Oven Baked Salmon In Foil is the easiest way to make tender, flavorful salmon every time. The foil packets lock in moisture and infuse the salmon with lemon and fresh dill. Baked over a bed of asparagus, it’s the perfect recipe for a quick and healthy weeknight meal!
Oh gosh, do you believe it is almost the middle of the year? I told my husband yesterday that it feels like this year has just been flying by. I guess every year we feel the same way, right?
One of my New Year’s resolutions was to eat fresh and healthy dishes as much as possible, and I’m proud to say I’m still sticking to it. This oven-baked salmon perfectly meets all my needs! Here are the reasons why:
- It is D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S and so easy to make for a weeknight dinner!
- This is one of our favorite salmon dinners because it’s fast, easy, and nutritionally
dense. I know you’re going to love this recipe as much as we do! - You probably have all the ingredients on hand.
- You won’t dirty a baking sheet thanks to the foil packets.
- You have a whole meal ready to go in under 30 minutes! You can prep it in as little as 10 minutes and the clean-up is even faster.
- Last, you don’t even need to make a side dish, because the asparagus is already your side dish! But you can also serve it with quinoa salad and rice.
I’ve made many versions of oven baked salmon in foil, like Spicy Salmon in Foil or Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil. No matter what, the salmon is always so tender and packed with flavor.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Salmon fillets — I recommend wild-caught salmon over farmed salmon for the best
flavor. You can buy pre-cut fillets or one large fillet and cut it into smaller portions.
Olive oil — I use extra-virgin olive oil, but avocado oil or even melted butter will work.
Seasonings — I season the salmon with dried oregano and kosher salt and black pepper. You can add pesto, onion powder, lemon pepper, Italian seasonings, or chili flakes to your salmon for extra flavor.
Asparagus — Look for asparagus stalks that are similar in size, so they cook evenly. You can easily swap it for other veggies. Choose quick-cooking veggies like green beans, broccoli, tomatoes, zucchini, or bell peppers to pair with salmon for a balanced meal. You can also bake some potatoes alongside the salmon while it’s baking.
Lemon — Fresh lemon slices add a nice brightness to the oven baked salmon. You can also squeeze a little bit of fresh lemon juice on top.
Fresh herbs — I love dill with salmon! Parsley or chives would taste great too.
Quick Note: Instead of oven baked salmon in foil, try making this recipe on the grill. It’s the perfect recipe for summer! Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the cooking time based on the heat of your grill.
How To Make Oven Baked Salmon In Foil
- First, preheat your oven to 400°F. Then, evenly season the salmon with oil, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Cut two pieces of foil large enough to fit the salmon and asparagus. Arrange the asparagus spears on the foil first, then the salmon fillets. Top each one with lemon slices and a sprig of fresh dill.
- Wrap the foil over the salmon and fold the top and bottom to close it. Seasoning the salmon and assembling the foil packets.
- Place the foil packets on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Once they’re done, carefully unwrap the packets. Transfer the oven-baked salmon and asparagus to a plate and enjoy!
Olivia’s Recipe Tips
- Please be very careful when you open the foil packet, as the steam inside is very hot.
- You may find a bit of water in the packets. Just remove it with a spoon before serving.
- Be sure to trim the woody ends from the asparagus. You can either snap them off or line the stalks up and trim the ends with a knife.
- If you’d prefer not to use foil, parchment paper works just as well!
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Salmon is perfectly cooked when the internal temperature reaches 110 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part. Use an instant read thermometer for accuracy.
How do I know when the salmon is fully cooked?
The best method is to use a meat thermometer and check the salmon’s internal temperature. It’s done when the salmon reaches 145°F at its thickest part. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can also test it with a fork! Fully cooked salmon easily flakes apart when you press on it.
Is oven baked salmon in foil healthy?
Salmon is a fantastic source of lean protein and my favorite fish to cook with. Salmon is
packed with omega-3 fatty acids as well as essential vitamins and nutrients.
