Pan Seared Salmon is a healthy, and easy-to-make seafood dish with a crispy exterior and a juicy interior. It is usually made with fresh salmon fillets and basic seasoning spices. This homemade Pan Seared Salmon is one of the best and quick-to-make salmon recipes that tastes great with roasted and baked vegetables, simple salads, or rice for lunch and dinner. And the best part is it comes under in 15 minutes.
The recipe I have shared here shows you how to make Pan Seared Salmon with easy step-by-step instructions for you to try and enjoy at home. I have also shared a detailed video below to make the process visually clear.
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What is Pan Seared Salmon?
Pan Seared Salmon is a crispy, juicy and succulent seafood dish loaded with garlicky and lemony flavors. It is usually made with fresh salmon fillets and basic seasonings. Pan Searing is one of the easy and best ways to cook Salmon and is perfect to enjoy for lunch or dinner.
Salmon is one of the versatile fishes that adapt to the flavor of seasoning or marinade you incorporate. You can sear your salmon even with basic seasonings like salt and pepper or make it extra special with your favorite sauces that are handy for you.
The recipe I have shared here uses minimal seasoning ingredients that you might already have in kitchen cabinets. The process is also super simple and the whole process comes in handy in under 30 minutes. To be more precise, it almost comes in under 15 minutes.
Overall, this Pan Seared Salmon is one of the best seafood recipes that make your tiring weeknight dinner delightful. Not only that, but it is also a healthy dish that can be served with simple sides of your choice.
Ingredients
The ingredients you will need to make this Pan Seared Salmon are basic pantry things. You could easily find these ingredients easily in most grocery stores around. So let's see what are they below.
- Salmon Fillets - Skin-on salmon fillets usually deliver a crispy and juicy texture. However, you can also use skinless salmon according to your preference
- Garlic Powder - For a garlicky sweet flavor profile
- Ground White Pepper - I have used white pepper here, but feel free to use black pepper if that's handy for you
- Chili Flakes - Delivers the perfect heat and you can always customize it according to your heat level
- Lemon Juice - To achieve a zesty, tangy, and lemony flavor to your salmon
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to Pan Sear Salmon?
The recipe I have shared here is the Pan Seared Salmon, the best and one of the easy-to-make dishes on the stovetop. This salmon recipe requires very minimal seasoning and under 15 minutes to make it from scratch. And the best part is it delivers crispy and juicy fork-tender salmon every time.
Following are the high-level instructions to make this recipe but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and video, please check out the recipe card below.
- Sprinkle the Seasoning - In a plate or bowl, place the salmon fillets, and pour lemon juice all over the fillets. Sprinkle garlic powder, ground white pepper, chili flakes, and salt
- Rub - Rub the seasoning until everything coats well on the salmon
- Add the Fillets - In a pan with medium heat, pour oil and add the salmon fillets. Make sure the fillets have enough room and try not to overcrowd the pan
- Sear skin side down - Allow the fillets to sear for 4 to 5 minutes facing the skin side down. Searing the skin side down first delivers the crispy and crunchiness to your fish
- Flip and Sear - Now flip the salmon fillets and sear them for 4 to 5 minutes or until it turns golden in color
- Remove - Remove the Pan Seared Salmon from the oil and it is now ready for you to taste and enjoy
- Serve - Serve this crispy and juicy Pan Seared Salmon with some roasted vegetables like roasted broccoli, roasted asparagus, roasted green beans, or sauteed spinach, and brown rice
Tips
- For a crispy exterior - Searing a skin-on salmon fillet helps to achieve a perfectly crispy exterior and juicy interior
- Preheat the oil - Always make sure to preheat the oil before adding in the salmon fillets. This is one of the key factors for achieving crispy skin. If you add the fish to a cold oil then the skin might stick to the bottom and eventually tear the fillets while flipping
- Sear skin side down first - To achieve the best results, always sear the salmon skin side facing down first. Also, give enough time approximately 4 to 5 minutes to make the skin crispy and crunchy
- Flip and Sear - Once the skin is crispy, flip the salmon fillets gently and sear them until they turn golden
- Other seasonings - Even though I have used the basic seasonings here, you could also use simple marinades, chili seasoning, or glaze it with garlic butter sauce, or honey garlic sauce
- Use good quality pan - Always use well-seasoned cast iron or non-stick pan for achieving the best results. Usually, it avoid the skin from sticking to the pan and also delivers the crispy exterior
- Sear at the perfect temperature - Usually you can sear the salmon at high-medium heat for the first 3 minutes for crispy skin and then reduce the heat to medium for the remaining searing time. However, you can also sear the salmon at medium heat throughout the whole process
How do you know when Salmon is cooked?
