An easy, super quick, and delicious main dish that goes from oven to table in less than 30 minutes.
Once upon a time, salmon was considered a luxury item. Lucky for us, it is now widely available and affordable, whether fresh or frozen, in fillets or steaks, wild caught and farmed. It is versatile, easy to cook, and good for you, as it’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
This Lemon Salmon recipe is simple enough for a flavorful and healthy weeknight dinner you can throw together in 30 minutes or less, but nice enough for welcoming company. It has few ingredients, but they come together to create a deliciously tender and flavorful main course. Plus, it’s likely that you have most ingredients, if not all, already in your pantry.
This recipe is great because the lemon, garlic and herb flavors will complement the fatty, robust nature of salmon without overwhelming it, making it a light and bright main dish that can go with any side dish that you like, from a simply dressed salad to Roast Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus … it will pair with almost anything!
What kind of salmon is best for this recipe?
While this Lemon Salmon recipe calls for a 1 pound fillet, you could also substitute for 2 salmon steaks. Any kind of salmon will do – Atlantic, Scottish, Chilean – as long as it is fresh or properly frozen. Let the salmon stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before cooking. Use wild caught salmon whenever possible as it is more sustainable, although certain farms grow salmon sustainably. I always ask when possible.
I recommend leaving the skin on because it helps to insulate the meat so it cooks evenly and doesn’t overcook so easily. I like to eat the skin when it gets nice and crispy, but if you don’t fancy that, no worries. Once the salmon is cooked, you can lift the meat away from the skin easily, as it will stay stuck to the foil.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 lb salmon fillet
How to Make Lemon Salmon
Step 1: Get ready to bake. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, dried dill, ground ginger, dried parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Step 3: Line a baking sheet with foil.
Step 4: Place the salmon filet in the center of the baking sheet.
Step 5: Drizzle the olive oil and spice mixture over the salmon.
Step 6: Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes, then switch to broil for an additional 3-5 minutes until the salmon is lightly browned and flaky.
FAQs & Tips
This Lemon Salmon is thrown together so easily and so quickly that there’s no need to prep ahead. It will cook fast, and it will be best to eat it as it comes out of the oven or shortly thereafter.
If you have leftovers, you could store it in an airtight container overnight. If you do, you can reheat gently so as not to overcook it, or you could flake it and turn it into salmon salad for a nice lunch.
400°F is ideal as it allows the fish to gain color and the skin to get crispy. If you prefer a milder method, you can bake it at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until done. When baked at 425°F as in this recipe, the salmon comes out tender and creamy and it cooks much faster.
Pan-frying or pan-searing is one of the best ways to cook salmon fillets if you don’t have an oven. It’s quick, easy, and gives the fish that perfect crispy, crunchy skin.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this delicious Lemon Salmon with a simply dressed green salad for a super quick, healthy dinner, or dress it up with nice sides like Stacked Potatoes, Mediterranean Rice Salad, or Roasted Brussels Sprouts for an impressive dinner for guests.
Lemon Salmon
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 lb salmon fillet
Instructions
- Get ready to bake. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, dried dill, ground ginger, dried parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Line a baking sheet with foil.
- Place the salmon filet in the center of the baking sheet.
- Drizzle the olive oil and spice mixture.
- Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes, then switch to broil for an additional 3-5 minutes until the salmon is lightly browned and flaky.
Nutrition
