This easy and healthy citrus glazed salmon recipe features a zesty lemon-orange marinade and a rich, flavorful glaze made with browned butter and garlic. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this pan-seared orange glazed salmon is bursting with sweet, tangy goodness that’s sure to impress!
Why you’ll love this salmon with citrus glaze
This one-pan citrus salmon features a light, zesty garlic lemon butter sauce with just a hint of nutty browned butter flavor. You get all the rich, buttery taste you love, paired with a vibrant citrus glaze that keeps things fresh and nutritious. It’s the perfect balance!
Citrus marinated salmon is:
- Healthy and Nutritious
- Quick and Easy
- Flavorful and Satisfying
- Versatile
- Lifesaver on busy weeknights!
Citrus pairs perfectly with salmon, enhancing its natural flavors while neutralizing any “fishy” taste. (Pro tip: Rubbing your hands with lemon juice after handling salmon leaves them smelling fresh and clean!)
Salmon is my go-to on days when I need a quick, delicious dinner but don’t want to compromise on flavor. Recipes like this salmon with citrus glaze and salmon in creamy mushroom sauce are ready in under 30 minutes.
How it’s made
- Marinate: Soak salmon fillets in a zesty lemon-orange marinade.
- Cook: Sear the salmon in a pan until golden brown.
- Glaze: Finish with a creamy, garlic-infused sauce made from the leftover marinade and browned butter.
Let’s start!
Ingredients
(You can find the exact measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this page.)
Fresh salmon fillets, butter and the citrus marinade are all you need.
Citrus salmon marinade
- juice and zest from oranges
- juice and zest from lemon
- honey
- crushed garlic cloves
- dried oregano– oregano is a herb with a mild flavor and does not overpower that of salmon.
- red chili flakes– a little spice to balance the tangy citrus juices.
- salt and pepper
How to make citrus glazed salmon: Step by step
(You can find the exact measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this page.)
Marinate salmon fillets
Mix all ingredients for the marinade. Marinate the salmon for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Cook the salmon
Heat butter in a pan on low heat until it melts and foams. As soon as it turns brown and gives a nutty aroma, crank up the flame to medium.
Shake off the excess marinade from the salmon fillets and place them skin-side down. Cook for about 4 to 5 minutes until browned.
Keep basting with butter. Flip and cook the other side for 3 to 4 minutes.
Make citrus butter sauce
Remove the salmon fillets and add the marinade to the pan with 2 tablespoons of water. Stir to get out all the yummy bits stuck to the bottom of the pan and combine with the marinade.
The sauce will slowly change to a darker brown color. Simmer on low flame until it becomes thick with a saucy consistency.
Finish the citrus salmon
Drizzle the yummy garlic lemon butter sauce on the salmon. You can also enjoy your citrus salmon serve in a small bowl by the side.
Tips and tricks
- Marinate for Maximum Flavor: For the most intense citrus flavor, marinate your salmon for up to 30 minutes.
- Sear to Perfection: Use a high-heat skillet to sear the salmon and achieve a beautiful golden crust.
- Brown the Butter: Browning the butter adds a rich, nutty flavor to the sauce. Be careful not to burn it!
- Leftovers: Store leftover salmon in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the marinade and salmon fillets in advance for a quick and easy weeknight meal.
- Experiment with Citrus: Try different citrus fruits, such as grapefruit or tangerine, for a unique flavor profile.
- Don’t Overcook: Salmon is best cooked to medium or medium-rare. Overcooked salmon can be dry and tough.
- The cooking time depends on the thickness of the fillets and how well done you want your salmon. For a salmon fillet that is about 1.5 inches on its thickest part, I cook for roughly 4 minutes on each side and they turn out perfectly cooked.
What to serve with citrus salmon
Mint pesto pasta or creamy mushroom zucchini pasta goes well with the citrus flavors of the salmon.
Spicy pasta like spaghetti arrabbiata and red pesto pasta also taste great with the citrus-flavored buttery salmon.
You can also serve the honey garlic salmon with an easy side dish like:
- Roasted potatoes and broccoli
- Balsamic roasted carrots and Brussels sprouts
- Smashed potato with cheese.
The citrus salmon tastes great with Italian pasta salad with balsamic dressing, no-mayo potato salad with yogurt or beet orange salad.
Try the orange glazed salmon with fall flavors of pumpkin quinoa salad or Italian flavors of balsamic quinoa salad for a yummy wholesome dinner.
