The Best Easy Lemon Baked Salmon Recipe - delicious lemon garlic butter salmon baked in foil for a delicious seafood dinner everyone loves!
A simple, easy, and delicious salmon should be a go-to in any home cook's kitchen - salmon is heart healthy, low calorie, tastes great - and is SO easy to make at home.
This easy lemon baked salmon cooks in foil - so it's easy to cleanup, and ready in a flash with less than 5 ingredients.
If you aren't sure you can make show-stopping salmon, this recipe is for you - it is so simple and foolproof, it is perfect for beginner cooks.
Baked Lemon Salmon goes from your fridge to your fork in under 20 minutes - with NO fishy smell!
This recipe is sure to become one of your new favorites!
Just Take Me To The Best Easy Lemon Baked Salmon Recipe Already
I have readers from all levels of comfort in the kitchen on my site - and get numerous requests for more information.
If you'd like to skip over my tips and tricks and get straight to this lemon baked salmon, please scroll to the bottom of the page above the comments where you will find the easy printable recipe.
What Salmon To Use in Baked Salmon
You can use a large salmon filet and cut it into individual portions after it is cooked, or you can use smaller steak-style filets.
Whichever is available is fine - but cooking time for salmon will differ slightly for a large, long fillet compared to smaller, fatter, individual steak-style filets.
What to Serve With Baked Salmon
If you're looking for a delicious side dish for baked salmon, please visit the Sweet C's side dish recipe archives.
Some of my favorites to serve with salmon include rice pilaf, cauliflower rice, oven roasted asparagus, or french onion soup!
You can find the complete side dish recipe archives here.
How To Bake Salmon in the Oven
Baking salmon in the oven is super simple and easy - I like to use aluminum foil pouch, sprinkle generously with seasonings, salt, and pepper - lay lemon slices (or lemon zest + lemon juice) in the pouch with the salmon, bake, and it always turns out great!
-Preheat oven.
Salmon has a lot of healthy fats, making it an easy fish to learn to cook since it doesn’t dry out easily.
Salmon does taste better when cooked quickly, however - so fully preheating your oven before baking your salmon will help ensure a perfect never-dry salmon fillet!
-Wrap In Foil Or On Parchment
For easy nonstick salmon fillets, bake in a foil pouch or on a piece of parchment paper.
While I prefer to make a foil pouch for salmon (it gives the most reliable results), parchment paper is a perfect easy way to protect your salmon from sticking to a baking sheet.
-Use lots of lemon slices
-Cook for about 15 minutes
Plan on around 15 minutes cook time for a large salmon filet in the oven.
Check your salmon for doneness at 10 minutes, and continue to cook until done.
-Use a rimmed baking sheet.
Salmon gives off moisture as it cooks - and so do lemons and butter!
To prevent burns from cooking liquid, cook this salmon on a rimmed baking sheet.
How Much Salmon to Buy
It can be hard to tell how much salmon to buy when getting a large piece of salmon instead of individual salmon filets - but it is just as easy to cook.
This recipe works with either a large side of salmon, or individual salmon filets - feel free to use whichever is available to you!
Plan for about ½ pound of salmon per person - salmon is healthy and won’t weigh you down, but it is pretty filling and packed with protein and healthy fats.
How To Tell When Salmon is Done
One of the biggest questions I always get is how to tell when salmon is done when baking in the oven.
With a little bit of practice, you’ll be able to tell right away by the color of the salmon fillet - but there is an easy trick to find out when salmon is done cooking!
Check With a Knife:
You’ll need:
-Sharp knife
Salmon will change from translucent, darker red or pink to opaque light pink and white as it cooks through.
After about 10 minutes in the oven, check for doneness.
Take a sharp knife and cut a small hole into the top of the thickest part of the salmon filet, and slightly pull back to peek inside.
If salmon is beginning to flake, but is still a tiny bit red in the middle, it is done!
Salmon shouldn’t look RAW, but slightly translucent in the very middle.
Check With a Thermometer:
I try to not check salmon with a thermometer if it is a very thin fillet, but if you’d like to check if your salmon is done with a meat thermometer, it’s pretty easy!
You’ll Need:
-Digital Meat Thermometer
Carefully insert thermometer into middle of salmon filet (make sure to not touch the bottom of the pan and make sure its inserted into the salmon enough).
Salmon is fully cooked at 140 degrees fahrenheit.
How To Bake Salmon With No Fishy Smell
Salmon is the perfect dinner to make for a dinner party or romantic evening, because you can easily make it without a fishy smell.
Follow the tips below to make salmon that smells and tastes fantastic:
-Use fresh salmon.
