Description
This Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon with Zucchini Noodles recipe offers a quick and flavorful meal perfect for a healthy dinner. Tender salmon fillets are pan-seared to perfection and served over lightly sautéed zucchini noodles tossed in a zesty lemon garlic butter sauce. Enhanced with fresh parsley, garlic, a touch of heat from chili flakes and hot sauce, this dish combines bright, savory flavors with a low-carb, nutritious base.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon
- 1 salmon fillet, cut into 3 or 4 chunks
- Salt and pepper, to season
Zucchini Noodles
- 4 zucchinis, spiralized
- Salt, for draining zucchini (optional)
Butter Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup fresh chopped parsley, divided
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon red crushed chili pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce of your choice (e.g., Sriracha)
Garnish
- Fresh chopped scallion
- Lemon slice
Instructions
- Season the Salmon: Thoroughly season the salmon fillet chunks on all sides with salt and pepper to enhance their natural flavor before cooking.
- Cook the Salmon: Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the salmon pieces skin side down and cook for 2-4 minutes on each side, depending on thickness, until nicely seared and cooked through. Use a fish turner for best results when flipping. Remove salmon from skillet and set aside.
- Make the Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the minced garlic, lemon juice, half of the chopped parsley, hot sauce, and red chili flakes if using. Stir well to combine flavors.
- Cook the Zucchini Noodles: Add the spiralized zucchini to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring regularly to coat the noodles evenly with the lemon garlic butter sauce. The zucchini noodles should be tender but still retain a slight crispness, and the sauce juices should reduce slightly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Reheat and Assemble: Push the zucchini noodles to one side of the skillet, then add the cooked salmon chunks back to the pan. Reheat for a couple of minutes to warm through and combine flavors.
- Serve: Serve the lemon garlic butter salmon over the zucchini noodles, garnished with the remaining parsley, chopped scallion, and a lemon slice on the side. Enjoy immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- If you prefer your zucchini noodles less watery, sprinkle them with salt and let them drain in a colander for 10 minutes before cooking.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce and chili flakes to suit your preferred spice level.
- Use a cast iron skillet or non-stick pan to ensure even cooking and easy flipping of salmon.
- For an even quicker meal, you can prepare the zucchini noodles in advance and store them in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: salmon, lemon garlic butter salmon, zucchini noodles, low carb salmon recipe, healthy fish dinner, quick salmon recipe
