Best Baked Salmon
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Hello there! Whether you need a quick, healthy busy night dinner, a simple protein that you can enjoy tonight and eat leftover the next day, or a special occasion meal, this is THE BEST BAKED SALMON recipe for you! Made with olive oil and lemon for incredible flavor and baked in the oven for flaky tenderness.
Baked Salmon:
Here’s the thing. I really really love salmon and today I’m going to share a super easy baked salmon recipe. The secret to a tasty baked salmon is in the cook-time. Avoid over-cooking so the fillets stay moist. Don’t stay to far from the oven because salmon fillets tend to cook very quickly; 5 to 6 fillets will take about 20 mins to cook. . I have a couple more popular salmon recipes here on the Salt and Sweet Kitchen, from Pan Seared Salmon with Garlic Butter, to Salmon Kabobs, but this baked version is straightforward, super easy, a no-tricks-only-treats Baked Salmon.
I love this baked salmon because it’s:
Flaky
Healthy
Easy
Quick
Moist
Looks fancy
tastes incredible
Perfect for busy nights
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Salmon Fillets – look for fresh salmon fillets that are nice and pink and moist. Alternatively, purchase frozen fillets that are vacuum sealed and defrost overnight in the fridge.
- Olive Oil – I use extra virgin, but any kind will work. You can also substitute avocado oil.
- Salt – Kosher salt works great; I also love Himalayan pink salt.
- Black Pepper – Freshly cracked is great.
- Lemon – A medium-size lemon. Half is juiced and the other half is cut into slices.
- Herbs – Use your favorite herb, I kept it simple with some chopped parsley. But feel free to use you favorite green. Here are some suggestions: dill, basil, tarragon, sage, rosemary, bay leaves, thyme, cilantro and fennel.
How to Make Salmon in the Oven:
With this easy baked salmon recipe, all you have to do, is brush the fillets with a olive oil and lemon juice and sprinkle with salt and black pepper, top with the lemon slices before popping them in the oven. Just remember to cover your tray with foil before baking; the foil locks in moisture and ensures that your salmon pieces are all, moist, tender and cooked evenly.
Tips for Making the Best Baked Salmon:
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Pick the right size fillets so the salmon cooks evenly. Mine were about 6-oz per fillet.
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Bring the salmon to room temperature. Let your salmon filets rest out on the counter for 15-30 minutes, until they come to room temperature. This will also help with even cooking.
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Pat Dry the salmon. Always pat dry the fillets with paper towels before seasoning.
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Do not over cook the salmon. The cooking time can be several minutes longer or shorter depending upon the thickness of your particular piece of salmon.
- Cover the tray with a foil: The foil locks in moisture and ensures that your beautiful piece of salmon turns out flakey, moist, and tender every single time.
What to Serve with Baked Salmon:
How to Store Baked Salmon:
Store baked salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave for one minute before serving. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
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The Best Baked Salmon
Ingredients
- 5-6 salmon fillets - about 6 ounces each
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 Lemon – half cut into round slices and other half juiced
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and grease a large baking pan with cooking spray. Arrange the salmon fillets on the baking sheet and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Stir together the olive oil and juice of 1/2 of the lemon. Spoon this sauce over salmon fillets evenly and brush well the top of the salmon as well as the sides. Thinly slice the remaining 1/2 of the lemon and top each piece of salmon with a slice of lemon. Cover the tray with aluminum foil.
- Bake the salmon in the oven for 15-18 minutes or until the salmon is flaky when pulled apart with a fork. You can broil the last 1-2 minutes if desired.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving if you'd like.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 184Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 291mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 10g
Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.