Oh my goodness, you are going to love this! When the grill comes out, you know it means summer and ridiculously fast weeknight dinners are finally here. Forget fussy marinades; this **Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon** is seriously all you need when you want flaky, juicy fish cooked perfectly in under 15 minutes. Seriously, years ago, I used to overcook salmon constantly because I was terrified of it sticking! But once I figured out the timing—4 minutes per side for a standard fillet—it became my go-to. This bright, tangy sauce melts right into the fish as it cooks. It’s simple, it’s heavenly, and trust me, you’ll never go back to plain grilled fish again.

Why You Will Love This Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon Recipe

I put this recipe through trial and error until it passed the five-minute cleanup test. Trust me, it passed! This is the kind of dinner that makes weeknights feel special without making you work for it. You absolutely need this in your summer rotation.

It’s lightning-fast! You’re looking at 10 minutes of prep and about 12 minutes total on the heat.
That butter sauce—it melts right into the fish, giving you incredible, bright flavor with every bite.
Minimal dishes! We coat the fish with olive oil, mix the sauce in one small bowl, and that’s about it for cleanup.
Perfectly healthy but feels totally indulgent because of the rich lemon butter coating.
You can check out another amazing option we love when we want something slightly sweeter: irresistible honey butter garlic salmon recipe!

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon

Okay, the beauty of a simple recipe is that the ingredients have to be good, right? Since there’s no heavy breading or masking spices, you truly taste the quality here. I always buy salmon when it looks nice and bright, usually around 6-ounce fillets. They hold up so well on the grill!

You’ll need four fillets, a little olive oil to protect them from sticking, salt, and pepper. Then we make our magnificent sauce: half a cup of melted butter—yes, real butter, please!—and a quarter cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Don’t even think about reaching for that bottled stuff; the real juice makes all the difference.

We finish the sauce with two cloves of garlic, minced super fine, and a teaspoon of dried dill. That dill is fantastic, but if you want a great side dish inspiration that uses different flavors, check out this zesty lemon salmon orzo skillet recipe!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon

Let’s talk about those lemons. If you use the bottled stuff, you’ll end up with a metallic tang that ruins the buttery richness. Please squeeze them fresh; it’s worth the one extra minute of work, I promise! Also, salt and pepper are really just to taste, but I like a little bit more pepper than salt since the butter already has richness.

If you are nervous about handling fish directly on the grates—and who hasn’t ruined a beautiful fillet that way?—we can use a little trick. Make little aluminum foil boats for each piece of salmon. You just tent them loosely so the steam can escape, and they slide right off the grill when they are done. Super easy cleanup!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon

This is truly straightforward, but timing is everything to keep that salmon from drying out on you. First things first: you gotta get that grill hot! We are aiming for medium heat, not scorching high, and make sure you lightly oil those grates so you don’t have a sticky disaster later on. You can check out this irresistible bang bang salmon bites recipe if you ever want to try something different!

Next, take your fish—give it a light brush of olive oil on both sides, and sprinkle on your salt and pepper. While the grill heats up perfectly, whisk together your sauce ingredients: melted butter, lemon juice, minced garlic, and dill. Give it a good whip!

Now, place the salmon fillets right on the oiled grates, skin-side down if yours has skin. They need about 4 to 6 minutes facing down, depending on how thick they are. You’ll know they are almost ready when the color changes about halfway up the fillet.

Here’s the critical part! Flip them gently, and grill for another 4 to 6 minutes. But wait! During the very last minute of that total cook time, grab a brush and paint that wonderful lemon butter mixture generously over the top of the fish. That slight hit of heat caramelizes the sauce right at the end. Pull them off immediately and serve them up with some lemon wedges. If you want another great flavor combination, try this perfect lemon garlic salmon meal idea!

Expert Tips for Achieving the Best Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon

Getting restaurant-quality salmon on your own grill is all about watching the fish, not the clock, honestly. The best way to check for doneness is by gently using a fork near the thickest part. If it breaks apart easily into beautiful, moist flakes, you’re done! If it fights you even a little bit, give it another minute. Remember, carrying that carry-over heat out of the fire will cook it just a touch more on the plate.

I mentioned oil on the grates to stop sticking, but here’s my secret extra step: let your lemon butter sauce sit for about five minutes before you paint it on the fish the second time. That little bit of rest time allows the fresh garlic and the salt to really integrate into the melted butter. Wow, the flavor deepens so much!

If you’re worried about that gorgeous fish sticking, try heating your grill slightly lower than you normally would, maybe medium-low, and oil heavily one more time right before the salmon hits the grate. For fantastic flavor pairings, you should definitely check out this irresistible salmon with garlic lemon butter for inspiration!

Variations on Your Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon

I love that this basic Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon recipe is so forgiving! It’s like a blank canvas for whatever herbs I have in the fridge. If you’re feeling fancy, swap out half the dried dill for some fresh parsley—it gives it such a beautiful, clean green color!

Do you like a little kick? Trust me, adding just a tiny pinch of red pepper flakes to the butter mix right before you brush it on is magic. It doesn’t make it spicy, just adds a lovely warmth on the finish.

