This Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon comes together in about 15 minutes and is simply baked in a roasting pan for a quick and easy weeknight dinner that your family will absolutely love!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Salmon Fillets
- 4 salmon fillets – Fresh or thawed, your choice! Salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, but don’t worry if you want to substitute it with another fish. Honestly, it’s all good!
Garlic Butter
- 4 tablespoons butter: You absolutely want to use real butter here because it brings tons of flavor. Unsalted is the way to go to control that saltiness!
- 4 cloves garlic, minced: I like to use fresh garlic, but if you’re in a pinch, garlic powder works, just adjust the amount since it’s more potent.
Fresh Elements
- 1 lemon, sliced: This adds brightness and a lovely citrus zing to the dish that just makes it pop!
- Salt and pepper to taste: A couple pinches of each, in my opinion!
Garnish
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional): Because who doesn’t love a bit of green on their plate?! Makes it look all fancy!
How to Make Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). It’ll warm up while we prep, so you’re ready to go in no time.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and let it cook until fragrant, oh, that smell, I could just drown in it!
Place your salmon fillets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. This makes for easy clean-up later, so thank me later!
Now, take that divine garlic butter mixture and pour it over the salmon fillets. Don’t be shy, get every morsel coated! Season with a couple pinches of salt and pepper.
Top each fillet with lovely lemon slices. Seriously, the more lemon, the better!
Slide your baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. Honestly, it should be looking beautiful and vibrant, it’ll practically glow!
If you want to get fancy, garnish with fresh parsley when you’ve pulled it out of the oven. Serve this immediately for best results!
If this sounds delicious to you, you might want to check out my honey garlic glazed salmon or my baked Boursin Salmon for more quick and delightful meals!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
➤ This dish comes together in under 15 minutes of prep time and 12-15 minutes in the oven! That’s less than half an hour for a wholesome, healthy meal.
Minimal Cleanup Required
➤ With just a baking sheet and a saucepan to wash, you’re left with plenty of time to kick back and relax after dinner, because who wants to spend an hour cleaning?
Customizable
➤ Think of this recipe as a canvas! You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand. Asparagus? Carrots? Potatoes? Toss ‘em on that sheet!
Perfect for Meal Prep
➤ You can double this recipe easily, and it’s great as leftovers. Just pop it into the fridge and heat it up for lunch the next day!
Loaded with Tons of Flavor
➤ Garlic and lemon together are like a flavor bomb, and the butter just takes everything up a notch. Honestly, you might find yourself daydreaming about this dish!
How to Serve This Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
You can serve this salmon with so many things! I love pairing it with:
- Rice: Both brown rice or jasmine rice complement the salmon beautifully.
- Quinoa: A nutritious powerhouse to pair with your salmon and butter sauce!
- Veggies: Roasted broccoli, green beans, or a fresh salad are fantastic sidekicks.
- Pasta: Lightly buttered or with a squeeze of lemon. Total crowd-pleaser!
Storage Tips
This delicious salmon keeps well in the refrigerator for about 3 days. Store it in an airtight container to maintain its freshness.
Reheating Instructions
To reheat, place it back into a 350°F oven until heated through, which should take around 10-15 minutes. If you’re in a hurry, the microwave works too, just go in increments of 30 seconds to avoid overdrying it.
Freezer Friendly? Yes!
You can freeze this salmon before baking! Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and tuck it into an airtight container. For best results, freeze it for up to 2 months. Just thaw overnight in the fridge when you’re ready to cook it up!
Making Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon for dinner is not only going to make your kitchen smell incredible, but it’s also going to please everyone at your table. So grab those ingredients and let’s get started, it will be your new quick and easy weeknight go-to! Trust me, you won’t regret it. Happy cooking!
Remember, food is all about love and gathering, so let’s keep those family moments cooking. Enjoy! And for more recipes, follow us on Pinterest.
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Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Pescatarian
Description
A quick and easy recipe for baked salmon fillets with a flavorful garlic butter sauce and fresh lemon, perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and add the minced garlic, cooking until fragrant.
- Place the salmon fillets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Pour the garlic butter mixture over the salmon and season with salt and pepper.
- Top each fillet with lemon slices.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
- Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
This dish can be customized with different fish or vegetables based on what you have on hand. Great for meal prep and leftovers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 70mg