quick

Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon

Name: Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 unit salmon fillets; 3 tbsp butter; 3 unit garlic; 1 unit lemon; 1 tsp dried oregano; 0.5 tsp salt; 0.25 tsp black pepper

The ultimate 'I'm too tired to think' meal that feels like a fancy bistro dinner.

Total: 15 min
Prep: 5 min
Cook: 10 min
Serves: 2
Difficulty: easy
Calories: 527
Cost: $$$/serving

When it’s 6:00 PM and your brain feels like mush, this lemon garlic butter salmon is your best friend. It hits that sweet spot where the prep is minimal but the flavor profile is incredibly sophisticated because of those aromatic garlic cloves and zesty citrus notes. You don't need to hover over a stove or manage multiple pots; it’s all about getting that buttery goodness into the fish quickly. The result is a flaky, melt-in-your-mouth texture that feels like a reward for surviving the day. That hit of lemon juice at the very end cuts through the richness beautifully, making every bite bright and clean. It's a fast way to feel like you’re treating yourself without the effort of a complex recipe.

Ingredients

2 unit salmon fillets
3 tbsp butter — melted or room temperature
3 unit garlic — minced
1 unit lemon
1 tsp dried oregano
0.5 tsp salt
0.25 tsp black pepper

Method

1 Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
2 In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.
3 Pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel (this helps them sear slightly rather than steam).
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4 Brush the butter mixture generously over both sides of each fillet.
5 Slice half of the lemon into thin rounds and place them on top of the salmon; squeeze the juice from the other half over the fish.
6 Roast in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork.
7 Let rest for 2 minutes before serving.

Variations

Vegetarian Swap — Swap the salmon for thick slices of cauliflower steak brushed with the same garlic butter.
One-Pan Prep — Toss some asparagus spears in the lemon butter mixture and roast them on the same sheet pan as the fish.

Notes

If you're extra tired, you can skip the roasting and sear these in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat for 4 minutes per side instead. Use whatever greens you have on hand (spinach or asparagus) and toss them into the oven with the salmon!