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4.67 from 3 votes

Easy Baked Salmon

This oven baked salmon recipe makes perfectly juicy and tender, flaky and buttery salmon without any fuss or complicated techniques! It's a fantastic option for busy weeknights.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked salmon recipe
Servings: 4
Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

  • 1-2 pounds salmon use a large fillet of salmon or individual pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoon parsley chopped
  • Fresh lemon juice to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400F and move the rack to the top third of the oven. If possible, let the salmon warm up on the counter for 15-20 minutes prior to cooking it.
  • Add the oil and butter to a small bowl and melt it in the microwave.
  • Place the fish skin-side down in a baking dish or on a foil-lined baking sheet. Season it with some salt & pepper, and then pour the oil/butter mix over top and sprinkle the parsley on.
  • For a large single piece of salmon: for a piece that's about 1" in the thickest part, bake, uncovered, for 18-20 minutes and then check it. If it flakes easily with a fork, it's good to go. You can always pop it back in the oven if it's looking too raw in the thickest part. For a thinner piece, check after 15 minutes.
    If using individual fillets (about 1" thick): bake, uncovered, for 12-15 minutes or until a piece flakes easily with a fork (pop it back in the oven if it's still too raw in the thickest part).
  • Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the salmon, serve, and enjoy! If you don't want to eat the skin, simply slide the salmon off of it when serving (use a metal spatula or knife).

Notes

  • If your salmon is a lot thinner than 1", is skinless, or you're a fan of more rare salmon, be sure to err on the lower side of recommended cooking times (or even give it less than suggested) as you can always cook it for longer if it's not yet cooked. If using an instant read thermometer, 120F is rare, and 140F is starting to get into overcooked territory.
  • Calorie estimate is for 1.5 pounds of salmon (1/4 of the recipe is one serving).

Nutrition

Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.1g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 156mg | Sodium: 694mg | Potassium: 579mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.02g | Vitamin A: 454IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 486mg | Iron: 1mg