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!
We love salmon recipes and if you’re looking for more recipes, try these ones too: Salmon Steak, Pan Seared Salmon, Air Fryer Salmon and Maple Mustard Salmon.
This recipe 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.
Recipe Ingredients
- 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. But you can also use paprika, garlic powder, thyme, Italian seasoning and fresh herbs.
- Garnish — Chopped parsley and lemon slices to garnish.
- Optional – You can add a tablespoon of dijon mustard to the sauce.
How To Make This Salmon Recipe
- 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.
- Place the piece of salmon (skin side down) on the baking sheet. Pour the butter mix over it.
- Season with salt, pepper, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
- Fold the sides of the foil over the salmon to fully seal it.
- Place the sheet pan into the oven, and bake 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. It’ll be done when salmon flakes easily with a fork.
Note: Do not use parchment paper if you will broil your salmon. Garnish with slices of lemon.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 salmon reaches full cooking when it reaches an internal temperature of 145F at its thickest part of the salmon.
Most seafood companies quickly freeze their seafood to maintain freshness, so fresh and frozen fish have the same quality. I usually go for fresh fillets since they’re easier to find at my local store. I refrigerate it, and when ready to cook, I let it sit on the counter for about 15 minutes. Then, I pat it dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
Yes you can replace this recipe for trout, halibut and cod fish.
Absolutely!
How To Store Leftovers
To Store — Transfer leftover to an airtight glass container and keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Or, portion it out into meal prep containers to have for lunches throughout the week.
To Freeze — I like to place it 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.
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 it 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!
Side Dishes to serve with
Garlic Butter Baked Salmon Recipe
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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.
Chloe says
Delicious
Olivia says
So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Kimberly says
Excellent, Easy Salmon Recipe. Seasoning was absolutely perfect!
Olivia says
Your comment made me so happy!
Sue Reynolds says
Great!!!
Olivia says
Thanks!
Cole says
Tysm! Made dinner for my mom and I, she loved it!
Olivia says
Awesome!!
Carol says
I’m not a lemon fan and many recipes I see use lemon to flavor. I guess I could just omit the lemon. Is there something you would suggest that I might substitute for the lemon?
Thank you!
Olivia says
You can totally make this recipe without lemon. It will be very good anyway.
Cary says
Awesome, great and easy recipe and quick bake
Olivia says
Indeed it is!
Keoka says
Honestly the best salmon recipe I’ve ever made. Toss out the others. Give the balsamic and honey glazes a rest.
Olivia says
Happy you liked it 🙂
Alysha Urbanec says
Awesome easy recipe! Thanks for including the “safe” temperature. My salmon wasn’t completely thawed when I started baking it and that gave me the peace of mind to cook it until it was safe but not overdone. I did mess up and accidentally mixed the spices into the butter but it was still great. I served it with a spinach salad, and it was delicious! I’m looking forward to eating the leftovers this week.
Olivia says
You’re very welcome! Happy to help 😉
Vicki YARBROUGH says
This is the best easiest recipe for salmon and really good
Olivia says
Aww lovely! Happy you liked it.
Maryann says
Love this recipe! It’s easy delicious 👍A
Olivia says
Happy you liked it!