Description
This Creamy Garlic Butter Salmon recipe features perfectly seared salmon fillets cooked in a rich and flavorful garlic butter cream sauce with Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and fresh spinach. Quick to prepare and cooked entirely on the stovetop, it’s an elegant yet easy main course perfect for a weeknight dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon
- 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Season and sear salmon: Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down and sear for 4–5 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook an additional 2–3 minutes. Remove the salmon from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the garlic butter sauce: Reduce the heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet and let it melt. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Simmer the cream sauce: Stir in the heavy cream, chicken broth, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Let the sauce simmer gently for 3–4 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Add spinach and lemon juice: Add the baby spinach to the sauce and cook until wilted. Stir in the lemon juice to brighten the flavors.
- Return salmon and finish cooking: Place the salmon fillets back into the skillet, spooning the sauce over the top. Let everything simmer gently for 2–3 minutes to heat the salmon through and meld the flavors.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top before serving. Enjoy the creamy garlic butter salmon with mashed potatoes, pasta, or crusty bread.
Notes
- Serve with mashed potatoes, pasta, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
- You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a vegetarian adaptation (omit salmon).
- For a lighter sauce, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
