This Mediterranean salmon recipe creates a flavorful meal, thanks to a simple Greek salmon marinade. Cook the protein-packed fish on the stove for a healthy dinner that everyone will enjoy!

Greek marinated salmon pan fried, with yogurt sauce and dill over the top, on a plate with vegetable salad and roasted potatoes.

Table of Contents

Mediterranean Salmon

Salmon is a heart healthy, high protein fish that’s a great source of Omega-3 fats. For the nutritional benefits alone, it’s worth including in a healthy meal plan.

Much of the flavor in this meal comes from a simple, 4-ingredient Greek marinade. In fact, it is just one of several salmon marinade recipes that you can use to add flavor to any seafood.

This allergy-friendly dinner is a snap to make in a skillet on the stove.

It fits perfectly into these lifestyles, diets, and eating plans:

Pescatarian
High protein
Paleo
Whole30
Low carb/keto
Gluten-free
Dairy-free
Nut free

Why This Recipe is Worth Making

It makes a one-pan dinner. Prepping the ingredients is a snap, and because you’ll be cooking salmon on the stove in a skillet, clean up is a breeze!
SO delicious! Mediterranean salmon is full of flavor, and the Greek marinade ensures that the fish is perfectly moist and flaky!
Special enough to serve to dinner guests. The bright lemon and herb flavor makes the meal taste fancy, but it’s really just 5 simple ingredients.

Pan seared salmon fillet topped with a creamy yogurt sauce and garnished with fresh dill. Fork rests on the side of the plate.

Want to make other fish and seafood dinner recipes? Check out my recipes for Air Fryer Tilapia, Marinated Lemon Garlic Salmon, and Zucchini Shrimp Fra Diavolo.

Ingredients and Substitutions

skin-on salmon fillets – As written, the recipe makes enough marinade for two 6-ounce salmon fillets. If you can’t find small fillets at the store, buy a larger piece of salmon and cut it into 6-ounce fillets.
olive oil – This oil is staple in Mediterranean cuisine, and it has a high smoke point. This makes it perfect for pan searing the salmon. Avocado oil is a good substitute.
lemon juice – All you need is 1 small lemon to squeeze for fresh lemon juice. For a different citrus flavor, you can substitute lime juice or orange juice for lemon juice.
fresh dill – I can’t stress the difference in flavor between fresh and dried herbs, especially when it comes to dill! As a last resort, you can substitute dried dill for fresh, but when substituting dried herbs for fresh, use half the amount the recipe calls for.
Greek seasoning – My Greek seasoning recipe is easy to make, or you can use a store-bought blend.

Labeled ingredients in small bowls for a Greek salmon marinade.

How to Make Mediterranean Salmon

There are just three simple steps involved in making this delicious high protein dinner! Prepping the salmon marinade, marinating the fish, then cooking it on the stove top.

Make the Greek salmon marinade.

Just whisk the marinade ingredients together in a small bowl, or use the dish you plan to marinate the fish in.

Marinate the fish.

Use paper towels to dry off the fillets, then put them in a glass baking dish or heavy-duty zip top bag.
Pour the marinade over the salmon, then flip the fillets over. This way, the ingredients will add flavor to both sides of the fish.
Marinate salmon at room temperature for 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can cover or seal the container and refrigerate it for up to 2 hours, or freeze it for up to 4 months.

Why Marinating Fish Overnight Isn't Recommended

Unlike beef and pork, fish doesn’t have any fibrous connective tissue to break down. So, the purpose of marinating fish is to add flavor. Unless it’s a thick and meaty fillet, like a tuna steak, just 15-30 minutes of marinating fish is enough time for it to absorb the ingredients.

In fact, if you marinate fish for longer than a couple of hours, it’s likely to become mushy.

Cook the marinated Mediterranean salmon on the stove.

Before you add the fish to the skillet, be sure the oil is hot. Otherwise, the oil will soak into the fish, causing it to be greasy.

Place the salmon fillets in the skillet skin side down.

Let it cook undisturbed in the skillet for 4 to 5 minutes, then flip it over and cook on the other side for 5 minutes.

Close-up of Mediterranean salmon fillet topped with a creamy sauce and sprigs of dill, served with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and yellow potatoes.

Helpful Recipe Tips

- The best way to get the perfect flavor is to use fresh juice and herbs. Freshly squeezed lemon juice has a lot more flavor than a bottle of concentrated juice. For the same reason, use fresh dill, not dried.
- If you like to meal prep, freeze the salmon in the Italian marinade. It will keep in the freezer for up to 4 months!
- For crispy skin on the salmon, avoid the moving the fish around in the skillet. Pan sear the salmon on the first side for 4 minutes, then flip it over to cook the other side.
- Want to bake your Mediterranean salmon in the oven instead? If you don’t want to use your stove top, you can follow the cooking instructions in my Firecracker Salmon recipe.

Other Easy Skillet Dinner Ideas

Greek-Inspired Mediterranean Salmon

This Mediterranean salmon recipe creates a flavorful and healthy meal, thanks to a Greek salmon marinade. Everyone loves this easy fish recipe!

No ratings yet

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10

marinating time: 30

Total Time: 40

Servings: servings

Author: Madison Wetherill

Ingredients

Greek Marinade

3 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
1½ tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
1½ tablespoons Greek seasoning
1 pinch salt and pepper

For Salmon

12 ounces salmon fillets 2 skin-on fillets, each about 6 ounces
2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil

Instructions

Add all marinade ingredients to a small glass bowl. Whisk well to combine. Note: You can do this up to a day in advance. Cover and store the marinade in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it.

Marinate the Salmon

Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Transfer to a glass baking dish or heavy-duty zip top storage bag. Pour the marinade over the salmon, then turn the fillets over, to fully coat both sides.
Marinate in the container at room temperature for 30 minutes, or set the covered or sealed container in the refrigerator to marinate for up to 2 hours. Alternatively, you can seal the bag or container and freeze the salmon in the marinade for 3-4 months.

Cook Salmon on Stove

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove fish from marinade, shaking off any excess. When the oil is hot, set the salmon fillets in the pan, skin side down.
Cook the fish, without moving the fillets around in the skillet, for 3-4 minutes. Then, use a large spatula to carefully turn the salmon fillets over.
Continue cooking fish for another 4 minutes. To prevent the salmon from being dry, do not press the fillets down as they cook.
When the salmon is flaky and cooked through to an internal temperature of 145℉, remove the fillets from the pan. Plate and serve while warm.

Notes

Reusing the salmon marinade is not recommended. Uncooked fish, meat, and poultry contain bacteria that transfer to the marinade. Per USDA recommendations, it is not considered safe to reuse for any purpose.