baked salmon recipe

Here’s a simple, flavorful baked salmon recipe plus a bit of storytelling- style context and tips, formatted so it works well as a full post.

Baked Salmon Recipe

A tray of fragrant baked salmon coming out of the oven in under 20 minutes can feel like a weeknight superpower —minimal prep, easy cleanup, and reliably tender fish.

Quick Scoop

Ready in about 20 minutes (plus 5 minutes rest).

Uses basic pantry ingredients: olive oil or butter, lemon, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper.

Works for a single fillet or several portions—great for meal prep.

Oven-baked for juicy, flaky salmon with very little effort.

Core Baked Salmon Recipe

Ingredients (serves 3–4)

1 to 1.5 lb salmon fillet (skin on or off)

1–2 tbsp olive oil or melted butter/ghee

2–3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, plus slices for topping

2–3 garlic cloves, minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)

1 tsp salt (or to taste)

½ tsp black pepper

1–2 tsp dried Italian seasoning or a mix of dried oregano, basil, and thyme (optional)

1–2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or dill for serving (optional)

Instructions

Preheat your oven
- Heat oven to 375–400°F (190–200°C).

 * Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment for easy cleanup.

Prep the salmon
- Pat the salmon dry with paper towels so the oil and seasonings stick better.

 * Place on the lined sheet, skin-side down if it has skin.

Season
- Brush or drizzle salmon with olive oil or melted butter.

 * Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over the top.

 * Add minced garlic (or garlic powder) and dried herbs if using.

 * Drizzle lemon juice on top; nestle a few lemon slices over the fish.

Bake
- Bake 10–15 minutes, depending on thickness: a common rule is about 5 minutes per ½ inch of thickness at the thickest part.

 * It’s done when it flakes easily with a fork and the flesh is opaque with just a few small white spots (albumin). Internal temp is often checked around 135–145°F in the thickest part, depending on how done you like it.

Rest and serve
- Let the salmon rest 3–5 minutes so juices redistribute.

 * Sprinkle fresh parsley or dill before serving, and add extra lemon wedges on the side.

Flavor Variations (Mini Section)

You can treat this recipe as your “base template” and switch up the flavor profile.

Lemon-garlic herb
- Use olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and dried basil/oregano; top with lemon slices and fresh parsley.

Garlic-dill butter
- Mix melted butter, lemon juice, lots of garlic, and fresh dill; spoon over salmon before baking for a richer, restaurant-style feel.

Chili-lime
- Brush with lime juice, a sprinkle of chili powder, salt, and maybe a touch of honey if you like it a bit sweet.

Simple paprika rub
- Combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, a little sugar, and oregano; rub on top after oiling the fish for a slightly smoky, colorful crust.

Oven Time and Doneness Tips

Thickness rule of thumb
- About 8–15 minutes at 375–400°F for typical fillets, checking early so it doesn’t overcook.

Visual cues
- Flesh turns opaque, flakes easily with a fork, and only a small amount of white protein (albumin) appears on the surface.

Optional foil cover
- Covering loosely with foil gives very moist salmon; uncovering or briefly broiling at the end adds a bit of browning on top.

Side Dish and Serving Ideas

Here’s a quick set of ideas that pair well with baked salmon’s bright, lemony flavor.

Roasted vegetables (asparagus, broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts).
A simple mixed green salad with vinaigrette.
Rice, quinoa, or couscous with herbs and lemon.
Garlic mashed or roasted potatoes.
Crusty bread and a quick yogurt-dill sauce or tartar-style sauce.

Mini Story: Weeknight Vibes

Picture this: you walk in the door, preheat the oven, and by the time you’ve changed and set the table, your salmon is already in the oven, quietly turning tender under a blanket of lemon, garlic, and herbs.

The sheet pan comes out, the lemon slices have caramelized just a bit, and when you slide a fork into the fillet, it flakes in big, glossy pieces—no fuss, no drama, and dishes are done in minutes.

Simple HTML Table (Time & Basics)

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Step</th>
      <th>Action</th>
      <th>Details</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Prep</td>
      <td>Preheat & line pan</td>
      <td>375–400°F, foil or parchment-lined sheet pan.[web:1][web:5][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Season</td>
      <td>Oil, lemon, garlic, herbs</td>
      <td>Brush with oil or butter, add salt, pepper, lemon, garlic.[web:1][web:3][web:5][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Bake</td>
      <td>Cook in oven</td>
      <td>10–15 minutes, or ~5 minutes per ½&quot; thickness.[web:1][web:5][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Finish</td>
      <td>Rest & serve</td>
      <td>Rest a few minutes, top with fresh herbs, serve with sides.[web:3][web:7][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.

baked salmon recipe