This oven baked salmon uses four simple ingredients and takes less than 20 minutes. The fish has a juicy inside and crispy outside — the perfect texture duo!

Baked salmon on a plate with asparagus

Cooking only a few portions? Save on your energy bill and use the air fryer to make this air fryer salmon instead!

Oven Baked Salmon Video

How To Bake Salmon

Most people imagine fish recipes take a lot of effort and time to make. Well… surprise! This baked salmon takes only five minutes of prep time and a quick 12 minutes to bake.

  • Prepare the oven and ingredients: Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Prep the ingredients and pat the salmon filets dry with a paper towel.
  • Season the salmon: Place the salmon skin side down on the baking sheet. Top the salmon with slices of butter, sprinkle on the garlic parsley salt, and top with lemon slices.
  • Bake: Bake the salmon for about 6-8 minutes or until the salmon is almost fully cooked. Then, turn the broiler to high and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.

Hot tip: Choose salmon pieces which are similar in thickness and size. This ensures each filet cooks at the same rate to prevent over or under-cooking.

Tips for the Best Oven Baked Salmon

Look no further — this is the only and best baked salmon recipe you’ll ever need! Follow these tips to make the whole process crazy easy and the salmon crazy tasty.

  • Make clean-up easy: For a super quick clean up, line your baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. As the salmon bakes, the skin will stick to the foil instead of the pan. Then, toss the skin along with the foil into the trash. Or, if you prefer to eat the skin, use parchment paper.
  • Broil for extra crispiness: To caramelize the crust, turn the oven to a high broil for 1-2 minutes right before the salmon is fully cooked.
  • Avoid overcooking: When salmon is overcooked, it becomes bland and dry. To avoid this, cook it until the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches 145°F with an instant read thermometer. Or, test the salmon by pressing into it with a fork — it should easily flake along the white lines. The color of the salmon will be an opaque pink when cooked. It is okay to have a little translucency in the very middle.
  • Add more flavor: To customize this baked salmon recipe and make it your own, add a few extra spices. Sprinkle a teaspoon of black pepper, paprika, seafood seasoning, or any of your other favorite seasonings before baking.
  • Brush on the melted butter: Once the salmon is baked, remove it from the oven and lightly brush on the leftover melted butter from the pan for more flavor and juiciness.

Hot tip: For a dairy-free alternative, use olive oil instead of butter. Combine the spices and olive oil together in a small bowl, then brush onto both sides of the salmon before baking.

Baked salmon pieces with lemon on a plate

How Long To Bake Salmon At Different Temperatures

Choose your ideal salmon cooking temperature depending on how quickly you want it to be done, as well as what texture you prefer. For a quicker bake and a crispier result, choose a high temperature. For a slower bake and more tender fillet, opt for a lower temperature.

  • 375°F: If baking at 375°F, bake for a maximum of 10-12 minutes, plus a few minutes under the broiler.
  • 400°F: If baking at 400°F, bake for a maximum of 8-10 minutes, plus a few minutes under the broiler.
  • 425°F: If baking at 425°F, bake for a maximum of 6-8 minutes, plus a few minutes under the broiler.

Serving Oven Baked Salmon

Oven baked salmon is super versatile and great with a variety of side dishes. For a dinner pairing, serve it with a grain like rice or quinoa, plus a garden salad or Caesar salad. Alternatively, pair with parmesan risotto and roasted broccolini, or serve the salmon with mashed or scalloped potatoes and oven roasted asparagus for a fancier presentation.

Storing Leftover Baked Salmon

Leftover baked salmon is best stored for up to three days in an airtight container and refrigerated. Avoid freezing cooked salmon because it tends to dry out when thawed and reheated.

FAQ

Does it matter what type of salmon I bake with?

In general, the type of salmon does not matter too much for oven baking. For a milder fishy taste, opt for Atlantic salmon or coho salmon. For a stronger fishy taste but meatier texture, use king salmon.

Can I cook salmon fillets straight from frozen?

Yes, it is safe to cook frozen salmon fillets. However, salmon usually tastes better and has a more pleasant texture when thawed first, then cooked.

Is salmon skin safe to eat?

Yes, salmon skin is safe to eat. Salmon skin has many nutritional benefits too, like omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and collagen.

More Salmon Recipes

About Author

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.