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 quick and easy salmon dish is just in time for the Lenten season. I couldn’t think of any better dish during this season for Christians like me, than my all-time fave fish – salmon – which is a very good source of protein. This blog certainly has a wide array of salmon recipes that you can choose from. You can start browsing some salmon recipes through HERE. (You’re welcome! 🙂 )
The closest recipe that I can think of to this one is this popular Paprika Salmon and Green Beans, but it’s better than that. Oh yesss! Let me tell you why.
Aside from the herbs and spices like paprika, cayenne pepper, thyme and basil, among others, this Oven Baked Salmon here is doused with butter and also the vibrant flavor of lemon. Oh I’d never leave my lemons for this recipe especially now that they’re in season. Just one of the many reasons why I love LA!
That lemony kick is a must on most of my savory dishes especially when dealing with meat and sometimes with my sweet treats. I’m all down for anything with lemons. Seriously!
The thing with lemon though is that also helps achieve a moist flaky salmon inside and out. A beautiful and easy perfect weeknight go-to meal or midweek fancy date night protein.
There is so much flavor sitting atop on these salmon fillets that you can serve it with other veggies (like some roasted brussel sprouts) or simply enjoy it as it is.
Take note though that cooking times must be adjusted depending on the thickness of the salmon cut. The US Food and Drug Administration recommends an internal temperature of 145 F to determine that a salmon is cooked enough. You can use an instant read thermometer inserted onto the salmon or do the fork testing. Insert a fork into the center of the fillet and slightly twist it. If it comes flaky, opaque and moist, then you’re all set.
Enjoy eating!
Watch How to Make It
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!
- 2 pounds (907.18 g) Salmon fillets
- 3-4 tablespoons (42.53 - 56.70 g) unsalted butter
- 2-3 teaspoons (5.60 - 8.40 g) minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon (6.90 g) onion powder
- 1 tablespoon (6.80 g) paprika
- 1/2 -1 teaspoon (1.80 g) cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2-3 tablespoon (5.30 - 15.90 g) fresh parsley, basil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) or more lemon juice
-
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil or baking paper, like I did, spray with cooking spray or lightly oil. Set aside.
-
Using a sharp knife, make about 4-5 slits on salmon. Dab both sides of salmon dry with paper towels, season both sides with salt and pepper.
-
In a small pan set over medium low heat butter, minced garlic, Paprika, onion powder cayenne pepper and parsley or basil. Stir for about 30 seconds or 1 minute. Let this mixture sit for a little bit about 5 minute. Add lemon juice to mixture.
-
Brush salmon with spice mixture, making sure every inch is covered with spice .
-
Bake until cooked through, about 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fish and your preference of doneness. When the thickest part of the salmon is easily flaked with a fork, the salmon is perfectly cooked.
-
Garnish immediately with lemon slices.
How to Bake Salmon in the Oven
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil or baking paper, like I did, then spray with cooking spray or lightly oil. Set aside. Using a sharp knife, make about 4-5 slits on salmon OR you can slice it through after cooking. Dab both sides of salmon dry with paper towels, season both sides with salt and pepper.
In a small pan set over medium low heat butter, minced garlic, smoked Paprika, onion powder cayenne pepper, parsley or basil .
Stir for about 30 seconds or 1 minute. Let this mixture sit for a little bit about 5 minute. Add lemon juice to mixture.
Brush salmon with butter mixture. Bake until cooked through, about 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fish and your preference of doneness.
When the thickest part of the salmon is easily flaked with a fork, the salmon is perfectly cooked.
WOW! This was so good.
Great flavors that married perfectly with the salmon.
This is a keeper. Thanks!
Awesome! Thanks.
Thank you thank you thank you. Henceforth, this is my one and only salmon recipe. Even the hubby loved it, and he is no fan of seafood. I enjoyed mine with some homemade tzatziki sauce to cool down the spice a bit cuz I’m a wimp. And because “they” say Greek yogurt and salmon together fight belly fat ♀️
It was delicious. Husband loved it too! Will keep this easy recipe in the rotation for sure.
This is just delicious! We have had it many times now and we have enjoyed the results each time! Thank you
I’ve made this a few times. My absolute favorite recipe. Always comes out moist and delicious. I did add a few of my fav spices old bay (instead of paprika) and Jamaican easy spice and Italian seasoning. I’m soooo glad I’ve found your. site
I like salmon. This recipe is interesting and easy. I will give it a try. Thanks a lot.
Suggestions:
Add a pinch of orange peel, Old Bay, and Worcestershire to the sauce. Use a drawn better method to melt the ingredients. Add a tsp or two of capers to the top.
Bake in an iron, ribbed grilling skillet preheated on a baking stone. Grape seed oil. Bake 10 minutes. Broil 2 minutes on high to crisp the top. Stove top 2-3 minutes to crisp the skin
Hi Peter. Thank you for the suggestions.
Hi Peter.
Thank you for the suggestions!
Made this today and it was fantastic. My best salmon recipe till date. So moist and flavorful!
Hi Savvy. I am glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely delicious, quick and easy!
Glad you loved it! Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve made this a number of times and it is delicious. My daughter is allergic to dairy so I use coconut butter instead. I’m sure it changes the taste dramatically, but we love it. Thank you!
In Canada you can get Vegan Becel. I’m also allergic to dairy. This is very tasty – almost like butter. A great substitute.
I am glad I tried this recipe. So easy and delicious. Perfect for my diet. I am going to try her other recipes.
