Pan Seared Salmon With Avocado Salsa
Pan Seared Salmon with Avocado Salsa is an easy, low carb, Whole30 fish recipe. Making this fresh, nutritious dinner requires just 7 ingredients and 10 minutes of cooking time! It’s perfect for a busy weeknight, yet elegant enough for company!
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This Pan Seared Salmon with Avocado Salsa is one of our favorite meals! Everything comes together for a fresh and flavorful dinner that’s cooked in under 10 minutes!
To season the salmon fillets, we’re using my favorite homemade taco seasoning (or use store-bought), which gives this dish great Mexican flavor. Then, while it’s pan searing in a hot pan, you can be preparing the salsa. Once the salmon is done, plate everything together for a colorful meal everyone will love.
It turns out so tender and flaky and melts in your mouth! And the avocado salsa is the perfect finishing touch!
I love your recipes. We just ate this salmon for dinner, and this may be the BEST salmon meal I’ve ever had. Thank you so much!
— Jill
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Perfect salmon every time: Pan-searing fish gives it the most incredible texture, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
- A fresh homemade salsa: The simple avocado salsa gives the salmon such delicious, fresh flavors.
- Quick and easy to make: You’ll only need a handful of ingredients and in less than 20 minutes you can have this dish on the table.
Ingredients needed
We love this pan-seared salmon recipe for its simple, fresh ingredients! Here are the key ingredients that you’ll need to make it:
- Salmon: Ideally, opt for wild salmon when possible. It’s more flavorful and has more nutrients than farmed salmon.
- Taco seasoning: Use my recipe for homemade taco seasoning or use any other favorite recipe or store-bought variety.
- Avocado: Choose an avocado that yields to firm, gentle pressure. It should feel lightly soft but not mushy.
- Tomato: I like to use Roma tomatoes for this recipe because they are sweet and juicy with few seeds and less moisture than other tomato varieties.
- Red onion: Adds a kick of sharpness to the salsa and also a pop of color.
- Cilantro: For a burst of fresh herby flavor.
- Lime: Adds a nice citrus flavor that always pairs well with salsa and seafood. The acidity will also help to keep the avocado from browning.
Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the page for exact measurements.
Variations and substitutions
- Seasoning: Skip the taco seasoning and simply use salt and pepper or any favorite seasoning or spices to season the salmon.
- Use white or yellow onion: Any color onion will work!
- Herbs: Not a fan of the taste of cilantro? You can use parsley instead or just omit completely.
- Citrus: If you don’t have a lime, sub with lemon juice.
- Add fruit: I love a fruity salsa! Try adding in some chopped pineapple or mango, or use the strawberry avocado salsa from this blackened salmon recipe.
How to make this recipe
Pan searing salmon is one of the quickest ways to make a nutrient-rich seafood dinner. No need to heat up the kitchen with the oven and no standing over a hot grill. Less than 10 minutes of cooking time on top of the stove is all you need to make this dish!
Step 1: Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Season the salmon fillets generously with taco seasoning.
Step 2: When pan is hot, add the salmon, flesh side down, cover and sear, undisturbed, for 3 minutes. Flip the salmon and cook fish all the way through (uncovered), about 4-5 more minutes.
Step 3: While the salmon is cooking, prepare the avocado salsa. In a small bowl, mix together the avocado, tomato, red onion, cilantro and lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir gently until combined.
Step 4: Once salmon is cooked through, remove skin with a fork and transfer to a plate. Top with avocado salsa and enjoy!
Helpful tips
- Best salmon: For the best flavor and most health benefits, buy high-quality, fresh-tasting salmon. My go-to salmon is wild caught Alaskan sockeye salmon. You’ll find that most grocery stores carry this variety and you can buy it in bulk (frozen) from Costco.
- Don’t overcrowd in the pan: You want the salmon to get golden and crisp on the outside, so avoid overcrowding while cooking, work in batches if you need to.
- Searing: For the best sear, do not disturb the salmon while it cooks on each side. You won’t get that crispy exterior if you keep checking on it.
