Best Baked Salmon
287 Comments
Mar 05, 2025
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This easy baked salmon is hands-down the salmon recipe I make most often in my house! The salmon filets are topped with a simple lemon butter sauce and fresh herbs, then quickly baked in the oven until perfectly tender and flaky.
Why You’ll Love This Baked Salmon
When you’re craving a super easy salmon dinner it’s hard to beat this reader-favorite recipe. I have several foolproof, oven-baked staples that I’ve perfected over the years, like baked chicken breast, baked cod, and this baked salmon. They’re the foundation for many of my weeknight meals and make it easy to whip up a delicious dinner in a pinch. So when my body craves omega 3’s and a light, healthy meal, I turn to this oven-baked salmon. It comes out perfectly every single time! Here’s what else you’ll love about my recipe:
- Beginner-friendly. If you’re new to cooking and want a foolproof recipe, this is the one for you!
- Quick and easy. It takes just 20 minutes from start to finish. The only prep work is making the herb butter topping.
- No mess. While I love pan-seared salmon, that approach can sometimes cause splattering and mess. This baked salmon is splatter-free!
- Great for meal prep. While this recipe is delicious on its own, leftovers can be transformed into a flaky salmon salad or salmon patties. I’ll share more ideas below!
Baked Salmon ingredients
- Salmon: You can make this with individual filets or one large piece (i.e. half of a salmon). It works great either way! And if you have any questions on how to shop for salmon, I’ve got plenty of tips below.
- Lemon Butter Topping: Butter, fresh lemon juice, and garlic is the ultimate trio for great-tasting seafood. If you’re dairy-sensitive, ghee also works.
- Fresh Herbs: You can use a variety of tender herbs, but I love a parsley and dill combination. It complements the salmon beautifully.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below
Tips For Choosing The Right Salmon
- Go for wild-caught. Wild salmon is more nutritious, flavorful, and vibrant in color. Unlike farmed salmon, it’s less likely to contain pollutants or antibiotics.
- Best types to buy. King, sockeye, and coho salmon are top choices. Since wild salmon is seasonal, availability varies, but always look for bright pink, well-marbled fillets.
- Fresh vs. frozen. Unless you’re buying the catch of the day from a fish market, frozen salmon is often the better option. It’s flash-frozen right after being caught, preserving its freshness better than the “fresh” salmon (which isn’t so fresh) sitting on ice.
How To Bake Salmon Perfectly
- Let the salmon come to room temperature. Take your fillets out of the fridge and let them sit on the counter for about 15 minutes. This ensures even cooking.
- Make the butter mix. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter and lemon juice. Then brush the butter mix over the fillets in a baking dish.
- Baking time. Sprinkle the minced garlic, salt, and black pepper on each fillet, and bake for 12 to 15 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Remove the salmon from the oven and sprinkle the parsley and dill on top before serving!
Common questions
No, don’t remove the skin before baking. It will help protect the fillet from the pan’s heat, cook the salmon more evenly, and retain its delicious juices. Plus, after the salmon is cooked, you can easily slide the skin right off.
If you notice some white slimy substance on top of your baked salmon, don’t panic. It’s actually just a protein in the salmon called albumin that becomes solid when heated. The hotter the salmon cooks, the more albumin will come out. So to prevent a thick white layer, cook your salmon at a gentle temperature.
You’ll know the salmon is done baking when it flakes apart easily with a fork. I don’t often use an instant-read thermometer when baking salmon, but if you want to double-check, the internal temperature should be 125°F to 130°F for moist, perfectly cooked salmon.
Thaw it in the fridge overnight (and on a plate to catch any liquid). If you’re a few hours away from dinner, you can thaw it in a big bowl of cold water. This should take about an hour or so, depending on its thickness.
Ways To Serve
- Round out a dinner plate. With a variety of side dishes! Try fluffy rice, mashed potatoes, or garlic herb roasted potatoes for your carbs. For veggies, green beans, roasted Brussels sprouts, or roasted asparagus are excellent choices.
- Layer it onto a salad. Create something similar to my salmon avocado salad with fresh, seasonal vegetables and a lemon vinaigrette.
- Make a grain or protein bowl. There are many ways to create a grain or protein bowl, but I love a Mediterranean version with lentils, leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded cabbage, and a side of tzatziki.
Storage & Reheating Tips
- For storing in the fridge: Let the salmon cool completely before storing it in a sealed container. It will stay good for 3 to 4 days.
- How to freeze: If you have leftovers you won’t eat within a few days, freeze the salmon for up to 3 months in an airtight container. If you have multiple pieces, use parchment paper in between to prevent sticking.
- For reheating: To avoid drying out the salmon, reheat it in the oven (around 275°F) for about 10 minutes, or in the microwave until just warmed through. The key here is to reheat it low and slow!
