Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon
I’ve got another easy weeknight dinner for you. This baked lemon garlic salmon is easy to throw together, full of flavor and you only need 5 ingredients. Pair it with some fresh green beans and some mashed potatoes for a complete and healthy meal.
Why you’ll love this baked lemon garlic salmon
When you find something your kids like to eat, you know you’ll be making it again and again. That’s why I’m always looking for new ways to make salmon, like my maple glazed salmon or bang bang salmon bites, and I wouldn’t want to forget to mention that chimichurri sauce is incredible on salmon, too.
I love the variety, but when it comes down to it, they prefer something a little simpler, and this lemon garlic salmon fits the bill. Thankfully, the flavors are delicious and I can honestly have this dinner on the table in 30 minutes, so it’s perfect for even the busiest of nights.
More salmon recipes you’ll love: miso glazed salmon / salmon kabobs / crab stuffed salmon
Ingredients & substitutions
- Salmon fillets – You can buy these portioned or you can slice a full side of salmon into single servings. I try to buy center cut pieces because they are the thickest and allow the salmon to cook without drying out.
- Lemon zest – This adds tons of lemon flavor to the salmon without adding liquid. You can use the same lemon for topping the fish while baking, too.
- Parsley – I used dried parsley for this recipe to make it weeknight/last-minute friendly, but you can definitely use fresh parsley if you have it.
- Garlic – While you certainly can use pre-minced garlic for this recipe, I really recommend fresh minced garlic to get the best and freshest flavor.
- Dijon mustard – I like to add this to the mixture to help emulsify the topping and add an extra pop of flavor. You can definitely skip this if you don’t have it, but please don’t substitute another type of mustard.
Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed below are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.
How to make this lemon garlic salmon
Prep the salmon. Cut your salmon into individual servings and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Make the rub. Mix lemon zest, garlic, parsley, salt, Dijon and olive oil together until smooth. Then spread the mixture over your salmon fillets.
Bake the salmon. Pop the salmon into the oven (heated to 400˚F) and bake them for about 15 minutes, or until the salmon has cooked through and easily flakes with a fork. The internal temperature should reach 145˚F.
If you have thin pieces of salmon, you might want to adjust that to more like 10 – 12 minutes. Just keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t get over cooked.
Everything you need to know about baked salmon
Whether to cover your salmon when baking depends on what you’re going for. If you want extra juicy and tender salmon, you can consider covering it with foil— it traps the steam and keeps things moist. But, if you prefer a crispy, flavorful exterior, you can skip covering it. I usually prefer to bake my salmon uncovered, which is what we did for this recipe.
Marinating with lemon juice is a delicious way to enhance the flavor and texture of salmon. The acidity works to tenderize the salmon giving it a more delicate and moist texture. You can let salmon marinate for about 20-30 minutes before cooking. Be careful not to over-marinate fish though, it has such a delicate texture that it can become mushy quickly.
When it comes to baking salmon, you can choose to place the skin up or down. Baking salmon with the skin down creates a barrier to prevent the flesh of the fish from drying out – leaving you with juicy, tender fish and an easy way to remove the skin for serving.
When you bake salmon at 400˚F, you only need to cook it for about 15 minutes. Salmon can be cut it a variety of different thicknesses and sizes, so make sure to keep that in mind when baking salmon in the oven. The thicker the fillet, the longer it will need to cook and vice versa. A perfectly flakey salmon should have internal temperature of 145°F when cooked.
Salmon tends to lose its juiciness and appeal if overcooked, so it’s important to keep an eye on it closely during baking. This recipe incorporates some handy tricks to guarantee perfectly cooked fillets. Opting for fillets with the skin intact and applying a wet rub are both great ways to maintain the salmon’s moisture. Lastly, placing a slice of lemon or other citrus a top the fillet while baking can also contribute to preserving the moisture content.
More oven baked recipes you will love
- Baked honey mustard chicken thighs
- Baked pineapple chicken
- Crispy baked chicken wings
- Easy baked meatballs
More dairy free seafood recipe you should try
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets (about 5-6 ounces each or 1.5 pounds)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 lemon (zested and sliced)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400˚F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix oil, garlic, parsley, lemon zest, salt and Dijon mustard together in a small bowl.
- Place salmon fillets on prepared baking sheet and spread the mixture over the salmon. Top each fillet a with lemon slice.
- Bake salmon for about 15 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 145˚F.
- Remove from oven and allow salmon to rest for a few minutes before serving.
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