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Easy One-Pan Garlic Butter Salmon Recipe with Cherry Tomatoes and Zucchini for Perfect Dinner

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A straightforward and forgiving one-pan salmon recipe featuring a buttery garlic sauce, blistered cherry tomatoes, and tender zucchini. Perfect for a quick, flavorful weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 skin-on salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium zucchini (6–7 inches), sliced into half-moons
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides lightly with salt and pepper. Slice zucchini into ¼ inch thick half-moons. Halve cherry tomatoes. Mince garlic finely.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large non-stick or oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini and cherry tomatoes and sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until zucchini softens and tomatoes blister. Season lightly with salt.
  3. Push veggies to the side of the pan. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and minced garlic to the empty space. Stir gently and cook garlic until fragrant but not browned, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  4. Place salmon fillets skin-side down on top of the veggies and butter sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook undisturbed for 5-6 minutes to crisp skin and cook halfway through.
  5. Carefully flip salmon and cook for another 3-4 minutes until salmon flakes easily with a fork. Baste fillets occasionally with garlic butter sauce.
  6. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over salmon and veggies. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top.
  7. Serve immediately, spooning extra garlic butter sauce over the salmon and veggies.

Notes

Avoid burning garlic by adding it after veggies soften and stirring constantly. Pat salmon dry for crispy skin. Do not overcrowd pan to ensure proper roasting. Baste salmon regularly with garlic butter for moistness. If zucchini isn’t softening, cover pan briefly to trap steam.

Nutrition

Keywords: salmon recipe, one-pan dinner, garlic butter salmon, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, easy dinner, weeknight meal, healthy seafood

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