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Home » Seafood Recipes » Pan Fried Salmon

Pan Fried Salmon

A photo of Vered DeLeeuw.
by Vered DeLeeuwUpdated Mar 29, 2025
4 Comments
5 from 17 votes

Jump to Recipe Review Recipe

Pan fried salmon is delicious when cooked in butter and olive oil. The skin becomes wonderfully crispy, and the flesh is juicy and flavorful. Who needs fast food when this homemade dish is ready in fifteen minutes?

Three fillets of pan fried salmon are served on a white plate with lemon slices.

I enjoy salmon recipes like baked salmon and grilled salmon, but this pan fried salmon is especially good because the skin becomes wonderfully crispy when seared in butter in a hot skillet. The bonus: it's an easy meal to prepare, making it suitable for a quick weeknight dinner.

Ingredients and Variations

The ingredients needed to make pan-fried salmon.

See the recipe card for exact measurements. Here are my comments on some of the ingredients.

  • Salmon fillets: I prefer skin-on fillets. Salmon skin is delicious, especially in this recipe, where it becomes crispy.
  • To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme.
  • For frying: I use a mix of olive oil and butter. You can skip the butter and cook the salmon in two tablespoons of olive oil. However, butter enhances the salmon's flavor. Alternatively, you can skip the olive oil and use two tablespoons of butter. The butter's milk solids have a blackening effect (similar to blackened salmon), making the salmon extra crispy.
  • Optional additions: Lemon slices and chopped parsley.

Instructions

The detailed instructions and step-by-step photos are included in the recipe card. Here's a quick overview.

Season the salmon with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet. When the butter starts foaming, add the salmon fillets, skin-side down. You can add lemon slices, too.

Four salmon fillets and four lemon slices are seared in a cast-iron skillet.

Sear the salmon, undisturbed, until the skin is crisp and browned, about 4 minutes. Flip it, lower the heat to medium, and cook it for 2-3 more minutes or until it's cooked through. Its internal temperature, as measured in the thickest part, should reach 145°F.

The salmon has reached 145°F.

Transfer the cooked salmon to a plate, drizzle it with the pan juices, garnish with lemon and parsley, and serve.

Three pan-fried salmon fillets are served with lemon slices.

5 stars rating.This is a fantastic recipe. Excellent taste and easy to prepare. Thanks for sharing.
Alex
Read more comments

Recipe Tips

  1. Don't forget to drizzle (or brush) the salmon with the pan juices after you've arranged it on plates. The pan sauce is buttery and rich. It adds wonderful flavor to the dish.
  2. The best skillets for this recipe are nonstick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillets. I don't recommend using a stainless steel skillet in this recipe - the salmon skin tends to stick to it.
  3. If your fillets are 1 inch thick, cook the edges for about 2 minutes per side. This helps ensure that the salmon's internal temperature reaches 145ºF. See the photos below - the first one shows how the edges are still raw even after the salmon was seared on both sides. The second photo shows that the edges are fully cooked - and so is the entire fillet.
Cooking the salmon edges.
The salmon edges are cooked.

Recipe FAQs

How can you tell when the salmon is done?

When salmon is done, it transforms from red and translucent to pink and opaque.

The USDA recommends cooking fish to an internal temperature of 145°F. While many cooks feel it's better to cook salmon to an internal temperature of 125°F or 130°F and let it rest for five minutes, I prefer to err on the side of caution and cook fish to an internal temperature of 145°F.

Apart from using a thermometer, another way to check for doneness is to gently press on the top of the fish with a fork. If the flesh flakes (separates) easily, the salmon is done. But the only way to know for sure is to use a thermometer.

How can I make the skin crispy?

Cook the salmon skin-side down for about four minutes over medium-high heat. Turn it to the other side only after you can see (when lifting the edge) that the skin is browned.

It's also helpful to add enough fat to the frying pan, use butter (its milk solids have a blackening effect), and use a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet.

Can I cook the salmon without the skin?

Yes. I love salmon skin, especially when fried and crispy. But if you prefer to cook it without the skin, simply follow the same instructions, cooking it for about 3 minutes per side.

Can I use frozen salmon?

