I’m so excited to share my tips for cooking up one of my all-time favorite recipes and the best pan-fried salmon you’ve ever tasted. This salmon is so easy, quick and flavorful. 

Pan-fried salmon makes a weeknight meal that is easy enough for the busiest of nights while being elegant enough for entertaining.

Salmon can easily be undercooked or overcooked. But with my simple cooking technique, you’ll be able to serve perfect salmon right at home – wonderfully crisp and seared on the outside and completely cooked through to perfection on the inside.

Pan-fried salmon makes a weeknight meal that is easy enough for the busiest of nights while being elegant enough for entertaining.

This super simple pan-fried salmon is one that you’ll be digging into time and time again. It’s simple enough for fast family dinners but so stunningly tasty you’ll be eager to share it for special occasions too. Use it in salads, pastas, tacos or alongside roasted veggies.

Start things off with wild caught Alaskan salmon for it’s environmentally sound fishing techniques, lower toxins and more robust flavor. It can be found readily available at your grocer’s seafood counter. You can also use flash frozen salmon that will yield just about as tasty of results as fresh. I buy a huge bag of frozen wild caught Alaskan salmon from Costco, for a great price.

The salmon is then rubbed with your favorite seasoning. My most recent choice is the Chili Lime Seasoning Salt from Trader Joe’s. This stuff is fabulous on everything from meat to veggies. We also commonly use taco seasoning or my homemade rub.

Pan-fried salmon makes a weeknight meal that is easy enough for the busiest of nights while being elegant enough for entertaining.

You can give the rub some time to set on the fish. Honestly, though, it’s not necessary. I often cook my salmon just after adding the rub and it’s just as tasty.

Pan-fried salmon makes a weeknight meal that is easy enough for the busiest of nights while being elegant enough for entertaining.

This tasty salmon rivals any salmon I’ve ever eaten at a restaurant and it’s so easy too – cover, cook, uncover, flip and cook a bit more. It’s as simple as that, but results in the best texture, juiciness and flavor. Give it a try and I know your family will love it just as much as mine does! This salmon is:

Super flavorful
Protein-rich
Heart healthy
& So delicious

This pan-fried salmon is perfect to serve when hosting guests or when you need a satisfying-yet-healthy entrée on the table fast. It’s a true crowd-pleaser!

This salmon is fabulous served up with some easy oven roasted veggies, but it also pairs especially well with my favorite detox salad, seen in these pictures.

If you try this recipe, leave me a comment and let me know what you think. Also, be sure to tag a photo #kimscravings on Instagram! Enjoy, friends!

Pan-fried salmon makes a weeknight meal that is easy enough for the busiest of nights while being elegant enough for entertaining.

Pan-fried salmon makes a weeknight meal that is easy enough for the busiest of nights while being elegant enough for entertaining.
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The Best Pan-Fried Salmon

Yield: 2 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes
Pan-fried salmon makes a weeknight meal that is easy enough for the busiest of nights while being elegant enough for entertaining.
Author: Kim

Ingredients

Instructions 

  • In a nonstick pan, add about ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or spray with a good amount of cooking spray; heat to medium-high.
  • While pan is getting hot, rub salmon with seasoning.
  • When pan is hot, add the salmon, flesh side down, cover and cook for 3 minutes. Flip the salmon and cook fish all the way through (uncovered), about 5 more minutes. You can check the middle of the salmon with a fork to make sure it is heated and beginning to flake. (This timing was perfect- you don't want overcooked salmon and it will continue to cook a bit even after removed from heat.)*
  • Serve salmon with roasted veggies, salad, or use it to make sweet potato salmon cakes or fish tacos.

Notes

*If your salmon fillets are extra thick, you may want to cook them for 1-2 more minutes.
*If preferred you can rub your salmon with seasoning, cover and store in the fridge for 30 minutes and up to one day.
Author: Kim
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Serving: 0.5pound salmon, Calories: 120kcal, Protein: 14g, Fat: 6.7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 39mg, Sodium: 31mg, Potassium: 347mg, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 0.5mg

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Pan-fried salmon makes a weeknight meal that is easy enough for the busiest of nights while being elegant enough for entertaining.

RECIPES USING THIS PAN-FRIED SALMON

Seared Salmon with Curried Pineapple

With easy preparation and incredible flavor, this Seared Salmon with Curried Pineapple is on the short list for weeknight meals that hit all my criteria: fast, healthy, filling and over-the-top tasty!

Ranch Seasoned Salmon 

Ranch Seasoned Salmon is seared to perfection and incredibly tasty thanks to my homemade ranch seasoning mix and topped with Creamy Ranch Sauce.

Seared Salmon Tacos with Avocado Crema

Seared Salmon Tacos with Avocado Crema are the perfect twist on the original fish taco recipe!

PIN IT!

Pan-fried salmon makes a weeknight meal that is easy enough for the busiest of nights while being elegant enough for entertaining.

Something to think about….

Are you a fan of salmon? How do you like to cook it?