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    Keto Salmon With A Creamy Garlic Butter Sauce Made In One Pan

    Published: Feb 16, 2022 · Modified: Mar 25, 2023 · By: Joe Duff

    Jump to Recipe

    This keto salmon recipe has tender, flaky salmon that melts in your mouth and a creamy garlic butter sauce that is full of flavor. And this garlic butter salmon has just 2 NET CARBS and is loaded with healthy fats, making this dish the perfect dinner recipe for the keto diet.

    A skillet on a wood board filled with garlic butter sauce and three salmon fillets. Behind it is part of a wood cutting board with lemon wedges on it.
    Table of Contents
    • THE BEST KETO SALMON
      • Ingredients
      • How To Make Keto Salmon
        • Step 1: Cooking the Salmon
        • Step 2: Making The Garlic Butter Sauce
        • Step 3: Finishing Up & Serving
      • How To Store & Reheat Cooked Salmon
      • FAQS ABOUT THIS KETO SALMON RECIPE
        • What to eat with salmon?
        • Is salmon keto friendly? 
        • What fish is good for keto?
      • WRAPPING IT ALL UP

    THE BEST KETO SALMON

    This keto dinner recipe is quick, easy, flavorful, and super healthy. I mean, what more could you ask for?!

    Well, every ingredient used in this recipe is super low carb. I'm talking that this keto salmon has only 2 NET CARBS per serving! And since salmon is naturally high in omega 3-fatty acids it makes this meal even healthier.

    But, this garlic butter salmon is more than just healthy, it's loaded with flavor.

    The salmon cooks in a creamy, slightly cheesy sauce, and it comes out tender and perfectly flaky.

    And to make it even better, everything for this keto salmon recipe cooks in one pan! So not only is the cooking process easier, but it makes the clean up better too. 

    Plus, the entire recipe takes under 30 minutes to make 4 servings of salmon! So, you'll have enough for the whole family to enjoy.

    Ingredients

    Part of a skillet with three salmon fillets in it sitting in a lemon garlic butter sauce.

    Another reason to love this keto salmon recipe is it uses a dozen ingredients that are common cooking staples!

    And the combination of everything makes the flavor top notch.

    Here is what you'll need to cook the salmon: 

    • 3-4 pieces salmon fillets
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • Salt and pepper

    For the creamy garlic butter sauce:

    • 1 Cup heavy cream
    • 3 tablespoon butter
    • 5 Cloves of garlic, minced
    • 3 Cups fresh spinach
    • Just under ½ cup parmesan cheese
    • 1 Vegetable (or chicken) Bouillon Cube

    And to top it all off:

    • Lemon
    • Fresh parsley

    So, hopefully, you have more than half of these ingredients in your kitchen! 

    By the way, if you do, you can use the majority of them to make these Keto Cheddar Bay Biscuits to go with the salmon. They really complete the meal, and the flavors pair so well.

    Also, if you're looking for a tasty dessert recipe to make that you can use some of your extra heavy cream on, give this keto ice cream recipe a shot.

    Oh, and lastly, if you have some extra salmon filets left over after making this recipe, I highly recommend making some blackened salmon with them. It's a hit every time we make it at our house, and it's a nice switch-up from this creamy salmon recipe.

    A bowl with three salmon fillets, a bowl of spinach, a bowl of heavy cream, a small bowl of Parmesan cheese, lemon, edition butter, small bowl of parsley, small bowl of minced garlic, and a small bowl of seasonings all on a gray counter.

    How To Make Keto Salmon

    As I mentioned earlier, making this keto salmon is so easy since everything cooks in one pan.

    And all it takes is about 30 minutes to whip up this healthy, basically no carb dinner, that everyone will love!

    So, get out your ingredients, and let's get cooking!

    Step 1: Cooking the Salmon

    First, pat the salmon fillets with paper towels to dry them. 

    Then, add some olive oil and a little butter to a large skillet and heat them over medium-high heat.

    Now, season the salmon fillets with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika and sear them in the hot pan, flesh-side down first (the pink side), for 3-5 minutes on each side. If your pan is big enough, you can cook all of your salmon at once. Otherwise, you will have to work in batches. 

    Once the salmon is cooked, you can remove it from the pan and set it aside.

    Black skillet filled with three salmon fillets. The skillet is on a wire rack on a gray counter.

    Step 2: Making The Garlic Butter Sauce

    Now, to make the sauce, first melt the three tablespoons of butter in the same skillet you cooked the salmon.

    Then sauté the minced garlic in the melted butter, add the fresh spinach, and cook this delicious combo for about 1-2 minutes.

    Now, reduce the heat to low-medium heat, and add the heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and stir everything occasionally.

    Next, add the boullion cube and salt and pepper to the skillet and let it simmer some more. If you want a thinner sauce, you can add a little water to the mixture.

