The Antidote to Drive-thru Guilt: Lemon Garlic Salmon Done Right!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Let’s be honest — with fast food everywhere, it’s easy to fall into a dinner rut.
That’s exactly why I created this Lemon Garlic Salmon with Orzo Pasta — it’s quick enough for a weeknight, but feels like a restaurant-quality meal.
The salmon is rich, buttery, and full of heart-healthy omega-3s. The orzo soaks up every drop of that lemon-garlic butter sauce, creating a meal that’s both light and indulgent.
Best part? You can have it on the table in about 25 minutes. 🙌
Ingredients you’ll need
For the Salmon
Salmon fillets
2 tblsp Olive Oil
My Signature Spice blend (Garlic salt, Seasoning Salt, Smoked paprika)
For the Garlic Butter
Butter (1 tblsp per fillets plus a little extra for pasta)
1 tblsp Olive Oil (prevents browning)
1 clove Garlic (per tblsp Butter)
splash Lemon Juice (can be fresh or store bought)
For the Pasta
1 box Orzo Pasta
extra Garlic Butter
My Signature Spice blend (Garlic salt, Seasoning Salt, Smoked paprika)
Optional garnish: chopped parsley, lemon wedges
Click here for full ingredient links and tools I use!
How to Make it
1. Make the Garlic Butter
Melt the butter in a pan with a splash of olive oil to prevent browning. Add the garlic and lemon juice, letting it gently infuse the butter. This becomes your flavor base — golden, fragrant, and irresistible.
2. Cook the Pasta
Bring a pot of water to a boil and season generously with garlic salt. Add the orzo and cook until tender. Drain and set aside.
3. Cook the Salmon
In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Lay in the salmon fillets, skin-side down, and cook until beautifully golden brown. Flip the fillets, then pour in your lemon garlic butter. Add a sprinkle of smoked paprika for warmth and color. Let the sauce bubble and coat the salmon — this is where the magic happens.
4. Finish the Pasta
Toss your leftover garlic butter with the cooked orzo. Don’t forget to season it all up with my signature blend of spices — that’s what ties everything together. Finish with a final squeeze of lemon juice to brighten every bite.
5. Plate & Serve
Spoon the orzo onto a plate, top with your perfectly seared salmon, and drizzle a bit of the pan sauce over top. Garnish with fresh parsley or a lemon wedge if you’re feeling fancy.
What Makes it so Good
Quick and easy: Ready in 25 minutes — faster than delivery.
Healthy and satisfying: High in protein, low in calories, full of flavor.
Family-friendly: Even picky eaters love it.
You don’t need many cooking tools
Perfect for meal prep: The leftovers taste even better the next day.
Kitchen tools you need