• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Savory Nothings logo

  • Recipe Index
    • Easy Dinner Recipes
      • Slow Cooker
      • One Pot Meals
      • Quick Meals
      • Instant Pot
    • Side Dishes
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Small Meals
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Subscribe
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Easter
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • About
  • Subscribe
×

Home / Recipes / Dinner / Fish / Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon

Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon

20 minutes mins
| 5 Comments |
4.64 from 44 votes
Jump to Recipe 01/05/21 | Updated: 01/06/21 | by Nora
Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Salmon Pin 1

Put a quick dinner on the table with this Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon recipe. It’s easy to make and tastes delicious – perfect for busy weeknights!

close up photo of baked salmon on lined pan

I have to say, I feel incredibly lucky that both my kids enjoy fish as much as they do. And not just as Crispy Oven Fried Fish, aka homemade fish fingers! They love fish in pretty much any shape or form, so we have it for dinner at least a few times every month.

This is one of my favorite ways to make salmon (or most fish – it’s very similar to my Garlic Butter Lemon Baked Cod!). Easy, quick and so helpful to have in your backpocket on those super busy weeknights!

Ingredients you’ll need

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!

ingredients for lemon garlic butter baked salmon with text labels
Ingredients for Lemon Garlic Butter Baked Salmon: Salmon fillet, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and butter.

Ingredient notes

Salmon

You can either use pre-cut fillets or an entire side of salmon for this recipe.

The side of salmon tends to take an extra 5-10 minutes compared to the fillets. The exact baking time will always depend on the thickness of your salmon though.

Seasoning

I enjoy the flavor of Italian herbs in this recipe, but feel free to switch it up to your taste. Parsley or dill are very delicious, too!

Lemon juice

I used freshly squeezed lemon juice, but juice from a bottle works just as well.

Butter

The butter forms rich and delicious juices to serve over the salmon. If you need the recipe to be dairy free, feel free to use a dairy free butter, or simply drizzle more olive oil over the fish.

How to make baked salmon

1. Start by lining a pan with aluminum foil, then brush it with olive oil.

Place the salmon on top of the oiled foil. It’s fine to have the fish close together, just don’t let it overlap!

photo collage to show how to prepare a pan to bake salmon

2. Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic and seasoning in a small bowl. It will form a paste-like topping.

photo collage to show how to spread garlic butter over raw salmon fillet

Spread it evenly over the salmon pieces, then dot with cubed butter.

3. Finally, tent the foil over the salmon and crimp it to seal.

photo collage to show how to seal foil over salmon

Now just bake it, and dinner will be ready!

baked salmon on foil lined baking pan

Recipe tips

Bake from frozen

It works, even though it’s not my preferred thing to do because it tends to overcook the outside until the middle is done.

But do you ever forget to take meat or fish out of the freezer for dinner? Yep, me too.

For those “oops moments” it can be an absolute lifesaver to be able to bake salmon from frozen.Just follow the recipe. The salmon will take approximately twice as long to bake from frozen vs thawed or fresh.

Baking time

I hate to be so vague, but the exact cooking temperature will greatly depend on the exact size and thickness of your salmon fillet.

It’s generally safe to say it takes around 15 minutes to cook salmon fillets in the oven at 400°F though.

An entire salmon side may take a little longer and small fillets may be done closer to the 10 minute mark.You can tell the fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork. To be safe, check the internal temperature at the thickness part with an instant read thermometer.

Internal temperature for salmon

The USDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of at least 145°F to be safe for consumption. You can see the full chart here.

I recommend getting an instant read thermometer, I love using mine and never have to worry about under- or overcooking dinner again. You can get one here on Amazon (FYI, this is an affiliate link and I earn. commission for purchases made after clicking through).

baked salmon on foil lined baking pan

Serving ideas

We love this salmon with a veggie and a starch on the side. Roasted baby potatoes, mashed potatoes or rice are starchy faves to go with this recipe.

For a veggie, we often do a spinach salad, roasted asparagus (when it’s in season), sautéed green beans or a simple side of roasted broccoli.