    A skillet with creamy garlic butter sauce in it with parmesan cheese on top. The skillet is on a wire rack on a grey counter.

    Step 3: Finishing Up & Serving

    Now it's time to take the flavor of the sauce to the next level - add the parmesan cheese to the skillet and allow the sauce to gently simmer for another minute or so until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens up. 

    Then, to finish up, add the salmon back into the pan and sprinkle with chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice.

    Finally, serve this delicious keto lemon garlic butter salmon with any side of your choice and enjoy!

    A salmon fillet on top of a garlic butter sauce covering a gray plate. Behind it is a quarter of a skillet with the salmon and sauce in it.

    How To Store & Reheat Cooked Salmon

    So, as you know this keto salmon recipe will make 4 flavor-filled servings. And if you're making it for a family dinner, odds are you won't have any leftovers! 

    But, if you do, you can transfer the salmon and sauce to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

    Then if you want to reheat the salmon, you will want to heat it up slowly. The best method is to warm it up in the oven at 275°F (135°C) for about 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 125°F (51°C).

    A plate with a salmon fillet caught at the front sitting in a creamy garlic butter sauce.

    FAQS ABOUT THIS KETO SALMON RECIPE

    What to eat with salmon?

    This garlic butter salmon is a delicious main dish, but it is even tastier with one of these sides. Here are some of my favorite things to eat with salmon:

    • Keto Coleslaw
    • Keto Cauliflower Rice
    • Keto Broccoli Casserole
    • Keto Green Bean Casserole
    • Keto Cheddar Bay Biscuits
    • Roasted Kohlrabi

    Is salmon keto friendly? 

    Salmon is a super keto friendly fish that is high in lean protein, has zero carbs, and is loaded with healthy fats!

    What fish is good for keto?

    Along with salmon, there are a few more low carb fish that are great for the keto diet. Here are some options with 0 carbs:

    • Tuna 
    • Shrimp
    • Cod 
    • Trout
    • Mahi Mahi 
    • Snapper
    Part of a plate with part of a salmon fillet on it and a garlic butter sauce. There's a fork at the front of the fillet and some pieces cut out of the fillet leaned in front of it.

    WRAPPING IT ALL UP

    Well, that is how to make a keto salmon recipe that's quick, easy, and delicious.

    It's a low carb dinner recipe that packs so much flavor and even if you're not following the keto diet you'll love it.

    Anyway, I really hope you enjoy this creamy garlic butter keto salmon as much as I do!

    If you make it, leave a comment below, and let me know how it turned out and what side you ate it with!

    Oh, and by the way, if you love keto seafood recipes like this one, give recipes a shot sometime soon:

    • Keto shrimp scampi
    •  Keto sushi
    • Grilled tilapia
    •  Mahi mahi recipe
    •  Pan seared halibut
    • Air fryer salmon bites
    • Air fryer tilapia
    Print

    Keto Garlic Butter Salmon | Easy, Healthy, & Low Carb

    A skillet on a wood board filled with garlic butter sauce and three salmon fillets. Behind it is part of a wood cutting board with lemon wedges on it.
    Print Recipe

    5 from 26 reviews

    This keto salmon recipe has tender, flaky salmon that melts in your mouth and a creamy garlic butter sauce that is full of flavor. And this garlic butter salmon has just 2 NET CARBS and is loaded with healthy fats, making this dish the perfect dinner recipe for the keto diet.

    • Author: The Diet Chef
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: One Pan
    • Cuisine: Keto Low carb

    Ingredients

    3-4 pieces (700g) salmon fillets

    ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

    Salt and pepper

    1 Cup (250ml) heavy cream

    3 tablespoon butter

    5 Cloves of garlic, minced

    3 Cups (100g) fresh spinach

    Just under ½ cup (40g) parmesan cheese

    1 Vegetable (or chicken) Bouillon Cube

    Lemon

    Fresh parsley

    Instructions

    1. Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels.
    2. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
    3. Season salmon with salt, pepper and smoked paprika. Sear in the hot skillet (flesh-side down first) for 3-5 minutes on each side. Once cooked, remove from the pan and set aside.
    4. Melt the 3 tbsps. of butter in the same skillet. Sauté minced garlic and then add fresh spinach. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
    5. Reduce heat to low-medium heat, add heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Add the boullion cube to the cream and let it simmer again (add water if necessary, if you like the sauce to be thinner).
    6. Add the parmesan cheese and allow sauce to gently simmer for a another minute or so until the cheese melts and sauce thickens.
    7. Add the salmon back into the pan, cover it with the sauce, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and a squeeze of lemon juice.

