This wholesome Garlic Butter Salmon in foil paper is not only incredibly healthy and guilt-free, but it’s also a perfect dinner choice for busy weeknights. You’ll love it more because it’s a cinch to make with an easy clean-up, too! Incredibly light and effortlessly delicious low-carb dinner that you can easily make in less than 20 minutes from start to finish. Oh yes!
If you’re want something light but filling for dinner… say no more! Because this salmon baked in garlic butter sauce is complete with a side dish, too. Oh yes! Such a winner dish, indeed!
And even better, it’s totally keto-friendly and can be paleo if you swap the butter with olive oil.
Whatever your dietary choice is, this recipe is sure to make a fantastic healthful dinner perfect for the whole family.
And yes, you can also grill the Garlic Butter Salmon. It is the perfect addition to your next backyard barbecue menu. 😉
Why You’ll Love this Salmon Recipe
It’s the sauce! The herby, lemony, garlicky, and buttery, finger-licking-good sauce! What’s not to love?
This recipe offers an incredibly flavorsome dinner featuring healthy and hearty salmon fillets and veggies drizzled with lemony and garlicky butter sauce. Then beautifully wrapped in foil packs that make cleaning a breeze.
Garlic Butter Salmon Recipe Ingredients and Substitutes
You’ll love this recipe because it’s so versatile. In fact, you can also make this with chicken, pork, beef, and lamb instead of salmon. Above all, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this healthful recipe.
- Salmon Fillets – I prefer wild-caught salmon for this recipe because it’s firmer and juicier than the others. Plus, it’s is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, vitamin D, and calcium. Oh wow! However, salmon tends to have a funky “fishy taste” if less than fresh. Great substitutes include halibut, cod, tuna, trout, and sea bass if you are not fond of salmon. 😉
- Vegetables – Veggies such as asparagus, green beans, grape tomatoes, and bell peppers work perfectly for this lemon garlic butter salmon recipe. But, of course, you can adapt it with your favorite veggies, too, like carrots, potatoes, and Brussels sprouts, to name a few.
- Salt and Pepper – Sprinkle a little bit of salt and pepper to boost the flavor. Sometimes I go crazy on the pepper to crank up the heat. 😉
- Unsalted Butter – That extra “buttery” flavor is sure to entice your tastebuds. You can use salted butter without worry; just reduce the salt you sprinkle on the fish. You can also use olive oil instead of butter. I’m sure you find its flavor just as impressive.
- Garlic – Oh, I would load up on the garlic if I were you. You’ll love the exceptional fragrance and flavor of minced garlic, especially when mixed with butter. Aah. So delectably good, indeed!
- Fresh Thyme, Oregano, and Parsley – The added herby flavor always makes any dish fancier. Not only in pasta dishes but also in roasted and baked dishes and marinades too. Here are some substitutes for thyme and parsley if you don’t have them in the pantry. 👌
- Paprika – Not only does paprika give our garlic butter salmon its nice vibrant color, but it also adds a sweet flavor profile to our winner dish.
- Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a refreshing citrusy flavor to our dish while reducing the salmon’s strong fishy. Lime juice works fine, too.
- Chicken Stock – This superb ingredient keeps your delectably steamed salmon moist and flavorful. Oh yes!
Recipe Variations
- More Sensational Flavors – For extra flavor, I sometimes add Creole Seasoning or Seasoned Salt to amp up the flavor. For bolder flavors, you may opt to use Taco Seasoning or Blackened Seasoning instead. Awesome!
- Spicylicious – I highly recommend adding a splash of Pepper Sauce or any of your favorite hot sauces. Cayenne pepper and pepper flakes make a great addition, too.
- Herby Switch – Aside from thyme, oregano, and parsley, you can also try it with a mix of rosemary and basil. Adding Italian Seasoning won’t disappoint either. Aah! The flavor combinations will surprise you. 😉
- Sweet Sensation – Tickle your tastebuds with the addition of sweet flavor notes from sugar or honey. Just add a teaspoon to the sauce at the same you add the lemon juice. Oh yes!
- Healthy Vegan – Swap butter out with olive oil and the salmon with mushrooms, such as shiitake, portobello, oyster, or cremini, to add a “meaty” factor, and you’re good to go.
- Seafood Lover – You should try this recipe with lobster, prawns, oysters, or mussels. Yum!
- Meaty Options – And yes! This recipe also works perfectly with chicken, pork, and beef. Just use the same seasonings, and you’ll have a ridiculously delicious meal.
Tips and Tricks
- First, find and choose the freshest salmon you can find.
- If you can find Sockeye or Coho salmon, then you’re in luck! They are the best type of salmon for this recipe.
