The Best Pan Salmon Recipes You Should Check Out

Our pan salmon recipes list includes flavorful dishes that require little effort. Using only a pan, they give you delicious salmon with crispy skin and buttery-soft, tender meat. With a simple switch-up of ingredients and cooking methods, you can create dishes with distinct flavors to alternate and explore when you prepare your meals.

Is It Healthy to Fry Salmon?

Frying in general may not be the healthiest cooking method as it uses a certain amount of fat to cook food. This leads to certain health risks such as high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease when consuming fried food.

However, as you cook salmon at home, you can make adjustments to crucial elements that might make the food healthier to eat. Starting with the specific methods, pan-frying is considered to be better than deep-frying as it uses a smaller amount of cooking oil.

The use of oil also has a significant impact. Refined olive oil is considered to be one of the best options for pan-frying as it contains heat-stable monounsaturated fats and is resistant to oxidative damage. Avocado oil, with its high smoke point and healthy fats, is another good choice.

Check Out Our Best Pan Salmon Recipes

These recipes can be made in a cinch but they carry flavors that rival restaurant dishes. Take a look at our list to learn all the different and exciting ways to cook salmon on a pan.

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A pan-seared salmon fillet with charred marks laid over a bed of lettuce, chickpeas, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced radish and sliced cucumbers

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Salmon Salad Recipe

This Salmon Salad is so texture-rich and tasty you’ll want to eat it all week long. Salmon, by itself, is easily enjoyable, and including it in a salad is a simplistic way to make its flavors shine through. Here we added lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and radish to accompany salmon with crunchy textures that complement it flawlessly.

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Crispy-Skin Salmon Recipe

If you’re on seafood duty, this Crispy-Skin Salmon is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Apart from the crispy, melt-in-your-mouth skin, you’ll get buttery, black pepper-seared filets that’ll be the star of any get-together. Plus, you’ll get to walk away with another excellent searing technique under your belt that you can adapt to several recipes. Truly a win-win.

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Four salmon filets coated in a glossy butter sauce, garnished with lemon slices in a cast iron skillet

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Salmon Meuniere Recipe

For those days when you’re too tied up to spend more than 25 minutes in the kitchen, this Salmon Meuniere will come to the rescue. It’s inspired by “a miller’s wife” theme, hence the scrumptious flour coating. Keep it simple with some cooked baby potatoes on the side and you’re all set for a hearty meal.

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Three cooked salmon fillets with some sprinkles of chopped parsley on top laid on fettuccine pasta

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Salmon Alfredo Recipe

It’s hard to imagine a more convenient meal than this Salmon Alfredo. It includes a simple, 1-minute broth that’s essential to combining the pasta and salmon, transforming it from basic to elegant. The result is a dish classy enough for special gatherings yet simple enough for a random lunch or dinner.

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Pan-seared Salmon Burger Recipe

Who needs fast food when you have a Pan-seared Salmon Burger that’s so good you’ll forget it’s healthy? Everything you want in a tantalizing, guilt-inducing meal is packed into each of these chunky patties, but with significantly more nutrients. What’s more, all this on a budget that will keep you from overspending.

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Some salmon croquettes with lemon slices in a black skillet.

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Salmon Croquette Recipe

Requiring just 20 minutes prep time, these Salmon Croquettes are our go-to choice for a quick high-protein meal. The best part is you can enjoy these with buns to make fancy burgers, or bread for a unique sandwich. Don’t skip the sour cream and garlic sauce for a much-needed flavor kick.

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two golden salmon filets swimming in a cream sauce cooked with cherry tomatoes and spinach

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Tuscan Butter Salmon Recipe

This Tuscan Butter Salmon recipe is proof that your meal doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious. In just 30 minutes, a simple spinach, tomato, and heavy cream mix will convert your filets into a restaurant-worthy dish. Serve the salmon with cooked rotini to really drive home the Italian theme.

