Easy Pan Seared Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (2024)

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.

Easy Pan Seared Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce Recipe Ingredients

For the Salmon:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil or canola oil
• ½ tsp coarse sea salt
• ½ 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
• ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• juice of ½ lemon
• ½ white onion
• pinch of coarse sea salt
• pinch of black pepper

Directions

Lets make this salmon chimichurri recipe together:

Step 1

Combine chimichurri ingredients in a food processor. Blend until parsley is well chopped and ingredients are well combined. Set aside.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

Serve salmon filets with chimichurri sauce.

Kitchen Equipment

Here is some kitchen equipment I recommend for this recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.

Food Processor - I always recommend this 8 cup food processor. It's amazing and one of my most used kitchen appliances. You can use it to chop vegetables, make sauces, and process just about anything.

Skillet - This stainless steel skillet is perfect for cooking the fish for this recipe. Make sure you let the fish cook for a few minutes without touching it at all - this helps eliminate any sticking.

Recipe Substitutions/Variations

Here are a few substitutions and variations for this pan seared salmon and chimichurri recipe.

Protein Substitution - To substitute salmon, I recommend using steelhead trout, sea bass, or chicken. All of these proteins would be delicious with the chimichurri sauce.

Sauce Substitution - This pan seared salmon can be enjoyed with any cooking sauce. I love chimichurri, but you can enjoy it with a roasted red pepper sauce or pesto sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Easy Dinner Ideas

Check out some more easy dinner ideas and inspiration below!

Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave us a star rating below! Plus, find us on Instagram and Pinterest.