Pan-Grilled Salmon with Herbed Mayonnaise

Name: Pan-Grilled Salmon Recipe with Herbed Mayonnaise
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 4-ounce salmon fillets; 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped; 1 tablespoon fresh chives, diced; 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley, chopped; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard; 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon capers, diced

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In the world of easy dinner recipes, this Salmon Recipe with Herby Mayonnaise reigns supreme. Crispy pan-grilled salmon, brushed with a mixture of mayo, fresh herbs and lemon, served hot and crispy and garnished with more herb mayo. It's a weeknight dinner warrior when you need a meal full of your favorite flavors and you have zero extra minutes to spare.

grilled fish on a black plate on linen with gold utensils. Served with herb mayo and lemons

You're going to love this recipe because it's perfect as it is written, but it gives you countless options for creating new flavors. Using the mayo spread, just add a couple of complimentary flavors that you love.

Maybe smoked paprika and lemon juice for a Spanish twist. Or garlic and basil if you're in the mood for Italian.

The mayonnaise acts as a glue to stick the flavorful ingredients to the fish, and it pulls double duty by keeping the salmon ultra moist.

Add this easy salmon recipe to your weeknight rotation along with Seared Salmon with Lemon Butter, Greek Marinated Salmon Steaks and Salmon Shawarma Wraps.

Ingredients for this recipe:

Ingredients for recipe laid out on a table and labeled

Before we get to the step by step directions, a few notes about the ingredients:

Salmon: fresh salmon is a great option, but if you have frozen fillets, they work, too! Just thaw in the refrigerator overnight and dry well to remove excess water. Good substitutes for Atlantic salmon are sockeye salmon, steelhead trout or arctic char.

Herbs: fresh dill, parsley and fresh chives are a great mix, but use any combination of soft herbs you love. Basil, tarragon and Italian parsley are all great options.

Capers: capers add a lovely brininess to our herby mayo, essentially turning the sauce into a tartar sauce or remoulade. Chopped dill pickles or your favorite pickly veggie would also work.

Full ingredient list and measurements included in the printable recipe card below.

Step by step instructions:

1. Make herb mayo

To begin, make the herby mayonnaise, which will serve as our cooking fat and flavor, as well as our sauce. Combine mayonnaise, dill, parsley, Dijon, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of salt and the black pepper in a bowl. Stir well. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Remove a little more than half of the herby mayo to a separate small bowl for serving with the finished fish. Add 1 tablespoon of diced capers to that mayonnaise mixture. Set aside.

herb mayo in a small bowl scooped with a spoon

2. Prep salmon

Next, dry salmon fillets well. Sprinkle fillets with 1 teaspoon coarse salt. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the flesh side of the fish with the herby mayo (the dish without the capers).

2 pieces of salmon covered in herb mayo on a cutting board

4. Cook salmon

Heat a cast iron skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Place salmon in the pan (if serving salmon skin side up, start with the skin down in the pan. If serving skin side down, start with skin side up in the pan). When you place fish in the skillet, use your pastry brush to coat the face up side of the salmon with a thin coat of the herby mayo mixture.

2 pieces of salmon covered in herb mayo cooking in a grill pan

Cook salmon for 4-5 minutes on each side, for a total of 8-10 minutes. Flip salmon gently and let the skin side sear.

2 fillets of salmon cooked in a grill pan

5. Garnish and serve

Garnish with lemon slices and fresh herbs. Serve with herb mayo sauce with capers.

finished recipe on a black plate on linen with gold utensils. Served with herb mayo and lemons

Looking for more easy salmon recipes?

FAQ's and Serving Suggestions:

Do I need to remove the skin before pan-searing salmon?

It's not necessary to remove the skin before cooking salmon, as it can help hold the fillet together and adds extra flavor. However, if you prefer skinless salmon, you can ask your fishmonger to remove the skin or carefully remove it at home.

How long is too long to marinate salmon?

Salmon should marinate for no longer than 4 hours in the refrigerator. I recommend marinating for an hour or less if possible. It only takes a short time to marinate salmon effectively. If you marinate salmon for too long, the fish can start to break down. For this recipe all you need to do is brush the herb mayo on salmon and it's ready to go.

Should I season salmon before pan-grilling?

Yes, seasoning the salmon before searing is important to build flavor. For this recipe, I recommend seasoning the fish with salt and also using the flavorful mayo to brush over the fish.

How long should I cook salmon on each side?

Cooking time depends on the thickness of the salmon fillets. As a general rule, cook salmon for 3-5 minutes per side over medium-high heat. If the fillet is thicker, you may need to cook it for a bit longer.

How can I tell if the salmon is cooked properly?

Salmon is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F and easily flakes with a fork. The flesh will be opaque and moist, but not raw. For medium salmon, cook for about 3 ½ minutes per side until an instant-read thermometer registers between 125℉ and 130℉.

What should I serve with pan-seared salmon with mayo?

I love serving a simple rice dish like Lemon Dill Rice or Creamy Parmesan Rice, alongside a Tossed Salad or Garlic Lemon Seasoned Green Beans.

Pan-Grilled Salmon with Herbed Mayonnaise

Ingredients for this recipe: