One Skillet Salmon with Lemon Orzo Recipe
A vibrant and delicious one skillet salmon recipe featuring perfectly seared salmon fillets served over creamy lemon orzo with spinach and Parmesan. This easy and flavorful dish combines the richness of salmon with bright lemon and aromatic herbs, all cooked together in a single pan for minimal cleanup and maximum taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 skinless salmon fillets
- 1 tsp salt – divided
- 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper – divided
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp unsalted butter
- 1 yellow onion – finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves – minced
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- juice from ½ lemon
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- freshly ground black pepper – for serving
- chili flakes – for serving
Instructions
- Prep the Ingredients: Grate the Parmesan cheese, finely chop the onion, and mince the garlic cloves. Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides of the salmon with garlic powder, sweet paprika, and half of the salt and pepper.
- Sear the Salmon: Heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add the salmon fillets and sear them for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the salmon from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add the minced garlic and chopped onion to the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes until soft and fragrant. Stir in dried thyme and the remaining salt and pepper.
- Toast the Orzo: Add the dry orzo pasta to the skillet and stir to toast for 1 minute, coating the pasta with the aromatic mixture.
- Simmer the Orzo: Pour in the low sodium chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the orzo is almost al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 8 minutes.
- Add Spinach and Finish Orzo: Stir in the baby spinach and simmer for 2 minutes until wilted. Mix in the lemon juice and grated Parmesan cheese. If the orzo looks too dry, add a little more broth. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt as needed.
- Reheat Salmon: Return the seared salmon fillets to the skillet nestled over the orzo. Cover and simmer for 2–3 minutes until the salmon is heated through.
- Serve: Garnish with freshly ground black pepper and chili flakes to taste. Serve hot directly from the skillet.
Notes
- Make sure to pat the salmon dry before seasoning to ensure a nice sear.
- Use low sodium chicken broth to better control the salt level.
- Toast the orzo for enhanced nutty flavor before adding broth.
- If you prefer a vegetarian option, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth and omit the salmon.
- Adjust chili flakes according to your preferred spice level.
Keywords: salmon recipe, lemon orzo, one skillet meal, quick dinner, healthy seafood, easy weeknight meal
