Pan Seared Salmon Recipes

Our collection of pan seared salmon recipes are here to help you cook up a storm. These recipes are sure to impress even the most picky eaters.

Salmon comes with a long list of health benefits and can be cooked in several ways. Today we’re focusing on pan-searing, the way top chefs do, as it creates the most beautiful flavor and texture.

The Difference Between Pan-Seared and Sauteed

The only similarity that these two methods share is that they both involve cooking ingredients in a pan on a stovetop.

Pan-searing is used for thick cuts of protein while sauteing is for smaller pieces of meat or vegetables.

Use high heat for pan-searing to help develop the crust and moderate heat for sauteing to avoid burning.

Searing doesn’t require moving the food (apart from the occasional turn), but sauteing often needs a lot of stirring.

Which Pan Is Best for Searing Salmon?

A cast iron skillet is the best option for searing. Once it gets hot, albeit slowly, cast iron has the best heat retention out of all other cookware materials.

Large stainless steel skillets are also suitable. Their heat retention isn't as good as cast iron, but they are lighter and don’t require as much experience.

Do not use non-stick pans for searing, because they aren't designed for high heat. Overheating may damage the pans and even let off toxic fumes.

Best Pan Seared Salmon Recipes

Get your pan ready and check out these tasty recipes!

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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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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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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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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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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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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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How to Make Pan-Seared Salmon Healthy

Pan-searing most often uses oil in small amounts. The type of oil you use can make a difference in terms of health benefits.

Olive oil is the most popular choice. It is the least processed type and comes with multiple health benefits, including containing antioxidants. Depending on the size of your skillet, 1 or 2 tbsp of oil is enough for searing.

Watching the oil temperature and keeping it clean by filtering it frequently are two other things you can do to ensure the healthiness of your dish.

How to Sear Salmon

1. Preheat the pan to medium-high and add oil.
2. Season the salmon.
3. When oil starts to smoke, add the salmon in, skin side down to start.
4. Sear for 30 seconds, and then you have two options:
   • Lower the heat of the stove to medium-low for 4-6 minutes.
   • Move the pan to a preheated oven at 450°F for 8-10 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat, or remove the pan from the oven. Flip the salmon and let the residual heat work to finish the job for 60-90 seconds.

Tips for the Best Pan-Seared Salmon

• Keep the skin on

The skin is one of the best things about salmon. It is crispy in texture and rich in omega-3 fatty acids. It also helps with moisture retention.

• Start with the skin-side down

The skin protects the flesh from the high heat. In addition, the flesh will absorb the fat from the skin, making your salmon more flavorful. The skin side also helps you flip the fish easier with a spatula.

• Know when salmon is done

The color of the fish is a good indication. Perfectly cooked salmon will be an opaque pinkish color on the outside and translucent pink in the middle.

Checking the texture also works. If the flesh is flaky and tender, your salmon is done.

Or you can check the temperature to be sure. According to the USDA, if it’s around 145 °F, the flesh is cooked perfectly (and safe to consume).

Turn off the heat and enjoy some smoky and delicious salmon!