You could even swap that dill out entirely for some fresh thyme if you happen to have a sprig lying around after making soup last night. Keep it simple; these tiny changes make it feel like a brand-new meal!

Serving Suggestions for Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon

This rich lemon butter sauce pairs perfectly with simple sides because it already packs such a huge flavor punch. You need something light and fresh to cut through that buttery goodness! I almost always whip up a quick side salad with a sharp vinaigrette—nothing creamy, just vinegar and olive oil to balance things out.

If you’re leaning toward vegetables, roasted asparagus is my favorite accompaniment. You get great char on the grill, and if you want a spectacular recipe for that side, you have to check out this flavorful roasted garlic parmesan asparagus. Seriously, try it once!

For something more filling, a nice bed of fluffy white rice or even some quick-cooking couscous soaks up any extra sauce you might have left on the plate. Remember, keep the sides easy so you can spend more time enjoying that perfect salmon!

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Leftover Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon

It’s rare that we actually have leftovers of this amazing fish, but when we do, storing it right is key to keeping that lovely, moist texture we worked so hard for. Pop any remaining grilled salmon into a really good airtight container right away. Don’t leave it sitting out at room temperature for too long, you know how it is with fish!

You can keep it safe in the fridge for about three days—any longer and the texture just changes too much. When you want to eat it again, please, for the love of butter, don’t microwave it on high! It gets tough fast. I gently warm mine either in a dry pan on very low heat for just a couple of minutes, or even better, wrapped loosely in foil in a 275-degree oven until just warm through. That slow warming keeps the butter sauce from completely separating!

Frequently Asked Questions About Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon

I always get the same questions when people try this recipe for the first time, usually about sticking or what to do if the fish looks a little underdone. It’s normal to be nervous about grilling fish, but don’t stress! Here are the things people ask me most often about making this easy fish recipe.

How do I know when my Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon is done?

This is the most important question! The best visual cue is that the color changes about halfway up the side of the fillet, which is why checking the thickness matters. But honestly, the fork test is your secret weapon. Gently insert a fork near the center and twist just a little bit. If the salmon flakes apart easily without resistance, it’s ready. If it seems stiff at all, give it one more minute on the heat. You want flaky, not firm!

Can I make the lemon butter sauce ahead of time?

You sure can! I usually make the sauce a couple of hours ahead of time and just keep it on the counter if my kitchen isn’t too warm. Since butter is the main component, if you make it much earlier, the butter will solidify again. If that happens, don’t microwave it! Just gently melt it down on the stovetop over very low heat—maybe even warm it a little first with the leftover heat from the grill that morning! For a fun alternative, try this flavorful lemon garlic tilapia recipe if you aren’t using salmon!

Why did my salmon stick to the grill grates?

Ugh, the worst! Almost always, salmon sticks because the grates weren’t clean or hot enough. Remember, clean your grill, then heat it to medium, and brush those grates with oil right before the fish even touches them—using a paper towel dipped in oil works best! Also, if your fillet is thin, using foil packets is such a safe bet to avoid sticking entirely.

Estimated Nutritional Data for Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon

When you keep the portions reasonable, this healthy dinner is fantastic for counting macros! Remember, these figures are just estimates based on using 6-ounce fillets and standard measurements. Your serving size is one fillet, and you’re getting a great boost of protein.

Calories: About 350
Total Fat: Roughly 22g (Watch that saturated fat, that’s all the butter!)
Protein Power: A whopping 32g per fillet!
Sodium: Around 300mg.

Again, these numbers shift depending on how crazy you get with the butter brush (and I won’t judge if you go nuts!).

Estimated Nutritional Data for Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon

Calories: About 350
Total Fat: Roughly 22g (Watch that saturated fat, that’s all the butter!)
Protein Power: A whopping 32g per fillet!
Sodium: Around 300mg.

Again, these numbers shift depending on how crazy you get with the butter brush (and I won’t judge if you go nuts!).

Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon

Author: jekof.com
Total Time: 22 min
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Diet: Low Fat

Print Recipe

Description

Simple recipe for flavorful salmon cooked on the grill with a lemon butter sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried dill
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Preheat your grill to medium heat. Lightly oil the grates.
Brush the salmon fillets on both sides with olive oil. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, lemon juice, minced garlic, and dried dill.
Place the salmon fillets on the preheated grill, skin-side down if applicable.
Grill for 4 to 6 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
During the last minute of cooking, brush the lemon butter mixture generously over the top of the fillets.
Remove the salmon from the grill and serve immediately.

Notes

You can use aluminum foil packets if you prefer not to place the fish directly on the grates.
Fresh dill provides the best flavor, but dried is acceptable.
Adjust lemon juice to your taste preference.

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 12 min
Category: Dinner
Method: Grilling
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 fillet
Calories: 350
Sugar: 1
Sodium: 300
Fat: 22
Saturated Fat: 10
Unsaturated Fat: 12
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 1
Fiber: 0
Protein: 32
Cholesterol: 90

Keywords: lemon butter, grilled salmon, easy fish recipe, healthy dinner, seafood