Description

This Creamy Garlic Butter Salmon recipe features perfectly seared salmon fillets cooked in a rich, luscious garlic butter Parmesan cream sauce. Enhanced with a touch of lemon and optional baby spinach, this elegant skillet dish comes together quickly and pairs beautifully with rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables. Ideal for a wholesome weeknight dinner, it’s packed with bold flavors and creamy textures that everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Salmon

4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each)
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil

Sauce

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth or dry white wine
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Optional

2 cups baby spinach
Chopped parsley and lemon wedges for garnish

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Season the Salmon: Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
Sear the Salmon: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the salmon fillets skin-side down and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown and just cooked through. Remove the salmon from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
Prepare the Sauce Base: Reduce the heat to medium, add the butter to the same skillet, and let it melt. Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
Deglaze the Pan: Pour in the chicken broth or dry white wine to deglaze the pan. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet and let the mixture simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add Cream and Seasonings: Stir in the heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, dried Italian seasoning, and lemon juice. Let the sauce simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently until it thickens slightly.
Wilt the Spinach: If using, add the baby spinach to the skillet and stir it into the sauce until wilted, which should take just a minute.
Return Salmon to Skillet: Place the salmon fillets back into the skillet and spoon the sauce generously over each fillet. Simmer everything together for 2 more minutes to allow the salmon to heat through and absorb some sauce flavor.
Garnish and Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges if desired. Serve immediately, pairing with rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.

Notes

This dish pairs beautifully with rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables.
For a dairy-free version, use coconut cream and omit the Parmesan cheese.
To ensure flaky salmon, avoid overcooking; the salmon should just flake easily with a fork.
You can substitute chicken broth with dry white wine for a more pronounced flavor.
Fresh garlic can be replaced with garlic powder in a pinch, but fresh is preferred for best flavor.