You will love how simple and delicious this Baked Salmon Recipe is! The perfect weeknight dinner recipe, ready in 30 minutes or less, makes it ideal! A no-fuss, no-muss recipe, as the tin foil makes clean up super easy. Make this family-favourite recipe tonight for dinner!
Looking for more salmon recipes? Try these ones too: Maple Dijon Salmon and Panko Salmon Crust.
This baked salmon is delicious and loved by my family. Tender, flaky, and full of flavor, it’s sure to be a hit at any meal. I’ve been making this recipe for years now, and every time I prepare it, my family always asks for more.
This easy baked salmon recipe is quick to make and a tasty, healthy dinner choice. When you use garlic butter and lemon to create the sauce, it gives this salmon even depth of flavor.
Ingredients To Make This Baked Salmon
- Salmon — See down below which one you should pick.
- Lemon juice — Fresh lemon juice is best.
- Garlic – Minced.
- Melted butter or melted ghee — Be sure to use unsalted butter.
- Seasoning — I used kosher salt, black pepper, dried oregano, crushed red pepper.
- Garnish — Chopped parsley and lemon slices to garnish.
- Optional – You can add a tablespoon of dijon mustard to the sauce.
How To Cook Salmon
Prepare the equipment and sauce
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF and prepare a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- In a small bowl, add lemon juice, garlic, and melted butter and whisk until combined.
Prepare the salmon
- Put the salmon on the baking sheet. Pour the butter mix over the salmon.
- Season with salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
Baking salmon
- Fold the sides of the foil over the salmon to fully seal it.
- Place the sheet pan into the oven, and bake salmon until cooked, about 12-16 minutes.
- Open the foil, and broil salmon for 2-3 minutes until the tops are golden. Be careful not to burn the fish by keeping a close eye on it.
- Remove the sheet pan from the oven. Check the internal temperature with an instant read thermometer. Then, using a spoon, pour some of the butter sauce left in the foil onto the baked salmon.
Tip: Do not use parchment paper if you will broil your salmon. Garnish with slices of lemon.
Is Fresh Salmon Better Than Frozen For This Recipe?
Most seafood companies freeze their seafood quickly to keep it fresh. Fresh and frozen fish have the same quality. The only difference is deciding whether to thaw frozen salmon before cooking.
You can make this baked salmon using either fresh or frozen salmon. I normally use fresh salmon filets because they are easier to find at my local grocery store.
I place my salmon in the fridge. When it’s time to cook I take my fillet out of the fridge and let it sit on the counter for about 15 minutes. Then, use a paper towel to pat the salmon dry and get rid of any excess moisture.
How To Store Leftovers
To Store — Transfer leftover salmon to an airtight glass container and keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Or, portion this salmon recipe out into meal prep containers to have for lunches throughout the week.
To Freeze — I like to place completely cooled salmon in an airtight freezer-friendly container or freezer bags. Keep in the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
To Reheat — Heat the leftover in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add some olive oil to a hot pan and add the salmon to it. Cook until heated through.
Side Dishes to serve with Baked salmon
Ways to use leftover salmon
- Salmon tacos: shred the salmon up and serve it in a taco and salad.
- Salmon pasta: roughly chop up the leftover and add it to a pasta
- Salmon salad: break up the salmon with a fork and toss it in a leafy salad or greek salad.
- You can make salmon meal-prep for your lunch week since salmon stays go in the fridge for up 4 days.
- You can also make this quick and easy salmon patties.
More Ways To Cook Salmon:
I’ve been cooking salmon for years now and have tested all these different cooking methods. My family loves it, so I often try new salmon recipes to keep things interesting.
Grilling: I love this Cedar Plank Salmon because it grills slowly over soaked cedar plank to bring a delicious smokey flavor to your fish. If you don’t have a cedar plank, you can make this grilled salmon.
Pan-searing: This pan seared salmon is quick and healthy with only four ingredients, ready in under 15 minutes.
Air Fryer: I think this air fryer salmon recipe is the best way to cook salmon. The outside is crispy and the inside is always moist, flaky, and tender.
Broiling: Broiled Salmon is a delicious fish recipe because it rapidly browns the top, creating a savory crust.
More Baked salmon recipes:
- Spicy Salmon Recipe: A quick, healthy, and delicious meal that’s ready in 20 minutes!
- Baked Lemon Dijon Salmon: A super-simple, easy, but flavourful recipe for your busy weeknight family dinner.
