Crispy Skin Salmon

The BEST crispy salmon recipe, pan seared to perfection! Learn how to cook crispy skin salmon on the stove in just 15 minutes.

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free, Low Salt

Keyword Atlantic salmon, Coho salmon, crispy pan seared salmon, crispy salmon, crispy salmon skin, crispy skin salmon, crispy skinned salmon, how to cook salmon with skin, how to get crispy skin on salmon, how to pan fry salmon, King salmon, pan fried crispy skin salmon, pan fried salmon, pan seared crispy skin salmon, salmon, salmon with crispy skin, salmon with skin, skin on salmon, skin on salmon recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings servings

Calories 305

Author Alyssia Sheikh

Ingredients

2 skin-on salmon filets (4-6oz each) King, Coho, or Atlantic salmon
1-2 Tbsp avocado oil (or light olive oil) enough to cover bottom of pan
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Remove salmon filets from fridge and allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. (This is a great time to prepare lemon butter sauce, or any other sauce you’d like!)
Pat salmon filets dry using paper towels. Season on skin side with salt only. (No pepper on the skin or it will burn!)
Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes. Check to see if the pan is ready by doing a water test: sprinkle a splash of water onto the pan, and the water will sizzle/dance when the pan is hot enough.
When pan is heated, add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan in a thin layer.
Heat oil until it bubbles slightly, then add salmon filets skin side down. (Be careful so the oil doesn’t splash and burn you! I use tongs to gently place filets in pan.) Use a spatula to press down salmon filets to prevent them from curling as they cook, so the skin stays flat against the pan.
Sear salmon skin side down for about 5 minutes, depending on size of filets. (Mine were about 1-inch thick.) Cook until skin is crispy and fish is cooked ~¾ of the way up the sides of the filets—color will change to lighter pink as it cooks. Season flesh side with salt & pepper before flipping.
Flip and cook 20-30 seconds on the other side—or longer for a more well-done filet. (For reference, salmon is cooked to an internal temperature of 125°F /51°C for medium doneness, or up to 145°F / 63°C for well-done.)
Remove filets from pan immediately. Serve warm with your favorite sauce & sides!

Video

Notes

*Nutrition provided below is a rough estimate, calculated using 4-oz salmon filets with skin, avocado oil, and ⅛ tsp each of salt and pepper.

Nutrition