This Lemon Salmon in a Sheet Pan is a deliciously quick and easy weeknight meal that’s healthy and flavorful. This easy sheet pan salmon recipe only needs 15 minutes.
Lemon Basil Salmon {Sheet Pan Recipe}
If you sometimes feel promptings or read articles that encourage adding more healthful fish into your regular dinner rotation, you’re not alone.
Pretty much everywhere we turn, we’re reading or hearing about how to add more omega-3’s or incorporate more wild salmon onto our plates.
We will admit: all of us would much prefer a flavorful serving of well seasoned salmon, rather than pop omega-3 pills. And while a teaspoon or two of flax in this amazing Omega-3 Chocolate Cake is genius, it’s definitely not a daily occasion.
Some of us here love Chia Seed Pudding as much as the next chia fan, and though said chia pudding makes an awesome breakfast or dessert, pudding just isn’t in the dinner rotation.
But an easy, flavorful lemon salmon recipe on a sheet pan? We’re talking minimal prep, minimal dirty dishes, and maximum healthy-deliciousness in under 30 minutes.
How to make Salmon using a Sheet Pan
For most sheet pan dinners, you’ll want to use a sturdy, large sheet pan with rims to prevent any spillage of savory juices onto the bottom of your oven. Avoid flimsy or thin metal pans. Always line with heavy duty foil and grease it prior to placing ingredients on it. This helps with super easy clean up, without any food sticking to the foil. When you’re finished cooking, just fold up the used foil and toss away.
Aside from a nice, thick piece of salmon, you’ll need just a few fresh ingredients to make this salmon recipe come alive. Fresh basil and freshly squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest are key. Simply combine those with garlic, kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper for amazing flavors.
This lemon salmon needs only 15 minutes on the sheet pan total. From start to finish, this broiled salmon comes together in about 20 minutes. You’ll roast your salmon on a large sheet pan for 10 minutes and then finish it off with a 5-minute high broil for gorgeous browning and color.
We’re willing to bet that your family will deem your lemon salmon better than what you’d get at many restaurants. You may even convert a self-proclaimed non-fish eater into a salmon fan.
Pro Tips for Your Best Salmon Dinner Ever
- Use salmon that’s about 1-inch thick; if it’s thinner than that, please lessen cook time to ensure your beautiful salmon isn’t overcooked
- As a rule, always use paper towels to pat dry your fish prior to adding seasonings. It’s tempting to skip that part, but don’t skip it. Removing excess moisture from your fish is important for both flavor and browning results.
- Watch closely when your salmon is under the broiler, ensuring even browning without burning
- Let finished dish sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving, to retain juiciness
Benefits of Lemon Salmon
- It’s crazy easy and deliciously tender and flavorful
- It tastes like you spent SO much more time than you did
- You really only spent 20 minutes on it
- It’s like getting restaurant quality salmon, but way more affordable and totally manageable
- There’s basically zero cleanup
Oh, and this: omega-3’s 😉
Here’s another keeper:
Sheet Pan Lemon Basil Salmon
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
This Lemon Salmon is a deliciously quick and easy weeknight meal that’s healthy and flavorful. This salmon recipe only needs 15 minutes on the pan.
Ingredients
- 2-lb salmon fillet, about 1-inch thick
- Zest of 1 large lemon
- Juice of half of the lemon
- 2 TB freshly chopped basil leaves
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 TB extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for pan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F with rack on lower middle position. Line a large sheet pan with foil and grease the foil with some olive oil. Set aside.
- Use paper towels to pat-dry the salmon fillet, ensuring that excess moisture is removed.
- Place salmon on the greased/foil lined sheet pan. In a small bowl, stir together all remaining ingredients until combined. Evenly spread the mixture over the top of salmon.
- Roast for 10 minutes in preheated oven. Carefully but quickly take salmon out, move rack to upper position, and place salmon back on rack.
- Set oven to high broil for 5 minutes or until top is nicely browned, about 5 minutes (watch carefully for even browning without burning.) Remove from heat immediately. Serve with extra slices of lemon.