- To cover skillet: If you don’t have a lid for your pan, just place a baking sheet over the top of the pan.
- Skin-on: You want to leave the skin on the fillet for cooking. Once the salmon is fully cooked, you’ll easily be able to remove the skin with a fork.
Frequently asked questions
It’s best to start your salmon flesh-side down, and cook it until it is golden brown, then turn the salmon to skin-side down to finish cooking.
Check the middle of the salmon with a fork to make sure it is heated and beginning to flake—meaning, it separates easily along the white lines that run across the fillet (strips of fish fat). It will continue to cook a bit even after removed from heat, and you don’t want to overcook the fish, as it will become dry. Using an instant-read meat thermometer; the salmon should register 145°F at its thickest part.
For smaller, crispy, skin-on salmon; a crispy pan sear is recommended. For bigger fillets, and succulent, skin-off king salmon; the best method would be cooking in an oven.
Serving suggestions
This salmon dish is delicious paired with my easy 5-ingredient Mexican brown rice or cilantro lime rice. For a low carb option, enjoy with cauliflower cilantro lime rice. We also love it served alongside tortilla chips and homemade salsa.
This pan-seared salmon recipe is great, though, because you really don’t even need a side dish. The avocado salsa takes the place of a side, so you have an amazing 20-minute meal from start to finish on your plate!
Storage recommendations
- Storing leftovers: While salmon is best served immediately if you have leftovers, place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- To reheat: Very gently rewarm leftovers in a skillet over medium-low heat. Personally, I prefer to serve the salmon slightly chilled or at room temperature over a salad or on avocado toast, rather than reheat it. You could also try reheating it in an air fryer at 350ºF for about 4-5 minutes.
Hope you guys enjoy this meal as much as my family does! This foolproof recipe delivers what it promises: perfect, tender and flaky salmon filets with deliciously crispy edges and amazing flavor.
If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Pan Seared Salmon with Avocado Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
- 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
- taco seasoning, (enough to cover all flesh parts of salmon)
- 1 medium avocado, peeled, pitted and finely diced
- 1 Roma tomato, finely diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1 lime, juiced
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Season the salmon fillets generously with taco seasoning.
- When pan is hot, add the salmon, flesh side down, cover and sear, undisturbed, for 3 minutes. Flip the salmon and cook fish all the way through (uncovered), about 4-5 more minutes. You can check the middle of the salmon with a fork to make sure it is heated and beginning to flake. (This timing is usually perfect for me. You don't want overcooked salmon and it will continue to cook a bit even after removed from heat.)*
- While the salmon is cooking, prepare the avocado salsa.
- In a small bowl, mix together the avocado, tomato, red onion, cilantro and lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir gently until combined.
- Once salmon is cooked through, remove skin with a fork and transfer to a plate. Top with avocado salsa and enjoy!
Notes
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I love your recipes. We just ate this salmon for dinner, and this may be the BEST salmon meal I’ve ever had. Thank you so much!
This salmon looks soo delicious! I can’t wait to make it next week for dinner!! I love avocado salsa on top of salmon.
Such a beautiful and colorful dish! I NEED to get my hands on that taco seasoning! Can’t wait to check it out! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I am a lover of fish and this flavorful recipe is so lovely. The Avocado Salsa is a lovely combo to this fish recipe.
This is the perfect salmon recipe. Not overloaded with toppings, all fresh ingredients and how easy. Good one!
This sounds perfect for my dinner tonight! My husband has asked that we lighten up after the holiday over-indulgence… this is just what we need. Love that avocado salsa, too!
I could eat salmon every single day! Your salmon recipe looks fabulous. Especially with the avocado salsa! Brilliant addition.
My husband has requested more salmon for dinner. I’m so glad I found this recipe to add to our mix.
Salmon is my favourite fish so I ill be giving this a go later this week! The salsa looks so fresh and delicious!
This is exactly my kind of recipe. I LOVE salmon, probably my favorite fish, perfect for ANY DAY. I also love using taco seasoning as a sort of “go to”, because I LOVE the spice level and combo. Perfect salsa for this!