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Home » Dinners & Main Course » Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter (20 minutes!)

Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter (20 minutes!)

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon Jessica Randhawa
June 23, 2022
4.82 from 117 votes


Last Updated June 23, 2022 | 2 Comments

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BEST Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Pinterest Pin Collage Image
BEST Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Pinterest Pin Collage Image
BEST Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Pinterest Pin Collage Image
BEST Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Pinterest Pin Collage Image
BEST Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter Pinterest Pin Collage Image

This delicious Baked Salmon Recipe is cooked with lemon, butter, fresh minced garlic, and sweet honey, and baked in the oven for maximum flavor and minimal cleanup. Super easy to make, have this absolutely incredible salmon recipe on the table in 20 minutes or less!

Close up image of baked salmon covered in a lemon butter sauce and garnished with fresh thyme.

Oven-Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter

This baked salmon recipe is a great place to start if you’re just learning how to cook fish at home. Naturally flavorful and so good for you, salmon cooks quickly, guaranteeing the gift of easy weeknight dinners whenever you’re in need of a helping hand.

I love this easy recipe for so many reasons – and I’m pretty sure you will too! A whole fillet of salmon is baked in the oven over a bed of thinly sliced lemons and topped with an irresistible lemon butter sauce. It’s naturally gluten-free and perfect with a side of hearty brown rice or cooked quinoa and your favorite roasted veggies.

Ingredients

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the recipe and full list of ingredients.

  • butter
  • honey
  • lemons
  • garlic cloves
  • Italian seasoning
  • red chili flakes (optional)
  • salt & black pepper
  • salmon
  • fresh herbs

Marinating is not required or necessary

Ingredients needed to make easy baked salmon including butter, wild salmon, garlic cloves, red chili flakes, salt, pepper, honey, Italian seasoning, and lemons.

How to Bake Salmon

  1. Bring salmon to room temperature and pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  3. Whisk together the ingredients for the lemon butter sauce.
  4. Line a large sheet pan, baking sheet, or baking dish with foil (or parchment paper) and layer with thinly sliced lemon. Place the salmon directly on top of the lemon slices, skin-side-down.
  5. Pour the lemon butter sauce over the top of the salmon.
  6. Bake for approximately 8-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the salmon reaches 145 degrees F.
  7. Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh thyme or chopped parsley, if desired.
Image of a baking sheet lined with foil, topped with sliced lemons, and topped with a large wild salmon fillet garnished with fresh thyme.

How Long to Bake Salmon?

Cooking time will vary according to the thickness of your salmon, oven temperature, and the type of oven used.

In general, however, salmon will need to bake for 4-6 minutes per 1/2 inch of thickness when placed in a 400-degree oven. Most fillets are approximately 1-inch thick, so you’ll want to cook them for 8-12 minutes (adding approximately 4-6 minutes per additional 1/2-inch thickness).

Also consider if you’re baking a whole side fillet or smaller, pre-cut, portions. Smaller individual salmon fillets will cook faster than a whole side fillet.

If you are using a convection oven, remember that foods generally cook faster. You may need to reduce the total cook time by as much as 30 percent.

Two images side-by-side the first showing a bowl filled with lemon juice, honey, garlic, melted butter, and Italian seasoning all mixed together, the second image shows the mixed together sauce being spooned onto a large side of salmon.

How to Tell When Salmon Is Done 

The most obvious way to tell if salmon is finished cooking is by looking at the salmon flesh. It’s done when it flakes easily and it’s opaque in the center.

As with all meat, I always recommend using an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the salmon. Remove from the oven at,

  • 135 degrees F if you’re using wild salmon as wild salmon is leaner than farmed salmon and is more prone to drying out or if you prefer a somewhat more “rare” salmon (it won’t really be rare, but this guarantees that it won’t be overcooked)
  • 140-145 degrees F if you prefer firmer salmon

Note that the USDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Fortunately, salmon continues to cook even when removed from the oven, making up those last few degrees.

Close up image of baked salmon covered in a lemon butter sauce and garnished with fresh thyme.

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • For best results, always thaw frozen fish before cooking. Although it is possible to cook your fish from frozen, it will not cook evenly, with some parts overcooked and dry and other parts undercooked or still frozen.
  • Keep the salmon skin on and bake it skin-side-down for locked-in moisture. Easily remove the skin by sliding a spatula between the flesh and the skin after it’s been cooked.
  • The skin is completely edible and especially delicious when cooked until crispy. If you love crispy skin, return the baking sheet with the skin still on the tray back to the oven and bake until the desired crispiness is reached. You may also broil the skin for 1-2 minutes, just keep an eye on it as it will burn quickly!
Small dinner plate with a serving baked salmon with lemon butter and steamed asparagus.

How to Serve

Serve this heart-healthy salmon recipe with your favorite side dishes like Brussels sprouts, roasted asparagus, or sauteed zucchini. Also fantastic with wild rice, jasmine rice, or fluffy mashed potatoes.

