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–+ servings
A plate with a cooked salmon fillet garnished with chives, green beans, and roasted baby potatoes, served with lemon wedges. A small bowl of lemon slices is in the background.

Lemon Butter Salmon with Chives

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
My lemon butter salmon with chives is seared until golden, then basted in a garlic butter sauce with fresh lemon and chives for a bright, flavorful finish. I like this recipe served with roasted baby potatoes and steamed green beans, but some crispy roasted potatoes and sautéed asparagus with garlic and parmesan taste great, too!

Ingredients

Instructions 

  • Season the top of the salmon with salt and pepper.
    4 pieces of salmon, ¼ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
    Four raw salmon fillets, seasoned with salt and pepper and ready for a lemon butter salmon recipe, are arranged in a row on a black cutting board.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large (perferably cast iron) pan over medium-high heat. Add the salmon, top side down, and sear without moving for 4 minutes.
    1 tablespoon olive oil
    Image for recipe instruction: Four raw salmon fillets with skin on are arranged in a large cream-colored pan with black handles, ready to become a delicious Lemon Butter Salmon, set on a white surface.
  • Flip the salmon over, add the butter, and let it melt. Once melted, add the garlic and then start spooning the garlicky butter over the salmon - tilting the pan a little to the side makes this easier. Continue to baste the salmon with the butter for 2-3 minutes.
    2 tablespoons butter, 2 cloves garlic
    Image for recipe instruction: Four cooked Lemon Butter Salmon fillets in a round, cream-colored skillet with a light sauce and chives, viewed from above on a white surface.
  • Remove the salmon from the heat and add the lemon zest and juice. Let the salmon rest for 2 minutes and then sprinkle the chives over top and serve.
    Zest from 1 lemon, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons minced chives
    Four cooked salmon fillets are arranged in a round pan with a creamy sauce and garnished with fresh chives—a delightful Lemon Butter Salmon recipe perfect for any dinner table.

To make the sides

  • This salmon can be served with many different sides. To make the potatoes you see in the photos, cut baby potatoes in half and toss them with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake them, cut side down, for 35 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit, or until soft.
    Image for recipe instruction: Roasted halved baby potatoes spread evenly on a metal baking sheet, showing golden brown and crispy edges—perfect as a side for Lemon Butter Salmon.
  • For the green beans, I cook them in a steamer basket for 3-4 minutes and add a pinch of salt to the water, which helps flavor the beans. Alternatively, you can roast them with the potatoes, adding them during the last 10 minutes of baking.
    Image for recipe instruction: Green beans in a metal steamer basket inside a saucepan, viewed from above on a white surface—perfect as a fresh side for your favorite Lemon Butter Salmon.

Notes

Salmon skin: I normally leave the skin on the salmon when making this recipe, BUT when you flip the salmon and start basting it with butter, the skin can spit oil at you as it cooks, which is a bit annoying and sometimes painful. To avoid this, you can remove the salmon skin before cooking it, if you'd like. 
Mis en place: I usually prep as I cook to save time, but this recipe comes together so quickly that I recommend prepping the ingredients before you start cooking the salmon.
Serving: 1= ¼ of the recipe (salmon and butter sauce only), Calories: 353kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 34g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 117mg, Sodium: 268mg, Potassium: 858mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 0.5g, Vitamin A: 355IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 32mg, Iron: 1mg