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A close-up shot of a salmon pasta featuring spaghetti, cooked salmon cubes, shredded parmesan cheese, and cooked spinach

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Salmon Pasta Recipe

Salmon Pasta is so simple that it’s impossible to mess up. Seriously, everything is cooked in one pot and ready in 30 minutes - it doesn’t get easier than that! The dish is also a godsend for pasta and seafood aficionados, blending the two groups with a creamy chicken broth that seals in the flavors beautifully.

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A skillet of golden brown fried rice speckled with peas, carrots, peppers, and salmon cubes

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Salmon Fried Rice Recipe

We think pretty much any occasion calls for this Salmon Fried Rice. Just because everything is heaped and cooked in one pan and has an effortless appeal to it doesn’t mean it’ll be a sloppy meal. So don’t go gorging on it alone while you hide in your room. This’ll be a darn good meal that everyone else will want to dig into.

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Honey Soy Salmon Recipe

Honey Soy Salmon fuses together sweet and salty elements for an incredibly moist and savory dish. Hosting a gathering? This is the perfect meal. If your guests are not sold on the lustrous soy sauce glaze, the irresistible umami flavors are sure to win them over. They’ll soon be asking for seconds!

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A skillet containing dark yellow curry with four rectangle salmon fillets and small pieces of red onions

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Salmon Curry Recipe

Salmon Curry might be our favorite Asian seafood dish yet. Salmon is naturally rich in fats, but adding coconut milk further makes this dish velvety that one can hardly resist it. This dish is further adorned with bold Thai flavors of fish sauce and lime juice that make each curry spoonful vibrant, creamy, and downright delicious.

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Pan Fried Salmon Recipe

There are a few reasons why this Pan Fried Salmon is a dream come true. First, there’s no pile of dirty pots after cooking this dish — only one pan. Second, you’ll spend just 15 minutes preparing it from start to finish. And third, it tastes like a delicious dream you won’t forget.

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Stuffed Salmon with Spinach Recipe

Stuffed Salmon is prepared by filling salmon pockets with spinach and cream cheese for a velvety, rich center. Each filet is pan-fried skin down until golden brown and crisp, and then served with cooked asparagus for an appreciated crunch. The result is a meaty bite with a smooth cream cheese layer and a crunchy veggie finish.

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Maple Glazed Salmon Recipe

This Maple Glazed Salmon will make you rethink that takeout order. Even busy nights are no excuse - this dish takes just 20 minutes to prepare. Salmon filets are seared in a thick, syrupy glaze that leaves them deliciously glossy. They’re then served with cooked broccoli and rice for a healthy, better-than-takeout meal.

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a plate of salmon patties with a small bowl of yellow sauce garnish with fork, a bowl of cornmeal and coriander

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Salmon Patties With Cornmeal Recipe

Salmon Patties With Cornmeal are low-carb, high-protein, and omega-3 rich. Whether you’re looking for the perfect burger filling, or a post-workout snack, these patties will do the trick. And don’t let the crispy exterior fool you, these patties are juicy and buttery and served with a simple mayonnaise and ketchup dip that makes the experience so smooth.

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A salmon steak golden and veggies on a baking tray

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Salmon Steak Recipe

A juicy filet served with baked potatoes and carrots, this Salmon Steak is guaranteed to be a hit with the entire family. It’s everything you want on a laid-back afternoon: buttery and crunchy, with a wine sauce sharp enough to brighten up the meal. Salmon would sue to be cooked and served this way.

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A close up picture of some blackened salmon tacos with blackened pieces of salmon, avocado cubes, and mango cubes inside crispy tortillas topped with fresh parsley.

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Blackened Salmon Tacos Recipe

With these Blackened Salmon Tacos, everyone will look forward to Taco Tuesday. Few things are better than flaky, shredded, Cajun-seasoned fish wedged between a crispy tortilla. Add a sweet mango salsa. some sour cream sauce, and some chopped jalapeno and your taste buds will thank you for it.