More Ways To Cook Salmon
- Orange Glazed Salmon: A favorite weeknight dinner recipe.
- Salmon Avocado Salad: A light and fresh salad for summer.
- Cedar Plank Salmon: The perfect outdoor grilling recipe.
- Dijon Baked Salmon: So simple, yet so delicious.
- Or browse through my list of salmon recipes for more ideas!
If you make this baked salmon recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.
Best Baked Salmon
Description
Video
Equipment
- Enamelware Casserole Pan One of my favorites for baked mains!
Ingredients
- 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice, plus more lemon slices for garnish
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped dill
Instructions
- Brush the salmon. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and let the salmon come to room temperature for 15 minutes. Mix the melted butter and lemon juice (I use the juice from ¼ slice of lemon) in a small bowl. Then, place the salmon in the baking dish and brush the butter mix all over.
- Bake the salmon. Top the salmon with the minced garlic, salt, and pepper, and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Garnish and serve. Sprinkle the fresh parsley and dill on the salmon before serving.
Lisa’s Tips
- The best temperature: I find that baking at 375°F (190°C) is ideal for keeping salmon moist and preventing overcooking, even if it’s left in the oven a minute or two longer. But, keep in mind that the cooking time will depend on the fillet’s size and thickness.
- A standard fillet needs 12 to 13 minutes
- A thicker fillet needs 13 to 15 minutes
- A whole side of salmon needs 15 to 20 minutes.
- Storage tips: The fillets will stay good in the fridge for 3 to 4 days in a sealed container.
- If you’re dairy-sensitive you can use ghee or a light brush with olive oil as well.
- I love to use this casserole pan for baked salmon, but I’ve got a few more options listed on the Shop page!
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
This recipe was originally published January 2021, but updated to include new photos and information for your benefit!
Adding this to my favorites! I made it for my mom and siblings, the salmon was so moist and tender, and the flavors were fabulous!!
That recipe is excellent, I do it almost once a week. The only irritant is the old fashioned terms like temperature in Fahrenheit, and imperial measurements. .. There are only two countries in the world that are not going metric!
You can also find metric measurements in the recipe card. Just make sure to toggle it :)
The best so far!!
Im very particular on salmon juicy taste. It’s very easy to cook, but if you want it to perfection, it’s on different level, and this is the best site so far!!
Yay, so happy you love all my recipes, Sebastian!
The salmon was juicy and very tasty. The fillets were larger than what Lisa recommended so they took a bit longer to prepare. Will definitely do this again and again. You get the point.
We use this recipe at least once a week for the best tasting salmon. Quick and healthy dinners are the way to go.
Yay, happy to hear that!
Excellent, thank you! Made it this evening and everyone complimented it!
Yay! Happy to hear everyone enjoyed this baked salmon recipe.
I made this for dinner last night and my husband and I loved it. I served it with a bulgur pilaf with sweet potato and feta cheese. Thank You
Best recipe ever!!
I made it, and it was the first salmon recipe ever that my husband liked and asked me to make it again.
Thanks Lisa you are the best!!
Hi Lisa, I just made The Best Baked Salmon and it was absolutely delicious . The ingredients were simple but the taste was incredible. Thank you for your recipes, I always check your site first when coming up with a meal plan.
Martha
Glad you enjoyed this salmon recipe Martha!
I made this for dinner today. My husband loved it. It was fast and easy to make, took very few ingredients and easy clean up too. I paired it with brown rice and green salad. My only regret is that I forgot to take a picture to post. I will definitely add this to weekly dinners.
Glad to hear this will become a staple now :)
A delicious salmon recipe. I made it this evening.
Quick and simple. I did not have lemons so I improvised and used 1/4 teaspoon of lemon/pepper instead.
Glad you enjoyed this baked salmon recipe!
It came out delicious, thank you. What I appreciate the most is time to make it. Quick and easy. Because I don’t use a microwave and I am lazy by nature I changed the recipe a little, I squeezed lemon juice directly on the salmon and then covered it with slices of butter.
Glad this salmon recipe turned out great Elizabeth! My goal is to always try and make recipes as easy and efficient as possible.
I was looking for a quick and easy salmon recipe and found this one. So good! Another fantastic recipe from Lisa! Thank you so much! Yum :)
Delicious. I was never able to make a juicy salmon fillet. It melted in my mouth.
Patricia. Canada
Glad you enjoyed this salmon recipe Patricia!
Comes out perfect every time! Thank you so much!!!!
Quick and easy to make with ingredients I already had on hand. Thank you!
The salmon was perfectly cooked. I had individually packed frozen salmon without skin and I sliced a lemon and put the slices in the bottom of the pan and placed the salmon on top. Other than that I followed the recipe. Easy and tasty.
