Spicy, lemony, moist—this recipe is everything you could ever want a salmon dinner to be! And honestly, any meal that can work for a fancy date night or a quick weeknight meal holds a special place in my heart. Plus, this salmon is so tasty that you’ll probably forget it’s also incredibly good for you. Here’s to all the healthy foods that still taste like a treat. 🤩 Just start checking them around the 10-minute mark. When the fish loses all opacity and the thickest section flakes easily with a fork, it’s time to pull them out of the oven. They’re done!
Recipe Ingredients
How to Bake Salmon in the Oven
Preheat – Position the oven rack in the center and preheat to 400ºF (205℃). Line a greased baking sheet with foil or parchment paper (like I did), then spray with cooking spray or lightly oil. Set aside. Prep the Salmon – Using a sharp knife, make about 4-5 slits on the salmon. Dab dry both sides of the salmon with paper towels—season both sides with salt and pepper. Combine the Seasonings – In a small pan set over medium-low heat, add butter, minced garlic, paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper, parsley, and basil. Stir for 30 seconds to a minute. Then let the mixture sit for a little bit—about 5 minutes— so the flavors meld. Finally, add the lemon juice to the mix. Season – Brush the salmon with the spice mixture, ensuring it covers every inch of the salmon. Bake – Bake until cooked through, 10-15 minutes, depending on the fillets’ thickness and your preference for doneness. When the thickest part of the salmon easily flakes with a fork, it’s perfectly cooked. Serve – Garnish with lemon slices and serve with your favorite sides.
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
Salmon will stay good in the fridge for a few days or in the freezer for up to 3 months, so feel free to make this dish ahead. Just let it cool and refrigerate or freeze it in an airtight container. Thaw frozen salmon overnight before reheating it. Pop it in the microwave or your oven set to a low temp (325℉/160℃) for about 10 minutes or until just heated through.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve oven-baked salmon fresh from the oven with all your favorite sides. You could also serve this salmon chilled over a salad with fresh greens. Refrigerate leftover salmon fillets in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
What Goes With Oven Baked Salmon
Oven-baked salmon goes with loads of sides. Try serving it with garlic mashed potatoes, creamy orzo, or bacon-wrapped green beans. Or serve it chilled over a strawberry spinach salad. 😋
More Sumptuous Salmon Recipes to Try
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”VkWj59UL” upload-date=”Mon Aug 06 2018 20:14:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)” name=”Oven Baked Salmon” description=”Oven Baked Salmon – moist and flaky highly seasoned salmon fillets with a lemony and spicy kick. A perfect easy weeknight meal for busy folks or as a low-carb go-to Lenten meal. Spicy, lemony, and moist – everything you want a salmon dinner to be!”] This blog post was initially published in February 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