Fresh caught salmon, or freshly thawed salmon (frozen is fine, and often allows people who don’t live near salmon waterways to get fresher fish that is frozen immediately at the source.)
Salmon that smells fishy isn’t fresh - and will only smell more as it bakes! Salmon should have a slightly sweet, meaty smell, not a strong fishy smell.
-Bake in foil.
Baking salmon in a foil pouch is the perfect way to keep moisture in and help speed up cook time - and it also cuts down on cooking smells.
-Bake with lemons.
This lemon salmon is perfect because baking salmon with lemons is one of the easiest ways to keep fishy smells far away… and it tastes great!
How To Freeze Cooked Salmon
Cooked salmon can be frozen for four to six months, if stored in an airtight container.
Thaw cooked salmon in its freezer container in the refrigerator overnight (the best method), or by submerging frozen salmon in a plastic bag in cold water.
You can easily use cooked, thawed salmon in salads or as a substitution for canned salmon in casseroles or pasta dishes.
Other Easy Seafood Dinners You'll Love:
If you love this lemon baked salmon, be sure to check out other simple, easy seafood recipes any home cook can quickly master.
Dishes like broiled lobster tails, creole shrimp mofongo, baked trout, sweet chili salmon, and Thai scallops are truly show stopping - and insanely easy!
To see my seafood recipe archives, head here.
Easy Seafood Recipes
Easy seafood recipes - scallops, shrimp, salmon, trout, lobster, and more seafood classics that are simple enough for beginner home cooks.
10 Minute Pan Seared Thai Chili Scallop Recipe
The Best 10 Minute Pan Seared Thai Chili Scallops Recipe is the secret to perfect pan seared scallops in a Thai chili sauce, bursting with lemon and Thai basil flavor for a Thai Restaurant quality scallop dinner in under 15 minutes - from fridge to plate! Scallops are a great low calorie and low fat choice that are packed with protein for dinner - especially during Lent.
Garlic Butter Naked Lobster Rolls Recipe
Garlic Butter Naked Lobster Rolls Recipe - delicious garlic butter lobster rolls sandwich with no mayonnaise for a rich, flavorful naked lobster roll everyone will love!
Easy Shrimp Mofongo Recipe
Easy Creole Shrimp Mofongo Recipe - delicious cajun shrimp in a spicy sweet creole stew over mofongo! This dish takes me right back to the Caribbean!
Easy Kung Pao Shrimp Recipe
The Best Easy Kung Pao Shrimp Recipe - a Chinese Food Takeout Copycat -tastes just like takeout Kung Pao Shrimp from your favorite Chinese food restaurant - in half the time it takes to drive to get it, and a million times more delicious!
Easy Cheesy Shrimp Fajita Quesadillas
Easy Cheesy Shrimp Fajita Quesadillas - delicious fresh shrimp, peppers, onions, and perfectly melted cheese in a hearty seafood appetizer or main dish that you won't be able to get enough of! These shrimp fajita quesadillas are one of my favorite indulgences in summer.
10 Minute Garlic Butter Broiled Lobster Tails
Easy and delicious 10 Minute Lemon Garlic Butter Broiled Lobster Tails is the best oven baked lobster tail recipe – just bursting with garlic and lemon flavor in just one pot for an easy romantic dinner that tastes like an expensive steakhouse!
The Best Cajun Butter Shrimp
The best cajun butter shrimp recipe is bursting with flavor and so easy to make - from fridge to fork in under 15 minutes.
Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad Recipe
Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad Recipe is a light, delicious, and refreshing meal full of spicy sweet Thai shrimp flavors! Great for picnics, parties, or a busy lunch or weeknight - for a delicious spicy sweet low calorie salad that is bursting with delicious Thai shrimp salad flavor!
Roasted Habanero and Tomatillo Shrimp Tacos
Tangy, spicy, smoky, and fresh- these habanero and tomatillo shrimp tacos are simple, full of delicious ingredients, and crazy healthy!
Garlic Butter Lobster Skillet Recipe
This Easy garlic butter lobster skillet recipe is bursting with flavor and great over pasta, rice, vegetables – or just straight out of the pan!
Sriracha Honey Sweet Chili Popcorn Shrimp
Sriracha Honey Sweet Chili Popcorn Shrimp is sweet, spicy, and super delicious! Great over salads, in tacos, or served with rice!
Scallop & Pepper Antipasti Salad
Gourmet scallop and pepper antipasti salad is effortlessly elegant - a five star dish anyone can make in under 15 minutes!