I’ve made this salmon a couple times now and it is so good. Definitely recommend this recipe!
This is the first time I baked salmon. I chose this recipe because it got a five star rating and it did not disappoint. Delicious, I am making it again tonight.
This looks so delish!! Adding this to our menu this week!
Salmon is my favorite, I don’t usually cook myself, but this recipe is easy, I will try on this weekend, thanks for sharing.
SO happy I found this recipe! This will be my new go-to when I’m cooking salmon. It’s so easy and quick to make, yet it is still so flavorful and just perfect. The lemon is a necessity. I loved the seasoning so much I wished there was more. Thank you so much for this recipe and I can’t wait to try some of the others on this site!!!!!
I was introduced to your blog after having dinner at my friend, the same salmon dish they do is exactly the same, really delicious and perfect.
I will try to do the same as you and give my family delicious food
First time making salmon & I used this recipe . It was sooooo goooooddddd! Wish I could upload a picture!
It was delicious and the salmon was cooked perfect at 15 minutes! Thanks for sharing this!!
Found this recipe by accident and so happy I did because it was amazing. Thank you for sharing. This is my new go to salmon recipe.
This was delicious! I must say I did add one ingredient since I used a full tsp of cayenne pepper and needed to back down the heat for the kiddos. So after tasting the sauce after 5 minutes, I added 1/4 cup of white cooking wine and it worked perfectly. This recipe was a hit all around the table. Thanks for sharing!!
Okay, legit the best salmon I have ever had!
Omg I love this recipe for salmon it goes awesome with roasted cauliflower, broccoli and carrots
Adding my stars. Somehow I missed that part during my 1st review! If I could give 10, I would! Excellent!
Yay!!! Thanks Vicki
I think I died and went to heaven. It was all I could do to not eat the whole 2 pounds! Possibly the best salmon I’ve ever had. In fact, I was beginning to not like salmon and haven’t been ordering it because it is either not seasoned to my liking or is way over cooked. And I tend to over cook mine as well so I was ready to throw in the towel. So glad I came across your blog and this recipe. So easy and possibly the tastiest and flakiest and moistest salmon I’ve ever eaten or made. This is a 5 star restaurant quality recipe!! Printed and going to the top of my dinner lists.
Made this today for lunch over a beautiful spinach and Romain salad with a drizzle of EVOO and ACV. It was picture perfect. Snapped it to my friends and forgot to download it. Gone into the Snap Chat world forever.
Oh, I have cut out butter from my diet so I used 2 TBS coconut oil and 2 TBS EVOO. I used my glass Pyrex pans, drizzled some olive oil on the bottom of the pan and sprinkled salt and pepper on the bottom of the pan. Laid my salmon fillets (skin on) in the pan, sprinkled some more salt and pepper on top of the fillets and followed the recipe exactly thereafter. Baked for 15 minutes (thick filets). Skins peeled right off the fillets. I wish my family liked fish. This was literally to die for. Sharing the recipe with EVERYONE!!
Thank you!!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Vicki. So glad this recipe did win you back. And thanks for sharing this to your friends. 🙂
I love baked salmon this recipe is so simple
Trying this now!
Great recipe, love your ideas, very unique and delicious
My husband always makes smoked salmon so I decided to try this recipe and it was delicious! My granddaughter said it was the best salmon she has ever had. Thanks!
This has become my go-to baked salmon recipe that I make probably once a week. It gives the fish a ton of flavor that even my picky fiance will eat. Accompanied with a vegetable of choice (normally broccoli) and you have yourself an easy dinner. Just place it all in the oven, watch your favorite show and dinner is ready with minimal dishes in 30 minutes! That is my kind of weeknight recipe. Thank you for sharing!
I loved this recipe!! I am Mexican so I love how it has a nice kick to it and the lemon, everything was delicious!
Cooked it tonight for my moms birthday, she loved it, very quick and easy to make. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe!!
This salmon recipe is amazing! My kids’ thumbs shot through the ceiling in approval, they loved it and made me the popular parent tonight . I accompanied with grilled veggie kabobs and couscous. Thanks for sharing this!
Made tonight, easy and delicious. Thank you.
Delicious, quick and easy!! Thank you! This will be my go to weeknight meal from now on!
Wow I’ve never left a review on a recipe. This one is really worth it!! Thank you it was awesome and I will definitely make this again!! I like that you can enter how many people you’re making it for and the recipe adjusts. If I could give more stars than 5 I would. It doesn’t disappoint.
Delicious. Quick, easy directions and simple steps with complex flavors!
Nurse G.
Thanks Nurse G.
The salmon is delicious!
I just want to say oh my God I came across your website while searching for a recipe and at first I was hesitant to try your oven baked salmon but, when I looked at all the reviews everything was nothing but compliments how great it is. I made for dinner, let me just say it smell and it taste as delicious as it looks. Looking forward to trying more of your recipes.Thank for your amazing recipe .
Thanks for this easy, tasty, wonderful recipe!
Awesome! Happy to hear it worked out well for you.
Sounds delicious. This salmon dish is not African, definitely European based along with the fish. Even many of the ingredients are not normally used in traditional African cuisine
The video has like 20 commercials..
I made this tonight and it was AH-MAY-ZING!! My husband and I enjoyed it. I used fresh parsley and added some dried basil. Oh, soooo yummy! Thank you!! I know, I will make this again when my children come for dinner. Again, thank you for this wonderful and yummy recipe.