Do I leave the skin on or take it off?
I like to cook salmon with the skin on, but it’s totally up to you!
How to Store and Reheat
To Store: Transfer the leftovers to an airtight glass container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To Freeze: Place the fillets in a freezer-safe bag once they’ve reached room temperature. Then, you can freeze them for up to 4 months.
To Reheat: I love to use my air fryer to reheat oven baked salmon in foil. You can also pop it in the microwave or keep it cold and toss it in a salad.
More Baked Salmon Recipes to Try:
- Easy Cedar Plank Salmon: We rubbed it with Cajun seasoning and grilled it slowly over a soaked cedar plank to bring a delicious smokey flavor to your fish.
- Quick Easy Broiled Salmon: You only need four ingredients to make this tasty and heart-healthy meal for your busy weeknights.
- Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil: This dinner is super easy to make and ready in under 25 minutes. It tastes great with salads, Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or Spicy Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
- Salmon Chopped Salad recipe: Quick salad to make when you have salmon leftovers. So good!
- Air Fryer Salmon: Ready in less than 20 minutes, this Air Fryer Salmon is moist, flaky, and tender.
Oven Baked Salmon in Foil Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 salmon fillets
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 16 asparagus spears
- 4 slices of lemon
- 1 tsp fresh dill
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- In a bowl, place the two pieces of salmon. Pour 1 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle salt, pepper, and dried oregano.
- Cut two sheets of foil. It has to be big enough to wrap the salmon and asparagus.
- First place asparagus (about 8 spears) on the sheet of foil. Layer fillets over asparagus. Then top each with about 2 lemon slices and 1 sprig dill.
- Wrap sides of foil inward over salmon then fold on top and bottom of foil to enclose.
- Place foil packets in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes. The time will depend on the thickness of your salmon and the power of your oven.
- Unwrap and using a large spatula, transfer the foil packets to plates. Serve warm.
Tips
- This recipe was adapted from Cooking Classy.
- Do not wrap the salmon too tightly as the tin foil can take off some of the salmon, making it less pretty when serving.
- There’s no need to flip the foil packs in the oven.
- To store: Put leftover salmon into an airtight glass container and keep for up to 3 days.
- To reheat: Rewarm leftovers in the microwave or air fryer.
- To freeze: Freeze in a freezer-safe bag once the salmon fillets have reached room temperature. Freeze for up to 4 months.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Robert Johansen says
i am confused on the cooking time at 400 degrees……in the document there is a mention of 20 minutes cook time, then 12 – 15 minutes and later in the printed recipe it states 10 – 12 minutes.
I don’t want to spoil the salmon or veg when cooking this the first time, so could you please clear this up.
Olivia Ribas says
Thanks for pointing it out. I just fixed it on the recipe instructions above. The cooking time should be between 12-15 minutes. It will depend on the thickness of your salmon and the power of your oven.
Constance says
Can this recipe be done on the grill?
Maria vilma Ribas says
Amo essa receita
Olivia Ribas says
Tava uma delicia!
Mary Jo says
This was delicious and so simple to make
Olivia Ribas says
Thanks!
Rebecca says
I had no asparagus, but made this recipe with the lemon and onion slices. I left it in the oven for 15 minutes. It was delicious and so easy to make! I added sides of cooked broccoli and couscous. Keeping this recipe. ❤️
Olivia Ribas says
Mm… sounds amazing!
Jojo says
Is the skin on or off the salmon, or does it matter?
Olivia Ribas says
It doesn’t matter. I like to cook it with the skin on but it’s totally up to you.
Olivia Ribas says
Crystal says
Can I cook the foil packet recipe in an air fryer? If so, what would be the directions
Olivia Ribas says
You can use parchment paper instead.
Maureen Gagne says
Perfect ! So good, Thank you!
Olivia Ribas says
You’re so welcome! Happy you liked it!