Looking for low-carb salads?
Try feta walnut beetroot salad or beet and mandarin orange salad.
Craving more salmon recipes?
- Baked salmon kabobs
- Pan-fried/baked salmon with mango salsa
- Baked almond salmon
- If you love pesto, you’ll also adore my pesto topped salmon.
- Or make simple fish cakes with salmon.
Common questions about orange glazed salmon
How long does it take to marinate salmon?
Salmon needs only 15 minutes (up to a maximum of 30 minutes) to marinate. If the marinade is citrus in nature, it actually softens and “pre-cooks” the salmon. So marinating the salmon for more than 30 minutes will dry out the salmon when pan-frying.
Do you marinate salmon in the fridge?
Yes, salmon should be marinated in the fridge. If you’ve frozen the marinated salmon, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
What flavors go best with salmon?
Citrus flavors like lemon and orange go very well with not only salmon but any seafood. Most importantly, if you want salmon to not taste “fishy”, marinating with lemon juice is the easiest solution.
How do you keep salmon from sticking to the pan?
First, the obvious solution: Use a non-stick pan.
Second, ensure the butter in the pan is hot enough that it sizzles when you place the fish. (Test with a small piece.)
Third, use a little more butter if you’re pan-frying salmon for the first time. Once you get used to it, the quantity can be reduced.
Citrus Glazed Salmon Recipe with Brown Butter
Ingredients
- 3 salmon fillets (about 200 grams/ 7 oz each)
- 1 tablespoon butter
Marinade
- 2 oranges
- 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 cloves garlic crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
STEP BY STEP IMAGES
Scroll back to find detailed recipe photos!
Instructions
Prepare the citrus salmon marinade
- Zest both the oranges and lemon, carefully leaving out the white part, which is bitter.
- Extract juice from the oranges and the lemon.
- Mix the zest and juice with crushed garlic, oregano, chili flakes, honey, salt and pepper.
Pan-sear the salmon fillets
- Clean the salmon fillets and marinate with the prepared citrus marinade for 10 minutes (up to 30 minutes if time permits).
- Heat butter in a pan on low flame until it melts and foams. As soon as it turns brown and gives a nutty aroma, increase the flame to medium heat.
- Shake off the excess marinade from the salmon fillets and place them skin-side down. Cook for about 4 to 5 minutes until browned, frequently basting with butter.
- Flip and cook the other side for 3 to 4 minutes.
- If the fillet is too thick, cook each side for additional 1 to 2 minutes. If the skin starts sticking to the pan, add a little more butter.
- Remove the salmon fillets onto a serving platter.
Make citrus butter sauce
- Pour the leftover marinade with 2 tablespoons of water into the same pan. Deglaze the pan by stirring, so the flavorful bits stuck to the bottom of the pan would be incorporated in the sauce.
- The sauce becomes a darker brown in colour. Simmer until it reduces to a thick, sticky sauce.
- Drizzle the citrus butter sauce over the seared salmon, or serve it in a small bowl alongside salmon.
Notes
- Fry the salmon fillets on a non-stick pan to avoid them from sticking to the bottom. If using a regular metal pan, use an additional tablespoon of butter.
- Cook the salmon on medium flame to get salmon fillets that are perfectly browned and flaky on the outside and juicy inside.
- To boost the flavors, try using roasted garlic herb butter instead of regular butter.
★★★★★Did you try this recipe? Please give a star rating in the comments below ★★★★★
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Reading your essay was a true pleasure for me. Even the more difficult subjects are easily understandable because of how you present them. Thank you for taking the time to provide such comprehensive details. For anyone interested in this topic, this is an excellent resource.
Thank you!
Looks gorgeous – I try to eat salmon at least once a week and I’m always looking for new flavour ideas!
Thanks Chloe, glad you like the recipe!
I love salmon in any form and this recipe looks like simple perfection. Thanks so much for posting Sheeba, will definitely be making this soon.
Thank you, Jo! Happy to hear that!
This sounds delicious! We eat a lot of salmon so it’s good to have inspiration for new ways to serve it 🙂
Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare.
Thank you, Helen! Salmon is our favorite, too! This recipe was an instant hit even the first time I made it.
Wow. So very detailed. Nice pictures too. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, that means so much to me.
Great recipe. Very colorful!
Thank you! Glad you liked the recipe.