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A picture of a blurred pastry in the background with the word Bake in the center

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Pan Seared Salmon Recipe

This Pan Seared Salmon is ideal for a tough crowd. Anyone who bites into one of these golden-brown, juicy filets will instantly mellow. The simplicity of charred fish in butter and garlic creates a pleasant experience, while healthful omega-3’s will fatten you into satisfaction, and the abundant protein will add muscle to any smile.

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A close-up picture of two honey garlic salmon fillets garnished with two slices of lemon

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Honey Garlic Salmon Recipe

Two opposing flavors reconcile to form a magical dining experience in this Honey Garlic Salmon recipe. So sit down, dig in, and prepare yourself for an assault of heavenly flavors. While treading the spectrum of sweet to sour, this dish will take your taste buds for an exciting joy ride you’ll appreciate.

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A close view of baked salmon filets coated in a generous amount of teriyaki sauce.

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Baked Teriyaki Salmon Recipe

Baked Teriyaki Salmon is distinctly umami and true to Japanese flavors. It’s an excellent way to put a spin on your menu and impress the family with diverse Asian flavors. Finally, a bowl of steamed rice goes well with teriyaki aromas like red on a rose, so you’d be amiss to leave it out!

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Golden brown pan-seared salmon fillets with lemon slices and some chopped parsley on top.

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Cajun Salmon Recipe

Within 30 minutes, this Cajun salmon recipe will give you a luscious savory fillet served with colorful mixed quinoa for a hearty healthy main course. Pair it with our delicious mango avocado salsa for a well-rounded eating experience.

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The Best Tips for Cooking Salmon on a Pan

Salmon can sometimes be fickle and tricky to work with, especially when it comes to high-heat cooking methods. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when cooking salmon on a pan.

Choose the Right Pan

A nonstick skillet, a sauté pan, or something that’s wide in diameter is usually preferred. These types of pans can give you enough space to avoid overcrowding and ensure that heat is distributed evenly amongst the pieces.

Keep the Meat Dry

Before you start cooking, make sure you pat-dry your salmon with paper towels. Dry meat responds better to hot oil and can maintain a delicate texture while also staying juicy and tender.

Preheat the Oil

The salmon’s tender meat can stick to the pan very quickly and becomes crumbly if you leave it on the pan for too long. A simple way to prevent this is by ensuring the pan is reasonably hot with enough fat that will quickly heat up the skin as soon as you drop the fish onto the pan. You should hold the fish in place in the first couple of minutes to shape the fillets and cook the bottom layers evenly.

Keep the Temperature Steady

Temperature plays a crucial role when it comes to cooking salmon. Once you have preheated the pan, reduce the heat right away so you don’t overcook and shrink the skin.

Use a Heat Thermometer

The most efficient way to prevent your salmon from drying out is by lifting it off the heat the minute it’s done. This can be achieved with the simple use of a heat thermometer or checking for flakiness with a fork

Cook With the Skin-side Down

The majority of the salmon cooking time should be cooked with the skin-side down. This gives it a crispy and perfectly browned exterior while keeping the meat perfectly tender. Flip it over once you notice most of the flesh has turned opaque pink-white and briefly cook the other side.

What to Serve With Pan-Cooked Salmon

No matter the method, pan salmon has a delightful, savory taste that’s not too overwhelming. This gives you an endless variety of dishes to serve with it.

Salads

Simple but effective, a good bowl of salad is a no-brainer when it comes to side dishes. You can go for bright salads topped with slightly acidic and zesty dressings like apple or lemon to complement the salmon.

Cooked Vegetables

Roasted vegetables, French fries, sautéed mushrooms, or even grilled corn can make great companions to a savory plate of pan-fried salmon.

Pasta

Make an easy, filling meal by boiling some extra pasta. You can make a separate sauce to serve with the pasta or simply eat it with the cooked salmon. Either way, it’s an effortless main dish for your busy dinner nights.

With its crispy skin that perfectly contrasts with tender and flavorful meat, these dishes are a salmon lover’s dream come true. From salad to pasta, our list of pan salmon recipes has something for everyone. Make them a part of your menu and never worry about a boring meal again.