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!
If you love this recipe then you’ll love my Honey Garlic Salmon Recipe!
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?
nstead 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.
more Easy Salmon Recipes to try!
- Sweet and Sour Salmon
- Hoisin Glazed Salmon in foil
- Salmon Teriyaki
- Thai Salmon
- Blackened Salmon
- 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.
Julie
Mmmm, salmon is my most favorite fish! It’s at a close first with mahi and grouper. But salmon always takes the win! This pan fried salmon looks incredible, Kelley! LOVE! And great tip for leaving the skin on while cooking. We always do that and it makes for much easier cooking (and I think the salmon turns out more falvorful, too!)
SaraLily
I just realized I love cooked salmon (before now, I’ve only tried it when out for sushi!)! I love how this sounds – this looks like a good easy to follow recipe to try it out soon!
Aaron r
Wonderful dish. Follow these instructions n you cannot fail.
Luna Regina
Love this recipe. Easy to follow with simple ingredients!
Sam smith
I was really excited and then i got home and cut my salmon and there were bones and now im crying
Tina
Yummy!! I enjoyed this so much! 😋
MM
Delicious. Simple. Fast. Perfect for weeknight dinners. Thank you!