Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Easy Salmon Recipe Lemon Butter Sauce
Lemon butter cream gives salmon a generous sauce with a bright, savory flavor. It settles around the fish and catches a little parsley in each spoonful. A piece of tender salmon with plenty of that sauce makes an inviting plate to enjoy at dinner.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Original yield
- Serves 4
- Ingredients
- 13 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Dinner
- Primary protein
- Fish
- Cuisine
- American
- Cooking method
- Baking · Baked & roasted
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 30 minutes or less
A few quick notes
1. Dry before coating
Pat the salmon dry before rubbing it with the lemon, oil, garlic and wine mixture.
2. Reduce the wine
Let the wine begin reducing in the garlic butter before adding cream to the sauce.
3. Lemon off the heat
Take the cream sauce off the heat before stirring through lemon juice and chopped parsley.
Get to know the ingredients
Salmon
Use skinless fillets and check the thickest part for easy flaking when judging doneness.
Cream
Heavy, whipping or thickened cream can be used for the sauce that simmers around the garlic.
Garlic
Keep the salmon coating's garlic portion separate from the garlic that cooks in butter for the sauce.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 4. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 8 steps completeMake room for Easy Salmon Recipe Lemon Butter Sauce
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Sauce meets pan juices
Pour the finished sauce over the cooked salmon in its dish so it mixes with the released pan juices.
A little more help as you go
Make sauce alongside fish
Prepare the butter sauce while the salmon bakes so the components are ready for combining.
Refrigerating leftovers
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days and reheat gently.
A few questions you might have
Can Dijon replace the wine?
Yes, separate Dijon alternatives are given for the salmon coating and sauce; use the amount for that component.
Does fillet thickness affect baking?
Yes, thicker fillets take longer; check the thickest part rather than relying only on the suggested baking duration.
Should the sauce become very thick?
Cook the cream only until the sauce thickens slightly before taking it off the heat.
When does the sauce garlic cook?
Add it to melted butter and cook until fragrant before pouring in the wine.
How should I reheat a leftover portion?
Gently reheat the refrigerated salmon in the microwave, keeping its sauce with it for serving.
Any more cooking tips?
HOW LONG TO BAKE SALMON Bake for 4 – 6 minutes per 1/2-inch (1 cm) thickness of fillet. Baking time depends on the thickness of your salmon fillets. MEDIUM: 4 minutes PER 1/2-inch. WELL DONE: 6 minutes per 1/2-inch. HOW TO KNOW WHEN SALMON IS READY Check the thickest part of your salmon fillets with a fork. When the flesh easily flakes or softly falls apart, it’s done. You can also use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness. The USDA recommends a minimum internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), which should be taken inside the thickest part of the salmon. Leftovers Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Gently reheat in the microwave.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: cafedelites.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
