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Home » Recipes » Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon-Garlic Butter

Christel OerumBy Christel Oerum on May 26, 2019, Updated May 8, 2020
Recipes

Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon-Garlic Butter

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Easy baked salmon
Easy baked salmon
Easy Baked Salmon Recipe

This Easy Baked Salmon is drizzled with Lemon-Garlic Butter for a delicious dinner that’s ready in just minutes! Indulge in tender, healthy salmon for a quick, tasty weeknight meal.

Baked Salmon on a plate with asparagus being drizzled with lemon juice

A lot of people don’t realize how easy it is to make salmon for any occasion. Not only is it simple to prep, but it’s also a deliciously light and flavorful fish anyone can enjoy.

It also helps that salmon is really good for you too! It has a high amount of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for heart health. 

This recipe for baked salmon is a perfect way to incorporate this delicious fish into your menu. When drizzled with the lemon-garlic butter, you’ll feel like you ordered this meal off the menu of a fancy restaurant!

In reality, it only takes minutes to prep and truly couldn’t be easier. This salmon is a great dish to serve to impress guests, or you can simply whip it up for yourself as a quick weeknight dinner!

How to make easy baked salmon with lemon-garlic butter

This dish takes about 5 minutes to prep and then 15 minutes to bake. You can be sitting down to rich, delicious salmon in just 20 minutes!

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400F (200°C). Line a baking tray with tin foil.

Step 2: Clean the salmon and remove any visible bones. If the skin is still on, pat it dry.

All the ingredients on a marble surface

Step 3: In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until well-combined.

Raw salmon steaks brushed with butter, lemon, and garlic

Step 4: Add the salmon fillets to the baking tray, skin-side down. Brush with the garlic butter until well-covered, but reserve some to brush on the fish after it’s done baking.

Step 5: Place in the oven and bake for 12 – 18 minutes depending on the thickness of the salmon fillets. I find that 15 minutes is usually the right amount of time.

Step 6: Take the salmon out of the oven. If baked with the skin, remove that now. Brush the fillets with another layer of garlic butter, then drizzle with fresh lemon juice and top with chopped parsley.

Finished salmon fillets in the baking tray with lemon wedges

Your salmon is ready to enjoy! You can serve as is or with some low carb side dishes like cauliflower mash, cauliflower risotto, roasted asparagus, or even a simple side salad. 

Choosing your salmon fillet

When you’re buying your salmon, I recommend buying fillets with the skin still on. 

The skin helps keep the fish moist while it’s cooking, plus it keeps the fish from sticking to the cooking surface.

Before placing the fish on the baking tray, be sure to wipe down the skin to get rid of excess moisture. This will allow it to crisp up, preventing the fish from sticking while also holding in moisture to keep the salmon tender. 

When choosing your salmon fillets, you should also check for any visible bones. Most fillets won’t have any, but you can save yourself the step of removing them if you catch them while you’re choosing your fish.

You may also want to pay attention to the thickness of the fillets, as this will affect the cook time. A good rule of thumb is to cook your salmon for 4-6 minutes per 1/2 inch of thickness. 

Substituting the ingredients

If you don’t have all of the exact ingredients for this recipe, don’t fret! Salmon is a very forgiving fish, so it’s easy to find substitutions.

For example, you could use olive oil instead of butter for the drizzle. Or, if you’re out of fresh herbs, you can substitute with dried instead. 

Salmon is a very versatile fish with a light flavor. It will go well with just about any combination you have on hand!

Close-up of two salmon fillets on a plate with asparagus and a lemon wedge

Storage

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

But you definitely want to make sure the salmon is well-covered, otherwise your entire fridge will start to smell like fish!

Other low-carb seafood recipes 

Low-carb seafood recipes are great for easy, delicious meals you can whip up in minutes. Here are a few other recipes you might enjoy:

  • Ahi Tuna Poke
  • Tuna Nicoise Salad
  • Easy Thai Green Curry with Shrimp

For even more inspiration, check out this roundup of my favorite 10 low-carb seafood recipes!

When you’ve tried this dish, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!

Recipe Card

Easy Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter

This Easy Baked Salmon is drizzled with Lemon-Garlic Butter for a delicious dinner that's ready in just minutes! Indulge in tender, healthy salmon for a quick, tasty weeknight meal.
Prep Time:5 minutes
Cook Time:15 minutes
Total Time:20 minutes
Author:Christel Oerum
Servings:4
4.43 from 7 votes
Review Print

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp. unsalted butter (melted)
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic (minced)
  • Handful of fresh parsley (finely chopped)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 4 salmon fillets (any size or weight will work for this recipe)
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400F (200°C). Line a baking tray with tin foil.
  • Clean the salmon and remove any visible bones. If the skin is still on, pat it dry.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until well-combined.
  • Add the salmon fillets to the baking tray, skin-side down. Brush with the garlic butter until well-covered, but reserve some to brush on the fish after it’s done baking.
  • Place in the oven and bake for 12 – 18 minutes depending on the thickness of the salmon fillets. I find that 15 minutes is usually the right amount of time.
  • Take the salmon out of the oven. If baked with the skin, remove that now. Brush the fillets with another layer of garlic butter, then drizzle with fresh lemon juice and top with chopped parsley.

Recipe Notes

This recipe is for 4 servings of baked salmon.
If possible, I recommend buying salmon fillets with the skin still on. The skin keeps the fish moist while cooking and prevents it from sticking to the baking tray.
A good rule of thumb for cooking salmon is to cook it for 4-6 minutes per 1/2 inch of thickness. I find that 15 minutes works 95% of the time.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Nutrition Info Per Serving

Nutrition Facts
Easy Baked Salmon with Garlic Butter
Amount Per Serving (4 oz)
Calories 350 Calories from Fat 226
% Daily Value*
Fat 25.1g39%
Saturated Fat 9.3g47%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 6.6g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 109.5mg37%
Sodium 68.4mg3%
Potassium 757mg22%
Carbohydrates 1.8g1%
Fiber 0.3g1%
Sugar 0.4g0%
Protein 28.6g57%
Vitamin A 1035IU21%
Vitamin C 20.6mg25%
Calcium 31mg3%
Iron 1.6mg9%
Net carbs 1.5g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked salmon, Easy Baked Salmon
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Categories: Recipes Tags: Gluten Free, Keto, 30 min or less, Lunch & Dinner, Fish & Seafood

Christel Oerum

About Christel Oerum

Christel is the founder of Diabetes Strong. She is a Certified Personal Trainer specializing in diabetes. As someone living with type 1 diabetes, Christel is particularly passionate about helping others with diabetes live active healthy lives. She’s a diabetes advocate, public speaker, and author of the popular diabetes book Fit With Diabetes.

View all posts by Christel Oerum

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Comments

  1. AvatarHazel says

    January 25, 2020 at 7:53 am

    I have just been diagnosed as being a diabetic so looking for information on it and recipes. I saw you website and want to thank you for all the things you talk about! I will be sure to use many of your ideas and suggestions! So happy I found you! Love the recipes! Hazel

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      January 25, 2020 at 1:52 pm

      I’m so glad you found us too. A new diagnosis can be overwhelming so seeking out information as you are is important. Hope you enjoy the salmon

      Reply

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