Oven Baked Salmon (So EASY)

I make oven baked salmon almost on a weekly basis. I like to have chicken, beef, and fish on rotation at my house, so this is my most frequently made fish dish. Not only do my kids love it, but I also love how easy and fast it is. If I have guests coming over and I need an effortless meal that everyone loves — this is my go to, as well. It may look fancy, but it’s so crazy easy.

Oven Baked Salmon Video

How To Cook Salmon in the Oven

Most people imagine fish recipes are really hard or take a lot of effort and time to make. I promise you — those are lies!

• 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 fillets 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.

Tips for the Best Salmon

You’d think after making this (almost) weekly, I know all the ins and outs of making this oven baked salmon recipe. Well, I definitely know a lot, and I’m here to share it with you.

• Use similar sized pieces: Choose salmon pieces that are similar in thickness and size. This ensures each filet cooks at the same rate and helps prevent over or under-cooking.
• Have an easy cleanup with foil: For a super quick clean up, line the baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. As the salmon bakes, the skin sticks to the foil instead of the pan. Then, toss the skin along with the foil into the trash. 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 an extra 1-2 minutes right before the salmon is fully cooked.
• Avoid overcooking: Overcooked salmon is bland and dry. To avoid this, cook it until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the fish 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.

How Long To Bake Salmon At Different Temperatures

Choose your ideal salmon cooking temperature depending on how quickly you want it ready and 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.

Storing Leftover Baked Salmon

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

More Salmon Recipes

• Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon – Sweet soy sauce based glazed salmon
• Perfect Air Fryer Salmon – A quick air-fryer baked salmon
• Baked Teriyaki Salmon – Made with your favorite teriyaki flavor
• Canned Salmon Dip – Salmon and cream cheese based dip
• Salmon Chowder – Comforting, creamy, and smokey

Recipe

The Best Oven Baked Salmon (So EASY)

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Servings

4 Servings

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 17 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

There's nothing easier than this oven baked salmon — and with less than four ingredients, too! The juicy fish is a great option to include in your protein-filled dinner.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs salmon fillet
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp garlic parsley salt to taste
• 1 lemon sliced

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel.
  
• Place the salmon pieces skin-side down on a baking sheet lined with foil. Top the salmon with pieces of butter and sprinkle generously with the garlic salt. Finally, top the salmon with lemon slices.
  
• Bake the salmon at 425°F for 6-8 minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon fillet, until the salmon is almost cooked. Then, turn the oven up to high broil and broil for 3-4 more minutes. Enjoy!
  

Nutrition Facts

The Best Oven Baked Salmon (So EASY)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 384 Calories from Fat 189

% Daily Value*

Fat 21g32%

Saturated Fat 3g15%

Cholesterol 125mg42%

Sodium 100mg4%

Potassium 1111mg32%

Protein 45g90%

Vitamin A 90IU2%

Calcium 27mg3%

Iron 1.8mg10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.