Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon And Zucchini Noodles

Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon And Zucchini Noodles is a light, fresh dinner made with tender salmon, buttery garlic sauce, and quick-cooked zucchini noodles. The lemon keeps the dish bright, the garlic adds savory flavor, and the butter brings everything together without making the meal feel too heavy.

This recipe is great for busy weeknights, low-carb dinners, or any time you want a simple meal that cooks fast. It feels fresh and satisfying, but the steps are easy enough for beginners.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Quick to cook: The salmon and zucchini noodles are ready in about 25 minutes.

• Light but filling: You get protein, vegetables, and a flavorful sauce in one pan.

• Simple ingredients: Lemon, garlic, butter, salmon, and zucchini are all easy to find.

• Low-carb friendly: Zucchini noodles are a fresh swap for regular pasta.

Equipment Needed

• Cutting board

• Sharp knife

• Spiralizer or store-bought zucchini noodles

• Large skillet

• Tongs

• Measuring spoons

• Small bowl

• Paper towels

• Meat thermometer

Ingredients List

For the Salmon

• 4 salmon fillets, about 5 to 6 ounces each

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

For the Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

• 3 tablespoons butter

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

For the Zucchini Noodles

• 4 medium zucchini, spiralized

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese, optional

For Serving

• Lemon wedges

• Extra parsley

• Extra Parmesan, optional

Timing & Servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4

How to Make Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon And Zucchini Noodles Step by Step

Step 1: Prepare the zucchini noodles
Spiralize the zucchini or use store-bought zucchini noodles. Pat them dry with paper towels to remove extra moisture.

Step 2: Season the salmon
Pat the salmon fillets dry. Season both sides with salt, black pepper, and paprika.

Step 3: Sear the salmon
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the salmon in the skillet, skin-side down if it has skin. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes.

Step 4: Flip and finish cooking
Turn the salmon over and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes, depending on thickness. The salmon should flake easily and reach 145°F in the thickest part. Remove it from the skillet and set aside.

Step 5: Make the garlic butter sauce
Lower the heat to medium-low. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring often.

Step 6: Add lemon flavor
Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, red pepper flakes if using, and parsley. Scrape up any browned bits from the pan for extra flavor.

Step 7: Cook the zucchini noodles
Add the zucchini noodles to the skillet. Toss gently in the lemon garlic butter sauce for 1 to 2 minutes, just until slightly softened.

Step 8: Add seasoning
Season the zucchini noodles with a little salt and black pepper. Add Parmesan if using.

Step 9: Serve
Place the salmon over the zucchini noodles. Spoon extra lemon garlic butter sauce from the skillet over the top. Serve with lemon wedges and parsley.

Tips for the Best Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon And Zucchini Noodles

1. Pat the salmon dry before cooking. This helps it sear better and keeps the outside from steaming.
2. Do not overcook the zucchini noodles. They only need 1 to 2 minutes in the skillet. If they cook too long, they can become watery.
3. Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. Bottled lemon juice can taste flat in a simple sauce like this.
4. Cook the garlic gently. Garlic burns fast, so lower the heat before adding it to the butter.
5. If your zucchini noodles release too much water, remove them from the skillet with tongs and leave the extra liquid behind.

Variations to Try

• Use shrimp: Swap salmon for shrimp and cook just until pink.

• Add cherry tomatoes: Toss in halved cherry tomatoes with the zucchini noodles.

• Make it spicy: Add extra red pepper flakes or a small pinch of cayenne.

• Use regular pasta: Serve the salmon and sauce over spaghetti, linguine, or angel hair.

• Add herbs: Try fresh basil, dill, or thyme instead of parsley.

• Make it dairy-free: Use olive oil or dairy-free butter instead of regular butter.

Serving Suggestions

This dish can be served on its own as a light meal. The salmon adds protein, and the zucchini noodles keep it fresh and simple.

For a more filling dinner, serve it with garlic bread, rice, roasted potatoes, quinoa, or a side salad. A simple cucumber salad or roasted asparagus also works well with the lemon garlic flavor.

Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating

You can spiralize the zucchini up to 1 day ahead. Store it in a paper towel-lined container in the refrigerator to help absorb moisture.

The salmon is best cooked fresh, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Store salmon and zucchini noodles separately if possible. This helps the zucchini noodles keep a better texture.

To reheat, warm the salmon gently in a skillet over low heat or in the microwave at short intervals. Reheat the zucchini noodles quickly, just until warm.

Freezing is not recommended for the zucchini noodles because they can turn watery after thawing. Cooked salmon can be frozen for up to 2 months, but it tastes best fresh.

Nutritional Facts

Calories: 390
Fat: 25g
Carbs: 9g
Protein: 34g
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 520mg

Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon And Zucchini Noodles

Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon and Zucchini Noodles is a light and flavorful meal featuring tender salmon, fresh zucchini noodles, and a rich lemon garlic butter sauce. Ready in about 30 minutes, it's a healthy, low-carb dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American, Mediterranean

Servings 4 people

Calories 390 kcal

Equipment

• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Spiralizer or store-bought zucchini noodles
• Large skillet
• Tongs
• Measuring spoons
• Small bowl
• Paper Towels
• Meat Thermometer

Ingredients

  

For the Salmon

• 4 salmon fillets about 5 to 6 ounces each
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

For the Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

For the Zucchini Noodles

• 4 medium zucchini spiralized
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese optional

Instructions

 

Step 1: Prepare the zucchini noodles

• Spiralize the zucchini or use store-bought zucchini noodles. Pat them dry with paper towels to remove extra moisture.

Step 2: Season the salmon

• Pat the salmon fillets dry. Season both sides with salt, black pepper, and paprika.

Step 3: Sear the salmon

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the salmon in the skillet, skin-side down if it has skin. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes.

Step 4: Flip and finish cooking

• Turn the salmon over and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes, depending on thickness. The salmon should flake easily and reach 145°F in the thickest part. Remove it from the skillet and set aside.

Step 5: Make the garlic butter sauce

• Lower the heat to medium-low. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring often.

Step 6: Add lemon flavor

• Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, red pepper flakes if using, and parsley. Scrape up any browned bits from the pan for extra flavor.

Step 7: Cook the zucchini noodles

• Add the zucchini noodles to the skillet. Toss gently in the lemon garlic butter sauce for 1 to 2 minutes, just until slightly softened.

Step 8: Add seasoning

• Season the zucchini noodles with a little salt and black pepper. Add Parmesan if using.

Step 9: Serve

• Place the salmon over the zucchini noodles. Spoon extra lemon garlic butter sauce from the skillet over the top. Serve with lemon wedges and parsley.

Keyword Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon And Zucchini Noodles

FAQs

Can I use frozen salmon?
Yes. Thaw it completely in the refrigerator, then pat it dry before seasoning and cooking.

How do I keep zucchini noodles from getting watery?
Pat them dry before cooking and only cook them for 1 to 2 minutes. Do not cover the skillet while they cook.

Can I make this with regular pasta?
Yes. Cook your pasta separately, then toss it with the lemon garlic butter sauce and serve the salmon on top.

What temperature should salmon be cooked to?
For food safety, salmon should reach 145°F in the thickest part.

Conclusion

Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon And Zucchini Noodles is a quick, fresh, and easy dinner that works well for busy nights. The salmon is tender, the zucchini noodles are light, and the lemon garlic butter sauce adds plenty of flavor without much effort. Try it when you want a simple meal that still feels special.