    Notes

    The scale up function does not change the gram measurements.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 518
    • Fat: 46
    • Carbohydrates: 2.75
    • Fiber: .75
    • Protein: 28

    Keywords: keto salmon, keto salmon recipe, garlic butter salmon, keto garlic butter salmon, keto garlic butter salmon recipe, keto salmon dinner, keto salmon meal, keto salmon sauce, keto salmon recipe with spinach, keto salmon recipe stove top, no carb salmon recipe, no carb salmon dinner, salmon keto, garlic butter salmon keto, garlic butter salmon pan

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me on Instagram @thejoeduff — I can't wait to see what you've made!

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    About Joe Duff

    Comments

    1. Cici says

      January 12, 2022 at 10:50 pm

      Delicious!
      Probably wouldn’t bother with the bullion (sodium level), but other than that huge thumbs up from my boyfriend.






      Reply
    2. Felicia J says

      February 02, 2022 at 7:47 pm

      This was delicious!! For the buillion cube, I used "better than buillion" chicken flavor. They only change I made was added complete seasoning to the fish and the cream sauce. As a side I made lemon/sazon flavored cauliflower rice. I will definitely be using this recipe again!!! Thank you!






      Reply
    3. Bella says

      February 16, 2022 at 7:45 am

      Wow this was good! It tasted like it came from a restaurant and was easier to make than I thought it'd be!

      Reply
      • Nicole says

        September 24, 2022 at 11:50 pm

        Exactly my thoughts too! So easy yet so tasty!!!






        Reply
    4. Andrea Rose says

      February 18, 2022 at 6:25 pm

      Thank you Joe for this recipe. It was so easy to follow and the end result was amazing!!!
      Next time I will take a photo, but unfortunately this time my husband enjoyed it so much I didnt have time to get my phone out.
      If the recipes in your cook book are as good as this meal I certainly will be purchasing one.
      We are only three weeks in to the Keto lifestyle but both of us are hooked, losing weight and feeling amazing.

      Reply
      • The Diet Chef says

        February 20, 2022 at 12:52 pm

        aha, glad you (he) liked it!

        Reply
    5. Ninad says

      February 21, 2022 at 9:19 pm

      This was so easy to make and so good Joe. Bless your souls for making these recipes for us to try!!






      Reply
    6. Jennifer says

      March 08, 2022 at 7:37 pm

      This was so rich and delicious, and came together really fast! I would pull back on adding salt to the sauce next time but other than that I followed it as is. Thank you!






      Reply
    7. Roseanna Cromer says

      March 23, 2022 at 4:55 pm

      OMG. Was looking for a new salmon recipe and I made this for dinner tonight. My husband said it was “restaurant quality “, I have to agree.
      This sauce is amazing. I paired it with some cabbage and the cheddar biscuits.

      I agree with previous review on pulling back on the salt but otherwise it is perfect.

      Thanks Joe, I will definitely be making more of your recipes.






      Reply
    8. Tara says

      March 28, 2022 at 8:40 pm

      Wow! This salmon was soooo good and so quick and easy. My husband and son raved about it. It will definitely go onto the regular weeknight dinner rotation. The ingredients are things I’ve pretty much always got on hand and only one pot to wash for the win!






      Reply
    9. Debbie says

      April 23, 2022 at 7:38 pm

      My son & I loved it! Is definitely on my do again list! It was way easier to make than I thought. Didn’t have any spinach…but was still delicious, thanks for sharing.






      Reply
    10. T. Riley says

      April 28, 2022 at 12:07 pm

      My whole family loved this dish!






      Reply
    11. Tracey Bennett says

      May 18, 2022 at 6:40 pm

      Can you sub the spinach for kale?

      Reply
      • The Diet Chef says

        May 22, 2022 at 9:03 am

        Def.

        Reply
    12. Chris says

      May 22, 2022 at 2:37 am

      Turned out totally tasty, easy to follow for someone that doesn't like cooking but is needing to for keto, thank you

      Reply
    13. Rebecca says

      May 27, 2022 at 10:59 pm

      This is excellent recipe. Planning to make it again tomorrow .
      One of my favorite keto recipes online.






      Reply
      • The Diet Chef says

        June 01, 2022 at 9:12 am

        Happy to hear it went so well for you Rebecca :)

        Reply
      • Sinead O Brien says

        June 25, 2022 at 2:45 pm

        This is so delicious, as I was making it just for myself, I cooked two salmon darnes and some prawns, and reduced the recipe. Had the second piece of salmon the following day, reheats well in the oven covered. So tasty, I had it with cauliflower mash. Yum yum yum






        Reply
    14. Jan says

      May 31, 2022 at 7:57 pm

      This recipe was easy and SO delicious!! My husband loved it!!






      Reply
      • The Diet Chef says

        June 01, 2022 at 9:11 am

        So happy to hear that Jan :)

        Reply
    15. Jane says

      June 15, 2022 at 5:19 am

      This recipe was amazing , the whole family loved it . They said it should be a regular . Thanks a very tasty and easy dish to make .