When I’m feeling incredibly lazy, I just throw some sliced zucchini, peppers and onions on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and herbs and put the dish with the salmon right next to it so everything cooks in the oven at the same time ?

close up of flaked salmon with fork

More easy salmon recipes

  • top down view of baked salmon side with maple dijon glaze on a piece of aluminum foil
    Maple Dijon Baked Salmon in Foil
  • overhead view of oven baked salmon fillet cut into pieces
    Oven Baked Salmon
  • fork stuck into baked salmon
    Honey Teriyaki Lime Salmon Baked in Foil
  • salmon on sheet pan with vegetables
    One Sheet Pan Tuscan Baked Salmon and Veggies

PS If you try this recipe, please leave a review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram.

Printable recipe

Printable Recipe Card
baked salmon on foil lined baking pan
Save Recipe Saved!

Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon

Put a quick dinner on the table with this Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon recipe. It's easy to make and tastes delicious – perfect for busy weeknights!
Recipe by Nora from Savory Nothings
made it? tap the stars to add your rating!
4.64 from 44 votes
Print Add Review

Recipe details

Prep 10 minutes mins
Cook 10 minutes mins
Total 20 minutes mins
Servings 4 servings
Difficulty Easy

Equipment

  • Aluminum Foil
  • Rimmed Baking Dish

Ingredients
 

  • 1.5 pounds salmon fillet
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic finely minced; more or less to taste
  • ½ lemon juice only
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons butter diced

Instructions
 

  • Prep: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place a large piece of aluminum foil in a large rimmed baking dish that will comfortably hold all of your salmon (the baking dish is to catch any drippings – way easier to clean than your oven!).
  • Season fish: Lightly grease the foil with olive oil. Place the salmon fillets on top (they can be close together if using individual fillets, just not on top of each other). Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and evenly scatter garlic on top. Drizzle with lemon juice and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Dot with butter. Seal foil over salmon.
  • Bake: Bake for 10-15 minutes (depending on the thickness of your fillets) or until salmon flakes easily. Serve immediately.
Want to save this recipe?Create an account for free to start your personal recipe box. Save any recipe by tapping the heart in the bottom right corner.
Join Now

Notes

Ingredient notes

Salmon

You can either use pre-cut fillets or an entire side of salmon for this recipe.
The side of salmon tends to take an extra 5-10 minutes compared to the fillets. The exact baking time will always depend on the thickness of your salmon though.

Ingredient notes

  • Seasoning: I enjoy the flavor of Italian herbs in this recipe, but feel free to switch it up to your taste. Parsley or dill are very delicious, too!
  • Lemon juice: I used freshly squeezed lemon juice, but juice from a bottle works just as well.
  • Butter: The butter forms rich and delicious juices to serve over the salmon. If you need the recipe to be dairy free, feel free to use a dairy free butter, or simply drizzle more olive oil over the fish.
Salmon cut that work best for this recipe:
You can either use pre-cut fillets or an entire side of salmon for this recipe.
The side of salmon tends to take an extra 5-10 minutes compared to the fillets. The exact baking time will always depend on the thickness of your salmon though.

Bake from frozen:

It works, even though it’s not my preferred thing to do because it tends to overcook the outside until the middle is done.
If you need to cook your fish from frozen, just follow the recipe. The salmon will take approximately twice as long to bake from frozen vs thawed or fresh.

Baking time:

The exact cooking temperature will greatly depend on the exact size and thickness of your salmon fillet.
It’s generally safe to say it takes around 15 minutes to cook salmon fillets in the oven at 400°F though.
An entire salmon side may take a little longer and small fillets may be done closer to the 10 minute mark.
You can tell the fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork. To be safe, check the internal temperature at the thickness part with an instant read thermometer.

Internal temperature

The USDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of at least 145°F to be safe for consumption.
You can see the full chart here.
I recommend getting an instant read thermometer, I love using mine and never have to worry about under- or overcooking dinner again.
You can get one here on Amazon (FYI, this is an affiliate link and I earn a commission for purchases made after clicking through).

