Oven Baked Salmon โ These moist and flaky salmon filets are generously seasoned with a spicy kick and a lemony flourish. Itโs one of those easy, never-fail-you recipes that packs a real flavor punch. ๐ฅ
Spicy, lemony, moistโthis recipe is everything you could ever want a salmon dinner to be! And honestly, any meal that can work for a fancy date night or a quick weeknight meal holds a special place in my heart.
Plus, this salmon is so tasty that youโll probably forget itโs also incredibly good for you. Hereโs to all the healthy foods that still taste like a treat. ๐คฉ
How to Keep Baked Salmon Moist
Keeping baked salmon moist is pretty simple. The trick is to avoid overcooking it. Ten to fifteen minutes at 400โ (205โ) works well for me. However, cook times will vary depending on how thick your salmon filets are.
Just start checking them around the 10-minute mark. When the fish loses all opacity and the thickest section flakes easily with a fork, itโs time to pull them out of the oven. Theyโre done!
Recipe Ingredients
- Salmon โ Fresh or frozen salmon filets will work beautifully for this recipe. My only recommendation here is a high-quality filet. The better the quality, the better the flavor.
- Seasonings โ Youโll make a kind of paste to coat the filets that starts with butter as a base. Along with the butter, youโll need garlic, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, fresh parsley, and basil.
- Lemon โ The juice adds a nice tang to the salmon, and a few thinly sliced lemon rounds make for a pretty garnish, too! ๐
How to Bake Salmon in the Oven
- Preheat โ Position the oven rack in the center and preheat to 400ยบF (205โ). Line a greased baking sheet with foil or parchment paper (like I did), then spray with cooking spray or lightly oil. Set aside.
- Prep the Salmon โ Using a sharp knife, make about 4-5 slits on the salmon. Dab dry both sides of the salmon with paper towelsโseason both sides with salt and pepper.
- Combine the Seasonings โ In a small pan set over medium-low heat, add butter, minced garlic, paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper, parsley, and basil. Stir for 30 seconds to a minute. Then let the mixture sit for a little bitโabout 5 minutesโ so the flavors meld. Finally, add the lemon juice to the mix.
- Season โ Brush the salmon with the spice mixture, ensuring it covers every inch of the salmon.
- Bake โ Bake until cooked through, 10-15 minutes, depending on the filletsโ thickness and your preference for doneness. When the thickest part of the salmon easily flakes with a fork, itโs perfectly cooked.
- Serve โ Garnish with lemon slices and serve with your favorite sides.
Recipe Variations
- Soy-ginger baked salmon. Combine soy sauce, grated ginger, minced garlic, and a touch of honey. Marinate the salmon in this mixture before baking for an Asian-inspired twist.
- Get tropical! Mix coconut milk, lime juice, minced ginger, and a touch of chili flakes and pour it over the salmon before baking for a refreshing twist. Maybe top it with mango salsa? ๐คค
- Go Italian. Spread a layer of basil pesto over the salmon filets and then sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese before baking. That adds a rich and herby flavor. Mama mia! ๐ค๐ฟ
Tips and Tricks
- To get the freshest possible filets, choose nice and pink salmon, not pale. Make sure it doesnโt smell bad or fishy, and watch out for brown spots or bruising. If youโre buying frozen filets, avoid packages that say โcolor addedโ or include non-natural ingredients.
- Keeping the skin on the salmon is another way to keep it nice and moist. Just be sure to bake it skin down, which creates a barrier to hold in the juices. ๐ฆ
- Set a timer to avoid overcooking the salmon. Fish cooks fast, and itโs easy to forget about when youโre busy making sides. I always set a kitchen timer to avoid drying out my salmon.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Salmon will stay good in the fridge for a few days or in the freezer for up to 3 months, so feel free to make this dish ahead. Just let it cool and refrigerate or freeze it in an airtight container.