Salmon usually cooks within a few minutes and it should be cooked when the flesh turns pale. You could also say the fish is cooked when it easily flakes with a fork. However, I would also suggest checking the salmon with a thermometer to confirm whether it has reached the safest internal temperature of 145 °F recommended by the FDA.
How long to cook Salmon in the pan?
You can cook or sear the Salmon in the pan for about 5 minutes on each side to achieve the perfect crispy outside and juicy interior.
Storage Suggestions
This Pan Seared Salmon stays good for up to 2 days in the refrigerator in a closed air-tight container. But I would recommend serving it as soon as it is out of the pan to enjoy its crispy and juicy texture.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Seared Salmon with roasted vegetables like roasted green beans, roasted asparagus, roasted broccoli, sauteed spinach, or brown rice. You could also serve it along with some basic salads for a healthy wholesome meal. Looking for more ideas, then you could also check our best side dishes for salmon for more.
Related Recipes
You could also find similar salmon recipes below and more at seafood recipes.
- Pan Fried Salmon
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Teriyaki Salmon
- Grilled Salmon
- Honey Garlic Salmon
- Garlic Butter Baked Salmon
- Salmon Pasta
- Salmon Tandoori
Pan Seared Salmon Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Pan Seared Salmon Recipe below that I hope will help you make the best salmon recipe at home. You could also find this recipe in a story format.
📖 Recipe
Pan Seared Salmon
Ingredients
- 5 fillets Salmon, or cut based on your preference
- 1½ tbsp Olive Oil, or other cooking oil of your choice
- ½ tsp Chili Flakes
- ½ tsp Ground White Pepper, or black pepper
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder
- Salt, as needed
Instructions
To make Pan Seared Salmon
- In a plate or bowl, place the salmon fillets and pour lemon juice all over the fillets. Sprinkle garlic powder, ground white pepper, chili flakes, and salt
- Rub the seasoning until everything coats well on the salmon
- In a pan with medium heat, pour oil and add the salmon fillets. Make sure the fillets have enough room and try not to overcrowd the pan. Allow the fillets to sear for 4 to 5 minutes facing the skin side down
- Now flip the salmon fillets and sear them for 4 to 5 minutes or until it turns golden in color
- Remove the Pan Seared Salmon from the oil and it is now ready for you to taste and enjoy
To Serve
- Serve this crispy and juicy Pan Seared Salmon with some roasted vegetables like roasted broccoli, roasted asparagus, roasted green beans, or sauteed spinach, and brown rice
Video
Notes
- For a crispy exterior - Searing a skin-on salmon filet helps to achieve a perfectly crispy exterior and juicy interior
- Preheat the oil - Always make sure to preheat the oil before adding in the salmon filets. This is one of the key factors for achieving crispy skin. If you add the fish to a cold oil then the skin might stick to the bottom and eventually tear the filets while flipping
- Sear skin side down first - To achieve the best results, always sear the salmon skin side facing down first. Also, give enough time approximately 4 to 5 minutes to make the skin crispy and crunchy
- Flip and Sear - Once the skin is crispy, flip the salmon filets gently and sear them until they turn golden
- Other seasonings - Even though I have used the basic seasonings here, you could also use simple marinades, chili seasoning, or glaze it with garlic butter sauce, or honey garlic sauce
- Use a good quality pan - Always use well-seasoned cast iron or non-stick pan for achieving the best results. Usually, it avoid the skin from sticking to the pan and also delivers the crispy exterior
- Sear at the perfect temperature - Usually you can sear the salmon at high-medium heat for the first 3 minutes for crispy skin and then reduce the heat to medium for the remaining searing time. However, you can also sear the salmon at medium heat throughout the process
Nutrition
FAQ
Pan Seared Salmon is a crispy, juicy and succulent seafood dish loaded with garlicky and lemony flavors. It is usually made with fresh salmon fillets and basic seasonings. Pan Searing is one of the easy and best ways to cook Salmon and is perfect to enjoy with simple sides for lunch or dinner.
You can cook or sear the Salmon in the pan for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side to achieve the perfect crispy outside and juicy interior.
Yes, you have to flip the salmon once the skin side turns crispy. This will help achieve golden and crispy edges with a tender and succulent interior.
To achieve the best results, always sear the salmon skin side facing down first. Also, give enough time approximately 4 to 5 minutes to make the skin crispy and crunchy.
Serve this Seared Salmon with roasted vegetables like roasted green beans, roasted asparagus, roasted broccoli, sauteed spinach, or brown rice. You could also serve it along with some basic salads for a healthy wholesome meal. Looking for more ideas, then you could also check our best side dishes for salmon for more.
I hope you enjoyed the recipe I shared here and I would love to hear from you about how it turned out for you. Please let me know.
If you have any other questions, feel free to post them in the comment section below and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Happy Cooking!
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