      Reply
      • The Diet Chef says

        June 17, 2022 at 12:28 pm

        Awesome!! So happy to hear that.

        Reply
        • Kids bake too🥰 says

          January 18, 2023 at 4:54 am

          Can I use rohu fish Instead of salmon because Google says it's 0 in calories






          Reply
    16. Dave says

      August 08, 2022 at 6:32 am

      This recipe is epic! Thanks for getting out for all of us to replicate.

      I had a side of Asparagus and used the sauce to make it palatable (not of fan of asparagus...), but think this would be great with broccolini on the side also.






      Reply
    17. James says

      August 26, 2022 at 3:43 pm

      Never normally bother to comment on recipes, but this is really, really good.
      I will be making this again even when I'm not dieting.

      I didn't add the parmesan, though.... cheese and fish? What kind of monster are you?!

      Reply
    18. James says

      August 26, 2022 at 3:45 pm

      Never normally bother to comment on recipes, but this is really, really good.
      I will be making this again even when I'm not dieting.

      I didn't add the parmesan, though.... cheese and fish? What kind of monster are you?!






      Reply
    19. Tiff says

      September 10, 2022 at 8:00 pm

      I was a little dubious about using that much garlic but I needn't have been worried. This is super easy and delicious!!






      Reply
    20. Terry says

      September 11, 2022 at 2:40 pm

      I don’t normally comment or review things, but my wife and son loved this so much that I had to share. I heard restaurant quality and the best thing you’ve ever cooked about 6-7 times. FYI my son is 10 and he even enjoyed it! Thank you.






      Reply
      • The Diet Chef says

        September 13, 2022 at 10:16 am

        Awesome! So happy you liked it Terry :)

        Reply
    21. Nicole says

      September 24, 2022 at 11:55 pm

      I am not much of a "cooker," but this was soooo easy and soooo tasty!! This recipe has me excited to cook other keto meals...so thank you!!!






      Reply
    22. Jason says

      October 02, 2022 at 7:00 pm

      Ball'n dish!! Easy to make and great tasting.






      Reply
    23. UB says

      October 21, 2022 at 11:05 pm

      Tried this today for a change and it was sooooo yummy👍
      Thanks…will eat again.

      Reply
    24. Julia says

      February 04, 2023 at 12:44 am

      Wow I made this and I can’t stop thinking about how delicious it was! I will be making this a go to salmon recipe, amazing!






      Reply
    25. Charles says

      February 08, 2023 at 3:06 pm

      Made this a few weeks back for my wife and I; easy one pan meal! I could eat this 3 - 4 times a week! Going to try it on cauliflower rice next time.

      Reply
    26. Danny says

      February 18, 2023 at 12:42 pm

      Have to say this was one of the most delicious meals I have ever ate and whats amazing is I cooked it!! It was a breeze to make. Couple days later I made it with tilapia. The sauce is awesome!
      Thanks so much






      Reply
    27. TAMARA says

      March 02, 2023 at 9:50 pm

      This was excellent! Even though I'm the only one doing keto, the rest of the family loved it too! Will make it a regular in our dinner rotation!






      Reply
      • The Diet Chef says

        March 13, 2023 at 7:00 pm

        Love to hear that :)

        Reply
    28. Carolyn says

      May 03, 2023 at 1:32 pm

      I added shrimp with the salmon I also used garlic butter instead of regular butter delish!






      Reply
    29. Alana Bell says

      July 19, 2023 at 11:47 pm

      This was absolutely incredible! I didn’t have heavy cream or bouillon so I used half and half and parsley in the sauce. My husband said it was restaurant quality! We plated it on a bed of cauliflower rice with the sauce. I wish I had made more!






      Reply
    30. Linda Jones says

      October 11, 2023 at 6:24 pm

      Absolutely delicious! Served with peas and mashed cauliflower!

      Reply
    31. Penny says

      January 10, 2024 at 11:16 pm

      The salmon turned out tender and flakey. Sauce was super tasty too.






      Reply
    32. Yvette Shore says

      September 28, 2024 at 10:22 pm

      Thank you so much for this recipe! I made it two days in a row! Delicious! I think I'm going to take a cue from the other comments and make extra sauce next time to put over cauliflower rice. I made just enough sauce for one piece of fish. I didn't have any spinach or bouillon, but it was great. Looking forward to trying some of your other recipes.






      Reply

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    Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

    Hey there! I'm Joe Duff - The Diet Chef, and I've been creating low carb keto recipes for over 15 years. Initally, I started making these recipes to help myself lose weight - I lost over 75 pounds doing so - but now I make recipes for the entire low carb keto community!
    About The Diet Chef →

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