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    Home » Fish & Seafood

    Salmon Piccata

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated November 26, 2025 · Published November 30, 2025 · Leave a Comment

    Total time: 20 minutes minutes
    Prep time: 5 minutes minutes
    No ratings yet
    Jump to Recipe

    This Salmon Piccata is all done in under 20 minutes, and you just need one pan. It comes out super creamy with lots of buttery lemon flavor - the sauce is so good I could eat it by the spoonful!

    Salmon piccata in a skillet.

    I Could Eat This Sauce With a Spoon (And Maybe I Have)

    I've always been a sucker for the combination of lemon and butter (case in point: whipped lemon butter), and this sauce is the best way I've ever had those flavors. No, I'm not ashamed to brag here - it's just THAT good.

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    This recipe is so good, it seems illegal it's also so very easy to make. And quick! You can have it on the table in less than 20 minutes, including prep, and you only need to dirty one pan. One pan!

    There's not much more to say, you just really need to try it for yourself. And if you want a similar dish but loaded up with broccoli as well, try my one-pan fish & broccoli.

    These are the ingredients you need

    Ingredients needed to make salmon piccata.

    The ingredients for this recipe are pretty straightforward. We use salmon filets without skin as they will be simmering in the sauce - the skin is easy to remove if you can only find salmon with skin.

    Capers can be skipped if that's not your thing, but personally I love them.

    Lemon juice needs to be fresh. There's so much of it in there and it's such a key part of the flavor that the bottle just won't do.

    Just Look How Easy It Is to Make

    Making this recipe is so easy - just sear the salmon, make the sauce, and simmer it all together.

    1. Prep the Salmon

    Start by prepping the salmon. Season on all sides, then dredge in flour. This will make it soo nice and crispy on the outside. And add some extra creaminess to the sauce!

    Salmon filets on a plate.

    2. Sear the Salmon

    Sear the salmon in butter on all sides - yes, all four sides, not just the two. When it's nice and seared, remove to a plate for now. It does not have to be cooked all the way through - just nicely seared on the outside.

    Seared salmon in a skillet.

    3. Make the Sauce

    Add broth, lemon juice, lemon zest and capers to the pan and bring to a simmer. Scrape the bottom a bit to make sure you release all those nice flavorful pieces!

    Then, remove then pan from the heat and start adding the cream slowly while mixing. Both these points are important to avoid the sauce breaking. When you've added all the cream and mixed it in well, place the pan back over the heat and bring back to a simmer.

    Adding cream to piccata sauce.

    4. Simmer

    Place the salmon back in the pan and cover it with sauce. Then simmer for 5 minutes. Serve immediately over rice!

    Finished salmon piccata.

    Tips For Best Results

    Zest the lemon, then squeeze it. Might seem obvious but more often than not, I forget to do this, and then I have to use an extra lemon.

    Do not use bottled lemon juice. It's too important for the flavor and the bottle just isn't the same.

    Be careful when adding the cream. It really is important to remove the pan from the heat and add the cream slowly, if you don't the sauce might break.

    Storing, Freezing & Reheating Instructions

    Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

    Freezing: I do not recommend freezing leftovers.

    Leftovers: Reheat leftovers gently.

    Reheating stove top: Heat salmon and sauce in a skillet over medium heat, until warm and creamy.

    Reheating in microwave: Reheat leftovers in the microwave in 30-second increments.

    Pouring sauce over salmon piccata and rice.

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    Recipe

    Salmon piccata in a skillet.

    Salmon Piccata (20 Minutes + One Pan!)

    No ratings yet
    Print Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: North American
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 485kcal
    Prep time: 5 minutes mins
    Cook time: 15 minutes mins
    Total time: 20 minutes minutes
    Author: Emmeline Kemperyd
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    Ingredients

    • 1 lb salmon filets without skin
    • 2 tablespoon flour for dredging
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 4 tablespoon butter divided
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
    • zest from one lemon
    • 2 tablespoon mini capers optional
    • 1 cup heavy cream

    To serve

    • 4 servings rice
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Season salmon with salt and pepper on all sides, then dredge in flour.
      1 lb salmon filets, 2 tablespoon flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the salmon and sear on all sides, then transfer the salmon to a plate.
      4 tablespoon butter
    • Reduce the heat to medium and place the pan back over the heat. Add the rest of the butter and allow it to melt. Then add chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest and capers to the pan. Scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits.
      4 tablespoon butter, 1 cup chicken broth, ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, zest from one lemon, 2 tablespoon mini capers
    • Remove the pan from the heat and slowly stir in the cream. Place the pan back over the heat and bring to a simmer. When it's simmering, add back the salmon. Cover with sauce.
      1 cup heavy cream
    • Simmer 5 minutes or until the salmon is as done as you like it. If the sauce thickens too much, add a bit more broth.
    • Taste test and season, then serve with rice.

    Equipment (may contain affiliate links)

    • Skillet or frying pan*
    • Measuring spoons*
    • Measuring cups (metric or US)*
    • Lemon zester*
    • Citrus juicer*

    Video

    Notes

    Be careful when adding the cream. It really is important to remove the pan from the heat and add the cream slowly, if you don't the sauce might break.
    Do not use bottled lemon juice. It's too important for the flavor and the bottle just isn't the same.
     
    Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
    Freezing: I do not recommend freezing leftovers.
    Leftovers: Reheat leftovers gently.
    Reheating stove top: Heat salmon and sauce in a skillet over medium heat, until warm and creamy.
    Reheating in microwave: Reheat leftovers in the microwave in 30-second increments.
     
    Nutritional information does not include rice.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 485kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 161mg | Sodium: 630mg | Potassium: 649mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1278IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.

    Did you make this? Tag me today!Tag @alwaysusebutter and use the hashtag #alwaysusebutter!

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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