Super Easy Pan Fried Salmon with a Lemon Dill Butter. Serve this simple dish with rice and a veggie to make it a meal. Ready in less than 20 minutes and only requires 5 ingredients!
Salmon is one of my favorite proteins to cook and eat at home. For something sweet and spicy try my Brown Sugar Chipotle Salmon or fire up the grill and throw on my Grilled Maple Dijon Salmon!
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Lemon Dill Salmon
I am always looking for quick dinners that I can throw together in minutes. This Pan Seared Salmon is one of them. Buttery, flakey salmon with a hint of lemon and dill. The salmon turns out tender on the inside and super crispy on the outside. All you need for this recipe is 20 minutes and 5 ingredients! This dish is impressive enough to serve for guests or for a fancy date night!
I’ve shown you guys my method for baking salmon and now I am going to walk you through pan-frying. Searing the salmon in a hot pan keeps the salmon crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The high heat and quick cooking help to seal in the moisture. That is why pan frying is probably my favorite way to cook salmon.
5 ingredients + 20 minutes to make = The perfect weeknight dinner. Serve this Lemon Dill Salmon with rice and a veggie to make it a meal. This lemon dill salmon recipe is also great for meal prep!
Ingredients for Lemon Dill Salmon
- Salmon: The most sustainable and healthy salmon to eat is wild-caught salmon. If it’s difficult to find it in your area, farmed Atlantic salmon will work. Read more about choosing the right quality salmon here.
- Oil: A neutral oil like olive oil or avocado oil is perfect for pan-frying the salmon.
- Butter: Butter goes so well with salmon! It is rich and creamy and complements the other ingredients perfectly.
- Dill: Always use fresh dill if you can! It packs in so much more flavor than dried.
- Lemon: Just one tablespoon of lemon juice is needed, but it certainly goes far. Feel free to add a little more if needed.
- Seasoning: Simple salt and pepper season the salmon before it gets pan-fried.
How to make Pan-Fried Salmon with Lemon Dill Butter
- Season salmon: On all sides with salt and pepper.
- Pan fry salmon: Add oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot add in salmon skin side down. (I typically do 2 at a time so I do not overcrowd the pan). Cook salmon for 5-7 minutes on the skin side (depending on size).
- Flip: Very carefully flip salmon. If the skin is sticking to the pan give it more time to cook. It should release easily from the pan. Cook for 1-3 minutes on this side until the salmon looks opaque.
- Make the lemon dill butter: Meanwhile in a small saucepan melt butter, dill, and lemon juice. Brush the butter mixture onto the cooked salmon.
- Serve: Take off the heat. When the Lemon Dill Salmon is cool enough to handle peel off the skin. Serve immediately with lemon and dill for garnish.
A couple of tips for cooking perfect salmon every time
- Make sure to pat down the salmon before searing. This is especially important if you are using thawed frozen salmon. This helps to get all of the excess water out of the salmon and helps it to get nice and crispy when you cook it!
- Let your salmon come to room temperature before cooking. A good rule of thumb is to let it come to room temperature for 10 minutes before searing. This helps the salmon to cook evenly!
- Don’t try to flip the salmon if it is sticking. Give it a minute or two and it should release naturally from the pan on its on.
What to serve with Lemon Dill Salmon
- Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
- Lemon Parmesan Rice
- Garlic Fried Rice
- Cauliflower Rice or Quinoa
- Steamed vegetables
- Mashed Potatoes
- Loaded Mashed Potatoes
- Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Colcannon (Irish Potatoes)
- Risotto
- Side Salad
- Creamy Confetti Corn
Do you put dill on salmon before cooking?
Instead of putting it on the salmon before pan-frying, I add it to the lemon-dill butter which I pour over the salmon to finish the dish. If I added it to the salmon before cooking it would lose its freshness pretty quickly.
What flavors go best with salmon?
Salmon can take on so many different flavors. Here are some of my favorites:
- Citrus: Lemon, lime and orange.
- Herbs: Dill, oregano, thyme, basil rosemary, parsley, cilantro, fennel, sage, tarragon.
- Sweetener: Brown sugar, honey, maple syrup.
- Spices: Garlic, ginger, chili powder, smoky chipotle.
What seasoning should I put on salmon?
The way to go, in my opinion, is to keep it simple with just salt and pepper. Salt and pepper enhance the natural flavors of the salmon and really allow them to shine. After the salmon has finished cooking, then it’s time to add other flavors like Lemon Dill Butter to make this Lemon Dill Salmon.
Here are more Easy Salmon Recipes to try!
- Sweet and Sour Salmon
- Hoisin Glazed Salmon and Veggies in foil
- Easy Teriyaki Salmon
- Super Easy Thai Salmon
- Blackened Salmon with Lime Butter Sauce
- Sweet and Spicy Honey Sriracha Salmon
- Tuscan Salmon
Easy Pan Fried Salmon with Lemon Dill Butter
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 4 salmon filets, skin on
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Add oil to a large skillet over medium high heat. Season salmon with salt and pepper.
- Once hot add in salmon skin side down. (I typically do 2 at a time so I do not overcrowd the pan). Cook salmon for 5-7 minutes on skin side (depending on size).
- Very carefully flip salmon. If the skin is sticking to the pan give it more time to cook. It should release easily from the pan. Cook for 1-3 minutes on this side until the salmon looks opaque.
- Meanwhile in a small saucepan melt butter, dill and lemon juice. Brush the butter mixture onto the cooked salmon.
- Serve immediately with lemon and dill for garnish.
Nutrition Information
Did you make this?
I'd love to hear your feedback! Leave a review and make sure to share your pictures on social media! Don't forget to follow @thechefsavvy.
Caroline
So simple but looks so delicious. I love uncomplicated dishes like this with no crazy shopping lists.
Medha
Love the minimal ingredients and that lemon dill butter sounds fab 🙂
Sonali
My husband and I usually eat salmon a few times and week so to say we love it is a bit of an understatement. With this said, this preparation sounds absolutely perfect! Quick, easy and delicious- yum!
Sarah Laker
Thanks for sharing this post!
Gayle
This salmon looks just perfect, Kelley! I’m always looking for new ways to make salmon, so I love the flavor of this!
Dannii
This looks perfect. I have recently become obsessed with dill again. I always forget how much I love it until I have it again.
felicia@ingredient1
We love cooking salmon with dill, the flavors always work so well together! Definitely going to pair this with some broccoli or asparagus soon.
Beeta
What a wonderful quick and easy dinner. I love salmon with a lemon dill sauce. And I love that you pan fry your salmon first to give it the crispy exterior. I will definitely be trying this recipe this week for a healthy, delicious dinner. Gorgeous, Kelley!
Keri
Salmon is one of my go-to meals so I’ll definitely be trying this. I love the simplicity of it and lemon-dill is such a winning combo with salmon.
Stacey
Pan fried salmon with crispy edges and lemon and dill is hands down my favourite way of cooking salmon. This looks just perfect!