- You can use pink salmon since they’re more common. However, it tends to be watery. So, you can halve the broth to achieve the same flaky texture. 😉
- You can also slap this garlic butter salmon on a grill. Heat it to 375-400℉/195-205℃ for about 10-15 minutes.
- Remember that the cooking time depends on the thickness of the salmon fillets.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Although having leftovers is very unlikely with our new crowd-favorite garlic butter baked salmon, I’m still gonna share some storage tips, just in case. 😉
- Serving – This baby is so easy to serve. You can put the whole thing right on your plate. Done!
- Storing – Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container or wrapped in parchment paper then inside a resealable freezer-safe bag. Please don’t store them in the foil if using aluminum foil.
- Refrigerate – You can store your baked garlic butter salmon in the fridge for up to 4 days. Cool it completely before refrigerating, though.
- Freezer – To be honest, freezing is not recommended for this recipe because it might affect the texture of our salmon. You can keep it in the freezer for up to 6 months. But if you really must freeze, be sure to use a quality freezer-safe bag and take as much air as possible to prevent ice crystals from forming.
Reheating
- Thaw – When ready to serve, thaw your frozen salmon overnight in the fridge.
- Oven – Cover it again with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 275℉/135℃ for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Ideally, the internal temperature should be 125-130℉/50-55℃.
- Microwave – Make sure to remove all the foil before reheating in the microwave. Heat the salmon on low for 1-2 minutes or until warmed through. I highly recommend slathering a little bit of butter or olive oil to the salmon fillets before reheating to prevent them from drying.
FAQs
Wrapping the salmon in foil traps all the moisture inside, thus, enhancing its flavor more. And since salmon has delicate meat, the foil prevents the salmon from burning or browning too quickly while cooking. The easy clean-up is just an added bonus.
Salmon fillets don’t take long to cook. For half-inch thick fillets, it will take about 4-6 minutes while you can start checking at 8 minutes mark for the ones that have a bigger cut. Mine took about 10-12 minutes because I used thick fillets. So, it really depends on the size of your salmon.
The easiest way to tell if the salmon is done is by checking its color. It should be opaque and pinkish. Next, if the salmon meat flakes or separates easily when you press it lightly with a finger or a fork. Lastly, when the internal temperature reaches 125-130 degrees Fahrenheit. And for medium-rare salmon, 120 degrees is enough.
What to Serve with Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil Paper
I can think of many mouthwatering dishes to pair with our hearty garlic butter salmon. Aside from our classic favorite Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes, you can also pair it with these delicious dishes below.
More Salmon Recipes to Try
How to Make Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil Paper
Prepare the Foil Packs with Salmon and Veggies
- Preheat the Oven – Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat 400℉/200℃.
- Cut the Foil Paper – Cut 2-3 sheets of heavy-duty foil paper about 14″x12″. It doesn’t have to be precise – just enough to hold the salmon and vegetables. Place the foil paper on a cookie or baking sheet.
- Season – the salmon with salt and pepper, then place salmon in the center of prepared foil paper.
- Divide Vegetables into equal portions and arrange them next to the salmon on each foil piece. Salt and pepper on the vegetables to taste. (Photos 1-2)
Make the Garlic Butter Sauce for Salmon and Bake
- Combine Ingredients – Add butter, minced garlic, thyme, oregano, parsley, and paprika in a small bowl. Microwave for about 30 seconds. Mix in lemon juice and stock. (Photos 3-4)
- Season – Brush the salmon and vegetables with the garlic butter sauce, top with sliced lemon. (Photos 5-6)
- Seal – Seal the foil papers and pleat edges. This helps seal the juices in the foil paper, making sure there are no tears or leaks.
- Bake – Put the salmon in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes or until cooked through and flaky. This all depends on the thickness of your salmon.
- Serve – Remove and serve with sliced lemons and sprinkle with parsley. Enjoy.
Watch How To Make It
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Sonya Monique George says
I made the recipe last night and it turned out amazing!!! Very delicious and healthy. I’ll be making this again this weekend. Thank you so much!
Sonya Monique George says
This recipe looks delicious – I haven’t made it yet, I wanted to point one thing out. You mentioned 2-3 tablespoons (30-45 ml) chicken stock however you did not include that in the instructions.
Is the chicken stock to be mixed with the other ingredients in the small bowl?
I will definitely come back to rate once I make this, I want to make sure I’m cooking this the right way. I look forward to your response!
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Sonya! After melting the butter with the herbs, you add the lemon juice and stock.
Sonya Monique George says
My apologies, I re-read and just saw mention of the stock. Will report back!
Deborah Hopper says
This recipe is the best refreshing, the garlic sets it off.