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Easy Pan Seared Salmon – perfectly cooked salmon fillets with a crispy golden crust and tender flaky center. This simple stovetop salmon recipe takes less than 10 minutes to cook and uses only a few basic ingredients: salt, black pepper, garlic and dill.
It’s one of the easiest healthy dinners you can make on a busy weeknight. Serve it with a fresh salad, roasted vegetables, or your favorite low-carb side dish.
This recipe works with skin-on or skinless salmon and delivers restaurant-quality flavor with almost no effort.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Ready in under 10 minutes
• Perfect for weeknight dinners
• Naturally low-carb and keto friendly
• Crispy outside, tender flaky inside
• Works with fresh or frozen salmon
If you’re looking for the best way to cook salmon on the stovetop, this method never fails.
Ingredients You Need For Pan Seared Salmon Fillet
To make this easy pan seared salmon recipe, you only need a few simple ingredients:
- salmon fillets (skin on or skinless)
- olive oil or vegetable oil
- salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder or fresh garlic
- dill (fresh, frozen or dried)
- lemon juice (optional)
You can use Atlantic, Sockeye, Coho or Salmon Trout for this recipe.
How To Make Pan Seared Salmon
Cooking salmon on the stovetop is quick and simple.
Step 1 – Heat the pan
Heat a large skillet over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Add olive oil.
Step 2 – Add the salmon
Place the salmon skin side down if using skin-on fillets.
Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Sprinkle with dill.
Step 3 – Cook
Cook the salmon for about 3 minutes without moving it.
Step 4 – Flip
Carefully flip the salmon using a spatula and cook the other side for about 2 minutes.
Step 5 – Rest
Remove the pan from heat and let the salmon rest in the pan for about 5 minutes.
The salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork.
Drizzle with lemon juice before serving if desired.
What Is Pan Searing?
Pan searing is a cooking technique where food is cooked in a very hot skillet with a small amount of oil. When fish or meat touches the hot pan, the surface quickly caramelizes and forms a golden crust.
This crust adds incredible flavor and texture that you simply cannot achieve with poaching or baking alone.
Pan searing is one of the best ways to cook salmon because it keeps the inside moist while creating a crisp exterior.
Should You Cook Salmon Skin Side First?
If using skin-on salmon, cooking the skin side first is usually easier.
The skin helps hold the fillet together and makes it easier to flip the fish without breaking it.
The skin may shrink slightly during cooking, but this is completely normal.
Tips For Perfect Pan Seared Salmon
Follow these tips for the best results.
Bring salmon to room temperature
Take it out of the fridge about 15–20 minutes before cooking.
Use a hot pan
A properly heated skillet is essential for creating a golden crust.
Use good quality salmon
Wild salmon often has better flavor and texture.
Do not overcook the fish
Salmon cooks quickly and should still be slightly moist inside.
Let the salmon rest
Resting in the pan for a few minutes allows the heat to finish cooking it gently.
FAQ
Salmon should be cooked for about 3-4 minutes on the first side and 2-3 minutes on the second side, depending on thickness.
Olive oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil work well. Oils with a higher smoke point are best for searing.
Salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork and the center turns opaque.
What to serve seared salmon with?
- Lightened Up Potato Salad Recipe
- Cucumber And Onion Salad
- Grilled Zucchini Salad
- Bulgarian Green Salad
- Marouli Salad
- Creamy Cabbage Salad
More Salmon Recipes:
- Easy One Pan Garlic Dill Lemon Baked Salmon
- Miso salmon with cold marinated asparagus
- One Pan Lemon Garlic Salmon
Easy Pan Seared Salmon
Ingredients
- 2 salmon fillets, about 6 oz each
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp chopped dill, fresh or frozen
- 1 tsp lemon juice, optional
Video
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes.
- Add olive oil and place salmon skin side down in the pan.
- Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and dill.
- Cook for about 3 minutes.
- Flip the salmon and cook another 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let rest in the pan for 5 minutes.
- Drizzle with lemon juice and serve.
- Salmon is ready when it flakes easily with a fork.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Great recipe! Delicious!