Description
This Creamy Garlic Butter Salmon recipe offers a rich, flavorful dish featuring tender salmon fillets cooked to perfection and smothered in a luscious garlic butter cream sauce with Parmesan, spinach, and a hint of lemon. Perfect for an easy yet elegant weeknight dinner, this skillet meal pairs beautifully with rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon
- 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each, skin on or off)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Creamy Garlic Butter Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 2 cups baby spinach
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Season the salmon: Pat the salmon fillets dry and season both sides with salt and black pepper to enhance flavor and help form a nice crust during cooking.
- Sear the salmon: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the salmon, skin-side down if using, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until golden. Flip and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until just cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Cook the aromatics: Reduce heat to medium, add the butter to the same skillet, and once melted, sauté the finely chopped onion until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Make the sauce: Stir in the heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Add lemon and spinach: Pour in the lemon juice and add the baby spinach. Stir continuously until the spinach wilts and integrates into the creamy sauce.
- Combine and finish: Return the salmon fillets to the skillet, spoon the creamy sauce over each piece, and simmer gently for 1 to 2 minutes to heat through and marry the flavors.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top and serve immediately with your choice of sides such as rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread.
Notes
- For a lighter sauce, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half.
- Enhance the sauce by adding sautéed mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Ensure the salmon is patted dry to get a perfect sear with a crispy exterior.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Serve promptly to enjoy the sauce at its creamiest texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet with sauce
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 37 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
