This easy pan seared salmon with chimichurri sauce recipe is the perfect easy weeknight dinner, meal prep option, or 15 minute meal perfect for the whole family!
This recipe is one of my absolute new favorites and I know you’ll love it too!
The chimichurri sauce is so vibrant in color and flavor. It’s perfect paired with a simple pan seared salmon.
This easy protein packed dinner may look daunting – but I promise you that it’s actually extremely easy to make!
Pan seared salmon just screams restaurant quality, right? Impress your friends, family, or significant other with this beautiful and delicious dish!
What is Chimichurri Sauce?
Chimichurri sauce is a popular South American sauce. It’s filled with flat leaf parsley (also known as Italian parsley).
This sauce also has citrus, onion, lots of garlic, oil, vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper.
It’s absolutely delicious on seafood, meat, or roasted vegetables. I even eat it with chips – it’s seriously SO good on absolutely anything!
Once you make this sauce – you and your family will be hooked! This is super easy to make a big batch at the begging of the week and use it as a condiment on just about anything.
About the Recipe – Easy Pan Seared Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce
It’s no secret – I love this recipe. So let’s talk about it!
First, you’ll make the chimichurri sauce.
Combine the parsley, onion, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in a food processor and pulse until everything is well combined. I like to say it’s done when it looks saucy!
If you don’t have a food processor, I highly recommend getting one! I have this one – you can get it on Amazon for a great price!
Now let’s cook the seared salmon. I love anything pan seared, and this salmon really makes my mouth water every time.
You’ll start by salt and peppering your salmon fillets.
Then, in a skillet over medium high heat, add in your oil, and then add the salmon flesh side down. Let it cook for at least four minutes, then flip the salmon and cook an additional two minutes.
You could use a cast iron pan or non stick pan for making the salmon, really anything that will give it a good pan sear.
After the salmon is done, add the chimichurri sauce and you’re ready to serve! You could garnish with lemon and serve with a chilled white wine.
More Easy Dinner Ideas
Check out some more easy dinner ideas and inspiration below!
Salmon and Crispy Rice with Summer Green Salsa – This recipe is as delicious as it is beautiful! This is a knockout weeknight dinner that will wow your whole family.
Seared Sesame Ahi Tuna Recipe – I LOVE Ahi tuna. I went to Hawaii on my honeymoon, and this recipe takes me back to the beautiful sunny days on Oahu. This recipe is healthy and so tasty, a win-win!
Crispy Chickpeas with Couscous and Feta – This is one of my favorite vegetarian recipes. It’s so packed with flavor and texture that you won’t miss the meat one bit!
Sesame Soy Salmon with Grilled Zucchini – If you’re looking for more healthy salmon recipes, this is the one for you! A delicious sesame soy sauce is poured over broiled salmon and served with freshly grilled zucchini. Yum!
Easy Pan Seared Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce Recipe Ingredients
For the Salmon:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or canola oil
- 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 medium salmon filets (about 6 oz)
For the Chimichurri:
- 1 bunch Italian parsley (flat-leaf parsley)
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp dried or fresh oregano
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 white onion
- pinch of coarse sea salt
- pinch of black pepper
Directions
- Combine chimichurri ingredients in a food processor. Blend until parsley is well chopped and ingredients are well combined. Set aside.
- In a large non-stick skillet, add oil over medium heat. While oil is heating, pat salmon filets dry and season with salt and pepper.
- When the oil is shimmering, carefully place the salmon skin side up in the pan. Cook for at least 4 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Serve salmon filets with chimichurri sauce.
Easy Pan Seared Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce Recipe
Notes
- It’s very important to wait a full 4 minutes for the salmon to cook so it doesn’t stick to the pan.
- You may substitute cilantro for parsley if you prefer cilantro!
Ingredients
- For the Salmon:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or canola oil
- 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 medium salmon filets (about 6 oz)
- For the Chimichurri:
- 1 bunch Italian parsley (flat-leaf parsley)
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp dried or fresh oregano
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 white onion
- Pinch of coarse sea salt
- Pinch of black pepper
Instructions
- Combine chimichurri ingredients in a food processor and blend until well parsley is well chopped and ingredients are well combined. Set aside.
- In a large non-stick skillet, add oil over medium heat. While oil is heating, pat salmon filets dry and season with salt and pepper.
- When the oil is shimmering, carefully place the salmon skin side up in the pan. Cook for at least 4 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Serve salmon filets with chimichurri sauce.
The salmon and chimichurri taste so good together! I added a few chilli flakes too.
Oh love that idea, that would make it delicious!
Absolutely love this recipe. It was simple and delicious. A good quality salmon and fresh parsley made a lot of difference to the taste
Thank you, I totally agree!
So good and so easy to make!
Thank you!
Such a delicious combination of flavours – will make again for sure!
Yay so happy about that!!
Oh, so delicious! the chimichurri sauce was perfect!
So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
These flavors are so fresh! And the chimichurri sauce is to die for!
Yesss the chimichurri sauce is the star!
How awesome! I love this so much!
Thank you!