Juicy, buttery, and perfectly seasoned, this Texas Roadhouse Salmon is the ultimate way to bring steakhouse flavors to your dinner table. With a delightful blend of garlic, lemon, herbs, and a touch of spice, each bite melts in your mouth, offering a restaurant-quality experience right at home.
Whether you’re planning a cozy dinner for two or hosting friends for a special occasion, this salmon recipe will steal the spotlight. It’s quick to prepare, packed with protein, and pairs beautifully with your favorite sides, from mashed potatoes to roasted veggies. Plus, it leaves your kitchen smelling incredible!
Why You’ll Love This Texas Roadhouse Salmon
This recipe delivers on all fronts: taste, simplicity, and versatility. The salmon is pan-seared or grilled to perfection with a crispy outside and tender, flaky inside. The garlic butter sauce with a splash of lemon makes it both indulgent and fresh. You can easily adapt it with extra herbs or a hint of heat, making it a go-to favorite for weeknights or special dinners.
Preparation Phase & Tools to Use
To make the best Texas Roadhouse Salmon, a few essential tools will help:
- Cast-iron skillet or grill pan: Gives that gorgeous sear and charred edges.
- Basting brush: Perfect for brushing on the garlic butter sauce evenly.
- Fish spatula: Helps flip the delicate fillets without breaking them.
- Zester or microplane: Adds fresh lemon zest, elevating the flavor.
- Meat thermometer (optional): Ensures perfect doneness at 125°F for medium.
These tools ensure even cooking, better flavor infusion, and a stunning plate-up.
Ingredients for the Texas Roadhouse Salmon
- Salmon fillets: The star ingredient, packed with omega-3s and rich flavor.
- Butter: Creates a luscious garlic butter base for basting.
- Garlic (minced): Adds aromatic depth and savory punch.
- Lemon juice & zest: Brightens the dish and balances the richness.
- Fresh parsley: Offers a pop of color and fresh, herbaceous notes.
- Paprika or chili flakes: Brings a subtle smoky heat, if desired.
- Salt & pepper: Essential for seasoning and enhancing all flavors.


How To Make the Texas Roadhouse Salmon
Step 1: Prep the Salmon
Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels, season generously with salt, pepper, and paprika or chili flakes if using. Let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Make the Garlic Butter
In a small pan, melt butter over low heat. Add minced garlic and gently cook until fragrant (about 1 minute). Stir in lemon juice and zest, then remove from heat.
Step 3: Sear or Grill the Salmon
Heat a cast-iron skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of oil, then place the salmon skin-side down. Sear for 4-5 minutes until the skin is crisp. Flip carefully and cook another 3-4 minutes, basting with garlic butter.
Step 4: Finish and Serve
Check for doneness (internal temp ~125°F). Transfer to plates, drizzle remaining garlic butter, sprinkle fresh parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.
Serving and Storing Texas Roadhouse Salmon
Serve this salmon hot, right off the skillet, paired with mashed potatoes, garlic butter green beans, or a crisp garden salad. For extra indulgence, spoon over any leftover garlic butter sauce and a fresh squeeze of lemon.
If you have leftovers, let the salmon cool completely before refrigerating in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat to maintain its tenderness or flake it cold over a salad for a refreshing lunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know when the salmon is done?
The salmon is perfectly cooked when it reaches 125°F internally and flakes easily with a fork. The outside should be golden, and the inside moist.
Can I bake the salmon instead of pan-searing?
Absolutely! Bake at 400°F for about 12-15 minutes, basting once with garlic butter for that signature flavor.
Do I need to keep the skin on?
The skin helps protect the fillet during cooking and crisps up beautifully. You can remove it before eating if you prefer.
Can I use frozen salmon?
Yes! Just thaw it completely and pat dry before seasoning and cooking.
How spicy is this dish?
It’s mild with a gentle kick from paprika or chili flakes, but you can easily adjust or omit the heat.
Want More Seafood Dinner Ideas?
If you love this Texas Roadhouse Salmon, you’ll definitely want to check out these other favorites:
- Blackened Salmon Stuffed with Spinach & Parmesan for bold, creamy flavors.
- Crab and Shrimp Seafood Bisque when you crave something rich and comforting.
- Jumbo Shrimp in Butter Garlic Sauce for a quick, indulgent seafood fix.
- Lemon Butter Salmon with Roasted Potatoes & Broccoli for a one-pan complete meal.
- Cheddar Bay Crab Cakes with Lemon Butter Drizzle if you’re craving crispy and golden bites.
Save This Pin For Later
📌 Save this Texas Roadhouse Salmon to your Pinterest seafood board so you can come back to it any time.
And let me know in the comments how yours turned out. Did you go heavy on the lemon? Did you serve it with a salad or pasta?
I love hearing how others make these recipes their own. Questions are welcome too—let’s help each other cook smarter.
For even more delicious recipes, check out my Pinterest: Kitchen By Kate


Texas Roadhouse Salmon
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
This Texas Roadhouse Salmon recipe delivers juicy, buttery fillets seared to perfection, topped with garlic lemon butter. A restaurant-style salmon dinner at home! Keywords: Texas Roadhouse Salmon, garlic butter salmon, easy salmon recipe, seafood dinner, pan-seared salmon.
Ingredients
4 salmon fillets (6 oz each)
3 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
0.5 teaspoon paprika or chili flakes (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Pat salmon fillets dry, season with salt, pepper, and paprika or chili flakes. Let rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.
2. In a small pan, melt butter over low heat. Add minced garlic, cook 1 minute until fragrant, stir in lemon juice and zest, remove from heat.
3. Heat cast-iron skillet or grill pan over medium-high, add a drizzle of oil, place salmon skin-side down, sear 4-5 minutes until skin is crisp, flip and cook 3-4 minutes, basting with garlic butter.
4. Check for doneness (about 125°F internal temp), transfer to plates, drizzle with garlic butter, sprinkle parsley, serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
Let salmon rest at room temp before cooking for even searing.
Use a fish spatula to flip without breaking fillets.
Do not overcook! Remove from heat at 125°F for tender, juicy results.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Pan-Seared or Grilled
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 240 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