I also highly recommend my homemade tartar sauce for dipping.

More Delicious Salmon Recipes

  • Sesame Crusted Salmon Patties Recipe
  • Chili Lime Orange Glazed Salmon Recipe
  • Grilled Salmon Sliders with Garlic Lemon Aioli
  • Marinated Salmon Apple Salad
  • Macadamia Crusted Salmon with Pineapple Mango Salsa
  • Honey Garlic Salmon Recipe
Close up image of baked salmon covered in a lemon butter sauce and garnished with fresh thyme.

Have you tried making this Baked Salmon Recipe?

Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts. And tag me #theforkedspoon on Instagram if you’ve made any of my recipes, I always love to see what you’re cooking in the kitchen.

Close up image of baked salmon covered in a lemon butter sauce and garnished with fresh thyme.

Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter

4.82 from 117 votes
Chef: Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked SpoonJessica Randhawa
This delicious Baked Salmon Recipe is cooked with lemon, butter, fresh minced garlic, and sweet honey, and baked in the oven for maximum flavor and minimal cleanup. Super easy to make, have this absolutely delicious salmon recipe on the table in 20 minutes or less!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Dinner, Fish, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 567 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2½ pound side of salmon fillet - with or without skin
  • 4 tablespoon butter - melted
  • 3 tablespoon honey
  • 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice - juice from ½ a lemon
  • 5 cloves garlic - minced
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon red chili flakes
  • ½ teaspoon salt - plus more to taste
  • black pepper - to taste
  • 1-2 lemons - washed and thinly sliced
  • fresh thyme - or fresh parsley, to garnish
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Instructions
 

  • Time allowing, remove the salmon from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking and allow it to come to room temperature. Pat dry with paper towels.
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F and place the oven rack in the middle of the oven.
  • In a small bowl whisk together all of the ingredients for the sauce – the melted butter, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, Italian seasoning, red chili flakes, salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
  • Line a large baking sheet/rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the lemon slices on top of the foil in a single, non-overlapping layer. Place the salmon, skin-side-down, directly on top of the lemon slices.
  • Pour the butter/garlic/honey sauce over the salmon and use a spoon or pastry brush to spread evenly so that the entire surface of the salmon is covered.
  • Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 8-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the salmon registers 140-145°F as measured by an instant read thermometer.
  • Garnish with fresh thyme or chopped parsley and serve immediately with the baked lemon slices.

Jessica’s Notes

  • Whenever possible, try to purchase wild salmon vs. farmed salmon. Farmed salmon is higher in fat, including saturated fat, and is higher in calories (1, 2).
  • Given the higher fat content of farmed salmon vs. wild salmon, adjust your expectations when it comes to the overall taste and texture of your fish after cooking. For example, farmed salmon will be significantly more oily and somewhat less prone to drying out.
  • Swap the whole side of salmon for 4-5 equal portioned salmon fillets. 
  • Make this recipe dairy-free by swapping the butter for extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil.
  • The honey and red chili flakes are optional (but delicious!) additions. Feel free to skip them.
  • Leftovers: Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container and in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat until warm in the microwave, preheated oven, or air fryer. 

Nutritional Information

Calories: 567kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 57g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 186mg | Sodium: 521mg | Potassium: 1441mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 537IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 3mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Keyword Baked Salmon, Baked Salmon Recipe, Baked salmon with Lemon, Salmon in foil, Salmon with garlic butter
Did You Make This Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @theforkedspoon or tag #theforkedspoon and please leave your star rating in the comment section below.

About Jessica

Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

611 shares
Profile photo of chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

About Jessica Randhawa

Jessica Randhawa is the head chef, photographer, and recipe developer of The Forked Spoon. Jessica fell in love with cooking while traveling through Asia and Europe, where she discovered her passion for good food and new adventures. Her recipes have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, USA Today, FeedFeed, and many more. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California.

Comments

  1. Pearl says

    February 5, 2023 at 5:08 pm

    5 stars
    The BEST salmon recipe I have tried, and I have tried a few. The lemons under the salmon is truly delicious. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

    Reply
  2. Alicia says

    June 24, 2022 at 10:58 am

    5 stars
    This dish is fabulous. It would have taken 20 minutes if I had taken the salmon out of the fridge early enough for it to come to room temp, but I didn’t. I accidentally overcooked it a little (150⁰ ), so it was a bit mealy, but the flavor is truly wonderful. I used wildflower honey and the red pepper flakes suggested. It’s the perfect amount of sweet and heat. Will definitely make again!

    Reply

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Chef Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon

I’m Jessica! Aka mom, wife, chef, and travel-obsessed photographer. Welcome to The Forked Spoon. Here you can browse hundreds of incredible family-friendly recipes covering dozens of diets, courses, and cuisines. Learn more about me.

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