- Pomegranate Glazed Salmon: Only four ingredients needed, glaze is sugar-free with a tangy taste!
Frequently Asked Questions
My favourite spices to make the best baked salmon recipe are minced garlic, salt, and black and red pepper. I also love to use paprika, garlic powder, thyme, Italian seasoning and fresh herbs.
Farmed salmon or Atlantic salmon is raised in fish farms, eats a diet of processed feed and contains health benefits such as Omega-3 fatty acids.
Wild salmon live in rivers and oceans, eat natural food, and have bright colors. If I could choose, I would go for wild-caught like coho salmon, sockeye, pink salmon, king salmon, or chinook salmon.
The FDA states that baked salmon reaches full cooking when it reaches an internal temperature of 145F at its thickest part of the salmon.
Garlic Butter Baked Salmon Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1¼ pounds salmon fillet
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons melted butter or melted ghee
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley to garnish
- lemon slices to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet. The piece of foil should be large enough to fold over and seal the fish.
- In a small bowl, add lemon juice, garlic, and melted butter or melted ghee. Whisk everything together.
- Place the salmon on the prepared baking sheet. Pour the butter mixture over the salmon.
- Season with salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
- Fold the sides of the foil over the salmon. Make sure it is well sealed so that the sauce does not leak. Place the pan into the oven, and bake until cooked, about 12-16 minutes. The cooking time depends on the thickness of the fillet.*
- Open the foil, and broil the fish for 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to burn the fish!
- Remove from the oven. Using a spoon, pour some of the butter sauce left in the foil onto the salmon before serving. Then, garnish with fresh chopped parsley and lemon slices.
Tips
- Cook the salmon until it reaches an internal temperature of 145ºF.
- Do not wrap the salmon too tightly as the tin foil can take off some of the salmon, making it less pretty when serving.
- And if you love salmon recipes, try these delicious salmon recipes.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Vash says
Can this be cooked in an air fryer? How long for defrosted and also for frozen salmon?
Olivia says
I’m sorry I wish I could help you but I don’t have an air fryer so I don’t know if it would work. I’m planing to buy an air fryer soon to start to try some of my popular recipe and see how they go!
Jon says
In the description you say to preheat the oven to 400. In the recipe itself, it says 375. Which is correct? Also, you caution to avoid using parchment paper if we’re going to boil the salmon. I don’t see anything that mentioned that we should boil at any point. Could you mean broil (with an r)?
Olivia says
Thanks for pointing it out. It’s 400F and yes I meant broil. It was a typo. Sorry about that.
Deborah says
Made this a second time this evening. I used ghee this time instead of the butter. Came out perfect again. My new go to salmon recipe . We all just love this. Thank you so much for another great recipe!
Olivia says
That’s so amazing. Happy to hear that 😉
Sirena Simpson says
I am curious about modifying this recipe for the air fryer? If you have suggestions that would be wonderful. Thanks!
Olivia says
You can make this recipe in an air fryer like this one HERE. Then make the sauce in a skillet and pour on top of the salmon.
Marilyn says
Quick, easy and delicious! What more could you ask for?
Olivia says
Exactly!!
Bri says
A little too much garlic but the rest was a delicious blend of flavors. The broil idea really solidified the cooking process.
Olivia says
You can reduce the amount of garlic according to your taste.
MK says
I have baked salmon using this recipe several times. Simple and proven, this recipe is a go-to when you don’t want to ruin your expensive salmon by experimenting. Any left-over salmon becomes a part of a salad next day (the salad recipe also from this website.
Olivia says
Thanks for this awesome feedback 😉
Katherine says
I did it with parchment paper and used a thermometer as you suggested 147 degrees, it came out delicious! Thank you for a simple recipe.
Olivia says
Awesome!
Alex Harvey says
I made this for my boyfriend since he had a long day at work and he absolutely loved it!! It was my first time cooking salmon and I’m so happy with how it turned out. It was juicy and flavorful but not too rich. I personally love lemon so I added extra!
Olivia says
Wow I’m so happy to hear that! Your feedback made my day! Thank you so much 😉
Amanda says
My kids request this meal all the time! Soo delicious.
Olivia says
Wow that’s amazing. Happy to hear that!
Carla says
So delicious! I actually used the recipe but made it from a frozen filet on a grill. Added some time since it was a big piece and it came out delicious! Was a little bit dry but that was my fault as I think I added a little too much time but kids loved the flavors.
Took pictures because it looked amazing!
Olivia says
That’s amazing. Happy you liked it!