Description
This easy Cajun salmon recipe is packed with bold Louisiana flavors and topped with a buttery garlic sauce. The salmon is perfectly flaky and juicy, with a subtle kick from the Cajun spices. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a simple, flavorful dinner the whole family will love.
Ingredients
4 salmon fillets
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp cayenne pepper
2 ½ tsp chili powder
2 ½ tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp kosher salt (or to taste)
1 tbsp finely minced onion
1 tbsp finely minced celery
1 tbsp finely minced bell pepper
1 tsp olive oil
5 tbsp butter
1 clove minced garlic
1–2 tsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
-
Pat salmon fillets dry and rub with onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, chili powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Let rest 10 minutes.
-
Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
-
Melt 5 tbsp butter in the skillet, then add minced garlic. Cook 1 minute or until fragrant.
-
Add minced onion, celery, and bell pepper (the holy trinity) back to the pan and sauté 2–3 minutes until softened.
-
Squeeze in fresh lemon juice to deglaze the pan and stir to combine.
-
Cook salmon fillets:
-
Pan-sear: Place fillets skin-side down and cook 4–5 minutes per side until flaky.
-
Oven-bake: Preheat oven to 375°F, place fillets in a baking dish, spoon sauce over, and bake 12–15 minutes until salmon flakes easily.
-
-
Spoon the remaining garlic butter sauce over the salmon and serve immediately.
Notes
-
Pan-Sticking: To prevent the salmon from sticking, make sure your pan is hot and lightly coated with oil or butter before adding the fillets. Don’t try to move the salmon too early — it will naturally release from the pan when ready to flip.
-
Butter Adjustment: If the pan looks dry while cooking the fillets, add a little extra butter to keep the salmon moist and enhance the flavor.
-
Flipping the Salmon: The fillet is ready to flip when it easily releases from the pan without tearing. If it resists, give it another minute.
-
Moisture: Avoid overcooking — salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork but still looks slightly translucent in the center.
-
Garlic Butter Sauce: Spoon the sauce over the fillets just before serving to keep the salmon flavorful and juicy.
-
Spice Adjustment: Feel free to adjust the cayenne and chili powder to make the spice level mild or bold according to your taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan Sear or Oven Bake
- Cuisine: Cajun/ Louisiana Style
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet with sauce
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 0 mg
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg