Garlic Butter Salmon and Shrimp (Easy Skillet)

Salmon and shrimp make a perfect pair, giving you two restaurant-quality proteins in one easy skillet. This garlic butter version sears tender salmon and juicy shrimp together in a rich, buttery lemon sauce, and it comes together in under 30 minutes for an impressive weeknight dinner.

These recipes are simple, fast, and endlessly adaptable, from a creamy pasta to a spicy Cajun skillet. Below you will find the ingredients, step-by-step instructions, more recipe ideas to try, and the best ways to serve it all.

Why Salmon and Shrimp Work So Well Together

Salmon and shrimp cook quickly, taste great with the same seasonings, and offer a mix of rich and light seafood in one dish. The buttery salmon pairs beautifully with sweet, tender shrimp, and both soak up garlic, lemon, and herbs. Together they make a protein-packed surf-and-turf-style meal that feels fancy but is genuinely easy. Because both cook so quickly, the whole dish is on the table in about the same time it takes to boil a pot of pasta, which is why it has become such a popular weeknight seafood dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One skillet, 30 minutes. Two proteins, minimal cleanup.
• Rich garlic butter sauce. Bright with lemon and fresh herbs.
• High protein and healthy. Loaded with omega-3s and lean protein.
• Easy to adapt. Make it creamy, Cajun, baked, or over pasta.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Salmon fillets. Fresh, skin-on or off, patted dry for a good sear.
• Large shrimp. Peeled and deveined so they cook fast.
• Butter and olive oil. For searing and a silky sauce.
• Garlic and lemon. The bright, savory base.
• Paprika and Italian seasoning. Warm, herby flavor.
• Fresh parsley. A fresh finishing touch.

How to Make Salmon and Shrimp

1. Pat the seafood dry and season the salmon and shrimp with salt, pepper, and paprika.
2. Sear the salmon in olive oil for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until it reaches 145 degrees F and flakes. Remove and set aside. Check it against the USDA safe minimum internal temperature chart.
3. Cook the shrimp in the same pan for about 2 minutes per side, until pink and opaque.
4. Add the butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, and lemon juice, and toss the shrimp in the sauce.
5. Return the salmon, spoon the garlic butter over the top, garnish with parsley, and serve.

Tips for Perfect Seafood

• Cook the salmon first, then the shrimp, since shrimp cook in just minutes.
• Do not overcook the shrimp, or they turn rubbery.
• Pat everything dry for a proper golden sear.
• Finish with lemon and fresh herbs to brighten the rich butter.

Salmon and Shrimp Recipe Ideas

• Creamy pasta. Toss the seafood with fettuccine in a parmesan cream sauce.
• Cajun skillet. Add Cajun seasoning for a spicy New Orleans style.
• Baked. Roast salmon and shrimp on a sheet pan with vegetables.
• Stuffed salmon. Fill salmon with a crab and shrimp mixture for a showstopper.

What to Serve and Storage

Serve this seafood over rice, pasta, or a crisp salad, with crusty bread to soak up the garlic butter. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat gently so the seafood stays tender. For more ideas, try our salmon poke, salmon stew, or candied salmon.

Salmon and Shrimp Recipe

Garlic Butter Salmon and Shrimp

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 4 salmon fillets about 6 oz each
• 1 lb large shrimp peeled and deveined
• 4 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 lemon juiced
• 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes optional
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped

Method

 

1. Pat the salmon and shrimp dry and season both with salt, pepper, and paprika.
2. Sear the salmon in the olive oil for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until it reaches 145 degrees F and flakes. Remove and set aside.
3. Add the shrimp to the same pan and cook 2 minutes per side, until pink and opaque.
4. Add the butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, and lemon juice, and toss the shrimp in the garlic butter for 1 minute.
5. Return the salmon to the pan, spoon the garlic butter over the top, garnish with parsley, and serve.

Notes

Do not overcook the shrimp, since they turn rubbery fast. Cook the salmon to 145 degrees F. Serve this garlic butter salmon and shrimp over rice, pasta, or a fresh salad.

Frequently Asked Questions