Lemon Butter Salmon with Crispy Potatoes (Printable)

Pan-seared salmon with zesty lemon butter, crispy potatoes, and tender broccoli for a complete meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish & Marinade

01 - 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each, skin-on or off as preferred)
02 - 1 lemon, zested and juiced
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Lemon Butter Sauce

06 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
07 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
08 - 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped (plus extra for garnish)

→ Crispy Potatoes

09 - 1½ lbs baby potatoes, halved
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
12 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Broccoli

14 - 1 large head broccoli, cut into florets
15 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How-to Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, toss the halved potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, dried thyme, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread potatoes cut side down on half of the baking sheet.
03 - Toss broccoli florets with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange on the other half of the baking sheet.
04 - Roast potatoes and broccoli for 25–30 minutes, or until potatoes are golden and crisp and broccoli is tender, tossing halfway through.
05 - While vegetables roast, pat salmon fillets dry. In a small bowl, mix lemon zest, half the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Rub this mixture over the salmon fillets.
06 - Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the salmon, skin-side down (if skin-on), and sear for 3–4 minutes. Flip and cook 2–3 minutes more, until just cooked through.
07 - Reduce heat to low; add butter, remaining lemon juice, and chopped parsley to the pan. Spoon the melted lemon butter over the salmon to glaze.
08 - Serve salmon with crispy potatoes and broccoli, garnished with extra parsley and lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • The salmon stays incredibly moist while developing this gorgeous golden exterior that restaurant dishes always seem to nail
  • Everything cooks on one baking sheet except for the quick salmon sear, meaning minimal cleanup after dinner
  • That lemon butter sauce does something magical to both the fish and the roasted vegetables when you spoon it over everything
02 -
  • Drying your salmon fillets thoroughly before seasoning them is the difference between getting a proper sear and ending up with steamed, rubbery fish
  • Letting your vegetables roast cut-side down creates this incredible crust that my friend's kids actually fight over
  • The lemon butter sauce can break if your heat is too high, so keep it on low and just let everything melt together gently
03 -
  • Soaking your potato halves in cold water for 20 minutes removes excess starch and leads to the crispiest results imaginable
  • Invest in a good fish spatula with a thin metal edge because it makes flipping delicate salmon completely stress-free

Go back