Description
This Garlic Butter Baked Salmon is everything you want in a weeknight dinner—quick, flavorful, and guaranteed to impress. The fillet is smothered in a garlicky lemon-butter sauce and baked to tender perfection. It’s packed with heart-healthy omega-3s and loaded with flavor, all while being beautifully simple to make. Serve it with roasted veggies, rice, or a fresh green salad for a satisfying, balanced meal. Whether you’re cooking for one or feeding a crowd, this is a no-fail salmon recipe you’ll make again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets (or one large side, about 1.5 lbs)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley (or dill)
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking dish with foil or parchment.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat, add garlic, and cook until fragrant.
- Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Pat the salmon dry and place it skin-side down in the baking dish.
- Pour the garlic butter mixture over the salmon and brush to coat evenly.
- Bake for 15–18 minutes, until the salmon is opaque and flakes easily.
- Sprinkle with fresh herbs and an extra squeeze of lemon before serving.
Notes
- Let the salmon rest for a few minutes after baking.
- Don’t skip drying the salmon—it helps the butter adhere better.
- For extra flavor, add a splash of white wine or chicken broth to the pan before baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15–18 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 0.2g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 95mg