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One Skillet Salmon with Lemon Orzo

A perfectly cooked fillet of salmon resting on a bed of lemon orzo in a black skillet.
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Make a bright and fresh dinner with this easy one pan salmon and lemon orzo recipe. This minimal cleanup dinner idea cooks entirely in one skillet, perfect for a quick weeknight salmon dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets, skin on or off
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
  • 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional, substitute with more broth)
  • 1 small shallot, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Season the salmon fillets generously on both sides with salt, pepper, and half of the dried oregano and thyme.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet (cast iron works well) over medium heat. Add the minced shallot and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  3. Add the uncooked orzo to the skillet and toast for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour in the white wine (if using) and let it bubble and reduce by half, about 2 minutes.
  4. Pour in the broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, remaining oregano, and thyme. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Cook until the liquid is mostly absorbed and the orzo is starting to soften, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  5. Nestle the seasoned salmon fillets on top of the orzo mixture in the skillet.
  6. Transfer the entire skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. Cooking time depends on the thickness of your fillets.
  7. Remove the skillet from the oven. Stir the butter into the orzo mixture until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
  8. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving directly from the skillet.

Notes

  • For a garlicky finish, you can melt the butter with an extra clove of garlic before stirring it into the orzo at the end.
  • If your salmon fillets are very thick, you may need to add 2-3 extra minutes to the baking time.
  • This recipe works well with Mediterranean one pan meals flavors; consider adding a handful of halved cherry tomatoes during the last 5 minutes of baking.

Nutrition

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