Notes
This lemon basil salmon is amazing with Easy Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms or this 20-Minute Lemon Spinach Orzo Salad
If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ♡
- Category: main, seafood
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Lemon Salmon, Sheet Pan Salmon
ways to Eat More Fish:
Crispy Baja Fish Tacos with Creamy Lime Sauce
Easy Lemon Butter Fish in 20 Minutes
30-Minute Honey Baked Salmon in Foil
We love Salmon, it is so easy to make. Thanks for sharing this recipe, looks delicious!
It looks tasty. I can try out the recipe as it is mouth watering but not sure mine will look so good like yours.
This looks fab. Salmon (wild not farmed) is a common fish in Nova Scotia, so easy to get. I have lots of fresh basil in my herb garden right now, so I am going to try this recipe.
Wonderful salmon recipe. Though I will not be able to have it being vegetarian but certainly recommend to nonveg friends to relish.
This looks soooo delicious! Pinning to make for my family!
So friggin’ yum! I haven’t been totally craving salmon lately because this baby is doing weird things to me, but now I want it because of you! 😉
Wow, these dish looks really delicious and the procedure looks so easy to follow. I will definitely try to make this on this weekend.
I find fish to be one of the more intimidating items to cook! I never know what to do with it other than roll it in crumbs and fry it!
Yummy! This looks perfect. I am hungry just reading your post! Definitely going to make this recipe!
Love this recipes! Sad that I’m the only one in this household of 6 that loves salmon! But def need to try with basil in future for just me lol thanks!
Wow! I would love try making this recipe!My husband would absolutely love these.This is my kind of weekend treat.
I can almost feel the taste of the lemon because the pictures are so great! I would love to give this recipe a try fof sure! 🙂
I normally don’t eat salmon, but my husband LOVES it! So I like to have a new recipe to prepare for him and this one sounds amazing! 😉
oooh lala looks so good. I can’t wait to try this recipe.
This is simply stunning! I think I could devour the whole thing in one sitting!
Wow and wow, this is so delicious and the procedures looks so easy to follow. I will def try to make this on this coming weekend.
OMG! your pictures are too good, I am going to try this tonight. thanks for sharing
A great recipe for salmon lovers. It looks really lovely indeed and would make a lovely dinner party dish.
I love how easy it is to make and quick as well. This is going on my weekly dinner routine. Thanks for sharing
I bet the flavor on this is AMAZING. It looks so good.
Such an amazing flavor. I love the flavor of lemon too. This dish is definitely easy, quick and yummy.
★★★★★
So happy you liked this! 🙂
Now this is my kind of sheet pan dinner. We haven’t had salmon since the pandemic started…and now I’m craving it! This salmon is cooked just the way I like it.
★★★★★
This salmon was so flakey! I’ve always grilled mine, but I love the the sheet pan method. It was so easy yet the presentation and flavor would leave you to believe only a true chef could make a salmon that turned out this tasty!
★★★★★
So happy you all enjoyed this!!
Roasted salmon is one of my favorite ways to cook fish. This recipe will definitely be added to my summer meal repertoire
★★★★★
oh i so wish i could make this for my dad. he loves salmon but due to this lockdown situation we are unable to meet since he lives in a different country. This sheet pan salmon recipe is totally delicious and lip smacking.
★★★★★
We have a ton of basil in the yard already, and I had lemons that needed using, so we made this dish this evening. It was so quick and easy to prepare. Even the kids loved it! So light and healthy, but filling!
★★★★★
I loved how quick and easy this was! The flavors compliment the salmon so well, it went great with roasted summer squash too.
★★★★★
Yes, roasted squash is a perfect side with this salmon! Glad you loved it, Mikayla! 🙂
Salmons is my favorite fish. And it looks so good i. This recipe. Can’t wait to try.
We are huge fans of salmon in our house and this would be a success!
★★★★★
Fantastic! Especially delicious with fresh salmon.