Thaw frozen salmon overnight before reheating it. Pop it in the microwave or your oven set to a low temp (325โ/160โ) for about 10 minutes or until just heated through.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve oven-baked salmon fresh from the oven with all your favorite sides. You could also serve this salmon chilled over a salad with fresh greens. Refrigerate leftover salmon fillets in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
What Goes With Oven Baked Salmon
Oven-baked salmon goes with loads of sides. Try serving it with garlic mashed potatoes, creamy orzo, or bacon-wrapped green beans. Or serve it chilled over a strawberry spinach salad. ๐
More Sumptuous Salmon Recipes to Try
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=โVkWj59ULโ upload-date=โMon Aug 06 2018 20:14:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)โ name=โOven Baked Salmonโ description=โOven Baked Salmon โ moist and flaky highly seasoned salmon fillets with a lemony and spicy kick. A perfect easy weeknight meal for busy folks or as a low-carb go-to Lenten meal. Spicy, lemony, and moist โ everything you want a salmon dinner to be!โ]
This blog post was initially published in February 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
Gerri S says
Very delicious, moist, pretty. Leftovers warmed up well the next day.
Imma says
Awesome! Thanks for sharing, Gerri.
Pat says
This was a simple and straightforward recipe that worked perfectly, thanks! It was also delicious!
Imma says
Wonderful! Glad you loved it Pat!
pat melanson says
This was an easy and delicious recipe, thanks so much! We all really enjoyed the results!
Imma says
Awesome! Glad to hear!
Rhieka says
Made this for Good Friday and since I donโt make salmon often(tilapia or halibut)and wanted to make something different,I really wanted to try this recipe. To say the least, itโs the best I have ever tasted. I made a dill sauce to go along with it as well but this recipe can stand on its own. I served it with rice and steamed asparagus.
Imma says
Thank you for trying out my recipe, Rhieka! I am so glad you loved it :)!
Judy says
Iโve never cooked salmon before and I sure hope I donโt mess it up. This recipe sounds delicious and I will fix a salad and asparagus with it. Thanks for sharing this recipe. **
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Judy,
Cooking salmon for the first time can be an exciting experience, and it sounds like youโve chosen a great recipe to start with. Watch out for the cooking time s
Debbie C says
I make Salmon almost every week. This was a good recipe quick, easy and very different than what we usually do. Family said they all liked it ok. Will make again for a change of pace.
ImmaculateBites says
Thank you Debbie. Iโm so glad youโre family approved.
Patricia Lea says
Made this recipe for dinner tonight. It was delicious, my husband and I both enjoyed it. Made some dill sauce which turned out great too. Served with rice and fresh asparagus. Will definitely make it again.
Imma says
Thank you, . Stay tuned for more amazing recipes.
Janee A says
My go to salmon recipe!
Imma says
Oh great to hear that. Thank you so much!
Carolyn says
Iโm going to try this tonight with baked asparagus.
Imma says
Awesome! Do let me know how it turns out!
Nick Sullivan says
I mike this at least once a week for my fiancรฉ. Itโs my go to. Amazing job
Imma says
You are more than welcome. And if thereโs a recipe youโd love to see, please let me know. Thanks:)
Joy Wong says
This recipe was outstanding according to my husband. It was easy to make too. It was very tasty and spicy. Love the spices for this fish.
Imma says
Oh great to hear that. Thank you so much!
Kim Green says
Amazingly delicious recipe! My husband couldnโt stop saying how delicious and moist the salmon was. This recipe is definitely a keeper for our family!
Imma says
Thank you, Stay tuned for more amazing recipes.
Emily Bayard says
This has become my go-to salmon recipe. It is deliciously flavorful, yet easy to make. Thank you Imma!
Imma says
You are more than welcome. And if thereโs a recipe youโd love to see, please let me know. Thanks:)
Sarah W says
Delicious- i will be making extra of this sauce to put on everything!
Imma says
Amazing!!!!! That absolutely delicious!! Glad you loved it. Looking forward to you trying more of my recipes.
Peola Barbour says
Iloveitvery much
Imma says
Thank you so much Peola. Stay tuned, and try some recipesโฆ Boom You are a great chef!!!! Much Love:)
Farn Z says
Yeahโฆ itโs as good as the hundreds of other reviews here claim. As usual, I cooked a couple of extra dinner portions so that there would be leftovers to bring to work for lunch the next day. This salmon was SO tasty that my partner couldnโt stop eating it โ and there was none left for lunch!
Imma says
Hahahahah Great to hear that. I am super happy to read your comment. Thank you so much for your feedback:)