Great recipe Delicious but easy
Great video….Thank You for Sharing…!!! ✨😊✨👍🏻👍🏻✨👍🏻✨👍🏻
Great recipe! Thank you Lisa for the details on how to cook it.
Excellent recipe, great tips. Love the simplicity. Thanks.
Very easy to follow directions. Thank you. Salmon was tasty.
This is my first time eating salmon. It was delicious. I think I like it better than chicken. I will make it again soon.
Hi! Do I need to adjust time if baking only two filets? Thank you.
I would keep it the same – just keep an eye on them :)
Quite wonderful. Details in instructions helpful to augment quality.
It’s simple, easy, quick and delicious! Made it again for lunch today 😊
I love it!! sooo delicious and easy!! Thank you!
Delicious and Easy! Thank you
I did it without dill and I added cilantro instead butt it was delicious! Thank you for this recipe!
Wonderful! Glad this turned out great with cilantro instead :)
Love this simple recipe. Do you have any recipes featuring other types of fish? Would love to have information on what types of fish are healthy, where they might be sourced, and the best method to prepare.
I also have cod, shrimp, and a scallop recipe on the site 😊
Delish & simple
This salmon dish was delicious! I used vegan butter instead of regular butter. In addition to the ingredients listed, I also sprinkled the salmon with smoked paprika and a a very little bit of seasoning salt before putting it in the oven. I served it over rice with a side of stir fry vegetables well seasoned. My husband said the meal was amazing!
Happy to hear both you and your husband enjoyed this baked salmon :)
Where can I get the white baking dish you use as well as the small cutting board and electric (?) pepper grinder in this video? Please post link!
Hi Chris – you can find most of the products I use in the Shop page on my website :)
Should you bake the salmon with a foil cover?
There’s no need to cover with foil for this recipe.
Going to make your baked salmon recipe this weekend for family. You have laid out the method so well, I feel I will have no problem. Thank you for a great recioe
Hope your salmon fillets turn out perfectly Joyce!
I love Salmon and make it often. I learned a good tip from your recipe, and that is to put the dill and parsley on the fish after it comes out of the oven.
Thanx for the tip Stan! Never heard that before. 💜
First time fixing salmon and this recipe was really easy and the texture and taste wonderful!
Hi! I’m vegetarian venturing to pescatarian and was wondering this could be used in an airfryer?
I haven’t tried making this in an air fryer yet, but if you do, please let me know how it turns out!
This is an absolutely perfect way to prepare and bake salmon! Extremely easy and oh so tasty!! We love it! It is my go-to for salmon now all of the time! And, it is so healthy too!!
Glad you found a winning recipe for perfectly baked salmon :)
Very nice very good instructions..thank you Lisa! The outcome looks delicious I will definitely try,
Delicious and so easy to make.
Glad you enjoyed this baked salmon Elsa!
I usually just soak my salmon in Moscato fruity wine instead of rinsing it before baking it..
Made this recipe for dinner this evening! I didn’t have lemons, so used limes instead. Served it with mashed potatoes and roasted Brussels and came out perfect!
Glad this still turned out great, but with limes instead!
Absolutely delicious! I’m so glad this recipe popped up for me on YouTube. It is so easy and really is the best salmon. My husband just returned from Alaska with a freezer full of fish he caught and this is the recipe we are using to enjoy the first of his catch.
I’m sure using fresh Alaskan salmon tasted amazing with this recipe Emy! Glad you both enjoyed this one :)
Wow! I really enjoyed this recipe and will save it to my favorites on my kindle. Thanks for sharing and GOD bless!😀
This baked salmon is surely a weeknight staple :)
It was indeed the easiest and the juiciest salmon I’ve ever cooked! Thank you for the information and tips, you always answer all the questions that pop in my mind when I read the recipe!!
Thank you so much!
Happy to hear this post and video was helpful to make the perfect baked salmon!
This is my go to for baking salmon. I have made it three times and it comes out perfectly moist every time! I usually do rice and steamed garlic herbed broccoli for sides. Such an easy weeknight meal.
Happy to hear you’ve found a go-to baked salmon recipe Marita!
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I am not a fish fan (working on it) and have been trying to find ways to cook salmon well for my family. My son ate an extra serving and my husband said it was the best salmon I have ever cooked! I used rosemary instead of dill and lime instead of lemon because those ingredients aren’t available were we live but it was perfect!
Happy to hear the whole family enjoyed this baked salmon Jessica! Sounds great with rosemary as well :)
Made this last night and it turned out beautifully. Had it with asparagus. I will say, I made it for meal prep and overnight the garlic turned green due to the parsley and dill I guess, haha! But it tasted phenomenal :)
Glad you enjoyed this baked salmon Mia!
So DELICIOUS , I followed your directions step by step, I baked my half salmon for 29 min and it’s so moist and I love the lemon butter flavors with the minced garlic. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Wonderful! Glad your baked salmon turned out perfectly :)