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One skillet salmon dish served with lemon orzo, a quick and easy meal idea.

One Skillet Salmon with Lemon Orzo

Enjoy a quick and flavorful meal with this one-skillet wonder featuring perfectly cooked salmon fillets nestled atop creamy lemon orzo, all made in a single pan for easy cleanup.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 4 fillets Salmon Fillets skin-on or off
  • 1 cup Orzo Pasta uncooked
  • 4 cups Chicken or Vegetable Broth
  • 1 large Lemon zested and juiced
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 4 cups Fresh Spinach packed
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 0.5 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp Dried Dill or fresh parsley

Equipment

  • Large oven-safe skillet
  • Cutting board
  • Chef's knife
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Tongs or spatula

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Season salmon fillets generously with salt and pepper on all sides.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  3. Sear salmon skin-side down for 3-4 minutes until crispy, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes before removing and setting aside.
  4. Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
  5. Stir in the uncooked orzo pasta, cooking for 1 minute until it is lightly toasted.
  6. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally for about 8-10 minutes until the orzo is almost tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
  7. Nestle the seared salmon fillets back into the almost-cooked orzo mixture.
  8. Continue cooking for another 5-8 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
  9. Stir in the fresh spinach, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice until the spinach has wilted completely.
  10. Serve the One Skillet Salmon with Lemon Orzo immediately, garnished with extra fresh herbs if desired.

Notes

For extra richness, stir in a tablespoon of butter at the end when adding the spinach.