Easy Baked Salmon
This oven baked salmon recipe perfectly seasoned, bursting with flavor, and ready in just 20 minutes! It’s ideal for busy…
This oven baked salmon recipe perfectly seasoned, bursting with flavor, and ready in just 20 minutes! It’s ideal for busy weeknights or a quick meal to impress.
Stop right there and bookmark this baked salmon recipe, because you’ll never need another! As cookbook authors who have tried countless salmon recipes, this is the baked salmon that gets hands down rave reviews from friends and family. The tender fillet is perfectly seasoned with brown sugar and spices and has a lovely crisp topping. Here’s why we love it:
- It’s perfectly seasoned. The smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and thyme combination hits a home run (we also use it on our baked chicken thighs).
- It has a crispy top. No more mushy salmon: this one comes out with a lovely crispy topping from a hint of brown sugar.
- It’s so simple. It takes just 20 minutes to make! Get ready to impress your mother in law, neighbors, boss, or partner with no effort at all.
Featured reader comments
“It was absolutely delicious, and so easy to make! The fish was very flaky and tender and the smokey flavor is almost addictive. What could be better than having something that is easy to make and tastes wonderful?” -Annika
Ingredients for baked salmon
For the very best baked salmon recipe, you’ve got to start with a great fillet of fish. This is easier said than done, since there are many different ways salmon is sold at the store. In general, stay away from those big economy-sized freezer bags. Here are a few tips:
- Look for 1 to 1 1/2-inch thick salmon fillets. You might find this type labeled “center cut” at the store. You can also use thinner fillets like sockeye salmon, which take less time to cook.
- Buy fresh salmon, wild caught if possible. Salmon fresh from the fish counter usually has the best flavor. Frozen can work, but opt for highest-quality possible. Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. There are also quality options in well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch Consumer Guide.
- Add this simple seasoning blend. You’ll need a combination of brown sugar, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, cumin, and salt. Before seasoning, brush on just a thin coating of olive oil.
How to bake salmon: step by step
This baked salmon recipe calls for seasoning the fish with brown sugar and spices, then baking until tender. We used to only bake salmon in a foil packet, but it gets very moist and mushy. This method for baking salmon that makes a lightly caramelized top, which we find gets rave reviews! Here are the steps for how to bake salmon:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Allow the salmon to come to room temperature (or brine it in salt water).
Step 2: Place the room temperature salmon on a foil lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season (see full recipe).
Step 3: Bake the salmon for 10 to 16 minutes, until just tender and pink at the center and the internal temperature is 125 to 130°F in the center.
Try these salmon sauce ideas
The best part about this oven baked salmon recipe is that it’s perfectly seasoned on its own: it doesn’t required a sauce to make it taste great! But you’re welcome to add one to take it up a notch. Here are a few of our favorite salmon sauce ideas:
- Butter sauce: Try a garlic butter sauce, lemon butter sauce or lemon pepper sauce.
- Creamy sauce: Dip it into mustard sauce, classic remoulade, or dill sauce.
- Chimichurri: Fresh cilantro and parsley combine into a fresh and tangy bright green chimichurri sauce.
- Creamy pan sauce: Try flavor-popping sun dried tomato cream sauce.
Top sides to serve with baked salmon
Want to make it a meal? When we make baked salmon, we like adding side dishes that don’t require the oven: to keep it free for the salmon! Here are some easy sides for salmon that don’t require baking:
- Green salads: A fresh green salad pairs well with this tender fish. We like serving with this chopped salad, apple salad, fennel orange salad, kale salad, or arugula salad.
- Sauteed veggies: It’s simple to sauté some veggies while the fish cooks. Try steamed green beans, peas, broccoli, sauteed broccolini, or sauteed spinach.
- Whole grains: Try serving salmon with lemon rice, couscous, orzo, or quinoa.
- Potatoes: Add mashed potatoes or pan fried potatoes.
Storing leftovers
Leftover salmon lasts refrigerated for up to 3 days, stored in a sealed container. Reheat it in a skillet over medium heat, or in a 400F oven until warm. Or, repurpose it in leftover salmon recipes like salmon salad, a salmon rice bowl, and more!
Dietary notes
This oven baked salmon recipe is pescatarian, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Frequently asked questions
400°F (200°C) makes for a tasty, tender piece of fish.
Bake salmon at 400°F (200°C) for 10 to 16 minutes, depending on thickness, until just tender and pink at the center (the internal temperature should be between 125 to 130°F in the center). A 1-inch thick fillet should cook in about 15 minutes total.
For a crispy top, when the salmon is at 115°F, broil for about 2 minutes (about the last 2 minutes of the cook time).
The gooey white stuff that oozes on the surface after cooking a piece of salmon is called albumin: it’s a coagulated protein that seeps to the surface while baking. The amount of albumin varies depending on the fish, so it’s not something you can control. It’s safe to eat, but it does look unappealing.
Buy quality fresh fish. It’s best to buy fresh salmon and the white stuff can vary based on the fish counter at each grocery store, even though there’s no labeling difference. Experiment to find a source you love.
Brine the fish before cooking. Placing the fish in a brine solution for 15 minutes before baking can help to reduce albumin (see notes in the recipe below).
Easy Baked Salmon Recipe
Print RecipeThis oven baked salmon recipe perfectly seasoned, bursting with flavor, and ready in just 20 minutes! It’s ideal for busy weeknights or a quick meal to impress.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Seafood
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds or 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, wild caught if possible*
- Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Allow the salmon to come to room temperature (or brine it**).
- Place a large sheet of aluminum foil on a baking sheet and brush it with olive oil. Pat each piece of salmon dry and place it on the foil skin side down. Brush with olive oil. Sprinkle the salmon with the kosher salt evenly divided among the fillets.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and cumin. Sprinkle the mixture evenly on top of the fillets.
- Bake the salmon for 10 to 16 minutes, depending on thickness, until just tender and pink at the center (the internal temperature should be between 125 to 130°F in the center). A 1-inch thick fillet should cook in about 15 minutes total. For a crispy top, when the salmon is at 115°F, broil for about 2 minutes (about the last 2 minutes of the cook time).
Notes
*Lemon salmon variation: Go to Lemon Salmon. Or, brush a medium baking dish with olive oil, add the slices of 1 lemon, and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil (or salted butter, cut into pats). Place the salmon on top of the lemons and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided among the fillets. In a medium bowl, mix 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and ½ teaspoon dried dill, then sprinkle the mixture evenly over the fillets. Bake in the salmon manner as Step 4 above, then spoon over the sauce in the pan before serving.
**Brine the salmon (optional): While the oven preheats, in a shallow dish mix together 4 cups room temperature water and 3 tablespoons kosher salt. Place the salmon in the water and wait for 15 minutes (this should be about the time it takes to preheat).
Salmon recipes you may enjoy
Love cooking with salmon? Here are a few more salmon recipes to try:
- Opt for the basics: try it pan seared, marinated, grilled, or poached.
- Make smoked salmon or sockeye salmon.
- Try salmon tacos, a salmon sandwich or a salmon Caesar salad,
- Opt for salmon burgers, a salmon bowl, or this tasty honey garlic salmon.
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