No. I recommend thawing the salmon before using it in this recipe. It's OK to use frozen salmon when baking salmon in the oven. But when pan-frying, the salmon should be thawed to make sure it is evenly cooked.

Can I keep the leftovers?

Yes. You can keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. I prefer to avoid reheating them because reheating can dry them out and make them taste fishy. Instead, I crumble them cold (removing the skin first) over a salad like this arugula salad, or use the cold salmon in this Cobb salad instead of chicken. Sometimes, I chop the leftovers, mix them with cream cheese, and have that for my lunch the next day on thick slices of almond flour bread.

Serving Suggestions

This is a versatile main dish that goes with anything. The three photos below show it served with three different sides: sauteed green beans (it's also good with haricot verts), roasted broccoli, and tomato salad with mozzarella and olives.

Pan-fried salmon served with sauteed green beans.
The salmon is served with sauteed green beans.
Pan-seared salmon is served with roasted broccoli.
The salmon is served with roasted broccoli.
Pan-seared salmon is served with tomato salad.
The salmon is served with tomato salad.

Recipe Card

Pan fried salmon is served on a white plate.
5 from 17 votes
Save this RecipeSaved! Rate this Recipe Print Recipe

Crispy Pan Fried Salmon

Pan fried salmon is delicious when cooked in butter and olive oil. The skin becomes wonderfully crispy, and the flesh is juicy and flavorful.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time15 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 245kcal
Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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Video

Ingredients

  • 4 salmon fillets - 6 ounces each, 1-inch thick, skin on, pin bones removed
  • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt - or ¼ teaspoon of any other salt, including Morton kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Optional Ingredients:

  • 4 lemon slices - ¼-inch thick
  • 2 tablespoons parsley - chopped

Instructions

  • Blot the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season them with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried thyme.
    Four seasoned salmon fillets on a white plate.
  • Heat a large (12-inch) cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and butter and swirl to coat. You can also use a nonstick skillet.
    Heating a cast-iron skillet.
  • When the butter starts foaming, add the salmon fillets, skin-side-down. If using, add the lemon slices.
    Four salmon fillets and four lemon slices are seared in a cast-iron skillet.
  • Cook the salmon, undisturbed, until the skin is crispy and browned, for about 4 minutes. Flip the salmon and lemon slices, lower the heat to medium, and continue cooking for 3 more minutes.
    The salmon pieces were turned in the skillet skin side up.
  • If your fillets are 1 inch thick, cook the edges for about 2 minutes per side. This helps ensure the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145ºF.
    The salmon edges are cooked.
  • Transfer the salmon fillets to a serving plate and drizzle them with the pan juices. Garnish the plate with lemon slices and chopped parsley, and serve.
    Three pan-fried salmon fillets are served with lemon slices.

Notes

  • If your salmon is frozen, thaw it thoroughly before using it in this recipe. You can thaw it overnight in the fridge. 
  • You can skip the olive oil and use two tablespoons of butter. The butter's milk solids have a blackening effect, making the salmon extra-crispy.
  • The best skillets for this recipe are nonstick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillets. I don't recommend using a stainless steel skillet - the salmon skin tends to stick to it.
  • Don't forget to drizzle the salmon with the pan juices after you've arranged it on the plates. The pan sauce is delicious.
  • You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. I prefer to avoid reheating them because reheating can dry them out and make them taste fishy. Instead, I crumble them cold over a salad.

Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 1 fillet | Calories: 245 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1 g | Protein: 32 g | Fat: 12 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Sodium: 164 mg

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Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.

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Comments

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Alex says

    February 04, 2025 at 9:23 am

    5 stars
    Vered,
    This is a fantastic recipe. Excellent taste and easy to prepare. Thanks for sharing.
    Alex

    Reply
    • Vered DeLeeuw says

      February 04, 2025 at 10:25 am

      You're very welcome, Alex. I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe. I make it weekly!

  2. Olivia Sessi says

    May 01, 2024 at 4:24 pm

    5 stars
    This was easy for me to cook and tasted so good!! Thanks for sharing your recipe.

    Reply
    • Vered DeLeeuw says

      May 01, 2024 at 5:20 pm

      I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Olivia!

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Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.

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