Simple Baked Salmon
Healthy Quick Dinner Serves 4 20 Minutes
5 minPrep Time
15 minCook Time
20 minTotal Time
Good baked salmon does not need a complicated recipe. Healthy. Quick. Dinner.
Serves 4. 20 minutes total. That's it. Good salmon doesn't need a complicated recipe. A drizzle of olive oil.
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each), skin-on or skinless
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, half juiced and half sliced into thin rounds
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat and prep. Some garlic and herbs. 15 minutes in a hot oven.
- That's the entire recipe. The result? Tender, flaky fish with a bright, clean flavor. You'll feel like you're eating well without any effort. This is the kind of recipe that earns a permanent spot in your weekly rotation.
- It's healthy, fast, and genuinely delicious. The salmon comes out moist and perfectly cooked every time—as long as you follow one rule: don't overbake it. Pull it at 145°F and let it rest. It will reward you.
- Rest and serve. Remove from the oven and let rest for 2 minutes. The residual heat will finish the cooking gently. Serve with fresh lemon wedges and your choice of sides.
Tips for Perfect Baked Salmon
The 10-minute rule. A good rule of thumb for fish: bake for 10 minutes per inch of thickness at 400F. Measure the thickest part of the fillet and adjust accordingly.
Check early. Overcooked salmon is dry and chalky. Start checking at the 12-minute mark. The flesh should be opaque on the outside but still slightly translucent in the very center — it will finish cooking as it rests.
Room temperature fish cooks more evenly. Take the salmon out of the fridge 15 minutes before baking. Cold fish straight from the fridge can cook unevenly, with the outside overdone before the center is ready.
Variations
- Honey mustard glaze: Mix 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard with 1 tablespoon honey and brush over the fillets before baking.
- Teriyaki salmon: Replace the lemon and herbs with a teriyaki glaze (soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, ginger).
- Pesto-crusted: Spread a thin layer of basil pesto over the top of each fillet before baking.
- Cajun-spiced: Replace paprika and herbs with 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning for a spicier version.
- Foil packets: Wrap each fillet with vegetables in foil for a steamed, no-mess option.
Nutrition Information
Per serving (1 fillet):
320Calories
34gProtein
18gFat
4gCarbs
380mgSodium
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