The Best Pan Seared Scallops with Garlic and Lemon Recipe
The Best Pan Seared Scallops with Garlic and Lemon Recipe is the secret to perfect pan seared scallops in a lemon garlic butter sauce, bursting with lemon and garlic butter flavor for a fancy seafood restaurant quality scallop dinner in under 15 minutes - from fridge to plate! Scallops are a great low calorie and low fat choice that are packed with protein for dinner, inspired by the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico seafood from Sanibel Florida.
Keto Salmon and Avocado Toast Recipe
Salmon Avocado Toast - deliciously creamy avocado toast with smoked salmon sour cream and capers over keto bread or no knead bread for a rich hearty lox breakfast!
One Pot Irish Whiskey Glazed Salmon Recipe
Easy and delicious One Pot Irish Whiskey Glazed Salmon Recipe is a quick and delicious one pot dinner that is bursting with Irish Whiskey flavor in just one pot! Perfect for low carb and keto diets, and impressive enough for a romantic date night or dinner party.
Other Easy Salmon Recipes
If you love salmon as much as I do, please be sure to check out my other favorite easy salmon dishes!
Some of my favorites like Air Fryer Lemon Salmon, Garlic Butter Salmon with Asparagus, Sweet and Spicy Salmon Burgers, and Salmon Florentine are easy classics! May of these are keto salmon recipes.
Easy Salmon Recipes
Delicious easy salmon recipes - keto salmon, baked salmon, salmon burgers, and more salmon recipes the whole family will love.
Sweet Chili Soy Glazed Foil Baked Salmon
Sweet chili soy glazed salmon baked in a foil pouch - a delicious, easy, and fresh asian inspired meal that is low calorie and a huge family hit!
Eays Grilled Sweet Chili Asian Salmon Burgers Recipe
Easy Grilled Sweet Chili Asian Salmon Burgers Recipe are sweet, spicy, and loaded with delicious salmon flavor the whole family loves. Easy low carb salmon burger patties with a sweet chili asian sauce and kimchi topping that is loaded with spicy sweet salmon flavor!
Easy Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Salmon Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Salmon Recipe - delicious crispy and flavorful air fried salmon packed with tons of lemon and garlic flavor in under 12 minutes!
Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Salmon and Asparagus
Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Salmon and Asparagus is a light, delicious, and easy dish bursting with flavor! Healthy and great for a family.
One Pot Creamy Lemon Salmon Florentine
One Pot Creamy Lemon Salmon Florentine Author: Courtney O'Dell One Pot Creamy Lemon Salmon Florentine Skillet is a simple, delicious meal your whole family will love!
The Best Easy Lemon Baked Salmon Recipe
If you love this easy baked lemon salmon recipe as much as I do, please give it a five star review (simply click the stars below) and help me share on facebook and pinterest!
CONNECT WITH SWEET C’S!
Be sure to follow me on social media, so you never miss a post!
Facebook | Twitter | Youtube
Pinterest | Instagram
Only have 30 minutes to get dinner on the table? Sign up for my 30 minute dinner plans direct to your inbox!
Find and shop my favorite products in my Amazon storefront here!
Easy Lemon Baked Salmon Recipe
The Best Easy Lemon Baked Salmon Recipe - delicious lemon garlic butter salmon baked in foil for a delicious seafood dinner everyone loves!
Ingredients
- 2lb salmon filet
- 2 tbsp butter, divided into small pats (can substitute 2 tbsp olive oil)
- 1 tbsp adobo seasoning (or 2 tsp garlic powder or 1 tbsp Italian seasoning)
- 1/2 lemon, sliced into half-rounds
- 1 tsp celtic sea salt
- 1 tsp fresh cracked pepper
- 1 sprig rosemary, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Lay down large piece of foil on a baking sheet.
- Place salmon fillet (or individual filets) on foil.
- Arrange pats of butter around the top of the salmon.
- Season generously with adobo, salt, and pepper.
- Arrange lemon slices around the top of salmon.
- Top with rosemary, optional.
- Fold foil into a pouch so steam is contained.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, check with a knife for doneness. Salmon should be just slightly opaque in the middle of the thickest part of the filet when done, or should read 140 degrees when tested with a digital thermometer.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 536Total Fat 34gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 22gCholesterol 158mgSodium 1937mgCarbohydrates 3gFiber 1gSugar 0gProtein 51g
Katherine
These tips are so helpful! I moved to a land-locked state years ago, so now I have to get all my salmon online but these tips really make the experience worth it. Thanks for posting.
Jocelyn
My husband just recently started liking salmon, so I will be using all these tips to learn how to cook it at home!!
Anna
I could eat this salmon every day! Love how easy it is to make!
Ashley F
I love how simple this is to make!