Easy Lemon Pepper Salmon Recipe

5 from 5 votes

Easy Lemon Pepper Salmon Recipe

Learn how to make perfectly cooked lemon pepper salmon with our easy skillet method. Use this versatile recipe as your base for any seasoning blend you love!

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 300kcal

Author: Krysten Wilkes & Marrekus Wilkes

Ingredients

4 salmon filets
2-4 teaspoons homemade lemon pepper seasoning or your favorite store-bought lemon pepper, like Mrs. Dash Salt-Free Lemon Pepper
1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter

Instructions

Let the salmon filets sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. This helps them cook evenly.
Pat the filets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
Season the salmon with lemon pepper seasoning and kosher salt. You can use homemade seasoning or store-bought.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and butter, swirling the pan to coat the bottom.
Once the butter starts to foam, place the salmon filets in the pan skin-side down.
Cook the salmon without moving it for about 4 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and golden brown.
Flip the salmon filets, lower the heat to medium, and cook for another 3 minutes.
For thicker filets (½ inch or more), cook the edges for about 2 minutes per side. Use tongs to hold the salmon upright to sear the sides.
Flip the salmon back to skin-side down and baste the filets with the pan juices using a spoon.
Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the salmon for extra flavor.
Check that the salmon's internal temperature has reached 145°F using a meat thermometer.
Remove the salmon from the heat and transfer to a serving plate.

Notes

Room Temperature Salmon: Letting the salmon sit at room temperature for 10 minutes prevents uneven cooking.

Dry Before Cooking: Blotting the salmon ensures the skin crisps up beautifully.

Don't Overcrowd the Pan: Cook the filets in batches if necessary to avoid steaming them.

Timing is Key: Use a timer to avoid overcooking. Salmon should be just opaque and flake easily.

Pan Juices: Don’t skip drizzling the pan juices over the finished salmon—it’s full of flavor!

Adjust Cooking Time: If you're cooking skinless salmon, it will cook faster than salmon with skin. Keep an eye on it and reduce the cooking time by a couple of minutes to avoid overcooking.

Nutrition