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 328kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 34gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 108mgSodium: 270mgPotassium: 842mgVitamin A: 245IUVitamin C: 2.1mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1.5mg
Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Healthy

More fish recipes

  • overhead view of white casserole dish filled with mediterranean baked cod
    Mediterranean Baked Cod
  • overhead view of four cod loin fillets in white casserole dish with lemon sauce and lemon slices
    Garlic Butter Lemon Baked Cod
  • overhead view on baked whole baked fish on white plate with caper salsa
    Baked Whole Fish with Lemon Herb Garlic Butter
  • baja fish tacos on a plate with sauces in background
    Baja Fish Tacos

Recipe first published on 04/17/2019. Updated with new photos, video and tips on 01/05/2021. The recipe has stayed the same.

Nora Rusev from Savory Nothings
About Nora 
When I got married to my professional chef husband, I realized I had to step up my game in the kitchen. Now I share my favorite foolproof family recipes here on Savory Nothings: Chef-approved, kid-vetted and easy enough for everyday home cooks like you and me!   Learn more.

Reader Interactions

overhead view of white bowl with tomato cucumber avocado salad

< Previous Post

female hands holding skillet with unstuffed peppers

Next Post >

Add a Review or Ask a Question Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Made this recipe? Rate it:




Comments

  1. Jennie says

    May 15, 2023 at 2:18 am

    5 stars
    Fabulous recipe, thank you! I cooked up over 4.5 lbs of salmon for ten people who were arriving at different times, so was a bit anxious that it would be over cooked or dry or – you name it – but my fears all came to nothing and the salmon was absolutely perfect!

    Reply
    • Nora says

      May 18, 2023 at 9:30 pm

      I’m so glad to hear this, Jennie!

      Reply
  2. Maria says

    June 02, 2020 at 2:59 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious and so easy!!!!

    Reply
  3. Mari says

    April 08, 2020 at 5:31 pm

    5 stars
    This was amazing!! I am not talented in the kitchen at all, and this was incredibly easy to make/follow for a beginner like me. Plus it was delicious!

    Reply
    • Nora Rusev says

      April 13, 2020 at 3:19 pm

      I’m so glad, Mari!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Nora Rusev from Savory Nothings

welcome to

logo for the Savory Nothings brand

Hi, I'm Nora! I wasn't always a good cook, but then I fell in love with a professional chef and learned my way around the kitchen. Now I share all my secrets to effortlessly great food here on my blog, bite-sized for home cooks just like me and you.

More about me →

Summer Recipes

  • overhead closeup of broccoli salad in white bowl
    Loaded Broccoli Salad
  • overhead view of three bean salad in white salad bowl
    Perfect Three Bean Salad
  • overhead close up view of marinated and grilled salmon fillet with fork stuck in one piece
    Salmon Marinade
  • overhead view of greek orzo salad in white bowl
    Greek Orzo Salad

see all >

Popular

  • overhead close up view of garlic parmesan oven fried chicken piece on black pan
    Garlic Parmesan Crispy Oven Fried Chicken
  • overhead view of three oven baked chicken breasts in white casserole dish
    Oven Baked Chicken Breast
  • overhead close up photo of a piece of oven fried chicken on a black sheet pan
    Crispy Oven Fried Chicken
  • overhead close up photo of chocolate chip baked oats
    TikTok Baked Oats: 6 Ways!
  • white bowl with rigatoni bolognese
    One Pot Rigatoni Bolognese
  • chicken tacos on wooden platter
    Southwestern Crockpot Chicken Tacos
  • casserole dish with shepherd's pie
    Homemade Shepherd’s Pie
  • close up photo of a sliced banana bread
    Whole Wheat Cinnamon Crunch Banana Bread

Trending on Pinterest

  • Balsamic Chicken Marinade
  • Swedish Meatballs
  • Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet
  • Instant Pot Pot Roast
  • Homemade Salisbury Steak
  • About
  • Contact

Footer

Footer

Follow Along













Recipes

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Sides
Dessert
Appetizers

Instant Pot
Slow Cooker
One Pot
Casseroles
Ground Beef
Chicken

Featured On

different logos of publications Savory Nothings' content has been featured on

↑ back to top

About | Contact | Work with Us

Copyright Savory Nothings © 2023

Made with lots of love and spices ♥︎
PRIVACY POLICY | ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT |
As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Yummly
  • Mix