pull temperatures” which means it is the target temperature while the salmon is still on the stove. Once you pull it off the stove, the salmon needs to be rested for 3 minutes before serving, during which time the internal temperature will rise by 3°C from 50°C/122°F to 53°C/127°F.
I promised you perfectly cooked salmon. So here’s a nice up-close-and-personal so you can see I did not lie 😉. Not a speck of dry, woolly meat to be seen! This is what 50C flesh looks like.
“So much butter!” Yes … and no
You’ll see that this salmon recipe calls for 90g / 6 tablespoons of butter for 4 servings – more than I ordinarily use for a single recipe. We need that much so we can baste effectively. If you skimp on the butter you’ll find yourself scraping desperately at your pan for the basting.
The butter also has a tempering effect and regulates temperature. This means more evenly cooked salmon, and less smoking / burning of fats and meat in the pan.
6 tablespoons total works out at 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter per serving which isn’t an obscene amount. But it is quite a rich dish – salmon being a rich and oily fish anyway, plus a butter sauce. So you might choose not to serve the fish with all the butter in the pan; I know I don’t.
In which case, save the leftover butter for tomorrow. Smear hardened butter onto bread and pan fry until lightly golden and crisp, like pictured below. In my photo it wasn’t yesterday’s butter, I just squashed bread into the butter left in the pan and fried it up until golden. It’s ridiculously good!
The Garlic Butter Salmon here is pictured in the post with Cauliflower Puree – a nice change from mashed potato which I often predictably feature. 🙂 Add to that a handful of leafy greens dressed in a French Dressing and you have it done: Dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes. And what a dinner! 🙂 – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Garlic Butter Salmon recipe
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets (180g/6oz each), skinless and boneless
- 1/2 tsp salt , cooking / kosher
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp garlic (~2 cloves) , finely minced by hand (don't use a garlic press)
- 90g / 6 tbsp salted butter , cut into cubes (or unsalted + 1/4 tsp salt)
- 1 tsp lemon juice , plus more to taste
- 2 tsp parsley , finely chopped
Instructions
- Season salmon: Take salmon out of fridge 30 minutes prior to cooking. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
- Sear salmon 3 mins: Heat oil in large non stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add salmon, presentation side (ie. curved side) down, and cook for 3 minutes until golden.
- Turn, cook 1 min, then add butter: Turn salmon and cook the other side for 1 minute. THEN put the butter in.
- Baste 1 1/2 minutes: Once butter is melted and foaming, add garlic and immediately start spooning the bubbling butter continuously over the salmon for 1 1/2 minutes. To do this, tilt the pan slightly so the butter pools on one side. Use a large spoon to scoop the butter up and spoon it over the salmon.
- Remove salmon from stove: Check Internal temperature of salmon. It should be 50°C/122°F for medium-rare (optimum juiciness pull temp). Remove salmon to a plate. Rest for 3 minutes – it will rise to 53°C/127°F. (See Note 2 for internal temperatures)
- Add lemon juice to butter: Put pan back on unlit stove to keep butter hot. Add lemon juice.
- Serve: Place salmon on serving plates. Spoon over butter (be judicious, it's rich!), garnish with a sprinkle of parsley. Pictured in the post with Cauliflower Mash and leafy greens with French Vinaigrette.
Recipe Notes:
3. Leftovers – Cooked salmon keeps for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Gently reheat in oven or microwave, or use flaked at room temperature in salads, sandwiches etc.
4. Nutrition per serving, assuming all the butter is consumed.
Nutrition Information:
More stovetop salmon love
Life of Dozer
Weekend visit to the hairdresser, a necessary evil in this gal’s life. Every time the hairdresser fiddled with the foils in my hair, Dozer would perk up, expecting something tasty. Because when he hears the rustle of foil at home, it’s usually meat related – slow roasting a lamb, resting a steak loosely covered etc. 😂
This was the most perfect salmon I’ve ever made. I’ve never been happy with the recipes I’ve tried before, but this tasted like it came out of a restaurant. Thank you! I’m never cooking salmon any other way.
Great recipe, Nagi. So easy, my bachelor, all thumbs son made it for his date night with rousing success!
Omg so simple and so good. Had to use a higher quality olive oil based margarine (forgive me) but it worked nicely. Thx!
Just made this tonight. It is going on my top 10 for everything I have cooked.
I wish I could upload my photo. I made a mixed green salad with sweet red pepper, radish slivers and cucumber slivers. In a lemon balsamic dressing.
You are making me hungry Michael!! Sounds yummy! N x
My family loves salmon so I’m always looking for new unique delicious ways to make it. This recipe was amazing & did not disappoint. It was packed with flavour & a huge hit. Thanks for this, it’s a keeper!
I am very new to cooking fish. I have always been intimidated by it. But THIS! This was great, and easy. My whole family loved it. I did add shallots with the garlic, but overall I stuck to script and it was amazing. So glad to add fish to our family’s diet.
I am happy that you liked it Sarah! N x
Made the best salmon ever with this recipe!! Just added a dash of lemon pepper on each filet and it was perfect. My husband bragged on this meal to my MIL. Win!!
So good, I seasoned my salmon heavily to put my own Louisiana twist! Served this alongside a simple garlic butter scampi! Will be making this again!
I absolutely love all your recipes! They never fail, are all delicious and easy to follow. Thank you so much.
You are very welcome Barbara! N x
This is the only way I cook my salmon now. I’ve made it countless times and it’s always a winner! Your recipes rock and I find myself seeking out your recipes for many items. Thank you!
Made it, loved it… received praise from the wife
Only thing I did differently was to warm the butter so I poured it in as a liquid, thought it would be easier to control that way
Absolutely perfect timing for cooking the salmon. Delicious flavour and very simple and speedy. A real stand-by, much better than baking the salmon.
First time I cooked fish and this is a 5 star. Will I do it again definitely. Been doing your other recipe and I’m guy a new to cooking.
Best salmon I ever had. With your recipe I finally managed to fry it without drying it out. Thank you!
I cooked this with barramundi and it was a bit hit – family LOVED it. Another amazing recipe, thanks Nagi.
Wow, 1st time cooking fish, and it was so easy. Also, sooo delicious!!
This recipe is out of this world!! Can’t wait to make it again and again. The salmon turned out buttery, flaky, melt in your mouth goodness with the perfect amount of garlic!! Thank you for creating such a simple yet delicious dish!
This recipe is out of this world!! Can’t wait to make it again and again. Thank you for creating such a simple yet delicious dish!
Fantastic! My husband is a fisherman and we’re always looking for different ways to prepare salmon. This was incredibly delicious and easy to prepare. The salmon was cooked perfectly and will be part of our rotation from now on 🙂
Sounds like you nailed it Paige – and this was is super simple too! N x
Hey Nagi I got a question. What sides did you cook in the video with the salmon?
Hi Michael, it says actually directly above the video. It’s Cauliflower Puree 🙂 – Nagi x
I have a GH stove and turned the burning temp to 4 and followed your directions exactly. But the salmon and the seasoning I put on it BURNED on both sides! I’m so disappointed. When you say medium high heat can you be a bit more specific? I thought 4 on my stove was pretty low but It appears not (the temps on my stove are arranged as such: Off, Max, 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,Simmer,Off. Also, I used previously frozen salmon fillets. Could that have made a difference or been the cause? Thanks.