Ohhh that combo is elite 😍 Pan-Seared Salmon & Shrimp—crispy edges, juicy centers, and big flavor with minimal effort. This is a restaurant-style skillet dinner you can knock out in under 30 minutes.
🐟🍤 Pan-Seared Salmon & Shrimp (Garlic Butter Style)
Serves 2–3
Ingredients
- 2 salmon fillets (6–8 oz each, skin on or off)
- 12–16 large shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp Cajun seasoning or Old Bay (optional)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
1️⃣ Prep
- Pat salmon and shrimp very dry (key for good sear)
- Season both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, and Cajun/Old Bay if using
2️⃣ Sear the salmon
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high
- Add 1 tbsp olive oil
- Place salmon skin-side down (if skin on)
- Cook 4–5 minutes without moving
- Flip and cook 2–3 minutes
- Remove salmon and set aside
3️⃣ Sear the shrimp
- Add remaining olive oil to same skillet
- Add shrimp in a single layer
- Cook 1½–2 minutes per side until pink
- Remove and set aside
4️⃣ Garlic butter sauce
- Lower heat to medium
- Add butter and garlic
- Sauté 30–45 seconds until fragrant
- Stir in lemon juice
5️⃣ Finish
- Return salmon and shrimp to skillet
- Spoon sauce over seafood
- Heat 1–2 minutes, then remove from heat
- Sprinkle with parsley
🔥 Pro Tips
- Don’t crowd the pan—cook in batches if needed
- Shrimp cook FAST—pull them as soon as they curl
- Skin-on salmon = crispier, juicier result
- Use cast iron or stainless steel for best sear
Flavor Variations
🌶 Cajun butter – add cayenne + smoked paprika
🍋 Lemon herb – add thyme or dill
🍯 Honey garlic – add 1 tbsp honey
🧄 Extra garlicky – double the garlic (no regrets)
Perfect Sides
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- Rice or lemon butter orzo
- Roasted asparagus or broccoli
- Simple salad + crusty bread
If you want, I can turn this into:
✔️ Creamy Tuscan sauce
✔️ Cajun skillet
✔️ One-pan meal with veggies
✔️ Air-fryer version
Just tell me 😌🔥
