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One-Skillet Salmon with Lemon Orzo Recipe

One-Skillet Salmon with Lemon Orzo Recipe
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4.8 from 28 reviews

Enjoy a bright and creamy one-skillet salmon with lemon orzo that is a quick and elegant dinner option. This dish features flaky salmon, tender orzo pasta, and a delightful lemony Parmesan finish.

Ingredients

Salmon

  • 4 salmon fillets (5–6 oz / 140–170 g each), skin-on or skinless
  • ¾ tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil

Lemon Orzo

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup (185 g) dry orzo pasta
  • 2 cups (480 ml) low-sodium chicken broth or seafood stock
  • Zest of 1 lemon (≈ 1 Tbsp) + 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 cups loosely packed baby spinach, roughly chopped (optional)
  • ½ cup (45 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill or parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Sear Salmon – Pat salmon dry; season all sides with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high. Place fillets skin-side (or presentation side) down; sear 3–4 min until deeply golden. Flip; cook 2 min more. Transfer salmon to a plate (it will finish later).
  2. Toast Orzo – Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic; sauté 30 sec until fragrant. Stir in dry orzo; toast 1 min.
  3. Simmer – Pour in broth, lemon zest, and juice, scraping up browned bits. Bring to a gentle simmer, then nestle salmon on top. Cover; cook 6–7 min, stirring orzo once, until pasta is tender and salmon flakes easily.
  4. Finish – Fold spinach into orzo until wilted (1 min). Reduce heat to low; stir in Parmesan until creamy. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh dill or parsley and serve straight from the skillet.

Notes

  • Cheese swap: Feta adds tang in place of Parmesan.
  • Extra flavor: Deglaze with ¼ cup white wine, reducing broth accordingly, for deeper sauce.
  • Heat kick: Pinch of red-pepper flakes with the garlic.
  • Whole-wheat orzo: Needs 2–3 extra minutes plus ¼ cup more broth.
  • Dairy-free: Omit cheese and finish with an extra drizzle of olive oil.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://lauracooks.com/one-skillet-salmon-with-lemon-orzo-recipe/