Garlic Butter Baked Salmon (Printable Version)
Tender salmon fillets baked in rich garlic butter with lemon and fresh herbs.
# What You Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each), skin-on or skinless
→ Garlic Butter Sauce
02 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Garnish
09 - Lemon slices
10 - Extra chopped parsley
# How-To:
01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Arrange the salmon fillets, skin-side down, on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, salt, and pepper.
04 - Spoon the garlic butter mixture evenly over the salmon fillets.
05 - Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the salmon is opaque and flakes easily with a fork (internal temperature of 145°F).
06 - Remove from the oven and garnish with lemon slices and extra parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The salmon comes out impossibly tender and moist every single time, even if you usually struggle with fish
- Five minutes of prep work yields restaurant quality results that make any Tuesday feel special
- The garlic butter sauce is so luscious you'll want to drizzle it over everything on your plate
02 -
- Overcooked salmon becomes dry and disappointing, so check it a minute early the first time and remember it keeps cooking after leaving the oven
- Room temperature salmon cooks more evenly, so let the fish sit out for 15 minutes before baking if you have the time
03 -
- Pat the salmon completely dry before adding the butter mixture, which helps the sauce cling rather than slide right off
- For dairy free needs, olive oil creates a delicious though slightly different sauce that still yields beautiful results