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Easy Baked Salmon Recipe

This Baked Salmon, using simple sheet pan is a deliciously quick and easy weeknight meal that’s healthy and flavorful. This easy salmon recipe only needs 15 minutes.

easy salmon recipe,  lemon basil salmon, lemon salmon, sheet pan salmon
Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon = SO easy and delicious!

Watch Us Make Baked Salmon

Easy Baked Salmon Recipe   Chew Out Loud

Easy Baked Salmon

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 a deliciously baked 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 weeknight occasion.

But an easy, flavorful baked salmon on a sheet pan? We’re talking minimal prep, minimal dirty dishes, and maximum healthy-deliciousness in under 30 minutes. This lemony baked salmon is absolutely for daily weeknight occasions. Looking for more easy ways to cook salmon? Try this salmon in the air fryer recipe!

Why You’ll Love This

  • 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 😉
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Use a foil lined sheet pan for easy prepping and cleaning

Easy Sheet Pan Method

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 is a unique addition to this simple baked salmon, and lends a fabulous flavor profile
  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest are key; bottled lemon juice is not recommended.
  • Basic pantry seasonings such as garlic, kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper to bring all the flavors alive.

How Long to Bake Salmon

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.

easy salmon recipe,  lemon basil salmon, lemon salmon, sheet pan salmon
Super easy, flavorful baked salmon is yours.

Tips for The Best Salmon

  • 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.

More to Cook and Eat


Try this Marinated seared ahi tuna, too


Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

lemon basil baked salmon

Easy Baked Salmon

5 from 195 ratings
This Baked Salmon with Lemon is a deliciously quick and easy weeknight meal that’s healthy and flavorful. This salmon recipe only needs 15 minutes on the sheet pan.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

Instructions

  • Preheat Oven: 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.
  • Remove Moisture: Use paper towels to pat-dry the salmon fillet, ensuring that all excess moisture is removed (this step is important, as excess water/moisture causes fish to be "steamed" instead.) Place salmon on the prepared sheet pan.
  • Mix Seasonings: In a small bowl, stir together all remaining ingredients until combined. Evenly press the mixture over the top of salmon.
  • Bake: Bake salmon for 10 minutes in preheated oven. Carefully but quickly take salmon out, move rack to top position underneath the broiler, and place salmon tray back on rack.
  • Broil: Broil on high for up to 5 minutes or until top is nicely browned, but watch carefully for even browning without burning. Remove from heat immediately. Serve with extra slices of lemon.

Notes

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 6.1g | Protein: 34.1g | Fat: 9.6g | Saturated Fat: 1.6g | Cholesterol: 77.2mg | Sodium: 313.1mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 2.1g
Course: Main, seafood
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Fat
Method: Bake

Add a comment

Recipe Rating




82 comments

    • Veggiejan
    • 5 stars

    Really good!

    • Diane L DiPrete
    • 5 stars

    can you cook this in an airfryer? thank you

      • Amy Dong

      Yes, Diane! Use your air fryer manufacturer’s instructions for cooking salmon – in general, lessen their recommended cook time by a few minutes 🙂

    • Dixie
    • 5 stars

    Dixie
    I made this tonight for Sunday dinner and my family loved it. Will surely make it again. Thank you for sharing.

      • Amy Dong

      I’m so happy to hear it! 🙂

    • Luke Ratford
    • 5 stars

    A great way of baking salmon with great flavours 🙂

    • Maggie
    • 5 stars

    Delicious. Every my picky eater, my son , liked it. Definitely making it again soon.

    • Cathleen
    • 5 stars

    This salmon is so good! Love a good sheet pan meal, thank you so much for sharing this recipe 🙂

      • Amy Dong

      You’re welcome!

    • Ann
    • 5 stars

    I love salmon! I have never made it as a sheet pan meal before. What a great idea! Thanks for the recipe share!

    • Tracy
    • 5 stars

    Such a delicious way to enjoy salmon! Love the lemon and basil together and that it’s made right on a sheet pan.

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